Nikkor 50mm/1.4G AF-S

[arthuryeo]

<p>I was finally able to lay my hands on one of these.</p>

<p>WHAT I LIKE</p>

<ol>

<li>When shot wide opened, the sharpness in the central core area is certainly better than the old D lens. Don't expect too much, though; it's only incrementally better. Perhaps, it is better by 10-15%. </li>

<li>Bokeh remains about the same or slightly better. </li>

<li>AF-S focusing is quiet and smooth</li>

<li>Lens is really light. It's similar to the Nikkor 35mm/1.8G AF-S</li>

<li>Lens pouch was a nice touch</li>

<li>Front lens cap has really nice tight springs. </li>

</ol>

<p>WHAT I DISLIKE</p>

<ol>

<li>AF-S is not much faster in focusing speed than the D lens</li>

<li>The lightness in weight is due to extensive plastic substitutes for metal parts and so, it feels really cheap</li>

<li>Made in China so that they can afford to give me a pouch + give themselves a profit</li>

<li>Chromatic aberration (CA) is still not well managed when shot wide open. This image below was corrected using Nikon CaptureNX's CA correction tool. You can still see a slight CA around the edges of the book.</li>

</ol>

<p><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2558/3858139810_f3f759a186.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="372" /> <br /> Nikon D3, Nikkor 50mm/1.4G AF-S; f/1,4, ISO-200</p>

[rkbrooks]

<p>When I switched from Canon to Nikon, this was one of my first lenses- on FF, I really love a 50mil. That being said, I've been pretty disappointed with it. I don't find the bokeh attractive and the focusing is VERY slow- especially when you'd typically use this type of lens for candid shots.<br>

Sorta reminds me of the Canon 85/1.2- maybe not that slow, but slow enough to make me question the whole point of re-engineering this lens.</p>

 

[Two23]

<p>I hear nothing but good things about the Sigma 50mm f1.4. Considering Sigma's steady advance in quality over the past eight years, it shouldn't surprise anyone that they just might be surpassing some of Nikon's pro lenses now.<br>

Kent in SD</p>

[eric_arnold]

<p>uh, that's a really sharp pic, arthur.</p>

[joseph_leotta]

<p>All the Nikon 50mm 1.4s starting from in the mid 60's when they introduced the Nikon F have been great lenes. I know, I've had them all over the years. This one just continues the tradition. The 50 1.4 has been their flagship lens.</p>

[oskar_ojala]

<p>I've seen many reports and a test by dpreview indicating that the old lens was actually faster to focus. I hear that the 60/2.8 is more accurate in AF too, so the AF is a bit of a disappointment.<br>

I've heard good things about image quality, though, so this probably is a very good all around lens. Your image looks ok.<br>

I don't like lens pouches, haven't found any use for them.</p>

[jose_angel]

<p>This lens looks to be good for some, disspointing for others... I must admit that I`m also not impressed with it although I like to use it quite often.</p>

<p>I second Arthur`s opinions; it calls my attention that some of the Nikon software are developed to correct that CA issues... it seems to me that this way is cheaper than to produce <em>really good</em> lenses. I`m not an expert but the 50AFS could be a clear sample.</p>

[Ian Rance]

<p>Even on film there is a little visible CA. It is a wonderful sharp and colourful lens for sure, but if Nikon are intending users to run this, and possibly future lenses through some sort of software to get the best result, that will make me think twice about purchacing the latest Nikkors for sure.</p><div></div>

[james_symington1]

<p>For the money it costs I think this lens is excellent. Sure it is light and plasticky but the plastic feels of very high quality. Image quality is absolutely excellent and it is the best prime Nikon makes of 50mm or wider (excepting the PC-Es). Focussing speed is about the same as the old AFD if not slightly slower but hardly problematic.</p>

[elliot1]

<p>@ Ryan and others who claim the focusing is slow. Just curious which body you are using. I have used mine on two Nikon bodies, one high end and one low end and while it is not the fastest focusing AF-S lens I own, it is certainly not the slowest. I would certainly not consider it slow in any regards. Have any of you who claim the focus is slow measured the time it takes to focus from infinity to close-up or vice versa? </p>

[arthuryeo]

