Nikon NIKKOR-S Auto 1:1.4 f=50mm Nippon Kogaku Non-Ai Lens (f/1.4)

Overall Rating:

Nikon, unhappy with the optical performance and focal length of the Nikkor-S Auto 5.8cm/1.4 of 1960, decided to design a better performing 50mm version — the NIKKOR-S Auto 1:1.4 f=50mm. It was released in 1962 with much fan fare among F system owners.

This is a Nikkor-S which means it has seven elements. The focus ring still feels fluid after all these years. The construction of these lenses is excellent. There's nothing like it today.

This lens is made in Japan. It has distance markers in feet and meters and has an infrared focus index. It has depth of field and focus scales and it stops down to f/16 with a seven-bladed diaphragm. This is a pre-Ai lens meaning it will not fully work on most modern Nikon cameras. It is single-coated and as such its images are not as contrasty as those from a multicoated lens.

The performance of this lens is better than that of the Nikkor-S Auto 1:2 f=5cm Nippon Kogaku pre-AI plus it has a f/1.4 stop to allow more light in. It is sharp at f/1.4 but very low in constrast. The bokeh is nice and creamy especially at f/2.8 or faster. Distortion is well controlled.

Color fringing detail at 3-to-1:

This lens exhibits infrared hot spots at smaller apertures.

The bokeh is nice particularly wide open. When stopping down the bokeh will suffer if there are points of light in the frame.

Diffraction begins around f/8. This lens is sharpest across the frame at f/8.

• Focal length: 50mm
• Maximum aperture: f/1.4
• Minimum aperture: f/16
• ø52mm filter ring
• Lens construction: 7 lens elements in 5 groups
• Picture angle: 46° (Full Frame)
• Distance scale: 0.6m/2ft. to infinity with infrared focus index
• Price: $150 (USD) (1965)

Related links:

• Nikon Nikkor Lens Reviews
• All Lens Reviews