art_kramer Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 which lens should i get, the sigma ex 50mm 2.8 or the nikon 50mm 1.8? they say the nikon is excellent but cheap in price. everyone always rants on this site about "you get what you pay for". in this case is that true or should i spring for the $249 for the sigma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
federico2 Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 Unless you need some macro possibility, go for the nikkor. It's one of the sharpest nikkors and every serious nikon-shooting photographer owns one. I have one and use it a lot, it really is a wonderful lens. It's two stops faster than the sigma which means you can shoot at a certain speed with 1/4 the light you need with the sigma. The macro capability of the sigma is quite useless anyway because you have a really short working distance.<br>Hope that was helpful,<br>best regards,<br>Federico Sartorio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uli_theune Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 I had a former version of the Sigma and still have the Nikon 50 mm 1.8. The Sigma is a macro lens (right?) and lets you foucus to 1:1. However, forget autofocusing with this lens, it will take forever. Also, I never really liked the images this lens produces. The Sigma lens is also on the heavy side. The Nikon is much lighter, still no mechanical problems since more than 14 years, and the pictures are simply superb. Just no macro. If macro photography is important for you you may want to consider the Sigma. However, if that's not a very urgent matter I'd recommend the Nikon 50/1.8! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric friedemann Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 Art, you understand that on a D70 with a 1.5x focal length factor, a 50mm lens will equal a 75mm lens on a 35mm camera? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwcombs Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 For the money (under $100) you really can't go wrong with the 50mm f/1.8. It's fast and pretty good optics. But again, you will be effectively shooting at 75mm (with the 1.5x factor). I solve this by using a Nikon 35mm f/2 AF, which I like very much. It is however, two and a half times the price of the 50mm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
art_kramer Posted October 15, 2004 Author Share Posted October 15, 2004 thanks, thats okay if its 75mm. the lens quality is what i'm looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric friedemann Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 For $100, the 50mm f/1.8 AFD Nikkor is a really good lens: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=247091&is=USA I like the 50mm f/1.4 AFD Nikkor a little better for the extra speed; but the price jumps to $265: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=97413&is=USA Photodo actually rates the f/1.8 design as producing slightly better MTF results than the f/1.4 design: http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens/detail/NiAF50_18-444.shtml http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens/detail/NiAF50_14D-443.shtml So, if you don't need the extra speed, the 50mm f/1.8 Nikkor is a lot of bang for the buck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick smith Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 I frankly like the idea of a 75mm f/1.8, and that is weighing heavily on my mind as I ponder a D70. I say that the 50mm f/1.8 is a marvelous lens that is worth much more than 99.95$. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooper8168 Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 <i>lens quality is what i'm looking for.</i> <p>I assume you mean image quality, not build quality. If you mean image quality, then as the others have said, absolutely get the Nikkor. It has few rivals, and the Sigma is not one of them, IMO. The Sigma has marginally better build, but you can almost buy, what, 3 of the Nikkors for one Sigma? If you want macro, I actually prefer the Sigma 105EX to the 50EX. I'd save up for that later and get the Nikkor now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_zwig Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 50mm 1:1.5 crop ratio is a perfect fit for D70 as short long lens. Although focal length is still 50mm. But the price for 50mm f1,8 at BH grey is just $89 (less than some filters at that diameter) what to wait for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric friedemann Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 At $89 to $100, I wouldn't spend money on a protection filter. As someone on p.net once humorously noted, at under $100 for the 50mm f/1.8 AF/AFD Nikkor, you can use the lens as a body cap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayward Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 I had a 85mm 1.8. It costs about $375 new. I bought a D70 and my $100 50mm becomes the equivalent of a 75mm 1.8. At that point, I don't need the 85mm and sell it. Or if I didn't already have it, I wouldn't have to buy one. Does that mean my D70 costs a net of $775? What a bargain! Prior to the D70, I had a 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 90mm macro, 180mm, and 75-300mm for use with my N80. After the D70, I found the 28mm and the 85mm to be impractical (and unecessary) focal lengths and sold them. Answering the original question, though, I'd buy the Nikon. It is faster, cheaper, and no doubt better consructed and sharper. The macro feature in a 50mm lens won't be all that useful - you'll have to get really close. Also, macro lenses autofocus more slowly than their stadnard equivalents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
art_kramer Posted October 15, 2004 Author Share Posted October 15, 2004 thanks for convincing me, the nikon it is. its almost as disposable as a lighter. i'll grab one or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff_lu Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 nikon 50 1.8. really no question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juan_su Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 I bought a Nikon AF 50mm 1.8 just less than 3 months ago after taking photogrpahy seriously for 2 years. I just don't know why I never bought that one as my first lens. It's an amazing lens for its price! Light and focuses really fast on my F5 and F100. Not sure how fast on the D70 but image quality is superb. For $100 you just CAN'T go wrong. Buy one, you will love it and you will be happy that you didn't shell out much more for other! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustys pics Posted October 16, 2004 Share Posted October 16, 2004 The 50 1.8 is an amazing lens for any price. There are some amazing deals in photo/ optics. The 50 1.8 is one of them. I doubt you'll regret buying it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sergio_leal Posted October 17, 2004 Share Posted October 17, 2004 Art, go for the Nikon 50mm/1.8. If you ever need a cheap solution for macro photography just buy a set of used extensions tubes (any generic brand will do it since it has no optics in it). It still will be cheaper than the Sigma. Im my point of view, it has no meaning buying a non-Nikon lens (they are simply of of the finest glass in the world)in any condition unless you cannot pay for it, even though I would consider buying it used.Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted October 17, 2004 Share Posted October 17, 2004 I don't know much about the 50mm Sigma, but generally speaking, macro lenses are optimized for close focusing, naturally. If you use them at infinity, the image quality frequently suffers. If you don't need macro capability, you'll be paying more for what is likely be a worse lens for your purposes because it is designed for something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heh4o Posted October 18, 2004 Share Posted October 18, 2004 I bought brand new 50/1.8D (US version) from a major US store 2 weeks ago. The lens had a lot of lateral shake in the focusing ring (with respect to the body), and was having focusing problems - everything more than 30' away was out of focus, regardless of the AF/MF mode and the body (F65 and D1x) used. To put it straight, lens was defective. I still want to get one of these (I shot other specimes and quality is outstanding), but I'll buy it from my local RitzCamera store. Hope it helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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