Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

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

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

My favorite with AF: 50 1.8 AFS
Other excellent lenses: 50mm 1.2 AIS and Voigtlander 40mm 2.0

Guy

Feb 11, 2012 at 02:25 PM

mshi
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p.3 #2 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

I have owned 50 1.2AIS, 50 1.4D, 50 1.8D, Zeiss 50 1.4 ZF, and 50 1.8G. To me, they are all different with different drawing styles. I really love 50 1.2 for its dreamy look wide open that you dont get with others at wide open, ZF 50 1.4 for its super nice coloring effects, and 50 1.8G for its price/performance ratio.

Feb 11, 2012 at 06:45 PM

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

I have the 50/1.2 AIS for shooting at f/1.2 (and it's very very good at all other apertures) and the 50/1.8G for super light weight and great IQ. Sold the 50/1.8D after getting the G - no contest there!

Feb 11, 2012 at 07:38 PM

Elan II
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p.3 #4 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

This is from the lenses I have.

Bokeh: Nikon 50/1.2 and Sigma 50/1.4
Sharpness wide open: Nikon AI-s 50/1.8 .45m MFD model
Contrast wide open: Same 50/1.8 AI-s and possibly the 50/1.8G
Value: Again the AI-s ($60) or the 50/1.8G ($200)

The one lens answer is the Nikon 50/1.8G.

I also have/had the Nikon 50/1.4D 50/1.4 AI, 50/1.8D, 50/1.8 Series E, 50/1.8 AI-s .60m MFD and latest 50/1.8 AI-s pancake. They don't make the list.

Feb 11, 2012 at 09:30 PM

SloPhoto
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p.3 #5 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

The 50mm f2.0 Zeiss MP is likely the best one.

My personal preference is for the sig50. I prefer it over the voigtlander(and i am a huge voigtlander fan) and over both nikons.

Feb 11, 2012 at 10:51 PM

SoundHound
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p.3 #6 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

I use the Voitlander 40mm F2.0 "Ultron" instead of a 50mm. Small, lightweight with superb IQ at moderate cost.

Feb 12, 2012 at 08:53 AM

trenchmonkey
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p.3 #7 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

Another plug for the 50 f1.8G Don't care what all the links to tests & reviews say...real world shooting (read sales)
this lens rocks. Mine lives at f2 and AF (while not blisteringly fast) is accurate in even crappy light AND automatic

99% of my grabs are dead on. While I loved the aforementioned 58 and 40 offerings from CV, I'm needing AF at this FL
and couldn't be happier with the results I'm getting. FX or DX this sucker's money. Home run, Nikon!

OP: spend $200 take a trip with the 8

Feb 12, 2012 at 01:15 PM

dowright82
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p.3 #8 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

I'm really shocked that you guys haven't talked more about the Nikkor 1.4G I've had tremendously good experiences with it - owned a 1.4D before, and it's FAR sharper than the D, at least in my experience - - - also bought it alongside the sigma, but have less focus hunting with the nikkor vs the sigma.

Feb 12, 2012 at 11:31 PM

zalmyb
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p.3 #9 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

I've had the 50 1.8D, 1.4 D and G and the Sigma. Optically at wide apertures the sigma is the nicest (though sharpness wise it's pretty equal to the G) unfortunately its Af (on mine) is quite erratic). I'm probably going to trade it out for the new 1.8 (though If I wouldn't be shooting mf film I'd definitely try out the voigtlander)...

Stopped down I think the Zeiss 1.4 is the sharpest of the bunch (but that's just from reading others opinions

)

Feb 12, 2012 at 11:41 PM

D. Diggler
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p.3 #10 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

Jammy Straub wrote:
Makro-Planar 50mm f/2 ZF.2
The Makro Planar has very smooth boke and is likely one of the sharpest highest contrast 50's out there.

When you're bringing that lens into focus, you can really see it pop in! Even on a crop camera! Something different about that lens. Microcontrast maybe?

Feb 13, 2012 at 03:14 AM

D. Diggler
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p.3 #11 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

SloPhoto wrote:
My personal preference is for the sig50. I prefer it over the voigtlander(and i am a huge voigtlander fan) and over both nikons.

What is it about the Sig 50 that you prefer?

Feb 13, 2012 at 03:27 AM

DavidWEGS
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p.3 #12 · Best 50mm (MF inclusive) for Nikon

For pure IQ and value, the Sigma 1.4.

For faster operation (AF) and more consistent accuracy with AF, the Nikon 1.8g

Contax is great too.

Feb 13, 2012 at 04:19 AM

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