Camera Labs

Hello everyone, a popular question asked by owners of Nikon bodies is which 50mm lens should they go for.

Regular members will know there's three in the Nikkor range,

AF 50mm f/1.8D

AF 50mm f/1.4D

AF-S 50mm f/1.4G

You can compare their specs and prices here.

If you own one of these lenses - or a third party 50mm - please tell us why you bought that model and would you do it again!

Please note this thread is aimed at owners of Nikkor 50mm lenses - we have a similar thread for Canon 50mm lenses in the Canon section.

Thanks,

Gordon

Hi Gordon,
I opted for the 50mm 1.8d
I love it very much. The price was right first of all. It's small, the sharpness is amazing.

I bought it because before I went digital, I was using an old Olympus OM-1, and I had a 50mm 1.8 on that camera as well. So for nostalgic reasons, I went with this lens. I know on a cropped body, its not quite the same as on a 35mm. But I love it just the same.
Plus it works great reverse mounted on the end of my 105mm VR micro for almost 3x life size magnification
Fits in your pocket as well (I suspect the other ones do too).


I would definitely buy this lens again, way worth it

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...Craig
shoots things with a nikon and a diana f+!

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50mm 1.8 for sure
nifty fifty like they say
cheap. small. and great in low light

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I have a variety of gadgets that capture and create light... people tell me their cameras, lenses, strobes, and speedlights...who knows

bought the 50/1.4G, future ready, meaning I will not look back and will know I have the latest for awhile, and AF-s, which I missed a lot back in the days when I still shot with a 70-300 Tamron.

I think no matter what you choose, any 50mm will do fine, after all, the photographer makes a good lens work even better, I just had the money at the time and had been looking for a low-light capable Nikkor lens for awhile. When this lens started to show up on the internet (NikonRumors and such) I immediately placed my order at the local photo store.

What really made me choose this: weathersealed mount, distance scale window, lens hood included, AF-s (with M/A - M switch), money was no issue for this price class, and a little knowing that I had the latest in the 50mm range

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- Wout -
Nikon D80 with 18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX
Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod with 488RC0 midi ballhead
Lowepro CompuRover AW and Nova 200 AW

got the 1.8D...saving up for the 1.4G

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I went with the 50 1.8 purely because you don't generally buy a 50mm prime for it's bokeh characteristics. At least on Full frame, unless you shoot at the minimum focusing distance, to get 'good bokeh', in which case just about any prime will give nice bokeh if you're that close to the subject. In my case, I generally prefer a wider view than 50mm so am often using the 35mm F2D for my 'normal' view, and the 85 1.8 for my portrait/closeup shots. If I had bought the 50 1.4, which doesnt perform that great wide open anyway, then it would have been more of a pain to buy the 85 1.8 at the same time.

The 50 1.4 is quite soft wide open, and the 50 1.8 performs better on full frame at 1.8 than the 1.4 does at 1.4. Sure you can stop down to 1.8 with the 1.4, but if you have to do that to get good results, why bother with it in the first place? I'm sure in practice the performance of the 1.4 wide open would be fine, but I didn't need the extra stop.

In a nutshel, with the ability to shoot up to Iso 25600 (6400 in reality for more useable results), the difference between 1.4 and 1.8 wasn't worth the price increase.

As for build quality, sure it feels cheap, but the feel of a lens won't improve my photos.

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I've upped my Iso, now up yours.
Nikon D700, Nikon D80, Micro Nikkor 105 f2.8 AI-S,Nikon 85mm 1.8D, Nikon 50mm 1.8D, Nikon 35mm F2D, Nikon 16-35 f4 VR, Nikon 24-70mm F2.8 AF-S, Nikon 70-200VRII, Nikon 70-300mm VR, 300mm f2.8 AI IF ED, SB-800, SB-900. Noiseware pro,NIK Dfine, Nik Colour Effex, Nik Sharpener Pro

I got the F1.8D.

For my Canon Rebel XSi I bought the more expensive Canon F1.4 USM instead of their F1.8 but for my Nikon D300 I ended up getting the cheaper bargain F1.8D. With the Canon primes I was rather put off by the quality of their F1.8, it just felt flimsy. Even though Nikon's F1.8D is around the same price range as Canon's budget 50mm, it feels and looks like a lens of a higher grade and build.

From using the Canon F1.4 I also found myself using F4 to 5.6 in most situations to reduce CA fringing and for optimal sharpness. From what I read the situation is the same with Nikon's 50mm. Granted I did find myself using 1.4 in some really dim situations I felt I could use the amount saved towards another lens.

So in the end I opted to get the cheaper F1.8D and am quite satisfied with it. With the money saved I'll be getting the Nikon 35mm F2D. Yes the F2D instead of the newer AF-S but reason for that is entirely separate manner.

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Nikon D800
Nikon 14-24mm f2.8G, Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f2.8G, Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f2.8G VRII, Tokina 100mm f2.8D Macro and Nikon AF 50mm f1.8D.
Nikon SB-700, Nikon SB-600

I opted for the G type,

The reason that I bought a 50 was:
1 I always wanted to try a 50 because everybody is talking about it.
2 Wanted a small lens that I could carry around in town when it's crowded.
3 Wanted a lighter lens so I could carry around my camera more often.

