charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

Hi all, I am considering buying a 50mm Nikkor lens...Trying to decide between the 1.4 and 1.8...back in the film days there was a good argument to go for the 1.4 lens, but is that true in the era of digital photography?

If I were to shoot a subject at f 8.0 with both lenses and all things being equal except one is a 1.4 and the other a 1.8 could i tell any difference in the quality of the photograph...are both lenses of the same quality?

thanks for any advice you can give...

Chuck

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

What was the argument?

(For my Canon I just decided on the ƒ/1.4 over the ƒ/1.8 because it allows more light through.
I didn't like the price of the ƒ/1.2)

Strange

Both are good, but the 1.4 will have more aperture blades and produce a rounder aperture. Therefore, the background should have a softer feel when you are shooting wide open or even at f/1.8 then when using the f/1.8 lens. If softness is not what you need, may I suggest trying the 60mm Micro lens. It's 2.8, but gets you 1:1 magnification. It can be uses for general photography and extreme close-up photography. One last thing, most all lens produce a sharper image when stopped down two F-stops. I have found the Nikon 60mm/2.8 to be pretty sharp at all F-stops. Depending on your camera, you may have to use one or the other AF or AF-S lens. Good luck!

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

I second that. What film days argument?

I remember a film days argument in the other direction. In fact it was from the folks at Leica. They sold both a 50mm f/2 Summicron and a 50mm f/1.4 Summilux. This was literally in their own lens description publication that they provided at point of sale. (Back in the day I used to stand behind the counter and sell them). In helping the buyer chose between the two lenses they listed the f/1.4 as an advantage for folks who needed the low-light ability of that lens for working indoors. But they noted the increased cost as a negative but necessary to make the lens and they also noted the f/2 lens was a better optical performer so if you didn't need the f/1.4 you could score a double win win and get a better lens for less $$$.

Joe

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

With the graceful high ISO performance of modern digital cameras, I don’t see any meaningful difference between the two lenses. I don’t have the shallow DOF experience needed to compare them ‘wide open’. I would want testing at F/8 to compare them so far from ‘wide open’.

Photocraig

Chuck, this topic has been detailed exhaustively on YouTube. For the Canon lenses, almost unanimously the f1.8 STM version wins out. I haven't shot Nikon since 2010, and I oved the results of my 1.8 version. For both brands, the 1.8 enjoys a great price advantage because of cheaper build and vastly higher volumes. I don't think the 1/2 or 2/3rds of s stop is significant in IQ, or Bokeh. There are some excellent offerings by Tamron (45mm) and Sigma f1.4 ART, that provide some middle ground in price and excellent results for a sub $1,000 price.

I think those, along with the Canon EF nd RF f1.2 lenses are for Pro Portrait and Wedding photographers. I'm guessing if you were one of those folks, you'd not need The Hog to answer this question. The f1.8 is so inexpensive, as lenses go in the sub $150 range, that you could buy it, try it and sell it if you thought it was inadequate.

I believe that specialty lenses like the Canon f1.2, don't know if Nikon has an equivalent, or the Tamron or Sigma, are specialty lenses. You only buy them if your photography DEMANDS them. A possible exception is that I know in the Canon line, the f1.4 is a much better built EF lens which should last a lifetime. The 1.8 is built to lower standards. That being said, I just sold a Canon "kit" lens that was over35 years old, plastic lens mount and all, and it functioned perfectly. I can't speak to Nikon, but plenty of other Hogs can and will. I think that's where your decision lies. I don't think the small Max aperture difference matters much photographically.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Chuck, My 2 cents, I would go with the 1.8.It is a great lens asa Nikkor Lens user.
Also a in depth review supports the 1.8.
Nikon 50mm f/1.8G vs f/1.4G

Ever since I published my Nikon 50mm f/1.8G review, where I showed that the lens outperforms pretty much any other Nikon 50mm lens, including the more expensive Nikon 50mm f/1.4G, I have been getting a lot of questions from our readers. Some wonder if perhaps I made errors in my assessment of the lens – it seems hard to believe that a cheaper lens would outperform its bigger brother. Others wonder if the 50mm f/1.8G truly is that good, why Lola and I continue to use the 50mm f/1.4G lens for our work (it is also listed in the outdated “Our Gear” page).

Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8G
After many years of dedicated service, the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G finally went kaput on us (it has all kinds of focus issues, probably as a result of field abuse, so it is on its way to Nikon for repair). I had no intention of selling the older 50mm f/1.4G, because it shows a lot of wear and tear and I knew I wouldn’t get much for it anyway. Since Lola cannot live without her favorite 50mm lens, as soon as this one died, I knew that I would be getting the 50mm f/1.8G version.

When the lens arrived, I decided to run another comparative test, but this time in a much more serious and demanding environment. Since all of my previous tests were done on Nikon D700/D3s bodies with 12 MP sensors, this time I decided to test the lens on the Nikon D800. There have been a lot of talks lately about the D800 and its high requirements when it comes to lenses. With a 36.3 MP sensor, the Nikon D800 shows the true resolving power of lenses, making their weaknesses more obvious than on lower resolution sensors. In addition, I have been spending quite some time working with Imatest software, which helps a great deal in quantifying lens resolution, along with providing all kinds of tools for measuring optical problems such as chromatic aberration, distortion, etc. Coupled with the two amazing high-tech tools, I tested both lenses in a controlled environment.

As it turned out, on average, the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G still outperforms the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G on a high resolution sensor. It offers great performance wide open throughout the frame and once stopped down to f/2.8, produces very impressive results that the bigger f/1.4G cannot match. At f/4 it reaches its peak performance in the center and its corners also significantly improve. Starting from f/5.6, however, the lens takes a hit in resolving power and that’s where the f/1.4G takes over, giving slightly better performance in the center, as shown in the below graphs:


So what are you going to do?

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

Thanks for all the info. I believe I will be getting the 1.8 and not feel that I am getting an inferior lens. I’m headed to Best Buy now to make my purchase.

Chuck

Strange

It will serve you well!

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Create some awesome images with it.

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

Thanks for ur comment. Don’t think the lens will improve my photos. I’m just an average photographer. But love it. I have created many memories for us and hope to have many more years of memories to build.

Chuck

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

For many more years to create memories.

uhaas2009

Google ken Rockwell he compared the different 50mm

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

Personally, I only stop down 2 stops with most lenses, but to answer your question, NO, you will not see a difference if you stop both lenses down to f8.
And besides, with today's high ISO camera's, 1.4 only adds weight. Today's 1.4 is a 1.8.
Unless your a professional, you will never need the 1.4, the 1.8 is the lens I currently have on the camera when I am not shooting wildlife.
And you can currently save $20.00. How about that, it is one of the sharpest lenses I ever owned.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/766516-USA/Nikon_2199_AF_S_Nikkor_50mm_f_1_8G.html

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The f/1.4 will larger, heavier, and more expensive. It will allow more light in when wide open. How often will you be shooting wide open. If you read reviews and comparisons, you might see that the f/1.8 produces better results.

EDIT: "So despite the aperture difference, the 50mm f/1.8G is still a better lens. On top of that, the 50mm f/1.8G autofocuses faster than the 50mm f/1.4G and I find its autofocus accuracy to be better as well. Distortion, ghosting/flares and chromatic aberrations are controlled better on the 50mm f/1.8G as well."

https://photographylife.com/nikon-50mm-f1-8g-vs-f1-4g#:~:text=So%20despite%20the%20aperture%20difference,f%2F1.8G%20as%20well.