Help Me Identify This Nikon Lens

dahn8 · June 14, 2010

So, when I started learning photography some 5 or 6 years ago, my aunt gave me her old camera, a Nikon FA with a manual focus 50mm f/1.4 prime lens. It served well for all the classes i took

Because of the cost and time associated with film, I shot more with a D80 and this lens wouldn't meter so i kind of forgot about it. Well, I've since picked up a D700 and found that this lens can meter now :clap

I'm curious about this lens though. Does anybody know when it was made and how much it may be worth (is it worth keeping or are the newer autofocus 50mm primes better). Or does anybody know of some online sources I can use to find that out myself?

Thanks! Here are the pics (they've been taken with my camera phone so sorry if quality is lacking)

craig_d · June 14, 2010

That's a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S. At a guess, based on the serial number, I'd say that one was probably made somewhere around 1990, but it could be somewhat older than that (mid-1980s at the earliest, I think). It's an excellent lens if it's in good shape. I sometimes mount one on my Canon 5D Mark II (via a mount adapter). Mine is sharp as a tack and has NO visible chromatic aberration even when shot on a 21 MP full-frame digital camera (the 5D Mark II) and viewed at 100% on my computer. They're not worth a whole lot of money these days (maybe $300 if you're lucky), so you may as well hang onto it.

(edited to add additional details)

dahn8 · June 14, 2010

craig_d wrote: »

That's a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S. At a guess, based on the serial number, I'd say that one was probably made somewhere around 1990. It's an excellent lens if it's in good shape. I sometimes mount one on my Canon 5D Mark II (via a mount adapter). They're not worth a whole lot of money these days (maybe $300 if you're lucky), so you may as well hang onto it.

Wow! That was fast! Thanks for the info! I've always been curious about it and now i know

nightowlcat · June 14, 2010

According to http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html#50fast it says:

<table x:str="" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 632pt;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="839"><col style="width: 54pt;" width="72"> <col style="width: 59pt;" width="78"> <col style="width: 78pt;" width="104"> <col style="width: 54pt;" width="72"> <col style="width: 62pt;" width="82"> <col style="width: 115pt;" width="153"> <col style="width: 74pt;" span="2" width="98"> <col style="width: 62pt;" width="82"> <tbody><tr style="height: 23.25pt;" height="31"> <td class="xl24" style="height: 23.25pt; width: 54pt;" height="31" width="72">Type</td> <td class="xl24" style="width: 59pt;" width="78">Lens</td> <td class="xl24" style="width: 78pt;" width="104">Features</td> <td class="xl24" style="width: 54pt;" width="72">Scr</td> <td class="xl24" style="width: 62pt;" width="82">Start</td> <td class="xl24" style="width: 115pt;" width="153">Serial</td> <td class="xl24" style="width: 74pt;" width="98">End</td> <td class="xl24" style="width: 74pt;" width="98">Date</td> <td class="xl24" style="width: 62pt;" width="82">Qty</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 21.75pt;" height="29"> <td class="xl24" style="height: 21.75pt;" height="29">Ai-S</td> <td class="xl24">50/1.4</td> <td class="xl24">stepped nose</td> <td class="xl24">3+</td> <td class="xl24" x:num="">5100001</td> <td class="xl24">5101659 - 5858632</td> <td class="xl24">
</td> <td class="xl24">Jul81 - Dec05</td> <td class="xl24" x:num="">758632</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

Mitchell · June 20, 2010

I own that lens and love it. Works nicely on the D700

Help Me Identify This Nikon Lens

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