Used Nikon 50mm f/1.2 Nikkor Ai-S Manual Focus Lens

2020-12-12T19:36:45

Wowza! This lens is spectabulous. I purchased this a year ago for my Nikon F3 35mm film camera and it is without a doubt the best lens in my kit. If you have only one lens, this is the one you should have.

Nickolas M.

Originally posted at

2020-10-30T15:23:30

I'm loving this lens so far. Bought a nice used one from Adorama. I've been testing it on my D850, and the sharpness is incredible. It's fun and weird to shoot wide open, too. I've also been shooting it on my FM3a but haven't developed the film yet.

Stewart W.

2018-04-16T15:38:12

F1.2. That's why i bought this lens. i'm so happy purchased. I love bokke & color.

sang l.

2017-09-04T20:00:00

I am using this Nikon 50mm f1.2 on my Nikon D750 and the results are just amazing. The quality of the optics, the bokeh quality, the low light performance and the overall quality are really pleasing. I really recommend anybody and any person who really would like to advance their photography skills to get this lens.

Promtlphotography

Originally posted at

2017-06-09T12:07:15

Everything good you've read about this lens on the internet is true. The bokeh is very lovely and the lens has a wonderful professional feel to it. The lens is probably a dream to use on a film camera with a split-prism focusing screen but, unfortunately, at the aperture for which most people would buy this lens, i.e. f/1.2, I found it extremely difficult to nail the focus based on the electronic indicators on my Nikon D750. Your use may vary, however, so I would still highly recommend trying this lens to see if you have better results with this stellar product.

Jonathan D.

2017-01-04T03:23:37

Superb! Very narrow focus plane at f/1.2, but when you get the subject in the right plane, it makes beautiful portraits.

AUSTIN S.

2016-08-24T20:00:00

It is wonderful that Nikon still makes simple, robust, all-manual lenses. Not only are they a pleasure to feel and hold, they are a pleasure to use. The 50mm Ai-S f/1.2 Ai-S not only takes great portraits and is superb for general photography, but you can reverse it (using the Nikon Nikon BR-2A Reversing Ring) and take macro shots at 1.1x using as a standard macro lens. Only the Nikkor all-manual lenses (manual aperture) give the user control of the f/stop while in the reversed position. They are priceless for this reason and give the user tremendous flexibility! Super-fast, exquisite portraiture ability, super clear and sharp stopped down, and then (flip it over) and you also have an awesome macro lens. What's more, this lens is built superbly and will last a lifetime. A great investment for sure!

JohnK007

Originally posted at

2016-05-27T03:32:04

I have owned two copies of this lens and it is truly one of the finest lenses I have ever used (through 21 years of pro photography). It is not for everyone though. It is manual focus, so requires a camera with at good viewfinder. At f1.2 the depth of field is so shallow that the image looks incredibly dreamy with just that tiny fragment of the image sharp. Nailing it takes practice...but when you do, wow. As soon as the lens is stopped down, it's a great performer. Sharp, contrasty with good colour rendition, for at lens design this old. It's built like a tank and a joy to hold and use. Focusing is firm and smooth. I have also used this lens for filmmaking, and it produces amazing images for film and video as well. See if you can find a HS-12 metal hood for it. If you like fast and accurate AF get the 50mm f1.4, optically it also a great lens...with AF.

PhotoHald

2016-01-17T14:39:34

This lens is unlike any other Nikon lens I have used in the past. Apart from being a beautiful piece of metal and glass, this lens produces images that are unique and blur the line between photographs and paintings. Pay close attention to light and the optical imperfections of this lens will add up to stunning, dream-like pictures. This lens requires practice - yes, you will get frustrated in the beginning if you are not used to manual focus as pictures have a high risk of coming out blurry if you fail to focus perfectly. Needless to say, the focal plane is paper-thin at f/1.2. However, the rewards far outweigh the challenges that come with this lens. Build quality and color rendition of this lens are flawless, the smudgy bokeh is ridiculously beautiful at large apertures and miles ahead of its praised f/1.4 competitors. Make sure that this lens is in line with your photographic direction and be prepared for having to master this lens to fully unlock its potential. I only ever shoot at f/1.2 or f/2.0 with this lens where it shines the brightest.

michael z.

