Advice please on Nikon lens purchase: Hi all, I am looking to buy a 50 mm Nikon lens. I have an opportunity to buy a used Nikon 50mm 1.4D AF lens or a used 50mm 1.8 G AFS lens, both...

Ikonomos Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

Hi all,
I am looking to buy a 50 mm Nikon lens.
I have an opportunity to buy a used Nikon 50mm 1.4D AF lens or a used 50mm 1.8 G AFS lens, both cost the same price and both are in excellent condition ( even though the 1.4 is older).
I am more interested in the quality of the images taken rather than the speed of the lens.
I would really appreciate any feedback please.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Ikonomos wrote:

Hi all,
I am looking to buy a 50 mm Nikon lens.
I have an opportunity to buy a used Nikon 50mm 1.4D AF lens or a used 50mm 1.8 G AFS lens, both cost the same price and both are in excellent condition ( even though the 1.4 is older).
I am more interested in the quality of the images taken rather than the speed of the lens.
I would really appreciate any feedback please.

What camera?

AF lenses require a focusing motor in the camera; i.e. D7xxx or higher. AF-S lenses will autofocus on all recent cameras.

Also note a 50mm lens is 85mm equivalent on DX cameras. If your camera is DX you might want the 35mm f1.8.

Ikonomos Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

Sorry I forgot to say that I have a Nikon 610 (full frame camera)

illininitt

I got rid of my 50mm lens and bought a Sigma 18-250 instead!

67skylark27 Loc: Fort Atkinson, WI

I went the 1.4 route and glad I did. It's my go to lens shooting at night in the city and for indoor
volleyball. The 1.8 will work in most places too but for the same price do the 1.4!

asiafish Loc: Bakersfield, CA

The 1.8 is more modern and probably sharper. The older 1.8D is dirt cheap (brand new about $100) and optically fantastic. For about 16 times more, the 58/1.4G is magnificent for people.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

illininitt wrote:

I got rid of my 50mm lens and bought a Sigma 18-250 instead!

I'm sure that will help him in deciding which 50mm lens to buy.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Ikonomos wrote:

Hi all,
I am looking to buy a 50 mm Nikon lens.
I have an opportunity to buy a used Nikon 50mm 1.4D AF lens or a used 50mm 1.8 G AFS lens, both cost the same price and both are in excellent condition ( even though the 1.4 is older).
I am more interested in the quality of the images taken rather than the speed of the lens.
I would really appreciate any feedback please.

There really isn't much difference between f/1.4 and f/1.8. Unless you really need the thiner DoF and/or slightly better low light capabilities, go with the AF-S f/1.8

p.s.
I use the AF-S 50mm f/1.4 the most on my Df, but I should have gotten the AF-S 50mm f/1.8 instead, and saved some money.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Ikonomos wrote:

Sorry I forgot to say that I have a Nikon 610 (full frame camera)

BTW I have the 50mm AF for my D800. It takes very sharp images with reasonable shutter speeds or when using a tripod.

But I hardly ever use it since I got the 24-85 VR. Due to the VR it often does better than the 50 could.

Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

I am using the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D that I have had for years. Bought new when I heard that production was moving from Japan to China. Love it, IQ is great, build quality much better than AFS version and without the electronics, will never fail. I'd recommend it over the newer f/1.8.

fuminous Loc: Luling, LA... for now...

You won't find much practical difference between the two... but, if they're the same price, I'd go with the 1.4 simply because there may be a time you need it.

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

I have and use both the 50 1.8 afs and an older 50 af non d 1.4. The afs focuses very fast and is right on and sharp as can be. The older 50 1.4 non d is great for low light areas like churches or stage shots. You would be hard pressed to tell the difference in prints between the two. The nice thing about either lens is that you can shoot without announcing to the world what you are doing when a flash goes off.

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

Ikonomos wrote:

Hi all,
I am looking to buy a 50 mm Nikon lens.
I have an opportunity to buy a used Nikon 50mm 1.4D AF lens or a used 50mm 1.8 G AFS lens, both cost the same price and both are in excellent condition ( even though the 1.4 is older).
I am more interested in the quality of the images taken rather than the speed of the lens.
I would really appreciate any feedback please.

With today's low light capable camera's a 1.4 lens is just not that important. I own both lenses, there is no difference in IQ, the 1.8 is less expensive, lighter, and for me I just seem to like it better than the 1.4. My thoughts.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Ikonomos wrote:

Hi all,
I am looking to buy a 50 mm Nikon lens.
I have an opportunity to buy a used Nikon 50mm 1.4D AF lens or a used 50mm 1.8 G AFS lens, both cost the same price and both are in excellent condition ( even though the 1.4 is older).
I am more interested in the quality of the images taken rather than the speed of the lens.
I would really appreciate any feedback please.

At the larger apertures, which is why you might want the f/1.8, the f/1.4 is sharper.
https://photographylife.com/nikon-50mm-f1-8g-vs-f1-4g

"If you really have to have the best lens, then you'll never be happy."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZiwizm4TuA

http://neilvn.com/tangents/lens-review-nikon-50mm-f1-4g-vs-nikon-50mm-f1-8g/
https://www.adorama.com/alc/0012817/article/gear/photo/50mm-lens-shoot-out-f18-or-f14

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

You should know that the quality of the images made depend a lot on the camera operator. Having the best lens in the world does not necessarily means excellent photographs.
The 50mm lens is most probably the best corrected lens made. I have not used one that did not please me.
The best advise I can give you is that you try both unless you are in need of the extra speed of the f1.4. Both should render very good images.