Lens ReviewMorten Byskov - 5050 TravelogJanuary 29, 2024Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S review, Nikon 50mm 1.4 review, Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S on Nikon Zf, Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 adapted to Nikon Zf2 Comments

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S and Nikon Zf

Lens ReviewMorten Byskov - 5050 TravelogJanuary 29, 2024Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S review, Nikon 50mm 1.4 review, Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S on Nikon Zf, Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 adapted to Nikon Zf2 Comments

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S on a Nikon Zf — A Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S mounted on a Nikon Zf using a K&F Concept Adapter

A Review of the Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S on the Nikon Zf

With its retro styling, the Nikon Zf almost begs to be used with older lenses. Lenses that are equipped with an aperture ring, where you rely on manual focusing. The Zf is a modern camera that will perform equally well with Nikon's expansive line of autofocus Z-mount lenses, but this is not the main reason I was drawn to it in the first place.

Having used many of Nikon’s SLR film cameras in the past, such as the Nikon FM2 and Nikon F3, I bought a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S a few years ago. Lately, I have been using it more and more with my modern mirrorless cameras.

Every time I do so I am surprised to see how well this lens does even though it was released more than forty years ago. Let’s see how it fares on the Nikon Zf.

The Nikon Zf with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S and KF Concept Adapter — The Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S mounted on a Nikon Zf using a K&F Concept Adapter

Specs and Handling

This paragraph was also posted in my review of the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S, when used with film cameras, but also applies here.

The Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S is a manual focus lens with a smooth focus ring, and the aperture is adjustable in full stops. The lens has 7 elements in 6 groups with 7 diaphragm blades and a filter diameter of 52mm, which is standard with a long list of Nikkor lenses from this era.

Weighing in at 8.69 oz, 246 g, and dimensions of 2.5 x 1.6", 63.5 x 40.6 mm, in my book, the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S is a perfect size, and it never feels bulky or cumbersome to carry around.

The focus ring is big enough that you never struggle to find it, and the rubberized grooves make it easy to adjust focus. The minimum focusing distance is 1.48", 45 cm.

A red delivery van in Chinatown, Vancouver. Sample image from a Nikon Zf and Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S. — Chinatown, Vancouver, Nikon Zf, Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S

Even though the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S dates back to 1981, you could purchase it brand new up until recently.

I bought my copy of the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S on the local buy-and-sell market for $120.00, and it offers terrific value for the money.

The lens is also widely available on eBay and often bundled with Nikon SLR cameras. It has been a very popular choice for Nikon cameras for decades, hence the supply is quite good.

The Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S adapted to a Nikon Zf — The Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S mounted on a Nikon Zf using a K&F Concept Adapter

Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 on the Nikon Zf

If you want to use the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S lens on a Nikon Z camera, you will need an adapter. If you already have Nikon AF-S autofocus lenses, it makes sense to pick up the Nikon FTZ-II, which costs $249.95.

Suppose you mainly use older manual focus Nikon F-mount lenses. In that case, you can get away with a more affordable “dummy” adapter— an adapter without electronic contacts that send information to your camera.

A list of these adapters is available from brands like Urth, Fotodiox, or TTArtisan. I picked one from K&F Concept as I have never had issues with any of their adapters. K&F Concept does not sponsor me. The cost is significantly less, at around $30.00, compared to $249.95 for the Nikon FTZ II.

A man with a backpack walk along Main Street in Vancouver. Sample image from a Nikon Zf and Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S. — Main Street, Vancouver, Nikon Zf, Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S

On the Nikon ZF, you can manually set data for three non-CPU lenses and enter the focal length and maximum f-stop of the lens, which then translates to your EXIF information for all images captured with this lens, regardless of which f-stop you captured the photo with.

It is not an ideal situation, but it somewhat alleviates not having any information at all. The trick is to remember to change between the three presets if you have more than one manual focus lens. I am certainly guilty of this, and for almost all the photos in this review, I forgot to change it; the images read 70mm f/1.8 instead of 50mm f/1.4.

With the adapter, the lens sits further away from the camera body (about an inch), and the aperture ring is now placed in the middle of the lens barrel. I still find the lens quite easy to operate, and the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S is still a relatively small lens. The camera-lens balance is not significantly affected by using the adapter.

