AF-S 50mm 1.4G

[dan_brown4]

<p>"Why does the Nikon image of the focus scale have a purplish fringe on the 0 and through the foreground 1?"</p>

<p>It is what it is, the Nikkor is not perfect either. The paper was 96% bright laser printer paper, the lines and numbers are toner black, that is all.</p>

[ilkka_nissila]

<p>Bill, it is not a question of brands and their images, but simply that no one referenced here has presented a direct comparison between the 1.4G Nikkor and the Sigma.</p>

<p>Everything that we need to know about Ken Rockwell is said by himself: "The only thing I do guarantee is that there is plenty of stuff I simply make up out of thin air". </p>

[bill_keane2]

<p><strong><em>"Everything that we need to know about Ken Rockwell is said by himself: "The only thing I do guarantee is that there is plenty of stuff I simply make up out of thin air"." -- Ilkka</em></strong><br>

Yes Ilkka, but when Ken made that statement about making stuff up, he was making that up. </p>

[dan_brown4]

<p>

 

 

<p ><strong ><em >"Everything that we need to know about Ken Rockwell is said by himself: "The only thing I do guarantee is that there is plenty of stuff I simply make up out of thin air"." -- Ilkka</em></strong><br />Yes Ilkka, but when Ken made that statement about making stuff up, he was making that up.</p>

<img src="http://www.dlaab.com/gif/fo.gif" alt="" width="28" height="17" /><br />

 

 

</p>

[ilkka_nissila]

<p>Here is some discussion including direct comparison of the 1.4G with the Sigma:</p>

<p>http://nikongear.com/smf/index.php?topic=13539.0</p>

<p>where two observers report the Nikon 1.4G to have superior sharpness at f/1.4, compared to the Sigma. Both also state that manual focusing is more accurate with the Nikkor. One of them states in addition that the AF accuracy of the Nikon lens is superior to that of the Sigma..</p>

<p>Earlier, Bjorn Rorslett commented regarding the 1.4G vs. 1.4D: "The sharpness is clearly higher, bokeh is smoother (but remember 50mm never can throw off the background like a longer lens), colour artifacts mostly absent, less vignetting, less geometric distortion. I'd call this more than just an improvement. But I agree that the older lens was not a slouch either, so whether one should purchase the newer lens just to replace the older one is up to you to decide." at nikongear.com.</p>

<p>My personal experience with the G suggests that it's a clear improvement over previous autofocus Nikon 50mm lenses and also over the Zeiss 50/1.4.</p>

<p>Anyway, we can all have a good laugh about Rockwell's comments once dpreview and photozone review the 50mm G.</p>

[bill_keane2]

<p>Thanks for the links Ilkka, and for appreciating a sense of humor.<br>

The opinions expressed don't really move one to think the Nikon is superior...<br>

Note the opening sentence: "Sigma <strong><em>has less</em></strong> purple fringing, <strong><em>softer bokeh</em></strong> and <strong><em>vignettes less</em> </strong>wide open. Focus ring rotates about 90 degrees from closest to infinity which makes manual focus a <em><strong>less accurate</strong></em> than with the Nikkor. AF speed is <strong><em>much faster</em></strong> but accuracy is <em><strong>not necessarily</strong></em> better. Nikkor <strong><em>seems</em></strong> a little sharper <strong><em>(just maybe!</em></strong>) but I will still have to do a better sharpness test (outdoors is a challenge up here in northern Norway these days)."<br>

To me, it seems that each lens has its strengths, with DPReview clearly stating that Sigma "redefined the class" with this lens. Their view was based on hard data. Under this same microscope, the new Nikkor 'G' will need to significantly exceed its predecessor, or a comparison with the Sigma will not enhance its position.<br>

Even so, I'm sure the Nikon is a great lens. Since I have the Sigma on its way to me, I hope it is too!</p>

[stwrtertbsratbs5]

<p>"A lens is a tool."</p>

<p>Real men use pin holes.</p>

[lex_jenkins]

