This time I have prepared a review of the lens from my personal arsenal of photographic equipment. The hero of the review is a tiny little Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8, version MKII, NJ (NIKON JAPAN).
For review Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8, MKII, NJ (NIKON JAPAN) versions
Radozhiv already has a review of a similar lens - Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 (MKII, MIJ version).
Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8, MKII version, NJ (NIKON JAPAN)
Important: The Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 lens (MKII version) exists in three versions, depending on the country of manufacture:
- Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 - MKII MIJ (Made In Japan), a review of this version can be look at this link.
- Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 - MKII NJ (Nikon Japan), the version is shown in the review you are currently reading.
- Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 - MKII MIC (Made In China), a review of this version can be look at this link.
The first Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 MKII lenses were produced in Japan (mij), then production moved to China (NJ, MIC). In order not to traumatize users so much with the inscription 'MADE IN CHINA' ('Made in China'), the inscription 'NIKON JAPAN' ('Nikon Japan') was applied to the lenses for a certain time. In fact, all versions of the NIKON JAPAN (MKII NJ) were made in China. The 'JAPAN' prefix just means that Nikon is Japanese.
I did not find any differences between Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 (MKII version, Made in Japan, MIJ) and Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 (MKII version, Nikon Japan, NJ, shown in this review).
Two older 'NON-D' version lenses: Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8, MKII version, NJ (NIKON JAPAN) and Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 (MKI)
All Nikon 50 / 1.8 Autofocus Lenses
- Nikon 50mm 1: 1.8 AF Nikkor (first version, MKI) - the lens was produced only in Japan from 1986 to 1990. It is easy to distinguish by a window with a focusing distance and a narrow plastic focus ring. There are two subversions that are no different:
- MKI first subversion. Weighing 210 grams. It is easy to distinguish by the screw under the inscription '1: 1.8'. From September 1986 to March 1987. Serial numbers start at 2
- MKI second version. Weighing 165 grams. It is easy to distinguish by the absence of a screw under the inscription '1: 1.8'. From 1987 to 1990. Serial numbers start at 3.
- Nikon 50mm 1: 1.8 AF Nikkor (second version, MKII, also known as the 'N', or the 'NEW' version) - the lens was produced in Japan and China. The MK II version was produced from 1990 to 2001. There are three subversions that are no different:
- Nikon 50mm 1: 1.8D AF Nikkor (third version, MKIIIbetter known as 'D'-version) - the lens is available from 2002 to this day. All lenses are made in China.
- Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8G SWM Aspherical (fourth version, MKIVbetter known as '1.8 G'-version or '1.8 AF-S' version) - the lens has been produced since 2011, all lenses are made in China.
- Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8G SWM Aspherical Special Edition (fifth version, MKVbetter known as version 'Special Edition' or 'SE' or version for the camera with a retro design of the case Nikon Df) - the lens has been available since the fall of 2013. All lenses are made in China.
- Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm 1: 1.8 S, from summer 2018, lens for mirrorless cameras with Nikon Z mount... Diagram of 12 elements in 9 groups, 2 ED, 2 ASP.
Details on the lineup of fifty dollars from Nikon can be found in my article 'All Nikon autofocus fifty dollars'.
Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8, MKII version, NJ (NIKON JAPAN). View shown on a film camera.
Sample Photos
There are 100 photos in the gallery without treatment.
Jpeg source photos download from this link (1.09 Gb). The archive is 453 photosfilmed in 6 months on Nikon D70. Oddly enough, but I enjoy working with this old and very cheap Nikon D70 and the old and very cheap Nikon 50 / 1.8. The camera cost me $ 50, the lens - $ 90. On a 6 MP CCD sensor, even at F / 1.8, acceptable sharpness is obtained. I did not regret the shutter and filmed as much as my soul wanted. Photos from this collection are used by me in an article about choosing a Nikon DSLR.
- Some photographs were taken in RAW format with subsequent conversion using the original ViewNX-I ver. 1.0.1 64 bit without additional changes in the source files. It was done just because Nikon D70 cannot shoot in RAW + JPEG L FINE format (can only RAW + JPEG L BASIC).
- The vast majority of photographs were captured in regular JPEG with 'L Fine' quality (maximum image size, maximum image quality).
- Some photos were taken using a Hoya 52mm SKYLIGHT (1B) JAPAN
- Some photos were taken using a Hoya 52mm SKYLIGHT (1A) JAPAN
- Some photographs were taken using a polarizing filter. GREEN.L CPL 52mm
- Some photos were taken while using Hoya 52mm SKYLIGHT (1B) JAPAN + filters GREEN.L CPL 52mm
- Some photographs were taken using a light filter. Hoya HMC UV (c) 52mm
- Some of the photos were taken with a 'naked' lens without any filters.
- Some photos were shot using Nikon SpeedLight. SB-900installed remotely. The built-in flash acted as the master master flash. Nikon D70.
- Some photos were rotated 90 degrees using the Windows Photo Viewer. Therefore in EXIF as the processing program, 'Microsoft Windows Photo Viewer' may be specified. Image quality does not change when rotated. Photos without rotation (as is) in the field in charge of the software have the entry 'Nikon D70 V. 1.03 '.
- In the gallery on the site, photos are reduced to 2048 pixels on the long side using FastStone Photo Resizer for Windows Version 3.1. The same program imprints data from EXIF (lens, camera, ISO, excerpt, aperture, copyright). The compression method used is Lanczos3 (Default) with a compression quality of 70%.
