Nikon AF 50mm f/1.4D Nikkor Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by:

VinnyP!
( Intermediate)

Review Date
February 11, 2007

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.86 of 5,
7 votes

Review 1 of 48

Price Paid: $50.00 from Private 2nd hand

Summary:

I had one of these for a long time and made the mistake of letting it go because I thought the Sigma 30mm 1.4 would replace it. It wasn't long before I missed it so now it's back to stay. It's a great lens on a digital SLR up to at least a half height portrait. For children it's a super lens to deal with distracting backgrounds and in all circumstances it's very good in available light.

It's the smallest lightest lens I own so often gets popped in as a "just in case" lens no matter what I intend to shoot. It's lack of IF means it can be a bit noisy when focussing and that can be an issue if you are in a quiet environment but it is nothing next to a mirror thwack when actually taking the picture.

I was lucky and got a 1.4 back having decided a 1.8 was much beter value and does 95% of what this can do. The only thing I suppose is that 1.4 is there if you need it and at F2 it's already a stop down so is right in the zone. With an APS sized sensor that's not a big deal since the relative softness at 1.4 was always in the corners on film anyway.

So I would heartily recommend this lens for almost anyone but take a look at the 1.8 which is almost certainly better value and will give as good results in almost any circumstances.

Strengths:

Fast, sharp, light.

Weaknesses:

Noisy AF. Soft in corners on full frame (film) at 1.4.

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 30mm 1.4
Nikkor 85mm 1.8

Customer Service:

N/A

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Rating
Reviewed by:

dinosaur_hotel
( Professional)

Review Date
January 3, 2007

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
3 votes

Review 2 of 48

Price Paid: $265.00 from KEH.com

Summary:

This was the first major lens I purchased due to it's all-around usage and argulably it was the best $265 I have ever spent.

I shoot mostly portraits and work as a photojournalist.

For people at any length it works well (75mm on digital).

It is also wide enough to be used as a general outdoor lenses for low-lit street scene news photos.

I don't find the price to be a problem. The 1.4 is much more noticable than the 1.8 and really not too expensive at $250-300.

Strengths:

Sharp and fast.

Small in size and fits in nicely in any bag.

A must for any level photographer's gear stash.

Weaknesses:

Focuses slightly noisily, but not really a problem.

At 1.4, light is blown out easily, so you have to be careful not to point towards light sources.

It would be nice if Nikon included rear lens caps, but oh well.

Customer Service:

Not used.

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Rating
Reviewed by:

freundez
( Intermediate)

Review Date
December 28, 2006

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 3 of 48

Price Paid: $199.00 from KEH (Used)

Summary:

I felt somewhat obliged to buy this lens for my D70s, having learned to shoot using my dad's MF 50 1.4 on an old Nikon FA body growing up. With the field of view crop associated with the APS-C size sensor, this lens goes from being a standard lens to more of a short telephoto, and I typically use it for available light portraits and the occassional street scene shot. As a result, this lens doesn't spend as much time on my camera as the 35mm f/2 does, but when it is on the camera I always enjoy using it.

I should note that my review is based on a used sample that I purchased, and I usually have the HS-9 hood attached to prevent flare. Also, from what I've read, if you will do most of your shooting above f/5.6, the lighter and cheaper f/1.8 is probably a better bet.

Strengths:

Fast maximum aperature makes this lens a lot of fun to use. Sharpness improves significantly above f/2.

The flexibility that a fast aperature gives you in terms of depth-of-field is amazing. High ISO and image stabilization can't make up for a big aperature in this regard. Here is a sample image of the narrow DOF possible at f/1.4:
http://thefreunds.smugmug.com/gallery/1429075/2/96352401

Chromatic Aberration is minimal, as is flare with the lens hood attached.

Decent bokeh (though not as smooth as either of Nikon's 85mm choices

Weaknesses:

Soft at f/1.4, but still produces very usable photos. I've printed a couple 8x10 portraits and been very pleased with the result

Average AF performance - my 35mm is quicker

Average build quality (but again I bought a used copy)

Larger and more expensive than the 50mm f/1.8

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 35mm f/2

Customer Service:

Not applicable

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Rating
Reviewed by:

almar
( Professional)

Review Date
May 1, 2006

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
3 votes

Review 4 of 48

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

I can't understand why some people seem to be hung up on the where something is made as opposed to the how something is made???
Having read the reviews I was a little apprehensive about buying this lens as people were criticising the build quality, the sharpeness and (some) the AF.
Maybe I was lucky but as yet I am totally delighted with this lens. OK its twice the price of the f/1.8 but then it is a bit faster and it does feel better made (my mate has a 1.8). Sharper than a 1.8 down to f/2.8 (according to photodo) but a little less sharp from there but that didn't bother me as the prime reason for getting this lens was low light hand held photography and very shallow DOF. Some have criticised that it will only got to f/16 but for me this really is not an issue as I think I have only ever stepped it down that far once!

Some have also criticised the bokeh but again I have no issue with this - it seems very soft and evenly blurred in my experience. All in all a superb lens which when combined with the 1.5x crop of a D2x makes a stunning portrait lens.

Strengths:

Great value, fabulous low light capabilities and that DOF!!!! Pin sharp too.....

Weaknesses:

Nothing of note as far as I am concerned (at this money).

Similar Products Used:

50mm f/1.8, numerous zooms covering this range (Sigma 24-135 f/2.8, Nikon 24-120VR, Sigma 50-500), Rollei f/1.8 50mm

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Rating
Reviewed by:

ppurpura
( Professional)

Review Date
December 1, 2005

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5,
3 votes

Review 5 of 48

Price Paid: $230.00 from Camera & Pallette

Summary:

I purchased this lens for two reasons. First, I love fast lenses because I really enjoy working working with limited depth of field. Second, I wanted a lens that I could that I could shoot with at night, without flash, and without a tripod. This lens exceeds both requirements. It is a great lens.

Strengths:

The strengh of this lens is its wide aperture and the benefits that such brings. It focuses very quickly and very silently. As specified in other reviews, this lens is sharp when stopped down, but I have obtained good results even when it is wide open. I have shot with this lens hand held, wide open at 1/15 of a second, and got good results. So to get these results under such conditions, the lens has to be good. As stated in other reviews, working at low apertures results in very limited depth of field, especially when the camera to subject distance is 15 feet or less.

Weaknesses:

This lens is prone to flair when photographing around street lights at wide apertures. But let's face it, you have point sources of light bouncing around all over the place. So one needs to work around this if possible.

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 G ED VR, Nikkor 18-35 f/3/5-4.5 G ED IF DX, Tamron AF 28-75 f/2.8 SP XR DI.

Customer Service:

I have not had any issues with this lens.

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