I want an AF-S 50 for my D700 - 1.4 or 1.8?

Ken Ford

Ken Ford

Refuses to suffer fools
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I generally use MF glass on my DSLRs with only a few exceptions, but now that I've gone full frame with a D700 I want to pick up a modern AF-S 50 for everyday usage. I think I want the 50/1.4G *, but I keep seeing comments from people here and there that have owned both the 1.4G and 1.8G but prefer the 1.8G. I'm looking more from the perspective of character than absolute performance.

Can anyone who has experience with both offer their impressions of each? I've been reading online reviews until my eyes bleed.

* A bald faced lie - what I really want is a 58/1.4G, but the price of admission is giving me agita.
 
Problem is that there is enough sample variation on Nikon lenses that even though some loves lens xyz, another person could have a bum version of it and say it's crap.

W/ that said, I don't have the 50f1.8 but I do have the 501.4 G, the pre-G version plus the Sigma Art 50f1.4. Of the 3 fifties, for me, the Sigma turned out better than either of the Nikors I've owned.

Gary
 
Lensrental sample variation testing and mtf info on 50s

Lensrental sample variation testing and mtf info on 50s

I just remembered lens rentals testing they did. The 50f1.8, 50f1.4 and 58f1.4 were part of the test. U can c via the mtf charts that were produce how they performed technically as well as the sample variations as compared to other makers of slr lenses.

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2015/07/variation-measurement-for-50mm-slr-lenses/

Gary
 
Hmmm. I should look at the Sigma, too - I'm a dinosaur from the days of really poor quality third party lenses, I should get over that perception.
 
Just saw your Lensrentals.com post - thanks, I'll check that out!

Maybe I should rob a corner drug dealer and just buy the 58/1.4...
 
Ken Ford said:
Hmmm. I should look at the Sigma, too - I'm a dinosaur from the days of really poor quality third party lenses, I should get over that perception.
Click to expand...

Most third party lens makers have more than one level of quality these days. Sigma Art series is their top of the line vs something like their contemporary line.

Good luck
Gary
 
The fact is, no matter how many reviews you read, they will not tell you the truth: that compared to say, the Makro Planar 50/2 the 50/1.8 AF-S looks like a lens made in North Korea. I bought one for my F100 and frankly don't know what to do with it. Sigma 50/1.4 is even worse.
 
I used to own the 1.4 AFS, have shot the 1.8 AFS and currently own the Sigma 50mm ART. I've shot all 3 on a D800e, so my impressions are based on D800E RAW output.

Between the two AFS lenses, I'd take the f1.8 AFS. It is sharper and more even from center to the edges. The f1.4 is soft wide open with significant light fall off, and really needs to be stopped down to at f2.8 to f4 to visibly see improved sharpness and less vignetting. Even at f2.8 the slower lens is better overall. So if you are shooting at f2.8 anyway why buy the more expensive lens? The f1.8 AFS is really a good value.

The Sigma ART lens blows them both away, even wide open, but is more expensive. For me, the extra cost has been well worth it. Obviously sample variations exist, so YMMV.
 
58mm f1.4 itch?

There's also the Voigtlander 58mm f1.4 if you can live with manual focus. It's chipped to work on newer Nikon bodies.
 
I have the 1.8 AF-S for my Nikon and it's really great lens you can't go wrong, and what
you save rather on it than the 1.4 you could get some other things for you D700.
 
Very happy with the 58mm 1.4g. I also use the 50mm 1.8d (for size). I've owned the 50mm 1.8g and 1.4g. You cannot go wrong with any of them. Anyone that says differently is a pixel peeper. ;)
 
I have an old 50mm f1.4 that I should use more often. When I use it with my D700 it gives me an impressive, shallow DOF... and I really like it.

And their price is dropping in the used market (if you take eBay as the used market).
 
Ken, despite the thousands of English teachers who have admonished us to use the word "very" sparingly, I'm going to use it three times in one sentence.
The Sigma is very large, very heavy and very good.
Forgive me Miss Carmody, wherever you are!
 
Lol. Thanks, all - I decided to go ahead with a 50/1.4 AF-S. I still have my 50/1.2 AI-S, too - and a 50/1.8D.
 
mfogiel said:
The fact is, no matter how many reviews you read, they will not tell you the truth: that compared to say, the Makro Planar 50/2 the 50/1.8 AF-S looks like a lens made in North Korea. I bought one for my F100 and frankly don't know what to do with it. Sigma 50/1.4 is even worse.
Click to expand...

Could you expand on this, do you mean performance or build quality or both??

Of course there is a huge price delta here but I am still interested in the comment.
 
You guys inspired me to go and dig out my 50mm lens and put it on my D700. It throws the camera off balance a bit (I have the MB rig on it), but then, when I use it wide open, I get images that stand out... a lot.

And, unlike the Sigma, it's a very small, very light and yet very good lens! :)
 
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