Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AF-S
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Thinking of getting one for my D60 and would like to read some first hand opinion’s about it. Also some fishing shots with it would be very apreciated.
Did read the kenrockwell and dp reviews already.
Thanks in advance
Olle
Olle,
I have the Nikon 50 1.8 and based on my experience with that I would have to think you would like the 50 1.4.
“IF money isn’t an object”, how about the 60mm macro. I don’t own every Nikon lens, but this is the sharpest one I own.
I tested the 50 1.4 recently when I was thinking of changing from Canon to the Nikon D3X.
The 50 is a big part of my work for portraits and it’s one of my most used lenses.To be honest, I was a little disappointed in the Nikon on wider settings, but thought it was pretty good stopped down.
Under about f2 it can have some SERIOUS CA problems and is fairly soft*, but by around 2.8 it’s fine. – by f8 it’s as sharp as you’re ever likely to need.I think if it’s used knowing it’s limitations it will produce good pictures.
Lastly, a fast 50 is a great thing to have in your bag when god dips the lights – it’s a cheap way into low light photography.. 😉
*The D60 would be less likely to show up it’s flaws than a high rez camera.
Like the Canon 50 1.4 it’s an old design and would have been a good lens on a film camera – in fact, I used one a lot when I was a Nikon guy on F4’s – and was generally happy with it.
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
Olle,
The Nikon 50 1.4 is kinda like a pop star – everyone loves to talk about it on the internet and make wild claims about how “fast” it is and how it will start your car and kiss you good night. Honestly, as much as I pride myself on researching equipment (to a fault really) I couldn’t resist the urge and ended up getting the 50 1.4. Everything David mentioned above is spot on. It is a great lens above f2.8 but the whole 1.4 fast glass creamy background artsy-fartsy stuff is often overdone. Furthermore, as mentioned multiple times elsewhere, this lens just feeds my desire to go Fx because on my Dx sensor I am always cursing about the loss of frame. Personally, I end up using my 60mm 2.0 Micro-Nikkor most of the time and that 1.4 tends to sit in my bag. Overall, not a regretful purchase because it does get some great dog shots in low light but it wants to live on an Fx frame and now I just stew about getting a new body. Personally, I’d get the 60mm macro – it’s one of my favorite battle lenses and used much more frequently. By the way, the 35mm f1.8 Dx lens is about a perfect lens for a D60 level camera and at $199 the price will get you into the artsy stuff much quicker without the regret.
The 60mm macro lens will also serve you well for fly photography, much more versatile.
All that said, it is fun to play with prime lenses. These are from my 50mm f1.4.
Nice shots, Neal.
I have a 50 mm (1.8) which I like, but don’t use — mostly because I am too lazy to change lenses. I will keep it on my D70 when I get my next camera body and I suspect that I might use it then.
Not sure about the price point on the 1.4, but maybe pick up or borrow a 1.8 and see if you will really use the new lens in that fixed focal length enough to justify the purchase.
I like the concept of prime lenses, but the 2.8 series of zooms have my strong attention at the moment. One down and two to go.
Thanks for the reply’s guys. I think the biggest feature of that lens is f/1.4 and most of you tell me it is at its best at 2.8. that makes me thinking i’m better off with maybe the 35 Neal mentioned. I overlooked that one in my search and will check that one out.
The 60 mm also looks good but will not give me that ‘artsy fartsy’ background. The macro possibility will ofcourse be usefull for me, so this one will also get some attention.
Neal what opening did you use for the flower shot? Lovely portrets by the way.
Olle, the 35mm 1.8 was made to fill the missing link in the Nikon line up for the Dx cameras. Think of it as a 50mm 1.8 on Dx sensor. For the price, it is “the” walk around prime lens. The specs are impressive but have similar limitations at wide open as the 1.4 (CA, etc). Based on my sampling it is also a bit soft at f2.8 and below. However, it is the least expensive “good” option to get in to ambient and low light walk around photography for a Dx sensor, IMHO. If I didn’t already have an old but very good 28mm Cosina lens that 35mm1.8 would be scratching at the wallet.
Another idea – you can usually get an older 60mm macro on Ebay for less than $300 (I think the older glass is better than the new covered glass model personally – mine is an older version). Depending on your price point, it is possible to get both the 35mm and the 60mm macro for about the same price as a new 50mm 1.4.
BTW, the camera settings for the pics above: Flower, 8:30 pm at night, street light ambient only, 1/125 (fast) at f/1.4 -1/3EV, ISO200. This shot is an example of “fast glass” since the ambient light was dark dark and I still shot at 1/125 (fast) because of the wide open f1.4 (and at ISO 200! so minimal noise) and by the way it was handheld without blur/shake. That is why people love the 1.4 lenses in low light. Girl one, early daylight diffused, 1/1250 at f/2.0, +2/3EV, ISO 160. Girl two, same light, 1/125, at f2.8, +2/3EV, ISO160.
I agree with Neal about the 35mm 1.8. If that had been out when I got my stuff I would have gone with it instead of the 50mm. Obviously you won’t regret the 50mm 1.4 if you go that route. I’m going to chase some brookies tomorrow and I’ll try to use the 50mm 1.8 for some fish pics for you to see. Unfortunately, my pictures probably aren’t the ones you want to use when judging how good a lens is, but I’ll try.
Here’s a few from around the house with the 1.8. Fish pics to follow.
Thanks for the examples Matt. Looking forward to the brookie pics not only as example but also for the fish 🙂
The 50 1.8 looks like a nice lens but has one problem for me, it lacks autofocus. AF is a must for me when i buy a new lens. I do own a couple MF lenses and i find it not really easy to always get the focus right. That got me some pictures wich were absolutly fantastic (IMO 🙂 ) but were a bit out of focus on the subject.
So for some faster action i need a lens wich does the focusing for me so it must be an af-s.
@Shannon, do you have some pics from the 60mm on 2.8?
Olle . . . here are a few examples of shooting wide open in low light from a fireworks party last night. You could do similar stuff with the 35mm AF-s.
I bought the 35mm 1.8 AF-S yesterday, it took a wile to get to the store due to long working hours the past weeks. I really like it allready and can’t wait to get out for some fishing and photographing with thisone.
Here’s a first tryout.
Olle . . . Congratulations on the 35mm! Nice picture, I like the tight crop. That lens is so popular in the states that all suppliers are backordered. You got lucky to get your hands on one. I recommend that you start walking around with just the lens on your camera body (no flash or accessories) and take about 25-50 shots a day for practice. Don’t forget to delete the non-keepers. You will soon learn the pros/cons of the lens in certain situations and also certain f stops, etc. The depth of field at 1.8 can be tricky up close, like in portraits, and mapping it out in your head will help for placement of subjects in the future. Try it at f 1.8/4/5.6/8 on the same subject and then compare the photos at 100% to see the differences in DOF and sharpness.
One final comment (from experience and much cursing) – IMHO – the 35-50mm 1.4/1.8’s are best employed with the camera on manual. If you use A mode (i.e f 1.8), the camera will often default to weird shutter compensation in an attempt to “auto” the exposure. to get the creamy artsy shots you need to be in charge and dial in the settings and ISO according to the desired outcome.
Have fun, prime lenses are a blast.
Thanks Neal. Thats exactly what i had planned for the next few weeks for all the reasons you just pointed out. And i always have my camera on manual
Finally got a chance at shooting a friend with fish :). We were fishing a saltwater lake with huge rainbows in it.
hope to shoot more soon.
Olle
Nice clean shots Olle..
(fish aren’t half bad either ;))
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
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