Nikon 50mm - 1.4 or 1.8

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Looking to get myself a nifty fifty but I was just wondering if it is worth paying the extra £100 for the 1.4 over the 1.8, is there really that much difference and what are your experiences?
 
Come on then Ven, can you expand on that? :p

Tell me what I want to hear......:D
 
If it's anything like the Canon 1.4, and I'd think it must be very similar, then used wide open you get knife-edge DOF and bokeh to die for.

It's likely to have more diaphragm blades than the 1.8 version, so you should get nice round OOF highlights. That's something to check up on though. I can hand hold my 1.4 in virtually any light. ;)
 
Colin,

I have not tried the 1.4, but I have a 1.8 and it is very nice. Used it on the
D200 from work and it was great even in fairly low light. Think I paid about £65 from One Stop and I like it. I have heard great things about the 1.4 though but i couldn't justify the extra few bucks. I know you are going freelance so it might make the difference.

If you want to borrow mine to try then PM me your address and I will send it in a nice safe box and you can try it for a few weeks. Why not get one and if it doesnt work out put it up on the forum or fleabay for a few quid less and it will go, then go for the 1.4 (£158 at One Stop)

Regards,

Bob R
 
CT said:
If it's anything like the Canon 1.4, and I'd think it must be very similar, then used wide open you get knife-edge DOF and bokeh to die for.

It's likely to have more diaphragm blades than the 1.8 version, so you should get nice round OOF highlights. That's something to check up on though. I can hand hold my 1.4 in virtually any light. ;)
Click to expand...

Conversely, I compared the build quality of the Nikon 1.8 and the Canon 1.8 when I hooked up with Paul in Reading - the Nikon seems to be built a lot better...

I've never had a play with the Nikon 1.4, so I can't really draw comparison there, unfortunately
 
I have never owned the Nikon 50mm 1.8 but I did own the 1.4 and can only say it was excellent.

I doubt you will be disappointed with either but think you will be a little happier with 1.4 if you can justify the extra cost :shrug:
 
Thanks for all the feedback, that's what makes this place sooooooo good.

Guess what Father Christmas is bringing me.
 
Hacker said:
Come on then Ven, can you expand on that? :p

Tell me what I want to hear......:D
Click to expand...

Sorry Col ... bit late I know and it looks like plenty others already done that ...:D

As if you needed convincing m8 ...:nono:

Been using my manual 1.4 and want to 'upgrade' to the digi myself ... :thumbs:

As I said no contest ... you really do get what you pay for ... ;)

Enjoy it ... :naughty:




:p
 
Just been reading this thread as I am interested in one of these
Does anyone have the part numbers for these lenses?
Also is there any other alternatives?
 
Have you ever considered the Canon 50mm f1L?

Aperture have a second hand one in stock at....
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.Only £2250!
 
Just got my 1.8 Nikon from Kerso (guaranteed peace of mind, good price and quick) and after a few shots in the back garden can say that it seems razor sharp. If the 1.4 is much better it must be some lens


David.
 
P-E said:
I have never owned the Nikon 50mm 1.8 but I did own the 1.4 and can only say it was excellent.

I doubt you will be disappointed with either but think you will be a little happier with 1.4 if you can justify the extra cost :shrug:
Click to expand...

Hi Colin

I bought the 1.4 from P-E and can only say it's a great lens - I'm based in Luton if you want to borrow it for a few days. I have no experience of the 1.8 but for low light work the 1.4 must have the edge.

Regards

Geoff
 
:thinking:

Anyone still out there!?!?

Was wondering how sharp the 1.4 is at 1.4?

(Thinking that lenses normally do not show their best sharpness at Max Aperture...:thinking: :shrug: )

How does the sharpness of the 1.4 at 1.8 compare with the sharpness of the 1.8 at 1.8?

