prime lens
Dec 2, 2019 08:19:50 #
I'm looking to get a nikkor 50mm prime. Is there that much difference between the 1.4 and the 1.8. Please PM me if you can as I waited to the last minute and want to order it today. Thanks.
Dec 2, 2019 09:01:25 #
The 50-1.8 is very, very good and much less expensive. Unless you have reason to shoot wide open in very low light I'd go with the 1.8. BTW, I have both. The same goes for Canon where the latest 1.8 is actually better than the 1.4. Just my opinion after years of using them, also backed by tests.
Dec 2, 2019 09:14:32 #
starlifter wrote:
I'm looking to get a nikkor 50mm prime. Is there that much difference between the 1.4 and the 1.8. Please PM me if you can as I waited to the last minute and want to order it today. Thanks.
They are tools. The difference between 1.4 and 1.8 is either meaningless or vital depending what you are trying to accomplish. So, what kind of photography are you planning? Is it portraits, landscape, street, events, daylight, nighttime, astronomy, ....?
Dec 2, 2019 09:16:37 #
Long ago in the film days I had the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 (pre AI days). It was a heavy and optically excellent lens. Now I have the 50mm f/1.8. I use it as a fast short telephoto on my D7100 and a fast “nifty fifty” on my film Nikons (FE and F6). It is a lightweight optically excellent (IMHO and according to reviews) lens. I wouldn’t waste the money on the 1.4. The 1.8 is excellent and a bargain besides. IMHO.
Dec 2, 2019 09:43:00 #
The big questions are, what do you want to use the lens for? What camera body do you want to use the lens on and what other lenses do you already own?
The main reason that we used to look for really fast lenses was for ease of manual focusing. It was easier to focus a 50mm f1.4 or f1.2 in dark situations like concerts and theater productions. Since most of us rely on auto focus these days ease of manual focus isn't as important.
The Nikon Nifty Fifty f1.8 is a real gem. It is really sharp and it's sweet spot is at f4. You can us it to take almost any photograph provided you can move in close enough or back far enough to get fill the frame and remain in focus. According to Ken Rockwell the 50mm f1.8 focuses faster and is sharper than the f1.4. I don't own a 50mm f1.4 so I have no first hand experience with it.
So i'd say when it comes to 50mm lenses go with the f1.8 and save your money for another lens further down the road.
-FTn
The main reason that we used to look for really fast lenses was for ease of manual focusing. It was easier to focus a 50mm f1.4 or f1.2 in dark situations like concerts and theater productions. Since most of us rely on auto focus these days ease of manual focus isn't as important.
The Nikon Nifty Fifty f1.8 is a real gem. It is really sharp and it's sweet spot is at f4. You can us it to take almost any photograph provided you can move in close enough or back far enough to get fill the frame and remain in focus. According to Ken Rockwell the 50mm f1.8 focuses faster and is sharper than the f1.4. I don't own a 50mm f1.4 so I have no first hand experience with it.
So i'd say when it comes to 50mm lenses go with the f1.8 and save your money for another lens further down the road.
-FTn
Dec 2, 2019 12:01:09 #
Hi,
All depends on the use 1.4 for really low light and the much cheaper 1.8 for all else. If you have a D7200 just up the asa for low light.
All depends on the use 1.4 for really low light and the much cheaper 1.8 for all else. If you have a D7200 just up the asa for low light.
Dec 2, 2019 14:06:59 #
I always felt that I made a great impression with that big f/1.4 on my camera. - Dave
Dec 3, 2019 07:43:37 #
Dec 3, 2019 07:45:09 #
Dec 3, 2019 08:24:05 #
Pretty much all nifty fifties are razor sharp. Probably the easiest lens to engineer.
1.4 and 1.8 ... not really much of a difference.
It's great for the lens makers marketing departments though ...
Lower the number, and a guaranteed line will show up ... thinking this is the answer.
No ... it's still mostly ... you.
1.4 and 1.8 ... not really much of a difference.
It's great for the lens makers marketing departments though ...
Lower the number, and a guaranteed line will show up ... thinking this is the answer.
No ... it's still mostly ... you.
Dec 3, 2019 08:45:06 #
wilsondl2 wrote:
I always felt that I made a great impression with that big f/1.4 on my camera. - Dave
Exactly.
Dec 3, 2019 09:19:30 #
The difference is 2/3 of stops more for the f1.4. Unless you are going to work in very dark environment or if you are going to be shooting wide open for a bit more light my preference will go to the f1.8 which is excellent in quality at a cheaper price.
It is also excellent in low light.
It is also excellent in low light.
Dec 3, 2019 09:39:40 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
starlifter wrote:
I'm looking to get a nikkor 50mm prime. Is there that much difference between the 1.4 and the 1.8. Please PM me if you can as I waited to the last minute and want to order it today. Thanks.
NO, with today's high ISO camera's 1.4 lenses are a thing of the past. There is less than a 1/2 stop between those two lenses. The Nikon 50mm 1.8 G lens is outstanding. There is NO, I repeat, NO difference in image quality between the two lenses and don't let anyone tell you their is. Go 1.8 and be happy. And, it is currently on sale.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/766516-USA/Nikon_2199_AF_S_Nikkor_50mm_f_1_8G.html
Dec 3, 2019 09:50:41 #
billnikon wrote:
NO, with today's high ISO camera's 1.4 lenses are a thing of the past. There is less than a 1/2 stop between those two lenses. The Nikon 50mm 1.8 G lens is outstanding. There is NO, I repeat, NO difference in image quality between the two lenses and don't let anyone tell you their is. Go 1.8 and be happy. And, it is currently on sale.
I own and use both lenses. Unless you have an overriding reason (i.e. a lot of very low light shooting) to buy the 1.4, the 1.8 will serve very well.
However, the statement above has 2 errors. The 1.4 is 2/3rds of a stop faster, and will have a slightly shallower depth of field. The resulting bokeh will be different. If the 2 lenses are compared at the same f stop, I doubt you will be able to tell any difference.
Dec 3, 2019 12:36:31 #
starlifter wrote:
I'm looking to get a nikkor 50mm prime. Is there that much difference between the 1.4 and the 1.8. Please PM me if you can as I waited to the last minute and want to order it today. Thanks.
The difference is .4 LOL Yes, I'm being a smart a$$.. Truthfully you won't see much difference other than in your pocketbook.
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