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Nikon Rumors Forum » Nikon Lenses

Difference between lenses

(9 posts) (8 voices)
  • Started 3 years ago by yschessler
  • Latest reply from warprints
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    5. Little bit of advice / helpful comments please

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  • D5000
  1. yschessler

    new member
    Joined: Mar '10
    Posts: 2

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    What is the diffeerence between
    AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G
    AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4D
    AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D

    Im totally new. I'm reading and trying to learn about lenses. I have a D5000 with 18-55mm lense.
    I want a versitile lense . I like to take pictures of my children and outdoors.

    Also should I purchase first a 50mm or a 35mm ?
    Pleeeease help me! =)

    Posted 3 years ago #
  2. nau

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    Joined: Mar '09
    Posts: 266

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    for D5000 I would not worry about 1.4 just coz of the price

    1.8 is a great value for money lens and it works just as fine

    Posted 3 years ago #
  3. ShadeofBlue

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    Joined: Sep '09
    Posts: 158

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    Only the 1.4G will autofocus with the D5000 out of the 50mm primes. The 35mm f/1.8 is much cheaper, and a better focal length for general purposes on DX, so that's the one I'd recommend. Outdoors the 35mm might be a bit short, but outdoors your zoom lens is probably fine anyway. I really do think the 35 is the way to go, and definitely better than the 50 if you will be shooting indoors.

    On the other hand, if you are okay with focusing manually, the 50/1.8 is so cheap it's probably worth grabbing no matter what you end up using more. Keeping with the manual focus theme, you can get a 50/1.8E used for about $35 or so. That would be fully manual with your D5000, though, including exposure, so that's probably going a bit far for kid shots :).

    Posted 3 years ago #
  4. gelu88

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    Joined: Feb '10
    Posts: 295

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    To summerise, "D" lenses do not have a built in focus motor, and relies on the camera to do that for it. Only camera's D90 and up have this. So your D5000 will not focus, but apart from that its the same. the D lens is simply an older version of the same series.

    1.8 vs 1.4 is a very diffrent issue, 1.4 means more light, better bokeh, and narrower depth of field.

    Also, all lenses are sharpest if the aperture is a bit less that max, so 1.4 is best around f/2, and 1.8 is best around f/2.8. So 1.4 will give you sharper images at 1.8.

    Also 1.4 is better made and is sharper at every point.

    In the end, its a question of cost (as always): is the benefit of 1.4 worth an extra $300?

    I bought the 35 1.8, since i have a limited budget, but your decision might vary.

    Finally, a word about focal length; 50mm on DX is 75mm which is a very good "portrait" length. you will get very good portraits from a 50mm 1.8 or 1.4.

    on the other hand 35mm on DX is 52mm, which is a better general purpose lens.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  5. yschessler

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    Joined: Mar '10
    Posts: 2

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    Thank you!
    Now, What is the difference between 1.4G and 1.8G? other than AF vs. MF
    Do I have to worry about it?

    I need a lens that take nicer pictures than the lens that came with camera inside and outside. I like to take pictures mainly outside with natural light.
    I just like to take pictures! =) I have a lot to learn!

    Posted 3 years ago #
  6. PB PM

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    Joined: Jan '10
    Posts: 2,217

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    Don't just buy a lens for the sake of having one, there are some important steps to consider before you do so. What focal length(s) do you use the most? If you do most of your shooting on the long end, then maybe you need a telephoto lens, if you always find yourself taking pictures on the wide end, then maybe a wide angel lens is in order. If you shoot at lot at 50mm, then consider the 50mm F1.4G. If you shoot many shots around 35mm then consider the 35mm F1.8G.

    The difference between 1.8 and 1.4 is how much light comes through the lens to the sensor in the camera, and how much depth of field (area in focus) there is. The smaller the number (wider the aperture) the more light comes in, which means faster shutter speeds. The downside is that you have less in the field of focus, which means you have to be very careful how you focus on what you take pictures of. If you want everything in the picture to be in focus having a fast F1.8 or F1.4 lens may not help much. On the other hand, if you want a very narrow area of focus F1.8 and F1.4 lenses are great. Hope this helps.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  7. Panamon_Creel

    senior member
    Joined: Jun '09
    Posts: 95

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    yschessler said:
    Thank you!
    Now, What is the difference between 1.4G and 1.8G? other than AF vs. MF
    Do I have to worry about it?

    I guess you meant 1.4D instead of G?
    Just note that both are auto focus lenses but your D5000 can only auto focus with AF-S lenses.
    A little nomenclature:
    - AF Prefix = Auto focus lens that requires a screw drive motor in the camera body to drive the focusing mechanism (D5000 doesn't have the build in motor)
    - AF-S Prefix = Auto focus lens with build in Silent Wave focusing motor (AF-S lenses will auto focus with your D5000)
    - D suffix = Lens that will provide distance information feed back to the camera. Lens also has a aperture ring which makes it backward compatible.
    - G suffix = Like D but without an aperture ring thus will not work on many film bodies.
    HTH

    Posted 3 years ago #
  8. kyoshinikon

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    Joined: Jan '10
    Posts: 1,200

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    AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4 "Dx" G is the one that has a big difference

    Posted 3 years ago #
  9. warprints

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    Joined: Mar '09
    Posts: 769

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    Dude (or is it Dudette??), take a look at http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/96/cat/12

    Posted 3 years ago #

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