Optic quality, sharp, crisp, deep color, pleasant unsharp areas

I already owned and loved the 50/1.4 Ai for my FM2. After using this one on my F70 also, I wanted to have the AFD version. It performes at least as good as the Ai. It almost never leaves my camera although I also own a 28-200 zoom, that offers versatility, but nowhere near the picture that the 50/1.4 AFD does.

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Several AF and MF primes and zooms

just Like all other 50mm lens

Mine was made in Japan and purchased 6 years ago and 5 years younger than other 50 mm manual lens. After numerous picture were taken,At least 200 rolls,Aperture ring show oil clog and refused to serve me. but other older 50 mm lens still working. I don't know should I blame this lens's life span or I asked too much. F/11 Why Back ground Blur was worst among Canon, Minolta, Pentax, And German Counterpart.

(I am reviewing this lens comparing with most 50mm lens by other manufacturer.) Just like all other 50mm lens, This lens was sharp, contrasty, compact, Bright, and so on.... Unlike all other 50mm lens minimum ap[erture was limited to the f/16 Why nikon? and back Ground Bukeh was worst I don't know this must be serious to other user. But To me It can be annoying especially taking portrait I just didn't like fuzzy and harshy hexagonal back ground blur. Pardon my English that is my fourth native language but improving now.

Customer Service

N/A

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many other 50mm optics. I own canon--> 45mm/2.8 TSE, 50mm/1.4, 85mm/1.2, 135mm/2, 200mm/1.8, 90mm/2.8 TSE Contax--> 21mm/2.8, 35mm/2, 50mm/1.4 100mm/2 Minolta-->24~105/3.5~4.5, 100~300/4.5~5

Light, f1.4

It`s not exactly rugged

I bought this lens because of its maximum aperture. I prefer portraits with narrow dept of field a lot, although it lacks a bit of sharpness atf1.4. At f2.8+, image quality increases to very good rates. Besides that it is very lightweight which comes in handy at least after a couple of hours of constant shooting... Wide-aperture-50mm is a focal lenght that has to be in everyone`s camera bag, even besides a 28-80 zoom! The only downside of the 50/1.4 is that its precious lenses are packed in a piece of plastic, which surely is the reason for its low weight, but you won`t be bothered by that when it drops...

Customer Service

a reason why i like nikon

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50/1.8, 50/1.4 AIS

f1.4, super fast. sharpness is, well, good enough at 1.4-2.8, should be better with smaller apertures but i need confirmation when i've finished the second roll.

lacks f22, constant fares by composing against strong light(not a real problem of a 50mm). A Hood is recommended

I bought this len weeks ago and so far, i'm happy with the result. The first test roll are all shot with big aperture from 1.4-2.8, and the sharpness is superb in my point of view, a little blured at 1.4 though. haven't finished with the second roll yet, but im pretty confident with the results. Im not sure about others, but the built quality is very acceptable, and it's a Japan made. It interesting that so many people here are complaining about the China made, maybe i'm in a little bit of luck :) but i don't really think the manufc loaction really makes a big difference cuz Nikon surely don't want to mess up with its own brand by oversea production. The only difference might be in the cost perspective. In term of quality? well, maybe there is a little difference but i really don't think so.

Customer Service

not needed, won't need it in the future i suppose

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Nikon 80-200/f2.8 ED Sigma 28-200/f3.5-5.6

Light, sharp, and fast.

Could be a little bit sharper.

A very good lens, not quite as sharp as the 50 f1.4 non ai I traded for it but a very acceptable lens. Gives good 16 x 20 enlargements and superb 11 x 14 prints.

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50mm f1.4 non ai manual focus nikkor and 45mm f2.8 GN nikkor (a fantastic lens).

-Wide Maximum Aperture -OK sharpness -Very fast AF

-f16 minimum aperture -Poor build quality -Barrel distortion

This lense is certainly welcome with its maximum f1.4. It is not particularly sharp, and not well built. More significantly, it does not go beyond f16. These are serious disadvantages, but it is lightning fast in its focussing.

Customer Service

Not Used

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Minolta 50mm 1.7 Nikon 50mm 1.8

Very very fast Lightweight

Manual focus feels unnatural and doesn't turn smoothly. Built in China Optics are not $150 better than the 1.8

I wish it was built in Japan since the build quality is definitely not at the same level as the 85mm 1.8D lense. It's great for street, portraits, etc and the lense speed is fast and you can caputure a lot when the lighting is bad and flash is not allowed or available. IMO..the 50mm 1.8d, when available, is the better value. I'm not terribly impressed with the lense, but I had no choice since you cannot find the 1.8 lense to save your life. (as of May 2002)

Customer Service

n/a, but Big Apple said the lense was USA version, and it turned out to be gray market.

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Nikon 50mm 1.8D (borrowed it) Sigma 28-135 zoom (slow lense, but good optics)

mentioned above; must have for all Nikon AF users.

too plastic (that''s why it is cheap)

Light, sharp, bright and cheap. Best partner for travelling. Good for landscape and full length portrait. I bought this because my zoom 28-105D is too soft.

Customer Service

never

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AF 85 1.4D AF 28-105D

see above

see above

If I could only have 1 lens, this would be it!!! It''s very sharp, very fast, and very lightweight. Considering some top lenses cost in the thousands, it''s inexpensive for what you''re getting. My 28-80 zoom is the most useful focal length range, but it''s cheap and not as sharp, so I try to stick with 50mm as much as I can. This lens pairs up very well with the sharpest films,say Velvia for example. Also, looking through the viewfinder it''s really bright. And autofocus is fast and accurate paired with my N80. On the downside, it''s a bit soft at f/1.4, but don''t let that turn you away from buying it. There are many other lenses, some expensive, with that unwanted "feature". At 2.8 on it''s sharp. I have not tried f/2, but I really need to. Also, I have noticed flare at night with bright lights more than other lenses, but it''s not too bad. No lens is perfect and you learn to live with it.

Customer Service

not yet-let''s keep it that way

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sigma 20mm f/1.8-- all other lenses i have are zooms

Peerlessly fast AF lens. Excellent Nikkor optics - that much better for being a prime lens. Affordable; little price difference between the low end, underperforming equivalent.

Hmmm.... Quality doesn''t compare to a still, well lit large format image shot with a $4000 lens?

This lens should be a requirement, and is probably found in any serious photog''s bag despite it''s rep as an "entry level" type lens. This one in particular has never disappointed. If necessary to shoot in existing or (very) low light, the 1.4 max apt. can hardly be beat. It''s what I rely on when I find myself in those situations where a 2.8 comes not even close. With pushed 1600ISO, you can just about shoot handheld in the dark. (Candle-lit wedding comes to mind, and would have been a disaster without this gem). Nikkor optics are superb, with very little loss of quality wide open. In fact, not noticeable to someone who isn''t looking for it. All in all, this is one lens that should never be scrimped on, and in this case, the best available is affordable to most.

Customer Service

None on this reliable lens.

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Many Nikkor and Sigma primes and zooms.