Nikon 50mm f/1.2 Nikkor AI-S Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by:

Bryan MacDonald
( Expert)

Review Date
September 15, 2008

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
3 votes

Review 1 of 16

Price Paid: $499.00 from Windsor Photo Outfit

Summary:

This is a truly amazing lens when used properly. At wide apertures, focus is absolutely critical due to the very shallow depth of field. I have made beautiful photographs with this lens. The images have a rich, full, almost "3D" quality which is really hard to adequately describe. Bokeh is beautifully "creamy" - better than any other lens that I've used so far. Build quality is second to none - solid metal construction with the buttery-smooth focusing that manual-focus Nikkors are famous for. Sharpness is excellent, but as I mentioned earlier, accurate focus is critical. To sum up: this is a fantastic lens that will make amazing images if you take the time to use it correctly. Mine is a keeper, and hopefully Nikon will soon introduce an AF-S (or even AF) version. When they do, I'll buy it!

Strengths:

Sharp, superb image quality and bokeh, superb build quality

Weaknesses:

No AF-S or AF version available... yet

Similar Products Used:

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

Customer Service:

Not required

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Rating
Reviewed by:

rechitansorin
( Expert)

Review Date
January 2, 2007

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 2 of 16

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

I bought it second hand, convinced by it s fair price. The first test revealed that the Nikkor 50mm f 1,4 AI-S I already owned was better wide opened. The Nikkor AI-S 50mm f 1,2 is quite soft at 1,2....due to the coma and the spherical aberration that also lowers the contrast. The corners of the image become sharp only at f4, while its f 1,4 brother gets the same results at f 2,8. The distortion is normal for 50mm and the built quality is very good, typical for Nikon lenses. It takes common 52mm filters.
Finnally, I think that this lens is outperformed by the slower concurrents. If you have one of them, do not pay the extra money for the heavier, bigger, brighter but not bettter 50mm f 1,2. Unless the price difference justify the temptation of making some test comparisons...as I did.

Strengths:

Built quality and still the optical performance.

Weaknesses:

Optical quality wide opened.

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor AI-S 50mm f 1,4
Micro Nikkor AI-S 55mm f 2,8
AF Nikkor 50mm f 1,8( the first version ), still the best 50mm Nikkor lens i ever used
SMC Pentax A 50mm f 1,4
SMC Pentax A 50mm f 1,7
SMC Pentax A 50mm f 2
SMC Pentax M 50mm f 1,7
SMC Pentax M 40mm f 2,8
Canon EF 50mm f 1,8
Minolta AF 50mm f 1,7
Minolta AF Macro 50mm f 2,8
Minolta AF Macro 50mm f 3,5

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Rating
Reviewed by: Larry Miller
(Expert)

Review Date
September 25, 2006

Overall Rating
3 of 5

Value Rating
3 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.20 of 5,
5 votes

Review 3 of 16

Price Paid: $300.00 from B&H

Summary:

If you want sharpness, great contrast & color and straight lines in your photos, this ain't it!! I've got both the 1.2 and the 1.8 AIS (1981-1985 version). The 1.8 is truly unbelievable. The 1.8 will blow you off your feet regarding it's performance. I'm about to submit a few shots to a magazine taken at the coast in the early morning and late afternoon. The colors are exactly as I remembered them with vivid detail in each shot. And it was a sight.. The resolution and straightlines in the 1.8 matches that of the 20MM F2.8 AIS I have. They two lenses are a pair that I take out wih me. Well, along with the 75-150MM F3.5. Perfection at it's best.....

Strengths:

If I shot at night this lens would probably be OK. In fact probably crucial.

Weaknesses:

Soft...much too soft!

Similar Products Used:

Nikkors from 20MM to 300M

Customer Service:

None needed.

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Rating
Reviewed by:

S K Photography
( Expert)

Review Date
May 19, 2006

Overall Rating
3 of 5

Value Rating
3 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
1.60 of 5,
1 votes

Review 4 of 16

Price Paid: $330.00 from Used

Summary:

Not a good fast lens. f1.2 and f1.4 are very poor. Internal flare is terrible. Ghosting is terrible. Not the low light tool you'd expect. Should evaluate other lenses.

Strengths:

Build quality. Nice bokeh. Good paper weight.

Weaknesses:

Not sharp wide open at any aperature. Never catches up to performance of a 50 f1.8, 55 f1.2, or 55 Micro. Expensive for used lens.

Similar Products Used:

50 f1.8 or 55 Micro.

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Rating
Reviewed by:

Javid
( Expert)

Review Date
February 16, 2006

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.80 of 5,
5 votes

Review 5 of 16

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

After using this lens I understood why people would pay $500 for a f/1.2 MF Nikkor rather than $100 for a f/1.8 AF Nikkor! The contrast and sharpness are absolutely fantastic. The bokeh is great as well. I used Fuji 200 Superia and Fuji 100 Pro Plus print films. The rendering of skin tones and shadow detail was outstanding. When the lens is used at f/2, the soft effect achieved is excellent for candid portraits. If you can, get it, and be prepared to be amazed!

Strengths:

Performs best at f/2.8 to f/8. Depth of field restricted to 3" at f/1.2, so focussing has to be precise. Shoot subjects at a distance of 5 to 15' for best results. Avoid shooting at infinity.

Weaknesses:

Tendency to flare when shooting into the light source. Field curvature, but this is common to all ultra fast 50 mm lenses. Expensive, but you get what you pay for!

Similar Products Used:

Nikon Nikkor f/1.4, f1.8 AF-D's

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