Nikon's coma-corrected night lens — the manual-focus Ai-S Noct-Nikkor 58mm f/1.2, aspherical element.
The Ai-S Noct-Nikkor 58mm f/1.2 is the Ai-S version of Nikon's coma-corrected night lens, introduced in the early 1980s to the final manual-focus standard. It retained the hand-ground aspherical front element and the point-source correction that defined the Noct, now with full Ai-S body compatibility, and remained a low-volume specialist optic.
This is a manual-focus Nikon F lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.2 and a fixed 58mm focal length, built to the Ai-S standard and using a hand-figured aspherical element. It is a fast standard designed for coma control at full aperture. Only verified figures are stated; internal construction details are omitted rather than guessed.
Its character is clean rendering of point light sources at f/1.2, keeping streetlights and stars from smearing into coma wings while delivering shallow depth of field. This suits night cityscapes, low-light portraits and available-light work where both speed and point fidelity matter. It carries high micro-contrast for such a fast lens.
On the used market the Ai-S Noct is one of the most collectible and costly manual Nikkors, sought for its aspherical correction and rarity. Inspect the elements for haze, fungus and separation, confirm the aspherical front is clean, verify the Ai-S coupling, and test the aperture and focus action. It adapts to mirrorless where its wide-open point rendering keeps demand high.