interesting, so,, is there really a 50 mm pro lens? I consider the nikkor 50 mm current generation of 1.4 about the best they currently make.
does it match the old build quality of say a 105 DC,, no, but does it really have too, seems like the 50s have always been built about that level.
of course compared to the 1.8D, the 1.4D is a gem in quality.
If you look at pre-AI, Nikkor made beautiful machined lens, that are truly gems, pick up any of those scalloped focus ring, brushed metal tube lens, rotate, and go aaaahhhhh
then in the early AI days, Nikkor couldn't make a cheap lens, but competition made them make the series E lens, and well, pick up an of those old E series lens, and go.. aaahhhhhh
but eventually, Nikkor was forced to go consumer, and some real clunkers were made. I had a 80-200 in which literaly the rear element was glued on.
but their higher end lens basically remained the same. Would you call it pro? or just well Nikkor quality lens.
I almost would argue that they really never made pro lens, but continued a linear regression from the Pre AI days to now with the same HIGH quality lens.
My lens span over 50 years, and if I look at them, they are well, almost consistantly the same quality in build.
only the newer G lens are really changing, and well, so far, I am not happy with any of my G series lens in build. I hear some of the higher price G lens are matching the quality, but I have not gotten a copy.
It would be interesting to compare the 60mm micro D to the now replacement, 60mm G micro.. perhaps there the quality is not match.