Data sheet: Nikkor AF-S 50 mm f/1.8 G

Pekka Buttler, 08/2024

Specifications

The table below summarizes the lens’ key specifications (measurements based on pictured sample):

Brand:	AF-S Nikkor	Lens name	50mm 1:1.8 G
Focal length(s)1	50 mm	Angle-of-view2	46°
Maximum Aperture	f/1.8	In Production	2011–
Lens mount	Nikon F	Subfamily (if applicable)	AF-S
Length3	52,5 mm	Diameter4	72,3 mm
Filter ring diameter	58 mm	Weight	183 grams
Lens element count	7	Lens group count	6
Aperture blades (S/R/C)5	7 R	Focus throw	90 °
Minimum focusing distance	45 cms	Maximum magnification	1:6,7
Has manual aperture ring	NO	Has Manual focus ring	YES
Aperture mechanism type	N/A	Aperture click stops	N/A

Further notes:
• This lens is by no means a legacy lens, but as JAPB sometimes uses it as a reference lens, covering it (in the form of a data sheet) makes sense.
• Being an AF-S lens (and a G≈gelded lens to boot) the lens has an internal autofocus motor and lacks an aperture ring.
• The lens was introduced rather late (2011), considering that its role is to act as nifty fifty for all those Nikon dSLR bodies that do not have an integrated focus motor.
• When used on a fully compatible camera, the lens offers two focusing modes: a manual mode (no autofocus) and an autofocus mode with the possibility for manual override (just grab the focus ring and adjust focus).
• The lens does not change shape when focusing (only the inner barrel moves when focusing)
• The lens’ filter threads do not rotate on focusing.
• The lens sports a bayonet for mounting a lens hood (Nikon calls the dedicated hood the HB-47).

A brief genealogy of Nikon SLR lens types

Nikon is undoubtedly one of the great names in 35 mm SLR photography. The Nikon F mount has been in continuous production since 1959. During that time, the mount has developed/changed in some detail, however without ever fully sacrificing compatibility.

In short (a longer version is here), the development of Nikon’s SLR lenses can be traced as follows:
• 1959–1977: Pre-Ai. Manual focus lenses that use ‘rabbit ears’ to communicate selected aperture with the camera body.
• 1977–1986: Ai and Ai-s. Manual focus lenses that may have ‘rabbit ears’ for backward compatibility, but are designed to communicate selected aperture with the camera body through indentations in base of aperture control ring.
• 1986–today: AF and AF-D. Autofocus lenses that do not have a focusing motor within the lens, but rely on the focus motor within the camera. All AF and AF-D lenses are simultaneously Ai-s lenses (they are Ai-s lenses extended with AF) ⁶
• 1996–today AF-S and AF-P. Autofocus lenses that have an internal focusing motor and do not rely on the body having a focusing motor.

What camera manufacturer would not have a nifty fifty in their line-up? Interestingly, from the launch of the Nikon F system (1959) ever until the launch of the Ai 50 mm f/1.8 (1978), Nikon’s take on a nifty fifty was a 50 mm f/2 lens (for a run-down of that genealogy, see this data sheet). But with the introduction of the Ai 50 mm f/1.8 in 1978 [data sheet], Nikon upped its nifty fifty to f/1.8, thus gaining parity with most of the industry.

During the following decades a great many variants have been produced. To add some potential for confusion to the mix, some models were made for export markets, other for Japanese domestic markets. There was also a variants that clearly aimed for the ‘pancake’ mould. For a chronological summary of Nikon’s 50 mm f/1.8’s see below:

years	Series	optical construction	aperture blades	MFD	notes, links
1978–1982	Ai	6 elements in 5 groups	7, straight	0,45 m	[data sheet]
1979–1981	series E	6 elements in 5 groups	7, straight	0,6 m	pancake, all-black design
1980–1982	Ai-s	6 elements in 5 groups	7, straight	0,45 m	pancake, for Japanese market
1981–1985	series E	6 elements in 5 groups	7, straight	0,6 m	pancake, silver-ring design [data sheet]
1981–1985	Ai-s	6 elements in 5 groups	7, straight	0,45	for export market
1985–2005	Ai-s New	6 elements in 5 groups	7, straight	0,6	pancake, plastic focus ring [data sheet]
1986–1990	AF	6 elements in 5 groups	7, straight	0,45	plastic focus ring [data sheet]
1990–2001	AF new	6 elements in 5 groups	7, straight	0,45	rubber focus ring
2002–today	AF-D	6 elements in 5 groups	7, straight	0,45	new barrel design [data sheet]
2011–today	AF-S; G	7 elements in 6 groups	7, rounded	0,45	no aperture ring [this lens]
2018–today	Z	12 elements in 9 groups	9, rounded	0,4

Adapting

Besides adapting, this lens can be used natively on all Nikon dSLRs and some Nikon SLRs⁷. Furthermore, using a Nikon FTZ adapter on a Z-class Nikon Mirrorless body the lens will have its full functionality.

The lens can be adapted to a wide range of mirrorless cameras, assuming the adapter allows the manipulation of the lens’ aperture lever (the lens itself lacks an aperture ring). Problematically most such adapters detents do not correspond to full stops, but the lens remains somewhat usable. Luckily the lens has a manual focus ring, hence it does not necessitate a smart adapter.

While Nikon F lenses can ordinarily be used on non-Nikon SLRs and dSLRs this is not the case with G lenses (the lens will always be set for minimum aperture).

Footnotes

1. Focal length is (unless stated otherwise) given in absolute terms, and not in Full-frame equivalent. For an understanding of whether the lens is wide/tele, see ‘Angle-of-view’. ↩︎
2. Picture angle is given in degrees and concerns the diagonal picture angle. Rule of thumb:
   > 90 ° ==> Ultra-wide-angle
   70–90 ° ==> Wide-angle
   50–70 ° ==> Moderate wide-angle
   40–50 ° ==> ‘Standard’ or ‘normal’ lens
   20–40 ° ==> Short tele lens
   10-20 ° ==> Tele lens
   5-10 ° ==> Long tele lens
   < 5 ° ==> Ultra-tele lens ↩︎
3. Length is given from the mount flange to the front of lens at infinity. ↩︎
4. Diameter excludes protrusions such as rabbit ears or stop-down levers. ↩︎
5. S=straight; R=rounded; C=(almost)circular at all apertures. ↩︎
6. There is a further sub-class of AF-D lenses called AF-I lenses that are otherwise AF-D lenses (meaning, fully Ai-s compatible), but have an internal focus motor. Only long tele lenses were made in AF-I variants. ↩︎
7. As of this writing, the following Nikon film SLRs fully support autofocus and aperture setting on G lenses (even though other features such as VR may not work): F5, F6, F55, F60, F65, F75, F80, F100, F401s. Moreover, pretty much all Nikon AF SLR (with the exception of the 501s) allow using G lenses in a limited (to shutter priority and program auto) fashion. ↩︎