<p>>Have any of you who claim the focus is slow measured the time it takes to focus from infinity to close-up or vice versa?</p>

<p>No, I did not measure it, just gut feeling. Anyway, it's not a big deal, like what James S. said: "hardly problematic".</p>

[ShunCheung]

<p>AF is certainly slow for a small, AF-S lens. I first read about that from Thom Hogan. I tested the 50mm/f1.4 AF-S on a D3X, and the slow AF was very apparent. It is nowhere as terrible as the 80-400mm VR, but for a relatively small lens where the elements don't need to travel much to focus, it is on the slow side.</p>

<p>I for one don't mind the plastic build. Again, it is a small lens without any major zoom extension. I think it is solid enough. In fact, I prefer a lighter lens than the meaningless solid feel. (A friend once told me a story about his company selling plastic telephones. Consumers did not like the low weight because they felt it was "cheap." Therefore, the company simply added some lead to make the telephones heavier, and all of a sudden they were able to sell those same phones at a much higher price. It is all a matter of perception.)</p>

<p>This lens is actually reasonably sharp at f1.4, but the depth of field is so shallow that it is hard to get a sharp image from it. I have tested it on some flat surface and it is pretty good at f1.4.</p>

[Peter_in_PA]

<p>Also... high contrast, wide open will get you some CA every time on almost any lens...</p>

[hamish_gray]

<p>I love this lens, although I have to admit I find the AF noticably slower than the 1.4 AF-D. But that is not really a problem as this will never be used as an action lens (by me) anyway.<br /><br />I find the bokeh to be better than the the D version.<br /><br />Sharpness is very even from the outer edges to the center. <br /><br />Nobody expects the sharpest images at f1.4 anyway. From f2.5 and up it's real sharp!</p>

 

[oskar_ojala]

<blockquote>

<p>it calls my attention that some of the Nikon software are developed to correct that CA issues... it seems to me that this way is cheaper than to produce <em>really good</em> lenses.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Yes, although f1.4 is a very large aperture making things difficult. But Zeiss apparently managed to have no CA on their 50/2, so there's an option for us who want to pursue even higher quality...<br>

Mind you, I use the old 50/1.4 AF-D for portraits in studio settings, works great, almost too sharp.</p>

[stwrtertbsratbs5]

<p>I like you photo, Arthur.</p>

[gurbally_seth]

<p>I used it on D300 for four months before selling it.<br />It is okay at 1.4, but not that good. Well, bokeh too is so-so. Definitely, its AF is slower compoared to 50 1.4 AF-D.</p>

[stephen_asprey2]

<p>Timely thread.<br>

I have a D300 that I will be using for portraits and have beed devouring all the tests and comments, including this one. A new 50/1.4 AFS costs $750 here, whereas the 1.8-D version costs $205. Both are reported to only become good at f2, so why would I spend the extra? At $750, I'm not far away from a Zeiss. AF is not important to me. I manually focus to get it just right anyway.<br>

On the D300 I am really looking for an effective focal length of about 90mm, so a fast 60 would be perfect, but also there are none.<br>

Comments?</p>

[arthuryeo]

<p>>A new 50/1.4 AFS costs $750</p>

<p>Where are you located? I got mine for around US$400 with USA new warranty.</p>

<p> </p>

[rkbrooks]

<p>I'm using it on a D700, to answer your question. Tried it again tonight, it is slow. I will probably try the Sigma.</p>

[ShunCheung]

<p>Arthur, Stephen is in OZ. 1 Australian $ is about US$0.82 and cameras are more expensive down under.</p>

[eajames]

<p>Thanks for starting this discussion Arthur.<br>

Stephen, look into the Voigtlander 58mm f1.4, particularly if you're after a soothing OOF rendition.<br>

http://www.cameraquest.com/Voigt_SL2.htm</p>

[simon_dahlbacka]

<p>FWIW, I just got this lens yesterday after not being able to resist a price of 289€ new last week (now it has gone back up to 369€)</p>

[mizuho_saito]

<p>I believe the new AF-S has a ontant focus speed whereas the older AF-D was based on the built in motor which results in quicker focus on all bodies D90 and up? D3 being twice as fast as the D90 I believe. There was a website with AF times somewhere.</p>