This is a lens I purchased on a whim. Although not a series E, it’s not the famed 50/1.8 all metal “pancake” either (with serial numbers starting with 2 – the Japanese model, aka mark I). This starts with 4, so it’s a later development/improvement of the E series, known as the 50/1.8 mark III (the American model). My experience with my old 50 lenses (1.4, 1.8 and 2) is brilliant, and I wanted to see what this lens can deliver. As a caveat, this particular lens rattles, it looks like the front barrel is a bit loose. Not an ideal situation, and I want to see if this rattly/wobbly thing affects the focus somehow. The focus throw itself is kind of too fluid for my taste. We’ll see.
Firstly, where the mark I is all metal, this is half metal, because plastic have been copiously used in its construction. Optically (glass wise), it is said the iterations of the mark I lens are the same (mark II and mark III). I haven’t checked this, but I will investigate this with the future films shot with both.
The good thing is the lens is somewhat lighter. Not much lighter, mind you, just a bit lighter. This is a good thing, I guess, when you carry an F2 all day. And it seems my Nikons fit much better in my Billingham with this lens on. To be honest, I do not see any reason why this lens should not perform well.
Am I using this Nikkor 50/1.8 mark III lens extensively on my cameras? It certainly has seen a lot of action, but selectively; it does not replace my other Nikkor 50 lenses. Certainly not the 50/2. For a few reasons that you probably know.
These here were shot with the lens aforementioned, mounted on a Nikon F3, Ilford HP5 400.
