TheLostNinja said:
I ordered the 50mm f1.8 af-s for my new D800 - maybe the D800 has some stronger screwdrive motor in it for focusing that would help

No, it won't help. AF-S lenses have built-in motors. They don't get benefit or suffer from the screwdrive motor quality of the camera body.

TheLostNinja said:
...maybe the D800 has some stronger screwdrive motor in it for focusing that would help...

The AF module in body variations are very different and increase in "power" (accuracy, speed, build quality, etc.) as you go up to the D200/300/400 series and is then usually the same the rest of the way up.

TheLostNinja said:
I bought the D90 with a kit lens, the first additional lens i bought was the 50mm f1.4 af-d ... which i regretted almost instantly. The focus speed at night was very slow and hunting which made it almost useless for night photography/moving people. I only got like 1 keeper out of every 4 shoots ... not to mention the somewhat to strong zoom effect on the D90 (=75mm) and the moving focus ring when focusing (which made holding the camera a bit awkward). The 35mm f1.8g on the other hand is an absolute awesome stellar performer on that camera, a 1,000 times better!

I ordered the 50mm f1.8 af-s for my new D800 - maybe the D800 has some stronger screwdrive motor in it for focusing that would help, but with my initial 50mm af-d experience and the cheap price of the f1.8 i decided it's probably not worth to keep it. Looking forward to give it a quick test and compare the two, but i have a feeling my old af-d lens will land on yahoo-auctions very soon.

I have the D90 too. but i'll probably buy the nikon D700, I preffer the specs and no video.

but i want a 50mm for a long period. i dont want to buy a DX lens (perfect for my D90) and then put on a FX sensor. i just want the best option for a long time.

tanx for your opinion.

I bought the D90 with a kit lens, the first additional lens i bought was the 50mm f1.4 af-d ... which i regretted almost instantly. The focus speed at night was very slow and hunting which made it almost useless for night photography/moving people. I only got like 1 keeper out of every 4 shoots ... not to mention the somewhat to strong zoom effect on the D90 (=75mm) and the moving focus ring when focusing (which made holding the camera a bit awkward). The 35mm f1.8g on the other hand is an absolute awesome stellar performer on that camera, a 1,000 times better!

I ordered the 50mm f1.8 af-s for my new D800 - maybe the D800 has some stronger screwdrive motor in it for focusing that would help, but with my initial 50mm af-d experience and the cheap price of the f1.8 i decided it's probably not worth to keep it. Looking forward to give it a quick test and compare the two, but i have a feeling my old af-d lens will land on yahoo-auctions very soon.

kanuck said:
Probably with the new body releases, people have gobbled up certain lenses. There is no way any G lens will be updated right now so I'd say they are on order and you'll just have to wait a bit. The lens is excellent by the way, but like others have said so is the new 1.8 as well.

I don't think anything has been restocked in a very long time and stores have been sold out for months. You can still find stuff, but it is not easy.

Probably with the new body releases, people have gobbled up certain lenses. There is no way any G lens will be updated right now so I'd say they are on order and you'll just have to wait a bit. The lens is excellent by the way, but like others have said so is the new 1.8 as well.

They are the same unless you pixel peep, then it just turns into an opinion.

Aspherical Elements do help a lens become sharper but do not necessarily make a lens sharper than another one with out aspherical elements - especially with primes. Aspherical Elements are just a design option engineers have that reduces the number of elements needed while correcting for various things.

thanks for the comments.

i heard the Nikkor 1.8G is sharper because its aspherical element.

http://nikonrumors.com/2011/11/03/seven-50mm-prime-lenses-for-nikon-f-mount-compared-by-cary-jordan.aspx/

From another thread:

TaoTeJared said:
I starting to think there is a ship on it's way from Japan that is full of Nikon Products. It seems everywhere, with lenses, bodies, flashes, etc. products are coming back on line around March 25th. Almost every store and site seems to reference a Date around that time for everything to be back in stock.

I have had another store tell me April 2nd for getting items back in stock. There must be a big, big shipment heading this way and all over the world. My guess Nikon realized last time when they released the D3/D700/D300 all the lenses were sold out almost immediately and this time they are stocking them at the same time as cameras.

Some really don't like the 50mm 1.4G - out of all my 50's I love it. Very early on it sounded like there were some misaligned copies that got through QC. I have the AFD 1.4 and it is a good lens but I thing the G is better at bokeh and accuracy in focusing. If you go with the AFD make sure your body can AF on it.

I'm with spraynpray - the 50mm on DX is a bit odd. I prefer the 35mm 1.8 and the 85mm 1.8 a bit more.

NastyCircus said:
but, should i wait for a date or not? i know the nikkor 50mm 1.4D is pretty much the same, except for the hod, and sealed against duts and moisture.

Were you waiting for the 50mm 1.8?

Are you really in a rush? Just place your name on a waiting list and you'll get it.

And no, the AF-D and AF-S is completely different, filter size, internally focusing, and has a rear gasket.

I have the 50mm 1.4G and I have to say it has not impressed me so far. 50mm on a DX is a bit in-between as a focal length for me, I should have got the 85mm f1.8. If you have FX or 50mm is good for you, then sure, wait for it because AFAIK as it isn't going to be discontinued. There are plenty here (UK).

but, should i wait for a date or not? i know the nikkor 50mm 1.4D is pretty much the same, except for the hod, and sealed against duts and moisture.

Sold out probably.

why the Nikkor f/1.4G is out of stock everywhere?

amazon don't send this lens to my house, BHphotovideo one of the biggest stores, the nikkor is out of stock. In many many stores too.

WHY?