50mm 1.4 or 50mm 1.8 a good upgrade?

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nikmeon

New member
hello I am new to this forum, please excuse me if this question has been asked before.
I have a Nikon D5100 with the kit lens, I am not convinced that it is as good as my last set up of Sony Alpha 580m with kit lens.
can any body tell me if the Nikon AF-s 50mm 1.4 or the AF-s 50 mm 1.8 lens is a worthy upgrade to get better definition and colour. many thanks in anticipation
 
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WayneF

Senior Member
Re: nikmeon

The f/1.4 will open 2/3 stop wider than the f/1.8. But the conventional wisdom is that the f/1.8 tests better, sharper, etc. If not working in the dark, the f/1.8 is very popular, and less expensive.
 
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jdeg

^ broke something
Staff member
welcome to the site! moved this to the prime forum

I haven't used the 50mm f/1.8G, but I do have the f/1.8G (doesn't have the focus motor). I guess it depends on what you are shooting. If you're in situations where you don't have a lot of light available and can't use a flash then you'll definitely benefit from a faster lens.
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
I've never had the 50mm f/1.4, but I love my Nikkor af 50mm f/1.8 D! It's a great sharp lens, and the D version is a bargain on eBay! :)
 
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Blacktop

Senior Member
Bill16 said:
I've never had the 50mm f/1.4, but I love my Nikkor af 50mm f/1.8 D! It's a great sharp lens, and the D version is a bargain on eBay! :)
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I just saw that the OP shoots a D5100, which will not AF on the 50mm 1.8D lens. The 50mm 1.8 AF-S lens is also a bargain for the quality it produces and it will AF on the D5100.
 
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Blacktop

Senior Member
Anco said:
Does that mean you don't have the 1.8 anymore? Just curious because I'm thinking of getting this lens, what did you replace it with?
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I liked the 50mm 1.8D lens but unless I really needed in low light my 18-55mm was just as sharp at 50mm.
When I sold my D3100 camera, I sold it with the 18-55 lens, which left me without my (at the time) favorite lens.

Another Nikonite member really wanted a 50mm 1.8D lens and he didn't really use his 18-55mm much, so I just traded with him.
 
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Anco

Senior Member
Blacktop said:
I liked the 50mm 1.8D lens but unless I really needed in low light my 18-55mm was just as sharp at 50mm.
When I sold my D3100 camera, I sold it with the 18-55 lens, which left me without my (at the time) favorite lens.

Another Nikonite member really wanted a 50mm 1.8D lens and he didn't really use his 18-55mm much, so I just traded with him.
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Ok, so for the OP, you don't really see it as an upgrade then? The kit lens for the DX is the 18-55 isn't it? Sorry, just trying to get my head around nikon glass, I've just switched over to nikon and don't have any lenses yet.... just a very lonely 610 body sitting on the shelf :(
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
I'm the one who traded for the 50mm f/1.8 D lens. It works great on my D300, and at the time Blacktop also got a D300 which is a pro DX with a focus motor built in, so FX lenses work great on it. But Blacktop like the versatility of the 18-55 kit lens where I preferred the prime lenses and I'm a fan of D lenses too. So it was a trade that worked out for us both.

Now I have both his and my D300's and he moved to the D7100! Just as a side note in the story! Lol :D

Anco said:
Ok, so for the OP, you don't really see it as an upgrade then? The kit lens for the DX is the 18-55 isn't it? Sorry, just trying to get my head around nikon glass, I've just switched over to nikon and don't have any lenses yet.... just a very lonely 610 body sitting on the shelf :(
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Blacktop

Senior Member
Anco said:
Ok, so for the OP, you don't really see it as an upgrade then? The kit lens for the DX is the 18-55 isn't it? Sorry, just trying to get my head around nikon glass, I've just switched over to nikon and don't have any lenses yet.... just a very lonely 610 body sitting on the shelf :(
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It depends on how you're shooting. If you're shooting a lot of indoor shots, or outside in low light, then it is definitely an upgrade. Since I don't shoot much like that , for me it made no difference. Yes the 18-55mm is a DX lens.

I can't really recommend a lens for your 610 since I don't have an FF camera . I can tell you one thing though. If I had a 610, it wouldn't be sitting on a shelf. ;)
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
@Anco At the price, I don't think you can go wrong on a AF 50mm f/1.8 D lens for a D610. You can pick them up used for about $100.00 or even less sometimes. :)
 
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Anco

Senior Member
Blacktop said:
I can't really recommend a lens for your 610 since I don't have an FF camera . I can tell you one thing though. If I had a 610, it wouldn't be sitting on a shelf. ;)
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Haha, it's not easy leaving it there, but some people in my family don't see it as a priority. It's explained in my new member post, I don't want to upset anyone and hijack this post ;)
@Bill16 You guys are friendly bunch with all your camera swapping and sharing aren't you ;) I agree from what I have seen so far and I think the 1.8 is a done deal for me. At the price it's hard to look past
 
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hulk2012

Senior Member
All this funny depth of field. To be honest you can always close it to let's say 2.8 and stand a bit closer to "melt" that background. And this could be done with either lens. It's funny that I was on the same boat once and got myself 1.2 and then did a lot of portraits with heads turned towards me where one eye was blurred. On the screen it's ok but gosh on the print...??!! That is why I like 1.2-1.4-1.8 wide open ideally doing "straight" night time portraits to get this nice light lights bokeh. In daytime I close to 2.8 or smaller. Even tho using 70-200 vr2 wide open 2.8 and fully zoom to 200mm to melt the background that much that even pro will thing u using 85 1.4
 
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weebee

Senior Member
I really like my 50mm 1.8 Not trying to confuse, but I also have the AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G It is a touch wider and takes stunning pics. Plus it'll auto focus on your 5100
 
SkvLTD

SkvLTD

Senior Member
Granted this is with respect to my personal debate, but I feel 1.4 versus 1.8 may well be a negligible debate. Extra fraction of a stop won't really make a difference between the two available, but the lens price may. If you want the fraction and you don't mind lack of latest and greatest tech, then 1.4D (on 7x00+ bodies) else the 1.8G should do just fine.

Wait until your debate isn't 3.5/5.6 > 1.8, but 2.8 > 1.8, haha. Then extra bucks for 1.2s start sounding better and better.
 
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