Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai - Nikon F Mount

The Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai is a classic manual-focus ultra-fast prime lens. Featuring a 7-bladed diaphragm, it is renowned for its shallow depth of field and distinctive rendering. Unlike the later Ai-S version, this Ai model has a longer focus throw, allowing for more precise manual adjustments. It is constructed with a robust all-metal barrel and a high-quality glass optical design that remains popular for use on both film and mirrorless digital bodies via adapters. On older Ai lenses, the most common issues are oil on the aperture blades and stiffening of the focus grease. SDS verifies that the diaphragm is snappy and free of oil, and that the focus helicoid remains smooth throughout the range. The large rear element is susceptible to scratches if handled poorly, so this is carefully inspected. The metal mount should show minimal wear to ensure accurate seating.