2015-12-07T19:00:00

Amazing low light performance, ultra sharp, and incredible built quality! See it for yourself. In terms of built quality, this lens surpasses everything I tried. I own German glasses. Image quality is amazing! As to the low light performance, you will have to see it. I am used to f2.8 zooms. This is lens takes low light performance to a whole new level.

Jlee

Originally posted at

2015-08-17T20:00:00

I absolutely adore this lens! at 1.2 is it razor sharp at its focus point but has a buttery smooth fall off, thats accompanied by beautiful Bokeh! It looks absolutely beautiful on the Old Nikon Film cameras, such as the Nikon F3HP. Night time Street photography is brilliantly easy and looks beautiful! I would definitely buy this lens again, and would not hesitate to recommend it to others.

PhotographerMD

Originally posted at

2015-07-23T21:00:00

I love this lens. It's fabulously sharp and at F1.2 the shallow depth of field effect is just what I had hoped for! It is now an essential part of my FM2 setup. I have also used it with my D610 just to get an immediate idea of what it can and can't do and that was all I needed to prove it's worth! So nice to have a 50mm in my life again!

Puff-Davey

2014-12-22T19:00:00

If you do street photography or urban landscapes at night and cannot or do not want to use a tripod, this is the "go to" lens. I have owned this lens (or its 55mm predecessor) since about 1985. It has transitioned quite nicely to the digital age and I find I actually use it more than previously. Ran some tests on my D800 and decided that I was sacrificing little or nothing with regards to image quality versus slower normal lenses. Sure, there is some loss of contrast wide open, but when pure lens speed is needed, it doesn't matter if it allows you to get the shot. Stopped down, I don't see any practical difference compared to slower normal lenses. I put this lens on my D600 or D800 and never fear that I will run out of light when doing hand held available darkness night shots in the city. I have made shots in places where I could barely see. For selective focus, it is hard to beat. Small size and weight compared to most zoom lenses makes it easy to carry anywhere. A must have for the urban photographer on his/her feet.

Bronto48

Originally posted at

2014-11-12T19:00:00

This is an outstanding lens. The build quality is unmatched by todays plastic lenses. One other excellent feature is (a must in my opinion) the all metal HS-12 circular lens hood which snaps into my 52mm B&W XS-Pro MRC nano circular polarizer (or any other polarizer/filter). The polarizer can then be adjusted by rotating the hood. The 105mm Ais micro nikkor also uses 52mm filters and it's HS-14 metal circular lens hood also snaps onto the filter. I used the 50mm at F5.6 with the polarizer combo/hood on my D3X at an outdoor car show. The polarizer is great to cut down on glare. The images are razor sharp and colors are true and brilliant.

JohnT

Originally posted at

2014-10-04T20:00:00

Great quality and easy to use. Highly recommended for Portrait photography.

Jill

Originally posted at

2014-02-21T19:00:00

this is the sharpest and best 50mm lens you can get. focus is fast and smooth. Sharper at f2 than other 50mm lenses are at f3.5. sweet bokeh. A must for serious prime shooters. while I like the versatility of a zoom and ease of auto focus, this lens brought the fun back into photography. this lens will give you excellent results on every thing from an FTn through a D4 and every Nikon in-between. Note: I wear glasses and am over 60 and have no trouble focusing the 50mm f1.2 AIS on either a D2x or a D700.

KeithM

Originally posted at

2014-02-20T19:00:00

This lens is awesome. I fell in love with it within the first 5 minutes of using it. Paper thin depth of field at 1.2 and super sharp. The bokeh is incredible. Great for video too. Very cinematic looking, especially when racking focus. This is absolutely my favorite lens so far.

Andrew

Originally posted at

2013-07-22T21:00:00

In the past I've used the Nikkor 50/f1.8 and the 50/f2. This lens is head and shoulders above them, passing enough light for you to get the shot the others missed. It's been made for HOW many years now, and it's still selling strong. Great lens.

old m.

2013-03-22T21:00:00

My wife and I are beginning photographers with some experience and this is our first purchase of a lens seriously. We are happy with the purchase, is rock solid made ??in Japan. Full manual focus, fits perfectly in our Nikon D7000. This lens educates the photographer because this requires making the best of it to make the most of this lens. It is a very beautiful crystal, rare to find in a world of plastic.

