Build quality is absolutely great! It's a miniature tank. I dropped it at least two times which it worked just as good afterwards. Great bang for the buck. Optics are great. This is my favorite lens that I own. Sharp lens, especially at f/2.8.

Wide open there is a little less contrast.

I absolutely love this lens! This lens is well worth the money. Well built. I've owned one for almost a year now. I dropped my first one in a lake accidentally and bought another directly after it. It's very compact and handles very well on my D3200. Optics are amazing. Pictures are great with lots of bokeh and sharpness. This is my go to lens that I use more than half of my shots. I would defiantly by another if I lost mine again. I love it!

none

very sharp at 1.8 , beautiful saturated colors , light weight , very very durable and heavy duty lense , low price ...
i dropped my slr once on concrete from a hight of 1.5 meters , the hit came directly at the lense , the uv filter was smashed into pieces , the ring was stuck inside the lense from the impact , i pulled it out carelessly with an iron tool convincing my self that this is a non working lense no more , that was in 2005
in 2009 the lense is still working like new , nothing affected it , still shining on my d3 and one of my favourits ...i know what iam taking about ...this is a valubale peice of glass

Optical quality is professional grade
Durable metal casing
Price is budget!!! (£50GBP)
Virtually maintenance free as design is simple.

None

For the price, this is "pancake lens" a very good lens. Strangely it is really compact, but that means there isn't much glass inside, but also means it's not complicated. So when Nikon made it and the results were good, you know it's going to last as it's not complicated and will less likely develop problems in the long run.
If you find a nice example, then hang onto it. Every photographer should have one.
There are other versions of this lens as well. There is the larger barrel version, AI and AI-s as well as the Series E. Larger barrel versions are longer and easily to control focus as the barrel is longer. I found the pancake has a slightly narrow focus ring which isn't rubberised. The longer barrel versions are just as good if not better in optical performance.
Series E is the budget model and i wouldn't recommend getting one over the other models, unless budget *really* is an issue. Build is not as good and performance isn't either.
Go get a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 manual, any one (apart from Series E), you deserve it!

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 Series E
Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AI, AI-s
Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AF

Build quality
focuses smoothly

None that I've found

I got this lens when my dad gave me his FM film camera. I currently use this lens with the Nikon Bellows set for copying slides & macro photography.

It is a very sharp lens, and it is build the way I wish the AF version of this was build. It doesn't feel like you'll break it if you drop it (which I have!)

The 1.8 aperture is great in low light. I mostly use this lens between F4-F16 for my slide copying work.

Customer Service

I've used their customer service a few times, and have been impressed each time.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 35mm 2.8 AIS, Nikon 50mm F1.8

Everthing about it!!

None noted.....

I agree with Ken Grooms listed here. The one to get is the one made from 1981-1985. Not the one shown here. The lens made from "81-'85, with the serial numbers shown by Ken is the sharpest lens I too have ever seen. And I'm a "sharp" freak when it comes to lenses. If it ain't sharp, IT'S GONE!!! I haven't seen any other 50MM F.8 that comes anywhere close. If you want tack sharp, this is the one.

Customer Service

Not Needed..

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Too many Nikkors to mention....

Everything. What else can I say?

Zero.

What can I say that hasn't already been said about this lens from previous posters? Every word they said is true. I bought this lens about a year ago and really haven't used it very much since then. On a recent trip to the coast, I decided to take that lens and that lens only on the trip (Unusual for me to take 1 lens only). Got the slides back yesterday and the sharpness, colors and contrast I saw made me take a seat. Hard to believe that little jewel can produce such art work. Hard to believe it's been stored away and not in use. Not anymore! It goes back in the photo bag. I took many shots vertically. Those shots could almost pass for a medium wide angle view. It's the colors that this lens produces that blow me away. I shot this lens consistently at F11. Earlly morning beach shots and late evenings shots were like an artists palette. I agree with one of the posters that the 50MM F1.8 to get is the one that was made from 1981-1985. I've shot with the other 50's. No comparison whatsoever!! This lens deserves more than a 5 start rating. So all I can say is take that 50 out and fall back in love with that "short telephoto".

Customer Service

None needed. Knock on wood......

Similar Products Used:

Numerous Nikkor products.

SHARPEST NIKKOR EVER MADE!

MF

Get the early edition of this (serial #31800xx-3300000), the larger metal early edition (1981-1985) - not the "pancake" later edition pictured here. IT IS THE BEST LENS I HAVE EVER USED!!!!!!!!!! Nature photographer Bjorn Rorslett, who tests practically every Nikkor ever made says: "The early version of the 50/1.8 is the sharpest normal lens I've ever seen on my D2X. The close-focus to 0.45 m comes in handy as well. Other people tell me the more recent versions are less spectacular and I tend to believe them, since the AF 50/1.8 is a little uneven in its performance ."

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Nikon AF 50mm f/1.4D Nikon AF 50mm f/1.8D

Sharp. Versatile focal length. Easy to focus thru the viewfinder.

F1.8 is not F1.4. Also, why not just call it F2? The 1/3 stop thing is annoying.

Suprisingly good. You will be amazed at its sharpness and general ability. Good flare control. I had two of these at one time. The price is great too.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Most all Nikon lenses, including 50mm F 1.4.

Optical performance, smooth focusing, build quality (considering the price).

None

What a suprise! I bought this lens as a 'hole' filler on my F3HP which I use for fun (I am all digital for work) and when I saw the results I couldn't believe the image quality. Pin sharp, good contrast, brilliant colours, I use this lens far more now than I thought I would. Although it has the plastic focusing ring the build quality is adequate for most applications. The performance is what makes this lens such good value for money.

Customer Service

Not used

Similar Products Used:

So many other 50mm lenses over the years from Nikon, Olympus, Canon etc etc.

all!!!###

None

For me its is not a Normal lens! Used correctly youll get very very sharp pics almost more sharp than anything else.! beware of it; its very hard on teenagers acny faces! well,go find a good Nikkormat or FM cam house and put a black /white film in it and make art!..enjoy best regards Christian M Fisker

Customer Service

no

Similar Products Used:

all kind og different classic 50 mms from canon pentax leica e.q