The reason for the G type model:
1 Seemed sturdier than the 1.8, and I needed sturdy so I wouldn't be affraid of bumping into people.
2 The price between the 1.4 D and the 1.4 G was very small.
3 I wen't for the latest model.

Would I do it again?
Yes and no. it's a verry good lens. In bright light it should be stopped down a bit ti 2.8. But then I mean verry bright light. But usually I'm using a longer focal length.

Sample pictures?
See this topic, all made with the 50
http://www.cameralabs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16861

_________________
www.pimvandevelde.com

This made me laugh

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I've upped my Iso, now up yours.
Nikon D700, Nikon D80, Micro Nikkor 105 f2.8 AI-S,Nikon 85mm 1.8D, Nikon 50mm 1.8D, Nikon 35mm F2D, Nikon 16-35 f4 VR, Nikon 24-70mm F2.8 AF-S, Nikon 70-200VRII, Nikon 70-300mm VR, 300mm f2.8 AI IF ED, SB-800, SB-900. Noiseware pro,NIK Dfine, Nik Colour Effex, Nik Sharpener Pro

Why not just keep the 1.8D and save up for the 85 1.8D instead 1 stop extra and better build vs a new lens to play with.

_________________
I've upped my Iso, now up yours.
Nikon D700, Nikon D80, Micro Nikkor 105 f2.8 AI-S,Nikon 85mm 1.8D, Nikon 50mm 1.8D, Nikon 35mm F2D, Nikon 16-35 f4 VR, Nikon 24-70mm F2.8 AF-S, Nikon 70-200VRII, Nikon 70-300mm VR, 300mm f2.8 AI IF ED, SB-800, SB-900. Noiseware pro,NIK Dfine, Nik Colour Effex, Nik Sharpener Pro

why if i may ask?, I mean where I take this lens my camera sticks out and it bumps into people, handbags, and those sort of tings all the time.

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www.pimvandevelde.com

Simple, because someone's handbag won't damage a lens. Unless of course it's an armour plated one. Lenses are stronger than that. The only time a lens is in danger is if it takes a real impact, with a wall, the ground, the corner of chair - something hard, and so on. Not a handbag. As far as damaging the front element of the lens goes, again, the better build quality of the 1.4 is a difference you can feel, not one that you can actually see in practice. If you have a filter on the lens, the build quality won't make any difference as the filter will take the impact.

Where do you go and shoot? If you shoot in night clubs, busy market places and so on, then fair enough.

I don't mean to pick at your choice, I just think the difference in build quality is more down to what feels better, quality wise. Not a difference you'll actually see in practice. If you were going to the antarctic for example, where you'd chose more rugged lens like a Nikon 24-70 over 18-55 kit lens, then fair enough.

_________________
I've upped my Iso, now up yours.
Nikon D700, Nikon D80, Micro Nikkor 105 f2.8 AI-S,Nikon 85mm 1.8D, Nikon 50mm 1.8D, Nikon 35mm F2D, Nikon 16-35 f4 VR, Nikon 24-70mm F2.8 AF-S, Nikon 70-200VRII, Nikon 70-300mm VR, 300mm f2.8 AI IF ED, SB-800, SB-900. Noiseware pro,NIK Dfine, Nik Colour Effex, Nik Sharpener Pro

I quite argree with you That the 1.8 felt less solid than the 1.4G, so indeed in better words. I went for the more solid feel of the 1.4G.

And yes you are also correct that i shoot in busy market places, and on construction sites.

as far as the handbags goes, people carry al sort of stuff around their shoulders and my girl friends hand bag is decorated with metal ornaments. So having lost the face plate of a watch while banging into someone, this is something I consider buying and selecting the equipment that I take with me.

Also, I don't know if the 1.8 is weather sealed or not, but that may also be a point of consideration for some.

_________________
www.pimvandevelde.com

Ah I see.

As far as I know, all of Nikon's primes with the af-d designation are not weather sealed.

Oh and from what I've heard the af-s motor is no faster to focus than the motor that can be found from the D90 up to the D3, mostly because the glass that needs to be moved to be focused is so light.

_________________
I've upped my Iso, now up yours.
Nikon D700, Nikon D80, Micro Nikkor 105 f2.8 AI-S,Nikon 85mm 1.8D, Nikon 50mm 1.8D, Nikon 35mm F2D, Nikon 16-35 f4 VR, Nikon 24-70mm F2.8 AF-S, Nikon 70-200VRII, Nikon 70-300mm VR, 300mm f2.8 AI IF ED, SB-800, SB-900. Noiseware pro,NIK Dfine, Nik Colour Effex, Nik Sharpener Pro

I had the Nikkor 50/1.4D and sold it for a Nikkor 50/1.4G.
I had some glaring AF errors on the "D"-version on my D80 which made it unreliable to me. The "G" version on my D300 is better in that respect but has some slight focus shift when stopping down.
But as a super-bright intermediary between my 14-24mm or 35/2.0 and any tele-lenses and tele-zooms it's indispensable. That way I don't need a 24-70/2.8.

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses