Sharpness, contrast, distortion-free, compact, value for money.

Lack of solid feel.
Although made of polycarbonate, the earlier (or earliest versions) AF-Nikkors tend to have more solid feel and have metallic filter threads.

I have been a fan of 50mm since I knew how to take photos. I have tried the various versions of Nikkor 50mm f1.8, from the earliest MF to the current AF.
The Nikkor 50mm f1.8 is particularly confusing since it has many versions : 1 not for sale in Japan and 1 is for sale in Japan only. Also Nikon refined their design during the years - but not necessarily giving the consumer the best optics, but in terms of better profits for them. Using lesser grade specs/materials but giving them better return. Hence the latest design is not the best optical performer.
This tends to concur with the current view that the golden age of Japanese 35mm SLR manufacturing & technology lies between the mid-1970s and the mid-1980s. I am not saying that the lenses & cameras of today is not good, but that the effort and attention to details at those times were unmatched. A good example is the legendary F2. Nikon can still make it today, but they won't -- simply because it is not profitable enough. Their F5 today, though excellent, cannot be described as legendary as the F2. Nikon can make a F5 as lengendary as the F2, but they won't.

This Nikkor 50mm f1.8 is a good example, too.
Of all the versions, the best is the 50mm f1.8S (Short barrel, Japanese version). This one was sold only in Japan for a limited time (ended before mid-1980s). Next best is the Nikon AIS 50mm f1.8 (Long barrel). Both optics were multi-coated and were of impeccable mechanical constructions. Both were able to focus down to 0.45m.
(In fact, Nikon's official web-page at http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/eng/society/nikkor/n02_e.htm ranks the Japanese Short Barrel version, as the best of 50mm f1.8)
The Nikon AIS 50mm f1.8 (Short barrel, US version) which focus to only 0.6m, ie the current one on Nikon's MF catalogue, is optically the same as the current AF version - but the coating is different between the two. It is doubtful whether these 2 lenses have the traditional Nikon multi-coating (green reflections). The series E is known to be non-MC and exhibits more flare problems.
The Nikoma authority, Dr Hiura, did a comparison between
Nikon AIS 50mm f1.8S (Short barrel, Japanese version) - now discontiued and is fetch an increasing price on the 2nd-hand market in Japan,
Nikon AIS 50mm f1.8 (Short barrel, US version, current version), and
Nikon AF 50mm f1.8 (current version)
(See his web-page at http://www.ne.jp/asahi/shinsaku/hiura/nikomat/lens/5018/index.html, in Japanese).
The web-page has many photos showing the external differences among the lenses.
He also posted samples photos taken by these 3 lenses in terms of flare and center-resolution.
His findings showed that the best in terms of flare control is the Japanese Short Barrel version, then comes the current MF AIS version and the last is the current AF version.

My experience with these lenses are, unless you push it to the limits and exposing it to high flaring conditions, the differences are not noticeable. By the way the Nikkor is not very much different from the famed Summicron 50mm f2 -- at least not worth the price difference.
The image quality and resolution is excellent by all accounts.
Consider the price, it is a very good bargain indeed. The various versions of Nikkor 50mm f1.4 is not as good as the 50mm f1.8 (the old versions with green relections off the coated surfaces).
However, if you can find those good 50mm f1.8 second-hand, get them (they are extremely hard to find).
Contrary to the general trend, if you can master (whether you like it is a different story) the humble 50mm lens and take good (or great) pictures using it, you can advance your photographic skills to a higher level. See how much effort Leica has put into producing their various famous 50mm.
I propose to reert the trend, for SERIOUS begineers in photography, use the 50mm as their first lens, not the zoom.

Customer Service

Never used. I send my equipment to service/repair shop opened by ex-Nikon technician. This I know my equipment is attended to by the most experienced person, not apprentice technician or less-experienced technicians (the better ones tend to open their own business). Also they charge less in order to be competitive to the official one.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon E 50mm f1.8, Nikon AIS 50mm f1.8 (Short barrel, US version), Nikon AIS 50mm f1.8S (Short barrel, Japanese version), Nikon AIS 50mm f1.8 (Long barrel), Nikon AF 50mm f1.8, Nikon AIS 50mm f1.4.

