which 50mm 1.4 should i get?

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Dave_W

The Dude
You'll enjoy this lens, it's small and fast with a very quick auto-focus. One thing to keep in mind, nearly everyone I've spoken to, including myself, find this lens to be very tight. It will almost seem like it's not going to fit but it will. Interestingly, I have an old AiS 50mm 1.8 lens that is equally tight so it might be a Nikkor 50mm thing

So in honor of your new lens, I'm going to use my 50mm on today's photo hunt.
 
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ZenNonna

New member
I have both 1.4 & 1.8. Don't see that much difference so gave 1.8 to daughter I admit I am addicted to photography I have a "camera crack jones" LOL
 
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RiDdLe

Senior Member
Hello everyone, I'm facing kinda the same question about the 50mm.
I have a D3100. After some searching and reading the comments in this thread, I think I'm going for the Nikkor 50mm 1.8G.

Now, the thing is: I already have a 35mm 1.8
So, am I going to get better quality from this lens than the 35mm? I love portraits and managing the 50mm was pretty nice.

I would love suggestion about this lens in my camera, having a 35mm.
Thanks!
 
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eurotrash

Senior Member
Rick M said:
I think everyone that has it loves it, just like all the nikon 1.8 owners, everyone likes what they have. the question is, does the price get you that much more? I doubt it.
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Like mine after it came back from Sigma's Calibration facitlity in NYC. It's a very tricky lens, however. You should realize that the lens will backfocus closer than 5 feet and front focus further than 20 feet. It's a weird one, but when you learn it and it works well, it produces absolutely incredible images. Might be too much for most who are just getting into very fast primes (1.4 and larger) I know it was a steep learning curve for me to start shooting at 1.4 out of the gate, even coming from the 35 1.8!

It's stupid sharp by f4. The sharpest lens I've ever had the pleasure of using in fact.

I considered getting the 50 1.4 instead, but the incredible bokeh of the Sigma still has a bit of a stranglehold on me.
 
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eurotrash

Senior Member
RiDdLe said:
Hello everyone, I'm facing kinda the same question about the 50mm.
I have a D3100. After some searching and reading the comments in this thread, I think I'm going for the Nikkor 50mm 1.8G.

Now, the thing is: I already have a 35mm 1.8
So, am I going to get better quality from this lens than the 35mm? I love portraits and managing the 50mm was pretty nice.

I would love suggestion about this lens in my camera, having a 35mm.
Thanks!
Click to expand...


You'll see less distortion and probably a little more sharpness out of it. Bokeh is MUCH better on the 50. The 35 always looked 'nervous' and 'blocky' to me, but again that isn't what the lens was designed for so I understand why. If your question is, 'Is it worth it?', I can't answer that for you. I have always felt that 50mm on a crop camera is a little awkward, but I'm a believer in the thought that you can make anything work.

I do use my 35 a bit more than my 50, all things considered. If you're into portraits, skip the 50 and go with the 85 1.8. Now THAT is a proper portrait lens.
 
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crycocyon

Senior Member
I had the same dilemma and decided on the 1.4G because I prefer to shoot in ambient light conditions as much as I can, but also the 1.4G would be sharper at 1.8 than the 1.8G. Fast lenses are rarely at their sharpest or equally sharp wide open, except for the Noct. Granted, I shoot at 200 ISO consistently so flash is needed sometimes anyway. But having that little bit of extra latitude with slighly faster shutter speeds is helpful sometimes. I had seriously considered the Zeiss 50 mm 1.4 but comparison reports of it and the Nikon 1.4G put the Nikon ahead, which was disappointing to me because I'm a Zeiss fan.
 
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RiDdLe

Senior Member
eurotrash said:
You'll see less distortion and probably a little more sharpness out of it. Bokeh is MUCH better on the 50. The 35 always looked 'nervous' and 'blocky' to me, but again that isn't what the lens was designed for so I understand why. If your question is, 'Is it worth it?', I can't answer that for you. I have always felt that 50mm on a crop camera is a little awkward, but I'm a believer in the thought that you can make anything work.

I do use my 35 a bit more than my 50, all things considered. If you're into portraits, skip the 50 and go with the 85 1.8. Now THAT is a proper portrait lens.
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Thanks euro! I will dig more about the 85 1.8!
 
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eurotrash

Senior Member
No prob. I'm drooling over the 85 1.8 at the moment actually. if you ever decide on full frame, that'll be an excellent telephoto/portrait lens too, so you're really making a sound investment at the same time.
 
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