- The vast majority of photos were taken at ISO 200, however, in the photographs I indicated the value of ISO 200 * (with an asterisk), since Nikon D70 writes the ISO value to EXIF in a non-standard place that is not read by the vast majority of programs to display EXIF. Photos that were not shot at ISO 200 were most likely taken at ISO 250, 320 or ISO 400. A good EXIF viewer can be found. here.
- To achieve aperture values of F / 1.8, 2, 2.2, 2.5, 2.8, 3.2, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.6, 6.3, 7.1, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 used step exposure '1/3 step'. To achieve aperture values of F / 2.4, 3.3, 4.8, 6.7, 9.5, 19, a step was used exposure '1/2 step'.
- The original names of some files have been changed from 'DSC_xxxx.JPG' to 'qDSC_xxx.JPG'. Nikon D70 resets the counter after 9999 frames, so file names can be repeated and cannot be placed in the same folder. Nikon D70 does not allow setting new file names by changing the default 'DSC' prefix.
- On the Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 NIKON JAPAN and Nikon D70 I shot about 14.000 frames, as well as about 2000 frames on Nikon D700 and 2000 frames per Nikon D90 and a little bit on Nikon D2H.
- Photos processed with Nikon D70 can be viewed here and at 500px in a separate gallery here. On Nikon D90 here. On Nikon D700 here.
Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.
Video review
A brief video review can be viewed on my channel here.
Prices
On sale Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 (MK II) is not new to find. I recommend a newer model for use Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8D, prices for which you can look at this link
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram
Happy birthday, happy!
Congratulations, Arkady! Thanks to the author for a great project!
Seven years is also a term! I have been a regular visitor to your blog for the past four years. Congratulations. Thank you for the next informative review with a detailed photo demonstration.
Thank you, Arkady, the photos are good, the review is very instructive, especially for those who choose the first SLR. Happy birthday, Radozhiva! :)
How much dirt is poured onto this focal length, and it’s not not for a portrait and not for a landscape, and it’s not that and not that.
Congratulations! What a good post! And a wonderful camera and lens!
By the way, ViewNX-i, like ViewNX2, automatically converts XA during conversion, which the D70 does not know how to.
Even as it removes that.
Congratulations Arkady! 7 is a good number.
Happy Birthday! I was and will be a reader and a fan of the blog! I am happy to read it myself and recommend it to friends :)
Are there any reviews on Yongnuo 50mm?
The next review should be a review. YONGNUO 50mm 1: 1.8 (YN50mm F1.8N), also, Radozhiv already has an overview of the version for Canon - Yongnuo Lens EF 50mm 1: 1.8.
Oh, look forward to it!
Congratulations!
I learned a lot from your resource.
Happy Birthday to Radozhiv.
Congratulations! more interesting materials to the site and creative success to its creator!
Thank you, Arkady, for your hard work, for the very necessary, and extremely useful site !!! Happy birthday, happy!
open diaphragm day)
All the best to you, Arkady! We are waiting for interesting and informative articles about photography on the blog of Radozhiv.
Happy seventh anniversary!
I wish only the development of the blog and thank you for your work,
which you are doing for us readers of your blog.
Hello everyone, why are there only reviews of one system from Nikon?
then Nikon’s marketers were wrong and Nikon 1 isn’t interesting)
Everything is very simple, I am an ambassador illusionist. Before this review there was a review Sigma 24-105 (not Nikon) to Mark 3 (not Nikon), and before him was a review Sigma 135-400 (not Nikon), and before it a review Tokins 70-200 (not Nikon), and before it a review Tamron 16-300 (again - not Nikon) but I made everything so that readers saw only Nikon, Nikon, Nikon and Nikon.
I give master classes for ambassadors Nikon, +38 (063) 52-70-333, Arkady :)
It’s time to become an ambassador
I have Canon, and my wife Sony - we still read all the articles, especially since the lenses are tested very different.
Another thing is that Arkady Nikon has, and in order to take the lens of another system for testing, he must find a camera of the same system.
Combining in real time three variables (sending the lens by the reader, borrowing the camera, free from work and home) is not an easy task, for example, I do not trust New Mail to send the camera and the lens at the same time. I have a sad experience knocking out the insured amount. And I would like to transfer my lenses for the test. Such are the difficulties.
So why? It's just wild for me, because in order to resolve the dispute between different systems, I have three systems, and each has pros and cons.
so what are your 3 Nikon systems?
they don’t do silly disputes here
Congratulations!
Congratulations, Arkady! Thank you for your work! I wish you success!
Not three Nikon systems, but each brand is a system. Nikon Canon, Fuji Pripyat is also Nikon and the third Pentax.
Arkady has reviews regarding all of these systems, including Sony, and more!
Cool blog, cool photos, cool reviews, interesting comments !!! Happy Birthday! Good luck and inspiration!
Happy Birthday! Thanks for the reviews, especially the budget optics. Thanks to you, I gathered a small park of Soviet optics and am very pleased with the results of the survey.
Photos from the last review are wonderful! Illustration to the words that any lens is just a tool. The price and class of optics are secondary compared to the skill of the photographer.
Warm friendly greetings from Russia! Thanks for the interesting and necessary site!
Happy Birthday" ! God help you for good deeds!