Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

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Archive 2012 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

bbvaj
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p.1 #1 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

I am new to Nikon.. Whats the best 50mm option for me.. I have listed my priorities below. Max $1000.

(1) Bokeh
(2) sharpness wide open
(3) contrast wide open
(4) value

Feb 10, 2012 at 05:25 PM

Technician
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p.1 #2 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

Makro-Planar.

Feb 10, 2012 at 05:30 PM

parsons
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p.1 #3 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

contax 50 1.7

Feb 10, 2012 at 05:32 PM

williamkazak
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p.1 #4 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

If I needed a Nikon 50mm lens right now, I would get the new Nikon 50 F1.8G for value, sharpness and lack of flare. No one mentoned the Sigma 50mm for bokeh?

Feb 10, 2012 at 05:59 PM

bbvaj
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p.1 #5 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

I should have mentioned it, I am looking for portraits on full frame...

how much focus throw does makro planar have at portrait distances for good MF ??

Feb 10, 2012 at 06:02 PM

bbvaj
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p.1 #6 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

looks like 50 1.8G is out of stock at most places.

Any takes on Nikon AIS 50 1.2?

Feb 10, 2012 at 06:04 PM

plasticmotif
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p.1 #7 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

I started a thread a few years ago asking users to convince my friend to get or not to get a Voigt 58, I'm glad I did. The lens is phenomenal. He's enjoyed it every since.

I'd say the ZF 50 MP is probably the best, followed by the Voigt.

I've shot with a whole load of 50s all around. Since I'm on Canon, I rank the following as extremely attractive: Sigma 50/50L, Rokkor 58/1.2 and ZE 50 MP.

I'd keep the list the same on Nikon while adding the Voigtlander 58. It's a really good lens at great price in the native mount.

Feb 10, 2012 at 06:25 PM

pookipichu
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p.1 #8 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1082247

I had a very similar question. I put in my order for the D800E, sadly bumped off the waiting list but still hoping to snag a body when it's released.

The consensus was the 50mm 1.8G has the best sharpness. Sigma has best bokeh.

I had the 50 1.2AIS which I used on a FF Canon (with adapter), Overall a pretty good lens but prone to flare/veiling and not particularly impressive wide open, very compact though.

bbvaj wrote:
I am new to Nikon.. Whats the best 50mm option for me.. I have listed my priorities below. Max $1000.

(1) Bokeh
(2) sharpness wide open
(3) contrast wide open
(4) value

Feb 10, 2012 at 06:27 PM

philipj
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p.1 #9 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

I love the 50mm f/1.2 AI-s. Exceedingly sharp by f/2, and having f/1.2 for low light and depth of field fun is great. Bokeh can be busy depending on the backgrounds, but I think most 50s are the same. Contrast at f/1.2 is a bit lower, but I've never found it to be a huge problem.

I probably wouldn't go for the Makro-Planar for portraiture, not that it isn't a fine lens. The 50mm f/1.4 from Sigma is highly regarded as well.

Some of my portrait examples with the 50mm f/1.2, all wide open:

Arielle by philipjohnson, on Flickr

Alice and sweater by philipjohnson, on Flickr

Alice by philipjohnson, on Flickr

Steady Eddy by philipjohnson, on Flickr

Frau by philipjohnson, on Flickr

Feb 10, 2012 at 06:32 PM

passthegravy
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p.1 #10 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

Here's a link to an older thread where I posted some samples of my 50 1.2 AI-s at various stops.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1004936/1

It's a good lens that I'm glad I own.

Feb 10, 2012 at 06:43 PM

pdx_B-Rad
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p.1 #11 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

It is not a 50 but the 58 1.2 NOCT is my dreamer for a 50'ish lens.

I like the Sigma 50 1.4.

Feb 10, 2012 at 07:02 PM

Jabberwockt
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p.1 #12 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

Can you get a rokkor 58 1.2 on a nikon. It is pretty damn good on a 5D

Feb 10, 2012 at 07:05 PM

Dennis H.
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p.1 #13 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

not what you ask for, but I would get the AFS-G 60mm Macro, this is one of Nikons sharpest lens.

Feb 10, 2012 at 07:09 PM

bbvaj
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p.1 #14 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

I think I will go with 50 1.8G. Cant go wrong with it for $200. May also pick up the 80 1.8G along with it.

Thanks a lot for all the help.

Feb 10, 2012 at 08:09 PM

CGrindahl
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p.1 #15 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

From everything I read, the Zeiss 50 f/1.4 is a good, not great lens. I haven't tried it and likely won't. I own the 50 f/1.2 AI-s, 50 f/1.8 AI-s and an earler 50 f/1.8 AF. I appreciate them all. The 50 f/1.2 AI-s is challenging to use wide open both because the focal plane is so narrow and because, depending on the background conditions, can produce a distinctive jittery bokeh. At f/2 is can't be beaten. But then the question arises whether someone wants to pay the premium required for such a fast lens in order to shoot at f/2. I bought the 50 f/1.8 AI-s for $46 and its a fine lens. There recently was listed a 50 f/2 AI for about the same price. That too is an excellent manual focus lens. Since you're open to shooting manual focus you might want to check out this listing to see if anything tickles your fancy.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1084071

That said, it appears the 50 f/1.8G is a first rate AF lens available for around two hundred dollars. That too is a very nice neighborhood to hang out in. And since you want to use this on a FX camera to shoot portraits, you might consider going a bit longer and checking out the Voigtlander 58 f/1.4. That too is a well regarded lens. And remember, kit building is forever, so any decision you make today shouldn't be considered cast in stone. You can count on the fact you'll massage your kit so long as you're taking photos...

Feb 10, 2012 at 08:30 PM

Jammy Straub
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p.1 #16 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

Jabberwockt wrote:
Can you get a rokkor 58 1.2 on a nikon. It is pretty damn good on a 5D

You can make it work on DX, on FX it gets difficult and at infinity may hit the mirror. It requires major lens surgery.

Feb 10, 2012 at 08:53 PM

Jammy Straub
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p.1 #17 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

I agree with a couple of other folks here.

Makro-Planar 50mm f/2 ZF.2
http://flickriver.com/groups/makro-planar50mm/pool/interesting/
The Makro Planar has very smooth boke and is likely one of the sharpest highest contrast 50's out there.

Voigtlander 58mm f/1.4
http://flickriver.com/groups/cv58nokton/pool/interesting/
More boke character than the Planar, almost like the Minolta f/1.2 Rokkor, the design is actually similar.

Nikon 50mm f/1.8G
http://flickriver.com/groups/nikon50afs/pool/interesting/
Nikon knocked it out of park in value vs performance with this one. Boke is more active than the Planar.

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There are too many reports of erratic AF with the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 for me to be excited about it, it has a beautiful rendering style for portraits though IMO. The Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Planar has a lot of spherical abberation wide open and a look similar to old uncorrected lenses, some folks dig it.

Feb 10, 2012 at 09:08 PM

bqq100
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p.1 #18 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

I'm also looking to pick up fast 50mm prime, and I've noticed that the 1.4G was absent from the discussion so far. Is the 1.8G that much better to not even consider the 1.4G?

Feb 10, 2012 at 10:04 PM

Technician
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p.1 #19 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

Yes.

Feb 10, 2012 at 10:07 PM

bqq100
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p.1 #20 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

Technician wrote:
Yes.

Duly noted! Thanks!

Feb 10, 2012 at 10:12 PM

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