The following images were taken with the Nikon 50mm f1.4G on a D800. Each image was recorded in RAW and converted with Lightroom 4.4/5.3 at Camera Standard settings. Reduction of lateral CA is ON, Noise-reduction is set to 0, sharpening to 70/0.5/36/10. Apart from WB no extra tone, colour, or saturation-adjustment was used. You can click on each image to access the large original. Please respect our copyright and only use those images for personal use.

The majority of these images were shot at f1.4. The first shot should give you an impression of the bokeh that this lens can produce wide open. The 50% crops are from the foreground, the sharpest point, and the background in the overall image and demonstrate the rendering of out-of-focus elements at closer distances (approximately 1.1m). The foreground looks pretty smooth (and better than from the Sigma 50/1.4) while the background shows some outlining that is a little worse than from the Sigma. Looking at Douglas R. Hofstadter’s book you can also see the effect of longitudinal CA in the greenish hues of the black letters on the back of the book.

Books: Bokeh shot with Nikon 50mm f1.4G at f1.4 on a D800
Main image and all 50% crops: 50mm, f1.4, 1/60 sec, 100 ISO This shot is also available in f2.0, f2.8, f4.0, and f5.6
foreground, f1.4, 100 ISO		center, f1.4, 100 ISO		background, f1.4, 100 ISO

The following shot shows some green outlining of the white flowers in the background due to loCA which is similar to what the Sigma produces.

Flowers: shot with Nikon 50mm f1.4G at f1.4 on a D800
Main image and all 100% crops: 50mm, f1.4, 1/60 sec, 100 ISO This shot is also available in f2.0, f2.8, f4.0, f5.6, and f8.0
left side, f1.4, 100 ISO		center, f1.4, 100 ISO		background, f1.4, 100 ISO

Some heavy green outlining in the background is also visible at larger distances at f1.4 as the following shot demonstrates:

Pillars: shot with Nikon 50mm f1.4G at f1.4 on a D800

Main image and all 100% crops: 50mm, f1.4, 1/4000 sec, 100 ISO This shot is also available in f2.0, f2.8, and f4.0

Nice blurring of out-of-focus areas in the DX image-circle with good (albeit not very contrasty) reproduction of small details. Towards the corners the Bokeh becomes decidedly nervous.

Putto: shot with Nikon 50mm f1.4G at f1.4 on a D800
Main image and all 100% crops: 50mm, f1.4, 1/4000 sec, 100 ISO This shot is also available in f2.0, f2.8
f1.4, 100 ISO		f1.4, 100 ISO		f1.4, 100 ISO

Gone fishing? Well, the small boat of 35 cm length might not carry you, but it is a nice test of close-up performance. It was shot at f5.6 to have enough dof at this magnification and produces nice details:

Ship: close-up shot with Nikon 50mm f1.4G at f5.6 on a D800
Main image and all 100% crops: 50mm, f5.6, 1/4 sec, 100 ISO This shot is also available in f2.8, f4.0, f8.0, and f11
f5.6, 100 ISO		f5.6, 100 ISO		f5.6, 100 ISO

Shot at f11 the lens reveals finest details of this oyster:

Oyster: close-up shot with Nikon 50mm f1.4G at f11 on a D800
Main image and all 100% crops: 50mm, f11, 1 sec, 100 ISO This shot is also available in f2.8 and f5.6
f11, 100 ISO		f11, 100 ISO		f11, 100 ISO

The texture of the metal and the pavement is faithfully reproduced albeit a bit soft. But this is (again) at f1.4.

Art: shot with Nikon 50mm f1.4G at f1.4 on a D800
Main image and all 100% crops: 50mm, f1.4, 1/250 sec, 100 ISO This shot is also available in f2.0 and f2.8
f1.4, 100 ISO		f1.4, 100 ISO		f1.4, 100 ISO

Sharpness even in the outer areas of the image is pretty good, but the bare trees against the sky reveal residual spherical aberrations:

Heilig Geist Spittal: shot with Nikon 50mm f1.4G at f1.4 on a D800
Main image and all 100% crops: 50mm, f1.4, 1/1000 sec, 100 ISO This shot is also available in f2.0 and f2.8
f1.4, 100 ISO		f1.4, 100 ISO		f1.4, 100 ISO

Specular highlights in the background are a good rendering test. Some magenta fringing can be seen in the center-crop. Blurring of the foreground is very strong while the background reveals some nervousness in the following close-up shot at f1.4:

Schoener Brunnen: shot with Nikon 50mm f1.4G at f1.4 on a D800
Main image and all 100% crops: 50mm, f1.4, 1/8000 sec, 100 ISO This shot is also available in f2.0, f2.8, f4.0, and f5.6
background, f1.4, 100 ISO		center, f1.4, 100 ISO		foreground, f1.4, 100 ISO

The background is blurred in the following shot at f1.4. But there are still details “shining through” in the background which the Nikon 58/1.4 totally obliterated in a comparable shot.

Sculpture: shot with Nikon 50mm f1.4G at f1.4 on a D800

Main image and all 100% crops: 50mm, f1.4, 1/2000 sec, 100 ISO This shot is also available in f2.0, f2.8, and f4.0

The castle shows good definition and details at f1.4:

Castle: shot with Nikon 50mm f1.4G at f1.4 on a D800

Main image and all 100% crops: 50mm, f1.4, 1/2000 sec, 100 ISO This shot is also available in f2.0, f2.8, f4.0, f5.6, and f8.0

Another fine example of background blur that you can achieve with a normal lens when used on a DX-body (D300 in this case):

The Grid: shot with Nikon 50mm f1.4G at f1.4 on a D300

50mm, f1.4, 1/180 sec, 200 ISO

Following is one of the most brutal tests for lenses: the sun reflecting on water. This produces extreme specular highlights which mercilessly reveal plenty of longitudinal CAs, purple fringing and coma.

loCA and coma: shot with Nikon 50mm f1.4G at f1.4 on a D800
Main image and all 100% crops: 50mm, f1.4, 1/1600 sec, 100 ISO
background, f1.4, 100 ISO		center, f1.4, 100 ISO		corner, f1.4, 100 ISO

The following night-shot is also a good test for coma. The crops show the effect from the right border at various apertures. The effect is similar to the Sigma 50/1.4. Stopping down to f4 eliminates coma completely.

Landscape: night shot with Nikon 50mm f1.4G at f1.4 on a D800
Main image 50mm, f1.4, 0.8 sec, 100 ISO
f1.4, 0.8 sec, 100 ISO		f2.0, 1.3 sec, 100 ISO		f4.0, 6 sec, 100 ISO

For more examples check out all my high-resolution Nikon 50mm f/1.4 sample images.