Review: Nikon 50mm f/1.8 Series E

Nikon 50mm f/1.8 Series E (Late). Pancake or no?

This lens was part of a series of lenses which were designed for the launch of the Nikon EM in 1979, and subsequent FG and FG20. These were extremely compact SLRs for their time, and a surprise marketing move on Nikon’s part. And so was the introduction of these lenses, which were not particularly well-received. They did not carry the NIKKOR designation, and incorporated a lot of plastic to save weight and cost. But, their optical and build quality was outstanding nonetheless.

Nikon 50mm f/1.8 Series E (Early)

Then in 1981, in response to complaints by Nikon users, they cosmetically upgraded this lens (along with other E-Series lenses) to look more like their NIKKOR offerings. The plastic “windowed” focus ring was replaced with a traditional metal one with an AI-S style grip. The “body” reverted to the silver grab ring, although this was most likely aluminum instead of dull-chromed brass. But the optical design and quality all stayed the same. The upgraded version is a tiny bit longer than the original, which is so small that it is often referred to as a pancake lens.

The optical formulae used in these lenses were simple; ones that could produce excellent quality at reasonable cost. By today’s standard, the build quality is outstanding, and the image quality among some of the best lenses out there. This design uses only single coated elements, and still it has minimal ghosts and flare due to it’s simple optical design (the current design uses seven multicoated elements in 6 groups, including one aspherical element.)

This lens enjoyed a six-year life span, and was discontinued in 1985.

What’s Missing Nothing. This lens has all the features and quality you’d expect in a normal lens.

What’s Included Compactness and value. If you’re itching to go the traditional, manual-focus route, this is a great way to get started. Oh, and front and rear lens caps.

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Aperture Ring Yes. Smooth with positive full-stop clicks.

Auto Focus No.

Bokeh Somewhat agitated, which is to be expected in an uncommonly sharp lens.

Close Focus Two feet (0.6m).

Color Rendition Excellent.

Compatibility Nikon F-Mount. Works flawlessly on any Nikon body since 1977. Due to their longer flange focal distance, Nikon F-Mount lenses work beautifully on Canon bodies with non-optical adapters

Construction 6 single-coated elements in 5 groups. Metal mount, body, focus ring, inner barrel and filter threads. Plastic aperture ring.

Country of Origin Japan.

Coverage 135 film, FX and DX.

Diaphragm 7 curved blades.

Distortion None.

DX Performance On an APS-C body, this lens would be 75mm at f/1.8; one really fast and compact portrait lens.

EXIF Encoding None.

Extension Tubes Works great with both manual and auto extension tubes.

Falloff Not yet evaluated.

Filter Thread Metal, 52mm. Does not rotate.

Ghosts and Flare Minimal.

Hood Nikon HR-4 Folding Rubber Hood. Works well with the domed metal hood that comes with the Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2.0 SL II

Included Standard side-pinch front lens cap, rear cap.

Lateral Color Fringes Not yet evaluated.

Macro Works great as a macro lens with extension tubes. Can easily be reversed for even higher power magnification due to its 52mm filter thread which is compatible with the Nikon BR-2A macro reversing ring, and it’s mechanical aperture, which can be set with the lens unmounted. Works well with the closeup lens that comes with the Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL II.

Manual Focus Focus ring is silky smooth and well-damped with a hard stop at infinity. Has color-coded focus and depth-of-field scale and infrared index.

Maximum Reproduction Ratio Not yet evaluated.

Optional Accessories None.

RoHS Compliance N/A; all-mechanical construction.

Sharpness Super sharp at all apertures. Some coma and falloff at f/1.8, gone by f/2.8. Better performance wide open that the f/1.4.

Size 2.5"dia. x 1.3" (63.3mm x 33mm)

Spherochromatism Not yet evaluated.

Sunstars At smaller apertures, makes soft 14 point sunstars..

Teleconverters Works great with both 1.4x (70mm f/2.5) and 2.0x (100mm f/3.5) teleconverters.

Variable Aperture Range None; constant aperture.

Versatility A compact, super-sharp normal lens which is easily adapted for macro and telephoto photography. Very good for portraiture.

Vibration Reduction (VR) None. Use “burst” mode to take several exposures and choose the sharpest.

Vignetting Slight falloff at f/1.8, gone by f/2.8.

Weight Approximately 4.75 oz (135g).

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Build Quality ★★★★

Optical Quality ★★★★★

Value ★★★★★

The Bottom Line When I first learned about the E-Series lenses and the story behind them, I was intrigued. And since I planned to get a manual focus normal lens anyway, I let KEH make the decision for me. It was between this or the 50mm f/1.8 AI-S; whichever was available in EX+ condition or better I would buy.

I had originally hoped that I would receive the early version of this lens, with the plastic focus ring, but looking back, I’m glad this is the one I received. It’s all metal and one solid piece of glass. It’s essentially exactly the same as the NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8 AI-S, only in a smaller, lighter package.

On my new D610, this lens is simply marvelous. A great walk around lens, and so fast and sharp that it performs nicely as a 100mm f/3.5 telephoto lens with a 2x teleconverter attached. I often pack just this lens along with my teleconverters and extension tubes for a very versatile kit.

Without autofocus motors, VR electronics and lead-free solder, E-Series lenses will never let you down, and are a good investment as well as means to great images.

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Sample Images

Makes soft, 14 point sunstars.

When the sun in not in the shot, but close to the border, flare and ghosts become apparent.

…but when the sun is further away from the borders, flare and ghost are well controlled. A lens shade can definitely be  beneficial, but is not necessary in most cases.

The color is simply amazing. The lens is super-sharp, so a less-than-perfect bokeh is to be expected. Still, due its curved, seven-blade diaphragm design, it holds up pretty well.