Nikkor 50 1.4 AI, right?

[Yannick Hagman]

Someone wants to sell me that for 45$ It looks as it is a AI, right?

 

[Steve Gibby]

Someone wants to sell me that for 45$ It looks as it is a AI, right?

Actually there's better news for you on that lens - it is an AI-S version - an incremental upgrade from AI that started in 1981 - better lens coating, and other minor upgrades from AI. The feature that identifies it as an AI-S lens is the small horseshoe shaped cutout in the bottom of the lens mount. It should also have the highest and lowest aperture numbers on the aperture ring in orange - either of your pictures show the side of the lens.

EDIT: see my next post

 

[Yannick Hagman]

Thanks a lot Steve!

 

[Steve Gibby]

Happy to help Yannick...

In searching a database on Nikon lenses, it now appears that your lens is in fact AI, rather than AI-S. Sorry for the false hope - AI lenses can be very good though.

In tracking the serial number on your lens, 4158888, it is AI, probably made around June 1981, just before Nikon rolled out the AI-S upgrades to the 50mm f/1.4.

Here is a link to a handy Nikon lens serial number database that will help you as you buy Nikon lenses, old and new:
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html#85

For your lens, when you get on the database, scroll down to Ai 50/1.4, and look across the line for your serial number. You can also click on the linked blue "50/1.4" and bring up a picture of the bottom of your lens.

For what the guy is asking ($45) how can you go wrong? I'd say buy it if you need it.

 

[Eren Ozkural]

Absolutely fantastic for $45. Get it. It's main advantage over the 1.8 besides low light performance is that it's sharper at f2. At f4 they're the same. FYI if you were comparing.

 

[Yannick Hagman]

I almost though it, because I saw a pin-loop for focal lenght info on the mount of the Ai-S

I will get it. It's a bargain and will do fine on my FM2n body. 28mm 2.8, 50mm 1.4, 135mm 2.8 only 35mm 2.0 missing.