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Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D 35mm Primes

4.53/5 (30 Reviews)

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Focal Length : 50mm | Max. Aperture : f/1.8  | Focus : Autofocus  


  • Camera Format35 mm SLR
    Lens TypeFixed Focal Length Lens
    Focal Length50mm
    Lens Max Aperturef/1.8
    Min Aperturef/22
    Focus TypeAutofocus
    Macro LensWithout Macro Lens
    MountNikon
    Closest Focusing Distance18 in
    Diaphragm Blades7 Blades
    Picture Angle46 degrees
    Attachment / Filter Size52 mm
    Groups / Elements6 Elements in 5 Groups
    Diameter2.5 in
    Length1.5 in
    Weight5.5 oz
    MPN2137
    Product ID20724673

Product Description

  • D-type lens design provides distance info for flash and ambient exposure
  • Aperture range: f/1.8-22
  • Min focus: Approx. 1.5 feet


    • Review Options:  Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating

    Reviews 1 - 5 (30 Reviews Total) | Next 15

    User Reviews

    Overall Rating:5
    Value Rating:5
    Submitted by bhobg a Intermediate

    Date Reviewed: July 27, 2009

    Bottom Line:   
    Sensational lens. For the price, a must-have. I used to manually focus with it when I had a D40 and I got great results. Now I shoot with a D80 and I can autofocus with it.

    They say this is a portrait lens but its great for other stuff too. I love it in concerts and its very good for indoor sports too like basketball. I just shot college basketball with it, wide open, shutter set at 1/640 or 1/800 at 800 iso. I got some great keepers! I think that for indoor sports, f/2.8 just won't cut it.

    The old f/1.4 50mm is more than twice the price. The new AF-S version is FOUR TIMES the price. This one is much, much better value. The sharpness is terrific, as is the bokeh. Every Nikonian needs one. :)

    Expand full review >>

    Duration Product Used:   2-5 years

    Price Paid:    $100.00

    Purchased At:   Manila, Philippines

    Type of photography:   People

    Overall Rating:5
    Value Rating:5
    Submitted by al5652 a Expert

    Date Reviewed: July 31, 2008

    Strengths:    This is a very sharp lens even at f/1.8. At f/1.8 the DOF is very shallow so nailing the focus is very important. In my opinion some of the complaints of softness come from the unfocused results. It is hard to focus in dim places and at night inside homes. The focusing light on D80 helps so it should be turned on. 50 f/1.8 is at the same league as 50 f/2 AI which is sharp from corner to corner, f/2 to f/16. 50 f/1.4 is not very good from f/1.4 to f/4 but sharpness peaks at f/5.6 and f/8. I can easily get the same results from 50 f/1.8 at f/2.8 compared to 18-135 at f/7.1 with of course DOF difference.

    Weaknesses:    It is very weakly built. It gives a lot of resistance when screwing the lens compared to smooth operation of 18-135 or 70-300VR.

    Bottom Line:   
    I had a D80 with 18-135 and 70-300 VR. I bought this lens to use mostly in museums where flash is not allowed also to use it with Nikon CLS system with my SD600 flash. I also own older lenses and Nikon bodies. I used 50 f/2 AI and 50 f/1.4 AI on my D80 before.

    Expand full review >>

    Duration Product Used:   21+ years

    Price Paid:    $110.00

    Purchased At:   BH

    Similar Products Used:   Nikkor 50 f/2 AI, 50 f/1.4 AI, 55 f/3.5 non-AI micro Nikkor, 50 f/1.7 Minolta

    Type of photography:   Outdoor

    Overall Rating:5
    Value Rating:5
    Submitted by jorgemonkey a Expert

    Date Reviewed: June 19, 2008

    Strengths:    F1.8 aperture
    AF speed
    Price is by far one of its greatest strengths


    Weaknesses:    Build quality. I would like to see a version build on a metal body
    Lens is a little noisy while focusing, but isnt' annoying until its really quiet and you have to focus

    Bottom Line:   
    I got this lens as a freebie when I bought one of my D2h's. I didn't use it at all because of the $100 price tag on it, I didn't think it would be that great of a lens.

