AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AF-D

Nikon 50mm f/1.8 D

Introduction

Intro Specifications Performance Recommendations

This is Nikon's latest 50mm lens which replaces the 50mm f/1.8 AF (non D). It sells for only about $125 and is super sharp. See it compared to lenses costing 15 times as much at my Nikon Pro Normal Zoom Comparison. It is as sharp or sharper!

This unassuming lens is the best budget choice for a D3 or D700, much better than any zoom, to get you the fast autofocus, great low-light performance and the sharpness for which you bought a D3 or D700 in the first place. If you do buy one of those expensive cameras, consider as well the 50mm f/1.4 version.

Compatibility

As a traditional AF lens (not gelded as a G), it works with every Nikon ever made, digital and film, auto and manual focus.

It's a full-coverage FX lens, so it works great on FX digital, DX digital and film. It works especially well on the Nikon D3 and D300.

It won't autofocus on the cheapest digital like the D40 or D40x, but it won't autofocus on an F3 either! For autofocus on the cheapest digitals, get the 50mm f/1.8 G.

See Nikon Lens Compatibility for details for older cameras. See the "AF, AF-D" column.

Production History

This AF 50mm f/1.8 D was introduced in 2002 to replace the non-D version. It is still in production as of 2007.

Nikon has made over 400,000 of these through 2007.

Specifications top

Intro Specifications Performance Recommendations

Name

Nikon calls this the Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 D.

Optics

6 elements in 5 groups, a classic design.

Multicoated; the non-D version wasn't.

Diaphragm

7 straight blades. Stops down to f/22.

Close Focus

1.5 feet (0.45 meters).

Focus Scale

Yes.

Depth-of-Field Scale

Yes.

Infra-Red Focus Index

Yes.

Filter Thread

52mm.

Plastic.

Does not rotate.

Size

1.541" extension from flange by 2.505" diameter (39.14 x 63.62mm), measured.

Nikon specifies 1.5" (38mm) long by 2.5" (64mm) around.

Weight

5.543 oz. (157.1g), measured, naked.

Nikon specifies 5.5 oz. (155g).

Hood

HR-2 rubber hood, sold separately for about $15.

Nikon Product Number

2137.

Price

2010: $125.

2008: $115

Performance top

Intro Specifications Performance Recommendations

Sharpness

It is among Nikon's sharpest lenses ever. See my Nikon Pro Normal Zoom Comparison in which I show examples. It's shaper than any $1,800 zoom.

Christmas, California Desert. D7000, f/8 at 1/250, ISO 100. original © BASIC JPG.

Cactus, California Desert. D7000, f/8 at 1/250, ISO 100. original © BASIC JPG.

On a D3 it is sharp and contrasty in the center at every aperture.

In the corners on a D3, spherical aberration makes it a bit less contrasty (but still well defined) at f/1.8, and it's just about perfect by f/4.

The only difference between this and the 50mm f/1.4 D and 50mm f/1.2 AI-s is that the faster lenses become sharper at f/2, but all are the same by f/4. The faster lenses also cost two to four times as much and have more distortion.

MTF Curve, specified, f/1.8.

Compared

The manual-focus Voigtländer 40mm f/2 is better-made and sharper than any of the Nikon 35mm f/2 AF-D, 45mm f/2.8 AI-P or 50mm f/1.8 AF-D.

To show this, here are crops from the top right corner of 100% FX 12MP (D3 or D700) images:

Printed full-image at this size, these would be about 42 x 28" (105 x 70cm) prints, at least as seen on most 100 DPI computer monitors.

You'll never see this much difference in actual photos among these all-excellent lenses; in this case, I shot them in a way that would exaggerate the differences as much as possible.

Focus

AF is very fast on every camera. One full turn of the AF screw focuses the lens from infinity to 6 feet (1.8m).

It will not autofocus on the D40 or D40x; turn the focus ring and look for the electronic focus confirmation dot in the lower left of the finder.

Distortion

Like all of Nikon's 50mm f/1.8 lenses, this has almost no distortion. Its distortion is so low that it was never visible in film days, and I only can see it today in digital by blowing up images to the equivalent of 6 feet (2m) wide on a computer screen and dropping an electronic straight edge on them, and then only if I deliberately shot a test.

Plug these figures into Photoshop CS2's lens distortion filter to correct the distortion. These aren't facts or specifications, they are the results of my research that requires me to climb a bluff on a very clear day and shoot the ocean's horizon.

© 2007 KenRockwell.com

Mechanics and Construction

Made in China!

Filter Threads

Plastic.

External Barrel

Plastic.

Focus Ring

Rubber-covered plastic.

Aperture Ring

Plastic.

Markings

Paint.

Lens Mount

Metal.

Internals

Seem like metal.

Noises when Shaken

Minor clicking (diaphragm blades).

Serial Number

Printed on a label which is glued into a recess on the bottom of the barrel.

Made in

China. The 50mm f/1.8 D has always been made in China. Its optical performance is as good or better than Japanese-made zooms costing fifteen times as much, so there.

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