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Can't believe the new 50mm F/1.8 is sharper than the more expensive F/1.4.(photozone confirms that even of full-frame) I will test those 2 soon,because I'm curious.

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Gear: Nikon D80, 18-105mm, 35mm F/1.8, 85mm F/1.8, SB-600
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I bought the new 50 1.8G basically because it was cheaper than the 1.4G.

I'd also read that it's sharper across the frame.

It's a great lens, I'd definitely recommend it to anyone.

I purchased a pre-owned 50mm AF 1.8, non-D, because the price was right at the time, and I appreciated the made-in-Japan factor. If I recall correctly, I had just purchased my wife's D7000, and wanted my 50mm 1.2 AI-s back from her.

I do not recall if I had previously mentioned, in this thread, that I purchased the 50mm 1.2 AI-s, before I owned a Nikon camera. It saw use on Canon DSLRs, with the help of a Novoflex EOSNIK adapter. When I later purchased an FM3A, it found a proper working partner.

Now that I have recently acquired an F6, I am researching the various fifties again. It is a shame that the new 50mm 1.4 G has not been getting better reviews, though it has not been eliminated from my consideration. I consider the weather-seal to be a factor that offsets the likelihood of distortion, especially as I am not a pixel-peeper. One positive feature cancels a negative factor.

On the other hand, the new 50mm 1.8 G adds an aspheric element! I think this is more valuable than another fraction of a stop, no? This one is now on my short list, though perhaps other goals are more pressing.

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro

I am also planning to buy 50 mm 1.8. My final decision is to go for the D version.
-cheap
-less distortions (0.26% for D version compared to 1.1% G version, according to photozone reviews)
-can auto focus on D90

cheers,

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Nikon D90|18-55|16-85|50 1.8D|Samyang 85 1.4|SB 700

I have found some other reviews, by well-respected reviewers, that are kinder to the 50mm 1.4G. This one has now moved up my list, though I am considering lenses other than 50mm, and just acquired a pre-owned Tokina 17mm, which ate some of my discretionary income.

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro

1.4G for me.

I was very tempted by the Carl Zeiss f1.4, but don't like the bokeh. The Carl Zeiss f2 is so much better but has a longer focus throw, so not suitable for me and what I'd generally use the lens for. The new 1.8G then came top of my list, until I found a pristine 1.4G second hand for less.

If you need f1.4, you need f1.4!

Assuming you are not looking for close focus capabilities of the Zeiss 2/50, then I find it has rather short focus throw for longer distances. Going from infinity to 1m is turning about equivalent to 1 hour of a clock face. Almost all of the focus throw is for very close distances.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

focussing near to far, tracking etc. - I"m not up to it. For anything considered I'd definitely have one as my 1st choice, but as a walkabout it's not quite for me and what I shoot

I finally decided to buy a 50mm 1.4G, only to find the suppply has been totally depleted, except for what we in the USA term "scalpers." Rather than pay a $150-$250 (US dollars) premium, I bought a 1.8D, the least expensive Nikkor 50mm, but also the one with the least distortion. The 1.4G can wait until the supply situation returns to normal.

Of course, I also have my 1.2 AI-S, but my 50-year-old eyes cannot see as well in low light as those ancient days when I could amaze folks by how far I could read such things as street signs and license plates at night. It is now very helpful, in low light, when the F6's auto-focus can see for me.

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro

I initially purchased the 50mm/f1.8d then Nikon announced the 50mm/f1.8g which I currently own since it has an aspherical element which the f/1.4g is missing.

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Nikon D7000, Nikon D7100
Nikkor 24-70mm/f2.8, Nikkor 35mm/f1.8, Nikkor 50mm/f1.8, Nikkor 70-200mm/f2.8 VR II, Sigma 8-16mm/f4.5-5.6, Tamron 80-210mm/f4.5-5.6, SB-900
On the list 14-24mm/f2.8, 24mm/f1.4, 28mm/f1.8, 85mm/f1.4, 105mm/f2.8, 400mm/f2.8, Nikon FX Camera Body
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dadude122

Nikon 1.4D, had it with my Nikon film camera and it worked great on the D70. Its awesome on the D800 because its small and unobtrusive. Also great photos and AF is great. The price is still awesome!