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The Nikon 55mm f/1.2 was a historic part of Nikon's legacy, this was Nikon's very first lens they ever developed with an aperture faster than f/1.2. At the time there was a race between lens manufacturers to create ultra fast glass. This was Nikon's contribution to the market of large aperture lenses. The original Nikon 55mm f/1.2 non Ai version was developed in 1965, and the Ai (aperture indexing) version was manufactured by the Nikkor company in the spring of 1977. This model is the Ai version, this means you can still use it on any of Nikon’s DSLRs, but it will only meter on the more advanced models like the D7000 and up. The great thing about the Nikon system is its amazing compatibility, you can use lenses manufactured many decades ago and even the Non ai lenses if you modify the mount a little. This is because the Nikon SLR system has carried the same F-mount since its beginning. You can tell the difference between Nikon Ai and Non Ai by looking at the lens mount; you can see from the image provided that there is a notched out portion on the aperture ring. If the lens was a Non-Ai Nikon lens there would be no notch and instead the black ring would travel completely around the bottom of the aperture ring. Without modifying the aperture ring on Non-Ai lenses you will damage your lens mount on modern DSLRs and even some Nikon SLRs as well. The 55mm f/1.2 Ai has 7 elements in 5 groups in a typical Gauss type fashion, and these elements are multicoated which should assist in flare reduction. It also has a 7 straight bladed aperture which was quite typical for SLR lenses of the time. These Nikon Ai primes are fantastic lenses that can be purchased for very little on the used market. I purchased this model for around $250 in bargin condition from Keh. Most old Nikon Ai lenses are under $150 in great condition. If you use Nikon DSLRs I would recommend having a set of these primes as long as you don't need auto focus.
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Build Quality
The Nikon 55mm f/1.2 ai has the expected build quality of Nikon’s ai series; there is almost all metal and glass with a rubber focus ring. This lens feels spectacular in your hands and certainly has a weight to it. The lens weighs around 12.6 oz which is quite hefty for a prime lens, but when you look at the massive bulbous front element you can understand why. In order for the lens to reach an f/1.2 maximum aperture the glass inside this lens had to be significantly larger than prior 50mm lenses. The 55mm f/1.2 ai has a maximum diameter of around 73mm and a length of around 66mm long; this lens is certainly bigger than most of the other primes in the Nikkor ai series. Even with this large size and bulbous front element Nikon still managed to fit everything into a 52mm filter size to keep in line with the rest of the series.
The 55mm f/1.2 ai has a very large focus ring which makes focusing very easy, and a focus throw around 270 degrees that will assist with precision focusing which can be very difficult at f/1.2. My model has a loose focus ring which I would prefer to be a bit firmer; I find that I accidentally move the ring a little too much when focusing. The aperture ring turns from f/1.2 to f/1.4 then at full stops after with very noticeable clicks; I would prefer to have at least half stops, but it isn’t difficult to work around most of the time. I find when using this lens on my Sony A7 it is extremely front heavy which is further exaggerated by the large adapter needed to achieve the same flange distance of SLRs. This can become quite annoying on mirrorless, but when using this lens on my Nikon FM it balances just fine and feels great. Typical to all Nikkor Ai lenses, this lens looks fantastic and feels solid. I am confident that this lens will be with me for many years with no problems. It is a shame that Nikon’s modern lenses are no longer made with such quality.
Aperture
The Nikon 55mm f/1.2 Ai has 7 straight aperture blades, this is not uncommon of most older SLR lenses. Unfortunately, this will most likely create less desirable bokeh when stopping down, but this will obviously not effect images shot wide open at f/1.2.
Sharpness
The Nikon 55mm f/1.2 ai performs fairly well for a lens from the 1970s. Its center sharpness is rather good even when shooting wide open. At f/1.2 there is definitely a drop in contrast and some softening in the center. The image remains soft at f/1.4 with very marginal improvement, and at f/2 there is a noticeable improvement in sharpness and contrast. At f/2.8 the soft haze from the wider apertures disappears and contrast levels improve substantially. Stopping to f/4 and f/5.6 only improves more with optimal sharpness at f/8. There is a more dramatic difference in corner sharpness. Corner sharpness is very poor at f/1.2 and f/1.4, and the poor performance is further emphasized by the massive vignetting. At f/2-f/2.8 the vignetting goes away and sharpness improves a little but is still quite soft. At f/4 the corner sharpness finally reaches a reasonable level. Stopping down to f/5.6-f/8 sharpness improves even more to its optimal aperture. Corner sharpness is visibly softer compared to the center which is to be expected, but from f/4 and up you most likely wouldn’t notice a difference in normal images. In the center, the sharpness is reasonable even wide open with only a really lack of contrast, and by f/2.8 the lens is extremely sharpness with a fair amount of contrast. The benefit of very fast lenses such as this is that you can reach optimal sharpness at wider apertures compared to lenses with a maximum aperture of f/2 or slower. You will also see there is a slight amount of chromatic abberation in the corner crops; you would most likely never notice this in normal images except in very high contrast scenes. I find overall that this lens tends to be low on the contrast especially when shooting at wider apertures. I find that this can actually improve the overall esthetic of portraits as it helps to soften the skin of the subject. This lens is probably not ideal for things like landscapes or architecture, but a 55mm lens wouldn't typically be an ideal focal length for these purposes anyway.
Vignetting
When shooting this lens you will immediately notice that vignetting is very visible especially when shooting at f/1.2. When shooting wide open at f/1.2 you will experience very dramatic vignetting, to the extent that it actually can throw off your overall exposure when using the in camera meter. When stopping down to f/1.4 the vignetting improves very slightly, but it is still very visible. At f/2 the vignetting improves exponentially and probably wouldn’t be noticeable in normal photos. At f/4 and above the vignetting essentially disappears and is no longer an issue. Personally I find the dramatic vignetting appealing, and I think it really helps to add an extra layer of interest in your photos.
Flare
As you can see above the Nikon 55mm f/1.2 ai handles itself quite well when introduced to direct sunlight. There is noticeable flare, but I would say this image is entirely useable. It even retains most of its contrast in this situation. You can notice there is a spot near the center of the image where the flare created what looks like a smudge and also there is a blip of purple from the multicoating reflections; except for these small areas, the image is relatively unaffected by flare.
Bokeh
The Nikon 55mm f/1.2 ai has average bokeh, although there is a lot of it when shooting at f/1.2. I find the out of focus areas to be sort of distracting when shooting wide open; they are not quite as smooth as I wish they would be. The bokeh is certainly good enough to properly separate your subject from the background, and I should also note that this subject is entirely subjective. I do prefer to shoot this lens at f/1.2 as it creates some very interesting images. It is extremely easy to get background blur with this lens even at moderate distances, and honestly that is the primary reason why most would consider this lens. Also this lens can dramatically assist you when shooting in very dark situations, but be sure you double check your focus because the depth of field when shooting at f/1.2 is razor thin. It is impressive how everything not in focus will simply melt away, and when shooting at f/1.2 this lens produces a beautiful soft glow which I find very pleasing.
Conclusion
The Nikon 55mm f/1.2 Ai is an interesting lens and was once a huge advancement in the Nikkor Ai lens line. Today it has been predominantly forgotten about because of the current Nikon 50mm f/1.2 Ais that is still in production. The reason this lens came in a 55mm rather than 50mm originally was due to manufacturing limitations that were later overcame, and for this reason this lens can be found for substantially less than its later model the 50mm. Prior to this lens the largest aperture I had shot at was f/1.4, so I was curious of the effects when shooting at f/1.2. I was pleasantly surprised with the results. The 55mm f/1.2 doesn’t have the greatest corner sharpness, the focus ring is a little loose, there is very heavy vignetting, the bokeh isn’t perfect, and the lens is overall pretty heavy, but there is something about shooting at f/1.2 that is simply magical. I enjoy the build quality, great center sharpness, good flare control, and its ability to shooting in extremely dark situations. The paper thin depth of field when shooting at f/1.2 makes for some unique images, and can provide you with endless enjoyment if you love background blur. This is a fantastic lens especially if you are using it on a Nikon DSLR or SLR; it balances well and feels great on Nikon cameras. However, if you are looking for a great walk around lens for your mirrorless camera, I would suggest you look for a different lens. Unfortunately, the flange distance is meant for a SLR camera which means to compensate you will have to use a long adapter. With mirrorless cameras already being quite small and light, this lens will feel like a cannonball at the end of your camera. I typically find myself using this lens in specific situations, when I need very shallow depth of field, or when I'm struggling to find enough light, but I don’t find myself wanting to use this lens on my Sony A7 all day. I do however love using this lens on my Nikon FM and it typically doesn’t leave that camera body. If you are looking for a f/1.2 lens and don't wish to spend a fortune, I would recommend taking a look at this lens.
