AIS Nikkor 50 mm f/1.8 E

The first AI version of the 50/1.8 appeared in 1978 and replaced the glorious 50 mm f/2. In the same year, the cheaper E-series lens was introduced together with the Nikon EM. The E lens was smaller than the all-metal AI brother and very lightweight (135 g instead of 220 g) due to the plastic barrel. The aperture prong for older, "pre-AI" cameras was missing. 

In march 1980 Nikon intoduced the AIS version of the 50/1.8 lens, with serial numbers starting from 3135001. This lens focused down to 45 cm. One year later, the production of the AIS version of 50/1.8 E started. This new lens was an improvement of the previous E-series 50 mm lens. In fact, it had a more solid metal barrel (weight increased by 20 g) and the chrome ring between the focusing and aperture rings allows to easily identify it (see picture above). Differently from the other Nikkor lenses, the 35 mm, 50 mm and 100 mm lenses belonging to the E-series did not employ the Nikon Integrated Coating (NIC) of the glass elements, which only had single coatings.

In 1985 Nikon introduced the F-301 together with a new, more compact version of the AIS 50/1.8, which was rather similar to the discontinued 50/1.8 E, with the exception of the NIC coating. This lens is still available and the AF version share the same design and performance.

I bought my 50/1.8 E just to get high magnification (4X) pictures. In fact, it works fine when reversed on my AIS 200 mm f/4 (click here to see more). Nevertheless, due to its high quality I often put it into my bag and use it for landscapes, cityscapes and a wide variety of other subjects. It's the lens in my arsenal with the highest quality-to-weight ratio, definitely!

Forca d'Acero (Abruzzi National Park)

Text & images © Copyright 2000 Riccardo Polini