Optically it challenges Leica. I don't say this lightly. I rented a Summicron M and compared results at middle apertures to my Nikon 50 1.8. I found that the Nikon won the contest--not by a lot, but it did seem sharper under a lupe. It really is a superb lens. Remember Leica M at $1,000 vs. Nkon AF at $80.

Manual focus is awful. But that won't matter if you don't use it in manual. Most people won't.

It is a wonderful lens that performs magic at most apertures. I'd pay extra for better build quality. Handle a Pentax 50 to see what I mean. Pentax's 50 1.7 sells for $139, much more than the Nikon and is much better made. Optically the Pentax is great too, really great. 5 stars does not do it justice.

Customer Service

I sent back a cheap zoom with a plastic mount and the fixed it rapidly for free out of warranty with apologies. I's say customer service is superb.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 50 chrome barrell, 50 ais 1.8, 50 ais 1.4.

Top optical quality
Fast speed
Light weight
Priced right

A shorter closest focus distance would be better

I own this marvelous lens since 1987. Unbelievable sharp and constrasy for the price. It used to be my only lens untill 1994 when I bought the 28/f2. The sharpest Nikkor I ever used and it's still in my photobag.

Customer Service

None needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 28/f2 AI'd
Nikon 35/f2 AF
Nikon 75-150/f3.5 E
Nikon 300/f4 AF EDIF

Lightweight
Sharp
Great Color
Excellent value
At first when you hold it, you think, oh great, this thing will break in a few months because it feels so plasticky. Boy, were we wrong.

Not here

I honestly thought this would be a crappy (relatively) little lens. I thought wrong, way wrong. I initally tried because it was in my girlfriends bag. I used it once for some street scenes. It was in my bag that next day. Lack of D technology a non factor. Only possible time it would matter is with flash, but do you really need a flash with a f/1.8 lens? This is a graet lens. I would buy it at almost any price. I especially like when shootinh B&W film.

Customer Service

Not once

Similar Products Used:

60mm Micro Nikkor
50mm f/1.7 Pentax
Leica 50mm f/2 Summicron
50mm f/1.4D Nikkor

Sharp, fast and cheap - A rare combination indeed

None

My first lens. I thought that I would sell it once I learnt the basics of photography. Now I know I never will. I love it for its sharpness and speed.

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None

Decent build, quick AF, cheap, and great optics- this is one of the sharpest Nikkors I've used, for under $100! A hugely underrated focal length, as well.

manual focus ring isn't bad, but could be better.

You should have one. This lens should be required of Nikon students. It;s cheap and so good, why not?

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 28-70

This lens holds all the factors a beginning photographer should be looking for, it's sharp, it's simple, and it is CHEAP! The autofocus is fast, and this will continue to be my low-light lens as my lens collection grows

I have not had a single problem with this lens

Any photographer should have a normal lens, and I feel it should still be the first lens a new photographer should learn on. The normal perspective is still great for wide portraits and candids. With the low cost of this lens (street price under $100), this lens should be in every Nikon photographer's bag.

Customer Service

Not Needed

Similar Products Used:

None

small little bugger, sharpness makes me want to sell my bad lenses,'close' focusing,easy to focus,stealth- makes my SLR "lightweight"- yeah, right. AND I got it used along with a junk body- got rid of the body, this lense is a keeper!

no- nikon stuff is all keepers.

So small, so perfect, so real- makes you think about the image, not about equipment. When you know you have technically superb equipment, you can focus on the subject, not on the tools. Pictures have that fine line sharpness, makes low light photography 'possible', wide aperature isolation possibilities- what other lense do 'normal' people have that can do all this?

Similar Products Used:

canon fd 1.8- my nikkor 1.8 has a little edge fungus, but the prints look sharper.

This lens is great!! Cheap, fast and sharp!

None

Buy this lens. For less than $90, you'll get a fast normal lens that produces sharp results. Good also if you like to focus manually. Easy to carry, compact and lighweight.

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None

Very Sharp, also cheap (70 usd aprox).

none

Great lens!!!!

Customer Service

Poor in Mexico City, never used it with this lens though.

Similar Products Used:

Canon´s EF 50mm f1.8