Nikon 50mm/1.8 optimal performance

[antonio_carusone]

Anyone know which aperture on the 1.8 gives you the best image performance?

Sharpness, contract, etc.

[erik_loza]

Well, there are times when f1.8 gives you best image performance and sharpness and times when f8 gives you best image performance and sharpness. What are you trying do do? That's a better question, I think.

[antonio_carusone]

Not trying to do anything specific. Was just wonder at what aperture does the 1.8 perform the best.

[stwrtertbsratbs5]

This link has detailed test data on both the AF and MF versions:

 

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/index.html

[erik_loza]

In a dimly lit room, in someone's hands, it would perform best wide open. On a tripod, in bright light, you could go as small as you cared. That's like asking, "How does my car handle the best?" There is no correct answer; it's all in what you're doing. Back to my original questons, if there is, indeed, a problem to be solved.

[elliot1]

Most lenses perform best 2 stops down. I typicall shoot at f4 with this lens unless light conditions warrant otherwise. Unlike the 50mm 1.4, it performs well wide open, but does do a little better when stopped down a couple of stops.

 

Best way to find out is to do a little testing on your own - shoot the same subject at various apertures and compare the results.

[antonio_carusone]

Robert, thanks for that link. It seems like it performs at it's best between f4 and f8. That's what I was looking for.

[aaron l]

You can run your own test for your lens. Find a brick or textured wall, put your camera on a solid tripod and set up about five feet from that wall. Then shoot in JPG LARGE and run through each full stop. Make sure you don't jiggle the camera when doing this. Then, graph the JPG file size. You will end up with graphs similar to what I did on this page:

 

http://aaronlinsdau.com/gear/articles/lens_comparison85.html

 

Then you will know where your particular 50mm f1.8 is best. It will take 15 minutes to do this.

[chromatic-aberration]

My example (an older model, FWIW) seems to do best around f/7.1-f/8, in terms of sharpness. I've never conducted any scientific tests on it however.

[Peter_in_PA]

Check this article out. It doesn't talk about the 1.8 specifically, but does explain a little about

finding the sharpest aperture and how as you stop down diffraction is limiting.

 

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/50-comparison/f-stops.htm

[wj_lee]

Usually 2-3 stops stopped down gives the best sharpness.