Nikon nifty 50 F1.4 or F1.8

G

Gixasix

Suspended / Banned
Messages
189
Edit My Images
Yes
Is the F1.4 Nikon 50mm worth the extra cash or should i just get the F1.8 and put the extra towards the rest of my wants list:D?
 
I think it's more a case that the 1.4 is the right price and the 1.8 is a bargin. Only you know what you are prepared to pay for your glass. The answer for me is get the 1.8, but if you have the money for the 1.8 then the results would be worth the extra money for sure.
 
Gixasix said:
Is the F1.4 Nikon 50mm worth the extra cash or should i just get the F1.8 and put the extra towards the rest of my wants list:D?
Click to expand...

I'm going to have the same choice shortly and think I will opt for the 1.8 and save the cash. JM2C
 
In the days of low ISO film and manual focus the f:1.4 was well worth the extra - nowadays for most people the f:1.8 should be plenty fast enough.
 
If you want/need the shallower DoF of the f/1.4 over the f/1.8 or the extra 1/2 stop (or is it 2/3?) that it'll give you then go for the f/1.4. I've seen it said that there's almost nothing in it as far as IQ goes at f/2 or smaller. And if you want one side of a hair in focus and the far side oof, there's the old MF f/1.2 (But wide open, it's almost impossible to get accurate focus on the plane you want it!).

Personally, I would (and did) go for the f/1.8 and put the extra £££ towards something else (in my case, a decent tripod).
 
Nod said:
If you want/need the shallower DoF of the f/1.4 over the f/1.8 or the extra 1/2 stop (or is it 2/3?) that it'll give you then go for the f/1.4. I've seen it said that there's almost nothing in it as far as IQ goes at f/2 or smaller. And if you want one side of a hair in focus and the far side oof, there's the old MF f/1.2 (But wide open, it's almost impossible to get accurate focus on the plane you want it!).

Personally, I would (and did) go for the f/1.8 and put the extra £££ towards something else (in my case, a decent tripod).
Click to expand...

Also from what I've heard, the 1.4 wide open is a little flare happy. Haven't seen it myself though.
 
I didn't think the f/1.4 version was worth the premium over the f/1.8.

I had the f/1.4 and sold it. Mind you, I'm not keen on 50mm and a cropped sensor anyhow!
 
uncle ken actually rates the 1.8 over the 1.4.

BUT.

He also says the 18-55 Plastic kit lens has better sharpness than the 17-55 f/2.8 so make your own mind up.

Ive just bought a s/h f1.8, didnt think the 1.4 was worth the extra money.
 
The f/1.4 is a pro grade lens with correspondingly superior optics and build quality.

Just compare the front elements of each and you'll see where the extra dosh is going.

As for 'sharpness' I don't think the average punter would be able to tell, so perhaps the f/1.4 is for the purist.
 
Thanks for the replies everybody:)

I think i'll go with the 1.8 and stick the rest of the cash towards something else on the wanted list.:D
 
i didnt end up gettign one, but i did a lot of research on the same question and the general feeling i go from other forums was that the 1.4 was quite soft at the lower F numbers
 
The 1.4 can be a sod to focus correctly too, due to the extremely shallow DOF. It is however, a beautiful lens, and the IQ is exquisite.
 
you shouldn't call 1.4 a nifty, its nikon or canon 1.4. For 1.8, its nifty fifty 1.8 cos its cheap :)
 
Neither the 1.4 or 1.8 will AF on a D60 body will it? :(
 
I can only speak for the Canon. The 1.8 is indeed a bargain and produces great results and for most people will indeed be fine. The build quality of the 1.4 is much better (metal instead of plastic).

But the killer point for me is that the 1.4 is super sharp at the point of focus (which is narrow for sure) and the bokeh is pretty smooth.

Here is a compare:

F/1.4



F/1.8



I know they're both very different and taken in different conditions, but I think the bokeh on the 1.4 works better. And I like the shallow depth of field of the 1.4 - its great for close up portraits.

Whether the price difference is worth it for the difference in image quality, obviously is up to you. But if you can, I'd go for the 1.4.
 
mobilevirgin said:
I can only speak for the Canon. The 1.8 is indeed a bargain and produces great results and for most people will indeed be fine. The build quality of the 1.4 is much better (metal instead of plastic).

But the killer point for me is that the 1.4 is super sharp at the point of focus (which is narrow for sure) and the bokeh is pretty smooth.

Here is a compare:

F/1.4



F/1.8



I know they're both very different and taken in different conditions, but I think the bokeh on the 1.4 works better. And I like the shallow depth of field of the 1.4 - its great for close up portraits.

Whether the price difference is worth it for the difference in image quality, obviously is up to you. But if you can, I'd go for the 1.4.
Click to expand...

the comparison looks good :) but it would be fantastic if you show us the comparison with the 1.4 and 1.8 on the one object, not two :naughty: we'd see the massive difference
 
Monkey said:
unfortunately not.

I may be wrong but i think the only 50mm prime that will af on the D60 is the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 HSM

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3354&navigator=17

Its not exactly a cheap lens at £350 though!!!
Click to expand...

Yeah this is the lens that I have on pre-order but am now stopping to fund my D300 with the addition of the 'Nifty' 1.8. It does look mighty impressive, but Sigma still haven't released dates for the Nikon mount.

Stupid question here (as I don't know much about the D300 focusing system yet), but I'm assuming the 1.8D will have no 'issues' AF'ing on the 300?
 
kalibre said:
Yeah this is the lens that I have on pre-order but am now stopping to fund my D300 with the addition of the 'Nifty' 1.8. It does look mighty impressive, but Sigma still haven't released dates for the Nikon mount.

Stupid question here (as I don't know much about the D300 focusing system yet), but I'm assuming the 1.8D will have no 'issues' AF'ing on the 300?
Click to expand...

Correct, it will work a treat
 
d_pipa said:
the comparison looks good :) but it would be fantastic if you show us the comparison with the 1.4 and 1.8 on the one object, not two :naughty: we'd see the massive difference
Click to expand...

see my sig - I don't have the 1.8 atm
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top