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50mm Lense Decision Help!

76 posts & 23 voices | Started 2 years ago by v10 | Latest reply from zokes

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v10 - Member

Seems to be an awful lot of knowledge on here and im pulling my hair out trying to make a decision.

Doing a fair amount of portrait stuff at the moment as well as stuff in low light so am after a nice little 50mm for my D90. Kinda stuck between the Nikon f1.4G and the Sigma f1.4 EX DG

Size isnt really an issue (the sigma is much bigger than the Nikon) but i know that filters for the Sigma will not be cheap. Really just want a lense thats razor sharp around f4 to f6 and provides the nicest bokeh when i do use a large aperture.

Or should i just save a bundle of cash and make do with a Nikkon 50mm f1.8

Argh!

Posted 2 years ago #
GrahamS - Member

If you're intending to use it at f4 to f6 then just go for the f1.8.

It's a nice wee lens.

Posted 2 years ago #
ski - Member

Stick with the Nikkor 50mm f1.8, its a super sharp lens.

Posted 2 years ago #
GrahamS - Member

Thom Hogan has reviews of the f1.4 Sigma and Nikkor

Posted 2 years ago #
Ti29er - Member

The Sigma f1.4 got a cracking review in the BJP.
Forget the f1.8, it's not going to be good enough.
Consider also the 85, f1.4

Posted 2 years ago #
MrSmith - Member

what are you using it for? if it's only for looking on a computer screen/posting to flickr or doing small prints just get the cheapest one.

Posted 2 years ago #
v10 - Member

Your not helping here guys

85mm f1.4 is probably pushing the budget a tad too far but would be lovely!

Posted 2 years ago #
GrahamS - Member

Forget the f1.8, it's not going to be good enough.

AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

The f1.8 isn't bad at all!

Hot to read an MTF chart

Posted 2 years ago #
DrJ - Member

85/1.4 is my favourite lens in the world - unbeatable for portraits

Posted 2 years ago #
Ewok - Member

What're you using it for?

I had the 85mm 1.4 and while it was the most beautiful bit of glass, on a crop body it is pretty much useless for anything other than headshots of people. Put it on a full frame though, and oh my god.

the 50mm 1.8 however... a very useful length, I can't quite see the value in the 1.4 versions myself, fun, but the 1.8 is grand.. and you dont worry about breaking it, or even scratching it as the glass is 1.5cm back from the front of the lens. No need for a flare inducing, contrast, reducing filter.

Posted 2 years ago #
user-removed - Member

Forget the f1.8, it's not going to be good enough.

Tosh. Nothing wrong with the f1.8 at all. Especially as the OP suggests he'll be using it at f4 - 5.6.

Posted 2 years ago #
Ti29er - Member

Yours is a DX body, so the 85mm might be too long.
A professional photographer pal of mine swears by his 50mm f1.4. He uses DX bodies.
I'm using FX so the 85mm has always been my main portrait lens.
Forget the f1.8 as it's not got the "legs" or be good enough if it's portraits you're looking at doing.
If everything you shoot is shot at f16, then save the money and go with the amateur f1.8.
In DX the 50mm is considered THE standard portrait lens. 85mm with the FX format.

PS - If you do shoot at f4-ish and buy the f1.8, you'll always know there's something missing that the f1.4 might well have added to your images. You will not be satisfied until you have the f1.4, of that I can promise you!

Posted 2 years ago #
DrJ - Member

Yours is a DX body, so the 85mm might be too long

All a matter of taste, or course, but for headshots a 50mm is too short IMO, and you get horsey-noses. I think fashion photographers generally use much longer lenses to avoid that sort of stuff and isolate the subject.
http://fashionphotographyblog.com/2008/10/dslr-lenses-for-beauty/

Posted 2 years ago #
ski - Member

Many moons ago I did some tests on Nikkor standard lens, back when I had four different versions at work, talking Pan F and Nikon F2's

Nikkor 50mm f1.2, f1.4 & f1.8 plus a series E with no coatings left on the front element, from a press guy constantly cleaning it with his elbow!

Anyway we shot off a few test shot using a Bowens Illumitran (remember those beasts!)

Then compared the shots, ok, cannot remember what F-stop it was now, but the shots taken at F5.6 or F8, no one in the office could tell the difference between the lenses when a segment was enlarged and printed up.

Was a boring afternoon at work btw

Posted 2 years ago #
simonfbarnes - Member

If everything you shoot is shot at f16

you're diffraction limited

Posted 2 years ago #
theginjaninja - Member

the f1.8 50mm is a bargain. Got mine for £50 on eBay. Do you really need the f1.4 if you're just going to be posting online?

Posted 2 years ago #
user-removed - Member

Ti29er - I'm not trying to be obtuse here, but I'm really struggling to understand what you're saying. Since when has a lens got "legs", and why aren't the f1.8's legs long enough?!

Also, why isn't it "good enough"?

If you're trying to say that it lacks a large enough apperture to throw a background out of focus, on a crop sensor camera, then I repeat my above comment. Tosh. There's also absolutely nothing wrong with the build or image quality.

To the OP - get the Sigma if you do go for an f1.4 - it looks much more impressive

Posted 2 years ago #
v10 - Member

Cant see me going FX in the near future so am happy to pay a bit more to make the jump to a f1.4 lense but still cant decided between the Nikon or the Sigma

Posted 2 years ago #
theginjaninja - Member

<pedant>It's lens by the way <pedant>

Posted 2 years ago #
MrSmith - Member

when did lenses start to be called 'glass'?
been in the photography business for over 10 years and never heard the term used. is it an americanism or a geek forum thing?

Posted 2 years ago #
GrahamS - Member

...for DX cameras, somewhere in the 50 to 60mm range is a perfect portrait focal length..

The f/1.8D version, however, remains a bargain. I think you'll have to think long and hard about what the f/1.4G offers you over the f/1.8D if you've got a DSLR that can use non AF-S lenses.

And when you do, you'll decide that it's mostly that f/1.4 that you get for the extra money. By f/5.6, the best aperture for the f/1.4G, both lenses seem pretty much the same to me. In between f/1.8 and f/5.6, the new lens seems to have a bit more sharpness, especially into the corners. So you're trading price for very fast aperture use.

-- http://www.bythom.com/Nikkor50AF-Slensreview.htm

Well Thom Hogan, a well respected pro says there ain't much difference. f1.8 can be had for £60, f1.4 is £289.

£220 for two-thirds of a stop seems a lot to me - especially if you're shooting above f4 as the OP is.

Posted 2 years ago #
simonfbarnes - Member

"glass" is an in-crowd jargon expression, a kind of jovial contempt...

Posted 2 years ago #
MrNutt - Member

MrSmith - Member
when did lenses start to be called 'glass'?
been in the photography business for over 10 years and never heard the term used. is it an americanism or a geek forum thing?

mmm good question, for as long as I can remember I've always referred to sighted scopes, bins and lenses as "glass", I wonder where i picked that up from?!?

Posted 2 years ago #
MrSmith - Member

when deer stalking there is the term "to glass the hillside"

nothing to do with photography though

Posted 2 years ago #
Ti29er - Member

I've got both. The Nikon f1.4 is a far better lens than the f1.8.
If you don't anticipate shooting everything at maximum aperture, then the Sigma might well be a better lens.
However it's heavier and bigger than the Nikon.
Forget the f1.8, it's a proverbial red herring.
Don't know the difference in price, but to my mind, I always buy the Nikon / 'Blad / Leica (not Sigma, Tamron et al) lenses.
This has I think paid off over the years as & when I sell / buy bits the OM kit seems to hold the price well.

No one has yet added this link.

Posted 2 years ago #
Ti29er - Member

Also here
Be aware the Nikon lens it's pitted up against is the older D version and not the new version you're thinking about.

Posted 2 years ago #
simonfbarnes - Member

Forget the f1.8, it's a proverbial red herring.

mixing metaphors - it's not supposed to be a clue...

Posted 2 years ago #
GrahamS - Member

A bit it's a "proverbial red herring" simon, like the herring in the proverb. Y'know, the one that was red.

Posted 2 years ago #
PePPeR - Member

Always buy the best glass you can afford, it will be worth far more than the cameras ever are when you come to sell it.

The Nikon lens are I'm afraid to say the best buy, the Sigma whilst saving you money in the initial investment will end up worth pence due to peoples snobbery.

If you can afford it buy the Nikon end of.

Here's a link about lenses from Ken Rockwells pages

http://kenrockwell.com/tech/lens-or-camera.htm

Posted 2 years ago #
GrahamS - Member

Here's a link about lenses from Ken Rockwells pages

And here's a picture of a clown:

Posted 2 years ago #
5thElefant - Member

Here's a link about lenses from Ken Rockwells pages

Posted 2 years ago #
hoodie - Member

I have the nikon F1.8 50mm, its a great lens....is it as good as the much more expensive F1.4 ? on paper no but in reality you are unlikely to notice the difference - if it matters that much and you can afford it, buy the F1.4, if you want a bargain priced excellent prime 50mm lens, get the F1.8

Posted 2 years ago #
doc_blues - Member

having just picked up a d300 body myself, I have been looking around at what lens to go for. Chose the f1.8 version over the 1.4 and haven't so far been disappointed - very pleasing results (having jumped ship from pentax the only thing I thought I as going to miss was my old manual 50mm f1.7 which was a superb lens)

personally I would go 1.4 if I had the money, but 1.8 is good

now do I go 85mm 1.8 or 1.4 (nikon) or go for something like this which gets good reviews and I have read has a bit of a following
http://lenstip.com/166.1-Lens_review-Samyang_85_mm_f_1.4_Aspherical_IF_.html

Posted 2 years ago #
fontmoss - Member

if you dont think or know you need f1.4 then you prob dont

Posted 2 years ago #
Ti29er - Member

No one has yet discussed a main feature of the fast lenses over the amateur lenses; namely Bokeh.

Now, if you need to check that link I'd bet you own a f1.8 and not the f1.4.

A sweeping statement I know, but if you do not know nor appreciate what bokeh is, then buy the f1.8 as it's one of the main features of the faster lens, be it the 85, 50, or 35mm lenses (in particular).

Posted 2 years ago #