    After my son was born 3 months ago this lens has stayed on my camera. Its sharp from 1.8 to 22. It focuses quick and it does the job. Personally I think Nikon could raise the price by $100-$200 and people would still buy this lens.

    It is built on a plastic body, so it feels cheap and like you'll break it easily. Thats one of the reasons I didn't use it at first.

    Expand full review >>

    Duration Product Used:   2-5 years

    Purchased At:   Ebay

    Similar Products Used:   Nikon 50mm 1.8 AIS

    Type of photography:   People

    Overall Rating:4
    Value Rating:4
    Submitted by JGaban a Intermediate

    Date Reviewed: June 7, 2008

    Strengths:    cheap
    fast & accurate autofocus on my d80
    light


    Weaknesses:    very soft picture at wide aperture

    Bottom Line:   
    Took a series of photo from 1.8 to 22.0 to see sharpness and bokeh. Very soft at 1.8 and improving as the aperture decreases. Maximum sharpeness achieved at 6.3 with no discernable change in sharpeness thereafter. Background blur (Bokeh) at 1.8 is very good but not as great as some of the photos I have seen. Bokeh effect becomes ineffective at 3.2.

    camera: D80

    Expand full review >>

    Duration Product Used:   2-5 years

    Price Paid:    $110.00

    Purchased At:   Kuala Lumpur

    Similar Products Used:   none

    Type of photography:   Outdoor

    Overall Rating:2
    Value Rating:3
    Submitted by Sosh a Expert

    Date Reviewed: March 7, 2008

    Strengths:    Low price

    Weaknesses:    Soft
    Very poor build quality
    No lens case supplied
    Slow focussing
    Poor colour reproduction and contrast



    Bottom Line:   
    I don't know why so many people rave about this lens. Perhaps it's a quality control issue, but I've been extremely disappointed with my copy.

    I was hoping for a reasonably sharp prime lens, but this lens is soft - even compared to my 18-70 zoom.

    Admittedly it does get better after f/2.8 - but still not great. Less that 2.8 is unacceptably soft in my opinion - so is of little use. Colour reproduction and contrast are also not great.

    The build quality is very shabby - it feels like 'disposable' kit. The aperture ring is loose. The lens requires some degree of force to twist on to the body, I can only assume this is because of poor engineering tolerances.

    Maybe the 1.4 is better, but I will be likely be selling mine.

    Expand full review >>

    Duration Product Used:   6-10 years

    Price Paid:    $79.00

    Purchased At:   microglobe.co.uk

    Type of photography:   Outdoor


    Reviews 1 - 5 (30 Reviews Total) | Next 15

    Review Options:  Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating

    Write a Review >>

    • Camera Format35 mm SLR
      Lens TypeFixed Focal Length Lens
      Focal Length50mm
      Lens Max Aperturef/1.8
      Min Aperturef/22
      Focus TypeAutofocus
      Macro LensWithout Macro Lens
      MountNikon
      Closest Focusing Distance18 in
      Diaphragm Blades7 Blades
      Picture Angle46 degrees
      Attachment / Filter Size52 mm
      Groups / Elements6 Elements in 5 Groups
      Diameter2.5 in
      Length1.5 in
      Weight5.5 oz
      MPN2137
      Product ID20724673
      Attachment / Filter Size52 mm
      Camera FormatDigital SLR
      Closest Focusing Distance18 in
      Designed for Digital CameraYes
      Diameter2.5 in
      Diaphragm Blades7 Blades
      Focal Length50mm
      Focus TypeAutofocus
      Groups / Elements8 Elements in 5 Groups
      Length1.5 in
      Lens Max Aperturef/1.8
      Lens TypeFixed Focal Length Lens
      Macro LensWithout Macro Lens
      Min Aperturef/22
      MountNikon
      Picture Angle46 degrees
      Release Date7/31/2007
      Weight5.5 oz


     

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