Overview

The Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AI-S is a classic manual focus lens originally introduced in the 1980s. It is still popular among photographers who appreciate its wide maximum aperture and excellent image quality.

Build Quality and Design

The lens has a solid metal construction and feels durable in hand. It weighs around 230 grams, which makes it relatively lightweight for a metal lens. The focus ring is smooth and well-damped, making it easy to focus manually. The lens has a standard filter thread size of 52mm and a metal lens hood.

Optical Quality

The Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AI-S has a fast maximum aperture of f/1.4, which makes it excellent for low-light photography and shallow depth-of-field portraits. The lens has seven elements in six groups and uses Nikon’s Super Integrated Coating to reduce flare and ghosting. It produces sharp images with excellent contrast and colors. Bokeh is also pleasing and smooth, thanks to the nine-bladed aperture diaphragm.

Performance

The lens performs well in a variety of shooting situations. It is excellent for portraits, street photography, and low-light situations. The manual focus requires some practice, but once you get used to it, you can achieve precise focus. The lens does not have image stabilization, so using a tripod in low-light situations is recommended to avoid camera shaking.

Compatibility

The Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AI-S is compatible with most Nikon F-mount cameras. However, it is a manual focus lens, so it does not have autofocus capabilities. This makes it best suited for photographers comfortable using manual focus lenses.