Nikon · Nikon F (AI / AI-S) · 1977–1981
Nikon's first f/1.4 standard lens for the F, the Nikkor-S Auto of 1962, was Zenji Wakimoto's design. In 1975 his student Yoshiyuki Shimizu redid it with new, higher-index glass and a split front pair, and that New Nikkor optic is what's in this 1977 AI version. Nikon says the design stayed basically the same from the F2 era to the F5. Testing it on a Zf with the FTZ II, Nikon's designer found high resolution with some flare at f/1.4, much less flare one stop down, and the sharpest results from f/5.6 to f/11. He recommends f/2.8 for portraits. Bokeh is smooth in soft light but can show hard-edged highlights against busy, backlit backgrounds, and he saw no swirl. On a mirrorless body it's a compact fast fifty, and on APS-C it frames like a 75mm portrait lens. It works on Nikon's FTZ adapter with stop-down metering.
On a mirrorless camera
It’s a Nikon F (AI / AI-S) lens, and its mount sits 46.5 mm from the film. Every mirrorless mount below sits closer than that, so a plain adapter ring fills the gap and the lens still focuses to infinity. On a smaller sensor it frames tighter, like a longer lens.
Versions
The 1975 New Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 introduced the 7-element, 6-group optics this AI version uses, and the 1981 AI-S kept them in a slimmer barrel with an orange f/16 and a shorter focus throw. Earlier Nikkor-S Auto 50mm f/1.4 lenses from 1962 are an older 7-element, 5-group design that focuses only to 0.6 m. A pre-AI lens that was AI converted has a new aperture ring on the old barrel, and Nikon lists AI-modified lenses as FTZ compatible.
Haze, fungus and oily aperture blades are the common age faults on fast fifties like this one. It has a cemented doublet in the rear group, so look for separation at the edges.
New to old glass? How to check a used vintage lens covers haze, fungus and the rest in detail.
Buying guide
We'd buy a Japan dealer's Near MINT copy at $120 delivered, the bottom of the band, or pay $165 for one titled serviced. There are at least 29 for sale and most ask $120–180 delivered, mostly from Japan dealers, while US sellers here ask $98–136 for working copies. On a true AI the aperture ring has a metering ridge and an f/16 that isn't orange, and a few listings are older New Nikkors that were AI converted, which shouldn't cost more than a native AI. Ask for a flashlight photo through the back for haze, fungus or separation in the cemented rear pair, and skip the seller whose $106 TESTED listings show a truck and a costume party instead of the lens. It needs a Nikon F adapter, and Nikon's FTZ works with it on a Z body; the model page lists the adapters by camera.
$97.90est. delivered
The lowest delivered lens here, a US copy with caps at $98 delivered. The seller calls it user condition, so expect barrel wear and ask for a flashlight photo through the back.
Nikon Nikkor 50mm f1.4 AI (Ai) Manual Lens (418xxx) in User Condition
![[Near MINT] Nikon Ai Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 MF Lens for FA,FE2,FM2,FM3A,F5,F6 JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/2zoAAeSw7fpqwnp7/s-l500.jpg)
$119.99est. delivered
Graded Near MINT by the Japan dealer at $120 delivered, the bottom of the band and $23 under the median. Ask for a flashlight photo through the back, since the rear group has a cemented pair that can separate.
[Near MINT] Nikon Ai Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 MF Lens for FA,FE2,FM2,FM3A,F5,F6 JAPAN
![Serviced [ MINT ] Nikon Ai Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 F Mount MF Prime From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ndMAAeSwXA5qwKkz/s-l500.jpg)
$164.90est. delivered
Titled serviced and graded MINT, at $165 delivered from Japan, inside the band. The service claim is the reason to pay over the median, and it's the least work before you shoot.
Serviced [ MINT ] Nikon Ai Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 F Mount MF Prime From JAPAN
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$97.90est. delivered
$89.95 + $7.95 shipping
Buy It Now$89.95
Good buy
US seller, titled user condition, so expect wear. Caps in the photo.
Seller: heavystar
99.8% positive
Used$119.99est. delivered
$99.99 + $20.00 shipping
Buy It Now$99.99
Good buy
Near MINT is the dealer's grade.
Seller: cloverhaven-treasures-japan
100% positive
Serviced$164.90est. delivered
$134.90 + $30.00 shipping
Buy It Now$134.90
Good buy
Titled serviced. MINT is the dealer's grade, and the photo shows a hood and caps.
Seller: takep90
100% positive
Used$136.14est. delivered
$130.00 + $6.14 shipping
Buy It Now$130.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Our take
US seller. Titled tested and working, with a case.
Seller: eb-dixon-co
99.6% positive
Used$141.44est. delivered
$116.44 + $25.00 shipping
Buy It Now$116.44
Our take
Excellent+5 is the dealer's grade. Caps in the photo.
Seller: gb-camera_japan
100% positive
![[MINT w/Box] Nikon Ai Nikkor 50mm f1.4 MF Standard Prime Lens F Mount From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tXEAAeSwkAlqgw05/s-l500.jpg)
Used$239.99est. delivered
$199.99 + $40.00 shipping
Buy It Now$199.99
Our take
MINT with box by the dealer's grade. The box puts it about $60 over the band.
Seller: hasek-66
99.1% positive
![Nikon Nikkor AI 50mm f1.4 Standard Prime Lens, TESTED [Near Mint] #1273](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/lC4AAeSwvmlqwdNw/s-l500.jpg)
Used$105.68est. delivered
$99.00 + $6.68 shipping
Buy It Now$99.00
Check the seller
The photo shows a pickup truck, not the lens, and the seller's other copy shows a costume party. Ask for real photos.
Seller: alserge.dct2
99.5% positive
![[Top MINT] Nikon Nikkor Ai Converted 50mm f/1.4 MF Lens From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/edMAAeSw-bxqyKvd/s-l500.jpg)
Used$243.00est. delivered
$208.00 + $35.00 shipping
Buy It Now$208.00
Priced high
A pre-AI lens with a converted aperture ring, at about 1.7 times the median.
Seller: nagi.sp-camera-japan
100% positive
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Nikon · Nikon F (AI / AI-S)
1980–2005
$170–$260 typical ask
Nikon · Nikon F (AI / AI-S)
1977–1981
$270–$340 typical ask
Contax · Contax/Yashica (C/Y)
From 1975
$280–$410 typical ask
Pentax · M42 screw mount
From 1971 into the mid-1970s
Thoriated glass
$100–$160 typical ask