Using the Nikon 50mm f/1.2 Manual Focus Lens

The Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 lens is one of my favorite lenses and it spends a lot of time on my D3s. In production since 1981, it’s a top-quality, manual focus lens that can still be purchased - brand new - today. Besides the awesome bokeh that this lens is capable of producing, I love the small size and light weight. It balances well with my camera and actually makes it a pleasure to carry the professional-sized D3s around.

Manual focusing of the Nikkor 50mm lens using my imperfect eyesight and the camera’s focus indicator initially took a little bit of getting used to, but it really isn’t a problem in practice. The poor eyesight issue is easily overcome by focusing on a point using confirmation from the camera’s focus indicator, then changing the diopter adjustment until things look sharp. When switching between several pairs of glasses, contacts, and occasionally my naked eye, the diopter adjustment is a quick and necessary task that makes manual focusing much easier.

Leaf Jam (1/750 second at f/1.4, ISO 400)

One of the nice things about a manual focus lens is that the photographer gets to select the focus point. That’s especially important when shooting reflections, since most cameras have trouble deciding whether to focus on the reflecting surface or the reflection itself. When shooting with manual focus, you’re in control.

A Reflection of Death (1/1000 second at f/1.2, ISO 400)

When wide open, the depth of field of the Nikkor 50mm lens is incredibly short, especially when your subject is nearby. For instance, when shooting a subject 1 meter away, the depth of field is just over one centimeter! With so little room for error, it sometimes makes sense to capture several images, slightly adjusting the focus ring between each shot (just be careful not to move the focus ring during a shot!). You can always pick the best image during post-processing.

Peace (1/90 second at f/4.0, ISO 400)

The Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 lens is dead sharp at f/2.0 and dreamlike at f/1.2 and f/1.4. It’s a unique lens capable of producing beautiful images, and it’s a great addition to any Nikon photographer’s collection.

All three of the photos used in this article were shot in the Pink Beds Loop Trail in the Pisgah National Forest, about 14 miles north of Brevard, NC.

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