Nikon auto focus standard lenses

 

This chapter will be a short one as Nikon made two standard lenses with auto focus only!

BUT!: following its rival Canon Camera Corp. Nikon plans to introduce in 2008 a standard lens

AF-Nikkor 1.2/50 mm. FX-D-G

(auto focus, distance transfer, G-mount and full frame coverage!)

Stay tuned for the latest news!!

 

AF-Nikkor 1.4/50 mm and AF-Nikkor 1.8/50 mm.

Since most photographers are using either a standard zoom lens or a digital reflex camera + standard zoom lens, most standard lenses with a fixed focal length are overshadowed. The focal length of both mentioned and still available lenses are a bit too long for the use on a digital reflex camera. For portrait photography they are fine optics, although some field curvature may occur at short distances. Nikon Corporation never made a standard lens for its digital reflex cameras. Others - like the Sigma 30mm. - introduced standard lenses for digital cameras, but nearly all photographers are used to the wide range of zoom lenses that are available nowadays. And......it must be confirmed that Nikon Corporation produced and still produces very nice and needle-sharp zoom lenses with a large variety of focal lengths. Nevertheless both lenses mentioned here are very nice lenses, especially went it comes to low light or available light photography (e.g. in theaters, museums and places where flashes are not wanted). As there are no zoom lenses with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or larger these two relatively fast lenses are a must in every camera bag. The prices of both lenses - new or used - can´t be a point at issue.

 

AF-Nikkor 1.4/50 mm.

AF-Nikkor 1.4/50 mm. mounted on a Nikon F4

The history of this lens goes back to July 1950, when Nikon introduced a lens for its rangefinder cameras with the slogan ´faster than the 1.5/50 mm.´. The first autofocus version of this lens is introduced together with the first Nikon autofocus single lens reflex camera - Nikon F-501 - in September 1986. Of course this lens has a different optical and mechanical design and an advanced coating on all 7 elements (in 6 groups). This first AF-version is (unfortunately?) an all-plastic lens, although all lens elements are of optical glass. The aperture lock has to be turned, while of later versions that lock is a (sort of) switch. Manual focusing is difficult due to the very narrow focusing ring. In June 1991 a version is introduced with a wider focusing grip and the before mentioned aperture switch. Distances can be controlled behind a little window. Serial numbers of the first AF-version start at 2000001. In April 1995 Nikon introduces a newly designed lens (6 elements in 5 groups), although the external design remains nearly unchanged. Early 2000 the production of this lens starts in China; thus most older AF-lenses are ´made in japan´, while the later versions are ´made in china´ (from #4500001). The last version is a D-lens, indicating the distance data transfer in order to improve flash photography. Performance of all versions is just excellent.

 

AF-Nikkor 1.8/50 mm.

In 1986 Nikon Corporation introduces this lens together with the abovementioned lens and camera. The design is almost identical to the f/1.4-version. Its focusing ring is far too small, that´s why Nikon introduces a slightly redesigned lens in 1990. In February 2002 Nikon surprises the world of photography with a brand new design of the AF-Nikkor 1.8/50 mm.! BTW: the f/1.4-brother is still for sale! This beautiful, relatively cheap and needle-sharp lens is a D-version, useful for flash photography and matrix- and 3D-metering. Its performance at all apertures is excellent. Even for macro-photography - with or without a PK-11a macro-ring - this lens is better than its (a bit) faster brother.

For both lenses several hoods are available: HN-5, HN-6, HS-1, HS-2, HS-3, HS-5, HS-6, HS-7, HS-9, HS-11, HS-12, HR-1, HR-2 and HR-4. In the lens manuals not all hoods are mentioned, but as all hoods are made for the use on lenses with a focal length of 50 mm., they all will fit.