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50 MM lens recommendation

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Nikon 50mm lenses

bmxdad

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After moving to Nikon from Canon I have yet to get a 50mm lens: I shoot a D300 with future plans to move to FX

I have both 52mm reverse and lens stacking adapters and therefor don't think I will be interested in 50mm lenses without manual aperture control

So I could get a 50mm 1.4D or for app the same money a 50mm 1.8D and a 35mm 1.8G DX (also on my to get lens list), What do you think

Note: with my employee Nikon Discount I would not be interested in used, sorry Soap (but I am trying to win a F/N80 on Ebay, in the lead at this moment, now I will wait for the last minute, the only Film SLR I can get from Nikon today is the F6, I don't think so)

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
QuadraPixel

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If you want an aperture ring on your 50mm, then get the 50mm F/1.8 or the older 50 f/1.4. Unlike Canon, Nikon's 50mm 1.8 is actually really good (but may leave a little to desire on a D700).

I use the 1.8 on my D300 all the time, and it's the sharpest lens I own (currently).

http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/widget/Fullscreen.ashx?reviews=30&fullscreen=true&av=1.667&fl=50&vis=VisualiserSharpnessMTF&stack=horizontal&&config=LensReviewConfiguration.xml%3F2

http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/widget/Fullscreen.ashx?reviews=30&fullscreen=true&av=1.667&fl=50&vis=VisualiserSharpnessMTF&stack=horizontal&&config=LensReviewConfiguration.xml%3F2

Posted 3 years ago #
soap

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I think the 50 1.8D is a no-brainer. If you don't like it you can likely sell it for nearly what you put into it, and THEN upgrade to the 1.4 D.

I come from the school of thought where it is better to fill your stable with all the horses you need before splurging on a racehorse. That is why I recommended the other day that someone get the 85/50/35 1.8 collection before buying the 85 1.4. With used prices holding at a nearly steady offset of new prices upgrades cost barely more than rentals. (note: That is a suggestion you sell not buy used) ;)

EDIT: Though if you're thinking FX, why not get the 35 F2? Though the 35 1.8 is likely to hold its value well for at least another year...

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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You know Soap this might be a great idea to get the old 35mm F2 and the 50mm f1.8, I just had a bad taste from trying the same from Canon. Also I should be able to use my lens stacking adapter with the 35mm mounted at the end of the 50mm lens, that should give me a sharp with app 1.4X magnification

How would the old and new 35mm compare on my D300 in the F2 to F2.8 area, I know lots of people are asking for a new 35mm, but I still would prefer my primes to have manual aperture control, you can just do more with them

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
soap

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The 1.8 is clearly sharper in the corners, and measures sharper in the center - but I doubt you'd ever see that (center difference) as the difference is significantly smaller.

RE 35:
I've never played the stacked macro game, so I'm not sure what part of lens performance matters most to you. In landscape photography the 1.8 would clearly trump the 2.0, but I don't shoot that so all I really care about is center.

RE 50:
The 1.4 is softer in the corners (even if you have a nicely concave subject matching the focus) @ 1.4 than the 1.8 is at 1.8, and measures nearly the same @ 1.8 and greater. And with the 1.4 DoF being soooo slender that's why I always answer "1.8" when people ask. I figure people who need 1.4 you wouldn't ask the question. ;)

Posted 3 years ago #
mb

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I have somewhat minimalistic approach to lenses and would rather have couple of wining horses then a stable full of losers.
But Nikon 50mm f/1.8 is the one I always had from the time it was standard kit lens. It never stops to amaze me how sharp and good it is, it is better then some much higher priced Nikon primes and it is very well built, not like Canon plastic fantastic crap. It actually produces sharper and better images on full frame 12Mpix D700 then on 12Mpix DX D300 so the only thing you could desire is that Nikon makes some more lenses like this one. So for that money it would really be a shame not a have this Nikon lens legend. The only drawback, at least for me, is that I seldom used it on film, and although it was quite a revelation for me when I realized how good it was on DX digital sensors it is not very useful on FX.
The question is, as always, for what purpose are you buying these lenses?

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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Yes what would I mostly use it for:

The 35mm would be mostly used for group shots, people shots inside buildings where I want better exposure from natural light and flash, the 50mm same with slightly longer reach. How is the Bokeh on these lenses.

