Nikon 50mm 1.8G

insanefred · June 8, 2011

Well, I picked one yesterday, got to play with. tell me what ya'll think..

100% crops. Focus at near infinity wide open.

vs

Bokeh

VS

inevitable cat photo

...And more samples...

Focus speed video

kyip · June 8, 2011

Not sure what I should be looking at in the first 2 shots but the last 2 shots in the link (red/pink flowers and the cat) are fantastic!

insanefred · June 8, 2011

kyip wrote: »

Not sure what I should be looking at in the first 2 shots but the last 2 shots in the link (red/pink flowers and the cat) are fantastic!

The first two is the difference between the AF-D and the G version. The second shows the deference in bokeh. The last is the inevitable cat photo.

David_S85 · June 8, 2011

bokeh's better in the G vs. D in that wind chime shot. Neither of the first two shots look in focus to me.

insanefred · June 8, 2011

David_S85 wrote: »

Neither of the first two shots look in focus to me.

forget to mention that was a 100% crops... the G looks significantly better. I was trying to test focus at near infinity wide open.

David_S85 · June 8, 2011

OK, that helps. The IQ seems to be a bit better at 100%.

ziggy53 · June 8, 2011

Yes, the "G" looks "crisper" and the bokeh of the "G" looks less busy. I'd say it's a keeper.

CoryUT · June 8, 2011

Thanks for posting this! I just recently picked up the D and am trying to decide if it's worth the extra $80 to go swap it for the G.

David_S85 · June 19, 2011

G vs. D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6my3DO00X28

Carpy · June 19, 2011

One downside of the "G" lens is that without an aperture ring, if you want to use the lens with for example a Bellows for macro shots, you have to fit the lens to the body first to set your aperture electronically, switch off the body and remove the lens, then fit the bellows to the body and refit the lens to the bellows (same if you want to change the aperture during your macro shoot). With a "D" lens this doesn't occur as you can set the aperture at will.

Carpy

Matthew Saville · June 20, 2011

I just bought the 50 1.8 G a week ago and have tested it at three weddings already.

I LOVE IT.

But, let me caveat, that I'm not really a fan of 50mm as a focal length to begin with. Honestly, for my work as a wedding and portrait photographer, I'd much prefer a two-camera setup with a 35 1.4 and 85 1.4, or something like that.

However, I still felt like I should cover the 50mm range at a fast aperture, because sometimes an f/2.8 zoom just doesn't cut it. I tested and considered the Nikon 50 1.4's, and the Sigma 50 1.4 HSM, but just couldn't justify the price tag for how much I used it. The news of a new 50 1.8 was VERY exciting for me, and I bought one as soon as I could.

So anyways, knowing that, I gotta say that I think this lens is a gem. It's sharp, but more importantly compared to the AF-D, it's sharpness is not veiled by a faint haze, nor a purple fringe.

Most notably, to me at least, is the snappier, more accurate focusing. Argue what you will about the speed of AF-D versus AF-S, but from my experience the AF-S primes are downright uncanny at locking focus in low light, and that's all that matters to me.

All in all, it's a GREAT lens and the price lets me "save" a couple hundred bucks to put towards a 35 prime and an 85 prime. Now, if Nikon comes out with a new affordable prime in either of those lengths, I'll have a SERIOUS dilema on my hands... I dunno how I'd ever be able to decide between an 85mm f/1.8 AFS-G or an 85mm f/1.4 AFS-G

;-)

=Matt=

insanefred · June 20, 2011

Matthew Saville wrote: »

I just bought the 50 1.8 G a week ago and have tested it at three weddings already.

I LOVE IT.

But, let me caveat, that I'm not really a fan of 50mm as a focal length to begin with. Honestly, for my work as a wedding and portrait photographer, I'd much prefer a two-camera setup with a 35 1.4 and 85 1.4, or something like that.

