50mm prime lens choice: I can't make up my mind on whether to get a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 AF-D lens for my Nikon 610 camera. Looking at using indoors for people shots with no...

Ikonomos Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

I can't make up my mind on whether to get a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 AF-D lens for my Nikon 610 camera.
Looking at using indoors for people shots with no flash, also some outdoor street photos.
Trying to keep cost down, hence not looking at G versions ( Does anyone think otherwise?).

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

Ikonomos wrote:

I can't make up my mind on whether to get a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 AF-D lens for my Nikon 610 camera.
Looking at using indoors for people shots with no flash, also some outdoor street photos.
Trying to keep cost down, hence not looking at G versions ( Does anyone think otherwise?).

Either one will work fine, if you prefer a lot of bokah, the f/1.4 is best but more expensive. If you are primarily going to be shooting at f/1.8 or higher, save some money and go with the f/1.8.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

I bought a 50mm 1.8 for indoor christmas and birthday pictures, works fine with available light

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

I have the Nikon f1.8 and like it very much.

Ikonomos wrote:

I can't make up my mind on whether to get a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 AF-D lens for my Nikon 610 camera.
Looking at using indoors for people shots with no flash, also some outdoor street photos.
Trying to keep cost down, hence not looking at G versions ( Does anyone think otherwise?).

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

I use Canon, but the difference in 1.8 and 1.4 is in itself negligible--a fraction of an f-stop apart. A faster lens is generally more expensive--but also heavier. On the other hand, there are sometimes differences besides speed--a slower lens might be an economy lens. I doubt that is the the case here. f1.8 50mm is such a mainstay that it should be first quality. If speed is critical, consider f1.2. But remember that there will be virtually no depth of field at f1.2, and precious little more at 1.4. The gain in shutter speed is often lost in the loss of depth of field sharpness. Often the finest lenses in picture quality are not the fastest ones, just as the fastest films or highest digital ISO are not the finest. For the photojournalist style, remember that newspaper pictures do not have the finest sharpness, resolution, or tonal scale. They can still be great pictures, of course, of their genre. In the end it is a matter of mastering the available equipment in the circumstances, yes?

Erik_H Loc: Denham Springs, Louisiana

My 1.8D is pretty much welded to my Df. As someone already mentioned, it's a matter of one stop difference. Unless you need she extra speed, I'd say save $200.00 and get the 1.8, you won't be disappointed.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

the 1.4 won't draw a sharp image till you get it below 1.8 anyway, may as well start at 1.8

Ikonomos Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

Thanks everyone, I think I will go with the 50mm 1.8 D,
Any thoughts on whether it's worth spending more on the G version?

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Ikonomos wrote:

Thanks everyone, I think I will go with the 50mm 1.8 D,
Any thoughts on whether it's worth spending more on the G version?

You don't really want the 50mm f/1.8D. Either the 50mm f/1.4D or the 50mm f/1.8G will work very nicely.

The old 50mm f/1.8D is a very cheap lens, while the 50mm f/1.4D and the f/1.8G are inexpensive but not "cheap". To achieve sharp looking images the 1.8D is over corrected for spherical aberrations which does make things look sharp, but it makes the bokeh very harsh too. The classic example is a group photo in a backyard late in the day when sunlight is either reflecting off the grass or filtering through the tree leaves. The spectral highlights are so harsh they will totally dominate the photograph even though hardly noticed in the scene.

The new 50mm f/1.8G was specifically designed to avoid all the faults of the earlier version and appears to have done so quite well.

That said, the 50mm f/1.4, D or G versions, are better lenses, but whether the added cost is worth it is a judgment call.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Ikonomos wrote:

I can't make up my mind on whether to get a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 AF-D lens for my Nikon 610 camera.
Looking at using indoors for people shots with no flash, also some outdoor street photos.
Trying to keep cost down, hence not looking at G versions ( Does anyone think otherwise?).

Save your money and get the better lens: the f/1.8.

hippi Loc: Sedalia MO

mine is also love this combo

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Ikonomos wrote:

I can't make up my mind on whether to get a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 AF-D lens for my Nikon 610 camera.
Looking at using indoors for people shots with no flash, also some outdoor street photos.
Trying to keep cost down, hence not looking at G versions ( Does anyone think otherwise?).

One of the SHARPEST and CHEAPEST Nikon lens ever produced is the Nikon 50mm f1.8 AF-D. You will never go back after you have tried this lens. Mint, used from ebay is the way to go.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

while i use a nikon 50mm f1.4 afd on my df, i can heartily recommend the 1.8 from canon, nikon, pentax or anyone else. the lenses are planar and wonderful to use in any situation.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Unless the f1.4 is something you badly need the 50mm f1.8 should serve you well.
Modern cameras do very well when it comes to raising IS0 and controlling noise.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Ikonomos wrote:

I can't make up my mind on whether to get a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 AF-D lens for my Nikon 610 camera.
Looking at using indoors for people shots with no flash, also some outdoor street photos.
Trying to keep cost down, hence not looking at G versions ( Does anyone think otherwise?).

Bokeh is not a strong point for either lens, and it does appear that the 1.8 may have higher sharpness scores than the 1.4, but bokeh that is described as "nervous" in comparison to the 1.4. Both lens' bokeh seem to improve a bit when stopped down, but since the aperture blades are straight, circular out of focus highlights are shown as polygons.

http://www.photozone.de/nikon_ff/442-nikkorafd5014ff
http://www.photozone.de/nikon_ff/623-nikkorafd5018ff

I would save the money and get the 1.8

Or split the difference between the 1.8 D and the 1.4 D and get the 1.8 G -

http://www.photozone.de/nikon_ff/631-nikkorafs5018ff