For most portraits I use my 70-200 2.8 VR which I like. It is sharp and the bokeh is top notch

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
soap

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Bokeh on the 35 f2 is harder to get than on the thinner DoF 50 1.8, but both have a bit of the old ring-around-the-rosey. ;)

Here's one guy's objective shoot-off between the 1.8 and 1.4 re: bokeh:
http://www.photomalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28489

Posted 3 years ago #
soap

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Bokeh on the 35 f2 is harder to get than on the thinner DoF 50 1.8, but both have a bit of the old ring-around-the-rosey. ;)

Here's one guy's objective shoot-off between the 1.8 and 1.4 re: bokeh:
http://www.photomalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28489

Posted 3 years ago #
soap

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Bokeh on the 35 f2 is harder to get than on the thinner DoF 50 1.8, but both have a bit of the old ring-around-the-rosey. ;)

Here's one guy's objective shoot-off between the 1.8 and 1.4 re: bokeh:
http://www.photomalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28489

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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I would go for the 35mm F2, I need something a little wider, the 35mm 1.8 DX just isn't wide enough for me. For you it could be different though.

I would definitely get the 50mm 1.8, it's a no brainer though. If you wish to move to FX, I wouldn't get the 35mm 1.8. As great a lens it is, it won't help you when you go to FX.

Posted 3 years ago #
soap

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Bokeh on the 35 f2 is harder to get than on the thinner DoF 50 1.8, but both have a bit of the old ring-around-the-rosey. ;)

Here's one guy's objective shoot-off between the 1.8 and 1.4 re: bokeh:
http://www.photomalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28489

Posted 3 years ago #
soap

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Bokeh on the 35 f2 is harder to get than on the thinner DoF 50 1.8, but both have a bit of the old ring-around-the-rosey. ;)

Here's one guy's objective shoot-off between the 1.8 and 1.4 re: bokeh:

http://www.photomalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28489

Posted 3 years ago #
kellenfreeman

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I have the 35mm DX and it definitely leaves something to be desired in terms of wanting a wider angle, but the lens itself is a) cheap b) fast and c) pretty freakin' nice.

Posted 3 years ago #
soap

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I posted the below 12 hours ago, but it got lost in the sands of the internet.

Bokeh on the 35 f2 is harder to get than on the thinner DoF 50 1.8, but both have a bit of the old ring-around-the-rosey. ;)

Here's one guy's objective shoot-off between the 1.8 and 1.4 re: bokeh:
http://www.photomalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28489

Posted 3 years ago #
soap

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Bokeh on the 35 f2 is harder to get than on the thinner DoF 50 1.8, but both have a bit of the old ring-around-the-rosey. ;)

Here's one guy's objective shoot-off between the 1.8 and 1.4 re: bokeh:
http://www.photomalaysia.com/forums/showthread.?t=28489

Posted 3 years ago #
NotSoap

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Here is an objective shoot-out between the 50 1.8 and the 50 1.4:
http://www.photomalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28489

(trying to remember what else I had said - forum keeps swallowing this post.)

Posted 3 years ago #
NotSoap

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Here is an objective shoot-out between the 50 1.8 and the 50 1.4:
http://tinyurl.com/yk22oad

(trying to remember what else I had said - forum keeps swallowing this post.)

(Forum software silently eats posts with pee h pee in the url?)

Posted 3 years ago #
soap

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Yep, that is what it is - forum silently eats posts with "pee h pee" in the URL.
I resent the line "stable full of losers", mb, because I don't believe ANY of the lenses being discussed can be considered a loser by any stretch of the imagination.

The 50 1.4 only trumps the 50 1.8 @ 1.4 (not but 2/3rds a stop) - a niche you pay for.
The 35 2 is the only fast Nikon AF (of that length) for FX, and is more than sharp enough for anyone but corner chasers.
The 35 1.8 has no competition in its class, combined with a low low price.

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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kellenfreeman, no doubt, I love the 35mm 1.8, but I love wide angles and there hasn't been a cheap DX wideangle since I've started shooting. I'd like to have an 18mm 1.8 for DX. That'd be pretty awesome, with the same performance and price as the 35mm 1.8 please. :D

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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Notsoap and Soap are you related or un-related

Thanks for the comparison: that makes it easy the F1.8 it is.

Do you have the same comparison between Nikon and Canon 50mm F 1.8

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
soap

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Notsoap is (despite the name) Soap.

I created the dummy account trying to test why my post got swallowed 4 times. I determined (finally) that it was the P H P in the original link, so I used tinyurl to obscure it.

Posted 3 years ago #
soap

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Oh - I forgot another (more) excellent 50mm shoot-out.
Use google translate if you wish - photos speak for themselves w/o commentary IMHO:
http://www.rbfotografia.com.br/avaliacoes/50mm_1.htm

Posted 3 years ago #

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50 MM lens recommendation

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