<blockquote>

<p ><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=1892789">Bahram Monshat</a> , Dec 22, 2008; 02:50 p.m. (<a href="admin-edit-msg?msg_id=00RsN4">edit</a> | <a href="admin-delete-msg?msg_id=00RsN4">delete</a> )</p>

I think the MTF charts tell us that the Sigma is clearly sharper at f/1.4. I am not sure why we should still be discusisng this.</blockquote>

<p>Because that type of test does not reveal real world performance in resistance to ghosting flare and coma.</p>

<p> </p>

<blockquote>

<p ><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=2284801">Bill Keane</a> <a href="../member-status-icons"><img title="Subscriber" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub3.gif" alt="" title="Subscriber" /> <img title="Frequent poster" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/1roll.gif" alt="" title="Frequent poster" /> </a> , Dec 22, 2008; 02:59 p.m. (<a href="admin-edit-msg?msg_id=00RsNL">edit</a> | <a href="admin-delete-msg?msg_id=00RsNL">delete</a> )</p>

...Ken Rockwell is a big Nikon fan.</blockquote>

<p>I wonder. Sometimes I get the impression that some of his assertions may be influenced by having a bit of a chip on the shoulder after the alleged NDA incident when the D70 was being introduced. He's certainly no fanboy, not by Moose standards.</p>

<p>Ilkka, unfortunately the discussion in that link is no different from the various photo.net discussions. It's all anecdotal observation with no samples or explanation of testing methodology. And, so far, still no comments regarding flare resistance (ghosting and veiling) or coma. At least Dan has provided some useful samples. (Altho' if those test photos came from the photozone website we probably should delete them. I'll need to check photozone's copyright policy, but generally we permit only our own photos to be uploaded to avoid any possible infringement.)</p>

[bahrammonshat]

<p>Thanks Lex.</p>

[seismiccwave]

<p>Wow, this has gotten into another Nikon versus Sigma debate. Anyway if you want to see some tests I just posted a new thread.</p>

[ilkka_nissila]

<p><em>Ilkka, unfortunately the discussion in that link is no different from the various photo.net discussions.</em></p>

<p>Lex, there is a difference: those comments on nikongear.com were made by people who have used both the Sigma and the f/1.4G Nikkor. Prior to Hansen's thread, the photo.net discussions on the merits of those two have relied on no direct comparisons but only on arguments based on merging third party information, most of which predates the f/1.4G Nikkor.</p>

[lorriman]

 

<p ><a href="http://www.photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=19054"><em>Ilkka Nissila</em></a><em> : Ken Rockwell either doesn't have any idea of what he is saying, or deliberately writes to mislead people when he says the new 1.4G is not sharper than the 1.4D.</em></p>

Ach! My bias detection fuse has just blowen out. Perhaps his particular lens is precisely as he describes it. It's not just Sigma that has sample variation, after all.

 

[Matt Laur]

<p>For a quick side trip in to Canon land, <a href="../canon-eos-digital-camera-forum/00RtVc?unified_p=1"><strong>right here is a post from R. Rubenstein</strong></a>, where he quickly mentions his impression of the Sigma 50/1.4, shot side by side with the Canon 50/1.4 in a real social setting.</p>

[sprouty]

<p>This whole discussion had been great, and makes me glad to know I'm not the last person on earth who still loves the focal length.</p>

[mt4x4]

<blockquote>

<p>IMHO, Nikkor lenses are the reason to buy into the Nikon system. I have had my forays into Tokina and Sigma, and these have always included a modicum of disappointment.</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>I just traded my Sigma 18-50 Macro in for a Nikon 50 1.4. I was extremely dissapointed with the Sigma's performance, and I am extremely happy with the Nikon after just a couple of days of shooting with it. The difference is night and day. Not to mention that they are about the same price (I think the Nikon is about 20 dollars more).<br /> <br /> I am in fact so disappointed with the Sigma 18-50 that I will probably never buy another Sigma lens again. I have had nothing but good results from Nikkor lenses.</p>