Which Lens 50mm 1.4 or 1.8??

[nikond100]

Am looking for a new lens but not to sure on the difference between these.

50mm F1.8 G AFS lens or 50mm F1.8 A AF Nikkor lens, can someone point out which is the better one as their is a difference in cost.


Also looking at a flash found this one

Nikon Speedlight SB-400 External flash.

Thanks

 

[commjo]

Am looking for a new lens but not to sure on the difference between these.

50mm F1.8 G AFS lens or 50mm F1.8 A AF Nikkor lens, can someone point out which is the better one as their is a difference in cost.

Also looking at a flash found this one

Nikon Speedlight SB-400 External flash.

Thanks

Which body are you using it on?
Some Nikon bodies have an autofocus motor built in the body eg d50/70/80/90/7000 so will autofocus with both lenses.

Other bodies eg d40/40x/60/3000/3100/5000/5100 need an af-s lens to autofocus

I don't know the difference in optics between the two.

Re: sb-400 - it's a nice pocket sized flash with bounce. But it's not as powerful (or big) as sb600/800/900 etc.

I use the sb400 for casual use.

 

[nikond100]

Its a D100

 

[commjo]

Its a D100

I think that had a motor built in - so both lenses will autofocus. But I don't know the difference in optics.

 

[Sassy-DBS]

I have the 50mm 1.8 but If money wasn't an issue I would've gone with the 1.4 as it lets better light in!
For the Flash I've just got the SB-900 for Christmas and LOVE it, very complex though

 

[hyeongsoong]

Optically the F1.8 version is much better then the F1.4 version so if you can deal with just use F1.8 then get the F1.8 one. With the F1.4 one you wouldn't use F1.4 any way because the quality of the shoot will be not very good.

 

[Martyn...]

Optically the F1.8 version is much better then the F1.4 version so if you can deal with just use F1.8 then get the F1.8 one. With the F1.4 one you wouldn't use F1.4 any way because the quality of the shoot will be not very good.

I will take the f1.4 over the f1.8 every day of the week, and quite happily use it wide open at f1.4.

Which is irrelevant as the OP's original question in his post is between two different versions of the f1.8, he has typed "A" but I assume he is referring to the "D".

In response to the OP the 50 f1.8 G is reported to be a cracking lens, however the cheaper 50 f1.8 D is no slouch, and I doubt that you would see any difference in real world shooting.






.

 

[PaulMW]

Optically the F1.8 version is much better then the F1.4 version so if you can deal with just use F1.8 then get the F1.8 one. With the F1.4 one you wouldn't use F1.4 any way because the quality of the shoot will be not very good.

I have the f1.4 and the IQ is incredible, even fully open at 1.4, how do you quantify what you say here?

 

[commjo]

What do you think to this - taken with a 50mm f/1.4G AF-S

This is at f1.4

 

[hyeongsoong]

I have the f1.4 and the IQ is incredible, even fully open at 1.4, how do you quantify what you say here?

What I am saying is that compare to 1.8g , 1.4 version is not as good at the largest apertures.

The Nikon 50mm f/1.8G sets new standards in 50mm fixed lens performance for Nikon mount – it is sharper than all of the predecessors, including the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G at largest apertures. I was very surprised to see such results in my lab tests; you can see all image comparisons yourself with 100% crops in the previous pages of this review that prove this. I can only guess that the performance is this good due to the added aspherical element in the lens, but I am sure other lens design factors also add their share.

http://mansurovs.com/nikon-50mm-f1-8g-review/7

 

[Xivoz]

What I am saying is that compare to 1.8g , 1.4 version is not as good at the largest apertures.



http://mansurovs.com/nikon-50mm-f1-8g-review/7

That's true! If not the environment light is really inefficient or I really need a more blurred background, I will try not to use 1.4 with my AF-S 50mm to get a sharper photo. However if you switch it to 1.8, it will become hard to tell the difference from 1.8g. So 1.4, in my opinion, is just giving you another option to fit in some special cases.

 

[rampanthamster]

double post, sorry!

 

[rampanthamster]

hmmn, either you've got a bad copy of the 1.4 or you're misinformed. The 50mm 1.4 is a fantastic lens and i often use mine wide open with great results.

edit - didn't see your recent post. Perhaps the 1.8g is slightly sharper at max aperture than the 1.4, but to say that 'you wouldn't use it at 1.4 because of the quality' is just madness

Here's a quick sample from yesterday (i added the vignette myself - any minor problems with vignetting etc can easily be fixed with one click in lightroom)

50mm @ 1.4 1/200 iso800

so what i'm saying is that i'd always plump for the 1.4 over the 1.8, finances allowing!

 

[adrianday]

Here is a link comparing the f/1.4 and f/1.8 on a DX sensor. Here's the comparison on FX.

Play with the aperture sliders and draw your own conclusions. At the end of the day, they're both cracking lenses. Buy either and you'll be happy.

I own the f/1.4 and am very pleased with it.

 

[gad-westy]

Despite the title, I don't think the OP is considering the 1.4...

 

[PaulMW]

Despite the title, I don't think the OP is considering the 1.4...

Looking back, yes I think you are right!

However if nothing else, this thread goes a little way towards showing how easy it can be to get a distorted view by reading reviews alone, I also find it quite surprising that someone can think that by using the 1.4 fully open you are going to have poor quality pictures!, when from my own and others experience the pictures produced from this lens fully open are of excellent quality!

 

[intel86]

Bought a 1.8 for my recent D90. Only lens i have and love it!

 

[nikond100]

Thanks for the replies, today have bought myself the 50mm f/1.4G AF-S so looking forward to using it now

 

[hyeongsoong]

Looking back, yes I think you are right!

However if nothing else, this thread goes a little way towards showing how easy it can be to get a distorted view by reading reviews alone, I also find it quite surprising that someone can think that by using the 1.4 fully open you are going to have poor quality pictures!, when from my own and others experience the pictures produced from this lens fully open are of excellent quality!

No body said it will produce poor quality pictures, it will have not as good picture as the lens at F1.8. The DOF difference between F1.4 and F1.8 is not that difference so why would you want use 1.4 when step down a bit will produce a better picture?

 

[OutLore]

No body said it will produce poor quality pictures, it will have not as good picture as the lens at F1.8. The DOF difference between F1.4 and F1.8 is not that difference so why would you want use 1.4 when step down a bit will produce a better picture?

You could say the same about any lens - including the 1.8 - it's sharper from 2.0/2.2?

 

[PaulMW]

No body said it will produce poor quality pictures, it will have not as good picture as the lens at F1.8. The DOF difference between F1.4 and F1.8 is not that difference so why would you want use 1.4 when step down a bit will produce a better picture?

I beg to differ, if you look back at your original post in this thread you stated that the lens when fully open will produce poor quality images....

Optically the F1.8 version is much better then the F1.4 version so if you can deal with just use F1.8 then get the F1.8 one. With the F1.4 one you wouldn't use F1.4 any way because the quality of the shoot will be not very good.

Of course you are right that stepping down a little will likely improve quality even further, but as 'outlore' has already said, you can say this of any lens. I have a reasonably good selection of lenses and this 1.4G remains one of my favourites, even when used fully open

 

[gad-westy]

Thanks for the replies, today have bought myself the 50mm f/1.4G AF-S so looking forward to using it now

Good man! I have a few lenses at the moment and I'm having a bit of a clearout and this is the only lens that I no will not be going anywhere.