nikkor 50mm f1.4 or f1.8

[matilda]

I'm looking at getting a nifty fifty prime lens, and i'm wondering is there much of a difference from the nikoor 50mm f1.4 at $300 and the 50mm f 1.8 at $120 besides the price that is.

I mean .4 really shouldn't make that much difference, and i'm not THAT nit picky, but really I could by 2 1.8's for less than 1 1.4. or is there a huge differenc.

[I @ M]

There are currently five 50mm prime lenses in Nikon's catalogue.

Two manual focus and three auto focus models, There are two F/1.4 versions and then the single F/1.8 version.
Going by the price of the F/1.4 version that you have listed, it will be the older AF 50mm f/1.4D model and if you can buy it at that price it is the pick of the bunch to me for general work.

Before you buy, set your 28-80 lens on 50mm and see if it is a focal length that you are comfortable with on a DX body as I find it neither here nor there in terms of usefulness and it seems "more at home" on an FX camera.

[rellik666]

^^+1...I only bought my 50mm 1.4G as I analysed a lot of my photos from my zoom and it appeared they were a lot at 50mm......but saying that it is a difficult length to get used to...I love my 1.4G and it was worth every penny....but it was $500 from the us....I am also a Bokeh fiend!

Roo

[kiwi]

it's not .4 of a stop, it's a whole 2/3 stop, and that can make a big diff if that halves your iso or doubles your shutter speed for the same exposure

I do thik the 50 1.8 is the BEST value lens you can buy though

[Lani]

it's not .4 of a stop, it's a whole stop, and that can make a big diff if that halves your iso or doubles your shutter speed for the same exposure

I do think the 50 1.8 is the BEST value lens you can buy though

I totally agree....for the $$$ it is terrific.

[ronaldhw]

my advice is to get the AF 50mm f/1.4D, the 2/3 stop difference may be useful

[arthurking83]

and from what I've seen between the two lenses... in some situations the bokeh of the f/1.4 is slightly nicer than the f/1.8 version. It's dependent on lots of variables, though... so it's not a blanket statement claiming that the bokeh is better from the f/1.4 version compared to the f/1.8 version.

I remember many years ago when I used to log into DPR's forums, that someone once took the time to test/check/review the differences other than simple sharpness and detail levels.

if you can afford it, get the f/1.4. The beauty is that even if you go with the cheaper f/1.8 version and you really haven't lost anything .... other than 2/3rds of a stop of aperture speed!

[matilda]

ok thank you everyone.

all your post have been extremely helpful. I'm really starting to learn more about the 'technical' side of lens lately, i mean when I was younger (when I 1st got into photography), stuff like this didn't matter to me, but now, it means more to me. Cause I'm after the quality.

Better sell some more gear then, so I can get the 1.4 thanks guys.

[N*A*M]

you could also consider the sigma 50 1.4?

i do like the 50 1.8 a lot, especially on the F100. but i prefer 35mm on DX.

[arthurking83]

The only advantage in owning the Sigma(or Nikon AF-S) is that you get to over ride focus at any point, which can be handy.

if you have to save/scrounge/sell or beg/borrow/blackmail to get the f/1.4.. then maybe the f/1.8 would be the better option NOW!

Check ebay or other sites for a secondhand one. They should be pretty cheap, as they seem to flood the market more often than a lot of other lenses do. The f/1.4's seem to hold their value a lot more as that's the usual upgrade path.

I think in this case the urgency in which you require the lens should dictate which one is the better one to get.

[matilda]

there is no urgency to get the lens.

i'm still shopping around.

[Big Pix]

it's not .4 of a stop, it's a whole 2/3 stop, and that can make a big diff if that halves your iso or doubles your shutter speed for the same exposure

I do thik the 50 1.8 is the BEST value lens you can buy though

......agree.... I have the fantastic plastic 50 1.8 and it is great