Nikon 58mm F1.4 - all that?

AndrewSt

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Well, is it that good? Seems to be a love hate lens. Some of the samples look great, some look really soft.
 
Go for the sigma 50mm art and save some pennies! ;)
 
Well, is it that good? Seems to be a love hate lens. Some of the samples look great, some look really soft.


Look up David Yarrow he uses the Nikon 58mm to great effect for B & W Wildlife shots
 
Well, is it that good? Seems to be a love hate lens. Some of the samples look great, some look really soft.
The 58mm is soft, but the images have a real special quality to them IMO.
 
The 58mm was designed to provide silky smooth bokeh, sharpness wasn't its priority. It is very much a marmite lens, but I guess it depends on what you want. If it's sharpness then go for the Sigma 50mm Art, it's pretty much in a league of it's own. Personally I would go for the 58mm for my own needs.
 
The 58mm is not soft.... its just not as sharp as the sharpest lenses. Its kind of hard to justify when the ART is half the price.
 
Perhaps, but other than macro and some scientific work, sharpness is overrated.

... or landscapes, or studio work or high resolution stuff and printing big. How useful is the soft OOF of say the 58?
 
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I love the look you get from the 58mm and if money was no object, I would prefer one over the Sigma ART.
 
The 58mm is not soft.... its just not as sharp as the sharpest lenses. Its kind of hard to justify when the ART is half the price.
The Art sure is a nice lens. Money no object I guess it would depend on the look you want. I just wish my camera played ball better with Sigma lenses :(
 
The Art sure is a nice lens. Money no object I guess it would depend on the look you want. I just wish my camera played ball better with Sigma lenses :(

Dock? They are worth that little extra outlay.
 
Dock? They are worth that little extra outlay.
Good point, never thought of that. Maybe I should try it with the 85mm if it works with that.
 
Good point, never thought of that. Maybe I should try it with the 85mm if it works with that.
Eventually they'll (probably) bring out an updated 85mm and if and when it may well work with the dock, but God knows what it'll cost.
 
Eventually they'll (probably) bring out an updated 85mm and if and when it may well work with the dock, but God knows what it'll cost.
As above, an 8mm f1.4 Art it's on its way. Latest rumours are September. I thought about waiting but I doubt I'd be able to afford it, and based on previous lenses it'll probably weigh 1kg or just over :eek:

Having done some reading it appears that 3rd party lenses can be very hit and miss with a number of more recent Nikons. Guess I have one of those bodies that makes 3rd party lenses more miss than hit :rolleyes:

Apologies OP for taking the thread off topic :oops: :$
 
The 58 is a lens I would like to try.
As far as sharpness goes, if the lens has a "look" which is unique, then the whole package of the lens is what makes it so. Sharpness is a part of that "package",
In other words, if the lens was sharp, it would change the character of the lens.
People buy lenses like this for the character.
I would.
 
The 58 is a lens I would like to try.
As far as sharpness goes, if the lens has a "look" which is unique, then the whole package of the lens is what makes it so. Sharpness is a part of that "package",
In other words, if the lens was sharp, it would change the character of the lens.
People buy lenses like this for the character.
I would.

That's the way I also see it.
 
The sharpness/look discussion is interesting. The Sony/Zeiss 55mm 1.8 is as sharp as it gets by pretty much any measure, but for me it felt incredibly clinical and I was never a big fan of its 'look'.
 
The sharpness/look discussion is interesting. The Sony/Zeiss 55mm 1.8 is as sharp as it gets by pretty much any measure, but for me it felt incredibly clinical and I was never a big fan of its 'look'.

It was a mixed bag for me, it could look great in some shots but I get what you're saying.
 
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This seems to be the trend these days (very sharp lenses.)

I read an interesting piece on a blog in which the blogger said that he takes an interest in any lens that people seem to be complaining and arguing about on line :D I can see why.
 
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Love the look from this lens. Usually shoot 35/85 on 2 bodies (70-200 in bag), not sure how best to pair it for weddings.

24/58
28/58
35/58
24-70/58
 
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