The K&F Concept adapter weighs about the same as the FTZ II, so there is no weight savings by using this adapter. From a design perspective, I prefer the K&F Concept adapter. It looks more in line with older lenses, whereas the FTZ II seems very modern.

The Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S mounted on a Nikon Zf with a K&F Concept adapter. — The Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S mounted on a Nikon Zf using a K&F Concept Adapter

Manual Focusing

The EVF is excellent on the Zf, and in short to mid-range distances, I sometimes take the chance and capture photos without punching in first to magnify and check focusing.

However, a standard workflow calls for the focus check by punching in. I have dedicated a custom button for this, the AE-L/AF-L button. I don't use the AE-L/AF-L feature and find this position the best for me.

You can use subject detection, and even with a manual lens and adapter without electronic contacts, the Zf can highlight a face or eyes.

When you punch in, you will jump straight to the eyes of your model. Pretty cool. Unlike with the Voigtländer Z-mount lenses, unfortunately, you won’t get a green focus confirmation light. You will have to rely on your manual focusing skills and eyesight to nail accurate focus.

Adapting the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S to a Nikon Zf with a K&F Concept Adapter

Image Quality

The image quality from the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S is not on par with the Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 50mm f/2 Z-mount version, which I tested and have been using recently. It would have been too much to ask.

The Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S is a much older lens and does not benefit from modern lens design, construction, and coatings. With that said for the cost and considering its age I am positively surprised at how well it performs on a modern digital mirrorless camera such as the Nikon Zf.

At f/1.4, images are not sharp in the corners, and you'll have to live with some vignetting. But the lens sharpens up wonderfully as you stop it down. I most often use it in the f/2 to f/4 range and love the colors. I rarely find the need to look for presets or variations to get a great-looking image.

Lately, however, I've found myself using it more at f/1.4, especially for black-and-white photography. Sharpness is still decent in the center, and the lens's age lends itself to a nice vintage vibe in these images. While not perfect, there is a wonderful character to the files.

Below are two images, one captured at f/1.4 and one at f/2.

The sample images in this review can be viewed up to 2500 pixels wide, depending on your monitor size. Please click to view larger images or pinch-zoom if on your mobile phone.

A Mitsubishi van. Sample image from a Nikon Zf and Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S. — Nikon Zf, Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f/1.4

Conclusion

My conclusion starts with a wish. Imagine if Nikon manufactured lenses like the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S for the Z-mount and included electronic contacts, as Voigtländer has done.

Currently, Nikon produces SE lenses that resemble the look of older AI-S lenses. However, these lenses are autofocus and have a plastic mount, lacking an aperture ring, which can detract from the tactile experience of photography.

You could argue that Voigtländer already does an excellent job with the manual focus native Z-mount lenses. Still, I would wager that Nikon would do well by complementing what Voigtländer has already done, filling in gaps with focal length and f-stop combinations not yet seen, such as a 50mm f/1.4.

Nikon Zf with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S — The Voigtländer Nokton 40mm f/1.2 (Z-Mount) on the Nikon Zf

A couple of years ago, I contemplated selling my Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S, but I’m glad I kept it. It’s proven to be a good companion on Nikon SLR film cameras, my Fujifilm X-Series, and now Nikon Zf.

With its wonderfully smooth focusing ring, small size for an f/1.4 lens, and classic rendering style, it is hard to blame its imperfections, especially considering the price at which you can find this lens on the used market.

If you would like to see more from the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S, please check these two reviews:

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S on Nikon SLRs
Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S on Fujifilm X Series

A vintage car under winter cover in Vancouver. Sample image from a Nikon Zf and Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S. — Vancouver, Nikon Zf, Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S

Pros

Small size for a 50mm f/1.4 lens
Looks and ergonomics
Smooth focus ring

Cons

Image quality is not perfect at f/1.4

Please see more sample images below.

Price / Availability

Thank you for reading my review. If you are planning a purchase and would like to support us, you can do so, at no additional cost, by using the affiliate link below. A small commission goes to us and helps us keep the wheels turning at 5050 Travelog.

Check the current price at B&H Photo

Nikon Zf - B&H Photo

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