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?
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.
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
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:
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.
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...
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.
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?