However, I still felt like I should cover the 50mm range at a fast aperture, because sometimes an f/2.8 zoom just doesn't cut it. I tested and considered the Nikon 50 1.4's, and the Sigma 50 1.4 HSM, but just couldn't justify the price tag for how much I used it. The news of a new 50 1.8 was VERY exciting for me, and I bought one as soon as I could.

So anyways, knowing that, I gotta say that I think this lens is a gem. It's sharp, but more importantly compared to the AF-D, it's sharpness is not veiled by a faint haze, nor a purple fringe.

Most notably, to me at least, is the snappier, more accurate focusing. Argue what you will about the speed of AF-D versus AF-S, but from my experience the AF-S primes are downright uncanny at locking focus in low light, and that's all that matters to me.

All in all, it's a GREAT lens and the price lets me "save" a couple hundred bucks to put towards a 35 prime and an 85 prime. Now, if Nikon comes out with a new affordable prime in either of those lengths, I'll have a SERIOUS dilema on my hands... I dunno how I'd ever be able to decide between an 85mm f/1.8 AFS-G or an 85mm f/1.4 AFS-G

;-)

=Matt=

Oh, no, watch out for the 24-70 2.8 brigade! They might call you a troll for saying that!

I cannot agree more, this lens is truly a landmark for 50mms!
Although I am a 35mm and well 105mm guy, this lens is so enjoyable to use. I think I might just become a 50mm guy too.

DsrtVW · June 20, 2011

I just picked mine up from the local shop. Now to go and play with it. I like what I saw in the early reports and specs and wanted the AF-S option for quite operation during videos. The aspherical element always seems to add quality in captures in the digital realm.
Early results showing good
f1.8 1/500 ISO100 Straight out of the camera

Matthew Saville · June 21, 2011

insanefred wrote: »

Oh, no, watch out for the 24-70 2.8 brigade! They might call you a troll for saying that!

I cannot agree more, this lens is truly a landmark for 50mms!
Although I am a 35mm and well 105mm guy, this lens is so enjoyable to use. I think I might just become a 50mm guy too.

Yeah, I wish Nikon would make a new 105mm f/1.8 AFS. I'd buy THAT in a heartbeat, for sure...

=Matt=

insanefred · June 21, 2011

Matthew Saville wrote: »

Yeah, I wish Nikon would make a new 105mm f/1.8 AFS. I'd buy THAT in a heartbeat, for sure...

=Matt=

not quite a f/1.8 but close enough. http://nikonrumors.com/2011/06/10/nikon-af-s-105mm-f2-lens-patent.aspx/

Matthew Saville · June 21, 2011

insanefred wrote: »

not quite a f/1.8 but close enough. http://nikonrumors.com/2011/06/10/nikon-af-s-105mm-f2-lens-patent.aspx/

I guess I would settle for f/2 and VR instead of f/1.8 without VR.

Judging by the size of the 105 f/2.8 VR macro, I'm hoping that an f/2 non-macro isn't TOO much larger. The 105 f/2 DC isn't very large at all, so that's good news...

Thanks for the tip! I haven't been on top of @nikonrumors lately, it's the peak of wedding season right now. :-(

=Matt=

insanefred · June 21, 2011

Matthew Saville wrote: »

I guess I would settle for f/2 and VR instead of f/1.8 without VR.

Judging by the size of the 105 f/2.8 VR macro, I'm hoping that an f/2 non-macro isn't TOO much larger. The 105 f/2 DC isn't very large at all, so that's good news...

Thanks for the tip! I haven't been on top of @nikonrumors lately, it's the peak of wedding season right now. :-(

=Matt=

The new patent doesn't show any VR group. It looks like just a copy of the old one.

borrowlenses.com · June 21, 2011

We got ours; so far it's been pretty popular. Great lens for the money!!

ront · June 21, 2011

Here are a couple pics taken with the D7000 and 50 f/1.8G

Ron

Nikon 50mm 1.8G

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