LEONARDO M.

2013-02-04T19:00:00

amazing bokeh. The only disadvantage I notice so far is that minimum aperture is only F/16 not good for slow shuttle speed but anyway this lens is made as fast lens not slow lens.

Obiwankenobi

2013-01-25T19:00:00

Absolute must in your camera bag if you take photos at anytime day or night. The nine bladed aperture gives outstandingly sharp defraction spikes at f/4 to f/16.

gcm's e.

Originally posted at

2012-05-14T20:00:00

I've always wanted to own an f1.2 lens and I don't mind if it's manual focus for the sole purpose of shooting candid portraits in low light situation without the option of speedlights. I've spent days trying to mine this lens and finally after all the searching, I finally found a very mint one. The build quality is superb. It is rock solid and sure it's gonna last for years. It looks like the crystal clear glass and high grade metal body are both machined out from Nikon's factory to be a classic masterpiece lens. Shooting portraits at its widest aperture of f1.2 produces stunning, dreamy, soft, heavenly and ethereal looking photos I've seen so far. That is what the flavour of the lens offers. One of my friends said that my portraits look classic as the one she saw in Time and Life magazines.=) what a nice compliment.... I don't really recommend using this lens on a bright and sunny condition since modern DSLR's CMOS & CCD sensors are highly reflective and sensitive to light and to this bright lens leaving you overexpose images. Use this lens indoors, on overcast days, early morning and late afternoon shots and you'll be astounded by its capabilities. Highly recommended for normal lens shooting. It's not intimidating on streets photography as well thus subjects will appear calm and relax.

Nikonina N.

Originally posted at

2012-04-15T21:00:00

well-built, fast lens - i haven't tested it rigorously, but it seems very sharp at all f-stops. lack of af is difficult, but with katz-eye split screen focus, it's just like an 'old-fashioned' film slr.

RMB

2012-04-01T21:00:00

i love using this lens...course would be nice if it had a cpu, but small sacrifice. loses a bit at f/1.2 but much better at middle f-stops...

RMB

2012-02-19T19:00:00

The lens is excellent in terms of optics and mechanics, and it works very well on my F2 with its Type K focusing screen. If you expect the lens to afford you a brighter viewfinder and you shoot a modern digital camera, I would not recommend it because modern digital cameras have viewfinders and focusing screens that are optimized for a maximum aperture of f/2.8, and your finder will not become any brighter. If you expect the lens to afford you the ability to selective focus at close range with a wide-open aperture and you shoot a modern digital camera, I would not recommend it unless you upgrade your focusing screen to one with a split-image circle that makes precise manual focusing relatively easy. In short, this lens works very well with the cameras with which it was designed to work. Unfortunately, they are not modern digital cameras.

GARY R.

2012-02-16T19:00:00

Lens works great. Built very well. Wish it was AF, but on a d700 it focuses easily. Depth of field at f/1.2 is very shallow, but if you nail focus it looks great.

www.jeramphotography.com

2012-02-10T19:00:00

great build quality that's why i love nikkor manual focus lens, and I was surprised with the performance of this lens at F 1.2, its sharp! stopped down from F/2 this lens produces stunning picture quality. and i love F/ 1.2 aperture its give me extra speed in dim light.

kopi234

Originally posted at

2011-10-25T21:00:00

I'm using it on my D7000 and its just a great all around lensPerfect for portraits and getting that great bokehThis lens, coupled with my Tokina 11-16 is pretty much all i ever use now. It IS alittle soft when at 1.2. and since the DOF is so small at 1.2, it requires you to be very careful in focusing. Split Screen focusing screen (i got mine from [@]) helps alot and comes highly recommended.

Starnerd

2011-10-12T20:00:00

very good manual focus lens ever used. Does not focus well at f/1.2 and f/1.4 but I still like the glowing appearance of subject in image at these apertures. I use it both on D300, FM2n and F100. This lens is a build quality paradigm, manual focus is smooth.

vish

Originally posted at

2011-10-02T21:00:00

Well constructed, solid lens. The lens is extremely sharp at 2.0..I mostly use this for video.

fotokrish