Would appreciate help on this as I would also like to look at getting a nifty
 
Last time I worked with a 50mm was when I still used my K-1000 on a daily basis - read 2 years ago.:lol: :thumbs:

Got some lovely results with that "old" 1.8...:thumbs:
 
Thanks for that link - not sure if I understand it though...:shrug:

The comparison methods seem a bit senseless though...am I missing something here?:thinking:
 
A few weeks ago when I was buying a D200 my first thoughts about a portrait lens was to go for the 50 mm 1.4 then Digital Photo dropped through the door and they were testing 50mm’s the Canon 1.8Mk II and the 1.2L USM, CZ Planar 50mm 1.4ZF, Nikon 50mm 1.8D, OLIMPUS ED 50MM f2 macro, Pentax FA 50mm 2.8 macro, Sigma 50mm 2.8 DG macro and the Sony 50mm 1.4. I know the Canon f1.2 is the DB, (I used to use the FD version yeas ago) but at a £1000 come on, but I diverse the outcome of the test was 4stars for the Nikon for features and build, 5 stars for performance, 4 stars for image quality, and 5 stars for value for money, winning the test overall, so I bought one and It’s great.
I quote Digital Photo,” Taking the DP gold award is the Nikon50mm f1.8D. Though it’s not packed with loads of bells and whistles, it’s still a cracking lens. It may lack a silent wave motor, but the maximum aperture of f/1.8 is a real bonus- especially if you’re coming from a slow kit lens. There are no quibbles on its performance, either, with the AF system doing a grand job in locking on quickly. Optically, it’s not quite up there with the more expensive lenses, but it does produce great results. All this, and it only costs £79, which is a real bargain for a prime lens. If you’ve got a Nikon D-SLR then this really is a must- have lens for your system.” Unquote.
 
Thanks
Orderd myself the 1.4 yesterday :)
 
Anton Roland said:
:thinking:

Anyone still out there!?!?

Was wondering how sharp the 1.4 is at 1.4?

(Thinking that lenses normally do not show their best sharpness at Max Aperture...:thinking: :shrug: )

How does the sharpness of the 1.4 at 1.8 compare with the sharpness of the 1.8 at 1.8?

Would appreciate help on this as I would also like to look at getting a nifty
Click to expand...

Hi Anton,
here's a quick test shot I took the other week when I got my Nikon 50mm f1.4 for my D200.

The lens was wide open ( f1.4) and it was a dull day and no flash.

Tony

lfharvey.jpg
 
Hello Tonymp :wave:

Thanks for that image. I think that settles all my worries about sharpness @ 1,4...:bonk:

Cheers and welcome to TPF by the way!!:thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:
 
Tonymp said:
Hi Anton,
here's a quick test shot I took the other week when I got my Nikon 50mm f1.4 for my D200.

The lens was wide open ( f1.4) and it was a dull day and no flash.

Tony
Click to expand...


Looks USM'ed (sharpened) to me. Have you got the unedtited version you could post?
 
:eek: :thinking: :D

Time I cleaned my laptop's monitor again?:lol:

Oh well, even if it was USM'D the end result still looks damn good to me!
 
King_Boru said:
Looks USM'ed (sharpened) to me. Have you got the unedtited version you could post?
Click to expand...

I haven't got the original as it was just a quicky test which I shot the day after I purchased the lens, which I mounted on a D200, to see if it was possible to get a reasonable image from the lens at f1.4 - I've since deleted the few test shots I took, so I can't post the original.

Being REALISTIC - one would expect to slightly sharpen any image from a lens that is wide open with such a wide aperture and the D200, even with a sharp lens fitted, isn't reknowned for ultra sharp images, straight from the camera unless one up's the in-camera settings which I never do as, I prefer to do any sharpening etc out of camera, so I probably did apply a very small amount of USM, but considering the fact that the lens was fully wide open, hand held in poor light, then it's very useable indeed.

I found the bokeh at f2.8 to be more pleasing than at f1.4 and at f2.8, it's very sharp, so if one want's bokeh AND sharpness, then the 50mm f1.4 prime is a good lens.

Considering the lens only cost me around £189.00 from Jacobs, I reckon it's one of the best value lenses around and ideal for 'people' shots where one wants to isolate the subject from the background.

Tony
 
Anton Roland said:
Hello Tonymp :wave:

Thanks for that image. I think that settles all my worries about sharpness @ 1,4...:bonk:

Cheers and welcome to TPF by the way!!:thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Thanks Anton for the welcome..
Have fun with the 1.4 - you'll love it!!!
Tony
 
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