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Archive 2012 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners

  
 
okafoja
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


I recently bought this lens but my copy is useless from f/1.8 to 2.2. It sharpens up at f/2.8 and gets extremely sharp by f/4. Is this lens useable wide open?. I bought the lens to shoot it wide open but if I have to stop it down it becomes worthless to me.

I have packed it and ready to ship it back. I tired MA but that didn't seem to help. I wouldn't mind trying another copy unless if the lens is working as designed.

I was pleasantly surprised on how the lens handles. AF was quick to snap to focus. I hate returning the lens. The event I shot last night with the lens, I drew away all images shot from f/1.8 to f/2. They were all very blur.

This is typically what I was getting at f/2.8 and F/4.

F/4
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/okafoja/Round3/DSC_6327web.jpg

f/2.8
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/okafoja/Round3/DSC_6241web.jpg



Jul 22, 2012 at 04:19 PM
williamkazak
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


I don't seem to be having any problems with mine. I think it is a better lens than the 35 F1.8G.


Jul 22, 2012 at 04:34 PM
subidiom
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


That's odd - my copy is very sharp, right from f/1.8. Have you tried manually focusing the lens using live view? This would help isolate your issue as a lens quality problem or an AF issue.

If live view manaul focus gives a good result, I would check for decentering with a star chart (unlikely to be your issue, as this lens' design is very simple), or try AF fine tune.



Jul 22, 2012 at 04:39 PM
myam203
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


Mine is quite useable wide open, but since that's a subjective thing, I'd have to see some shots from yours to know whether or not it's worse than my copy. Also, if you're looking at wide open shots on your D800 at 100% and expecting miracles, it isn't going to happen.

Edited on Jul 22, 2012 at 04:43 PM · View previous versions



Jul 22, 2012 at 04:42 PM
trenchmonkey
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


You used flash so I can't help ya, but suffice it to say...it should look like this on FX
Send it back, mine's '0' MA on the D3/D300s/D7K and it's always tack sharp wide open!







Jul 22, 2012 at 04:42 PM
Elan II
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


Thanks for the reminder. B&H has them in stock again and I just ordered a second one.

So you have realistic expectations, all 1.8 lenses sharpen up noticeably when stopped down to 2.2. With that said, the 50/1.8G is sharp wide open. To use some often seen terms let's say that is sharper than just usable, but nowhere near tack sharp.

If you have some wide open shots of well defined subjects, post them so we can give you some feedback. Don't forget to throw in a crop or two.







Jul 22, 2012 at 05:46 PM
cebseb
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


I had two copies. Both were sharp right out of the box. Have you tried using it on a different body? The issue might be the body and not the lens.


Jul 22, 2012 at 05:47 PM
okafoja
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


cebseb wrote:
I had two copies. Both were sharp right out of the box. Have you tried using it on a different body? The issue might be the body and not the lens.


Yes I tried it on D700 and no noticeable difference from D800. My D800 has been to Nikon twice already for AF issues but my D700 is right on the money.

I will try a different copy.



Jul 22, 2012 at 09:35 PM
jhinkey
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


I had to fine tune mine to +5 to get sharp shots wide open on my D800. My D700 did not resolve enough detail that it mattered so I never fine tuned the AF. Try that and see what you get.

John



Jul 22, 2012 at 09:50 PM
okafoja
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


trenchmonkey wrote:
You used flash so I can't help ya, but suffice it to say...it should look like this on FX
Send it back, mine's '0' MA on the D3/D300s/D7K and it's always tack sharp wide open!


Mine was not any thing close to what you are getting.



Jul 22, 2012 at 10:07 PM
cebseb
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


Looks like a return/exchange would be the best plan of action in this case then.. Good luck!


Jul 22, 2012 at 10:16 PM
Joseph.
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


Send it back. The 50 1.8G should be tack sharp at ANY aperture. This one's wide open:







Jul 22, 2012 at 11:05 PM
ecidi
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


Yeah! The Nikon 50mm f1.8 G is a sharp lens wide open.

Her is one at f1.8







Jul 24, 2012 at 07:43 PM
Bruce Sawle
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


Mine is sharp as a tack at f1.8 can't speak for the other apertures as I have ot used them. This lens has been used on a d3x, d800, and D3s.


Jul 24, 2012 at 09:33 PM
anorphirith
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


DontShoot wrote:
Send it back. The 50 1.8G should be tack sharp at ANY aperture. This one's wide open:

that's incredible wow !



Jul 26, 2012 at 09:21 AM
Elan II
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


You guys with your overly processed downsized shots and 'tack sharp' comments are creating a wave of dissatisfied lens owners returning their lenses to get an equally 'tack sharp' lens themselves. 2-3 copies later they get real, but by then the damage is done.

Post some 100% 'tack sharp' crops or it never happened.

The OP never posted a well illuminated wide open shot, so the suggestions to return the lens are based on hearsay at this point.







Jul 26, 2012 at 06:12 PM
okafoja
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


Elan II wrote:
You guys with your overly processed downsized shots and 'tack sharp' comments are creating a wave of dissatisfied lens owners returning their lenses to get an equally 'tack sharp' lens themselves. 2-3 copies later they get real, but by then the damage is done.

Post some 100% 'tack sharp' crops or it never happened.

The OP never posted a well illuminated wide open shot, so the suggestions to return the lens are based on hearsay at this point.



I was not expecting anything special with mine wide open. I knew most lenses are not all that sharp wide open but mine was basically useless. 50mm is my most used lens and I was so disappointed when I find out that Nikon has nothing equivalent to 50L and 135L. After moving to Nikon I kept my 5DIII just to continue using mine 50L and 135L but I have since sold my 50L so I am in desperate need of 50mm lens.

I have to say that I was so shocked how good 50/1.8G handled. That little lens will give 50L a run for its money. All I need is to get one that is useable wide open and I will be a happy camper. I don't know what the bokeh looks like but I know it won't be as smooth as 50L. I just have to deal with that.




Jul 26, 2012 at 07:16 PM
Elan II
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


The bokeh is one of the strong point of this lens, along with size, price, and yes, sharpness.


I wanted to make a broader point here, so I took a couple of sample shots for you. Here's a wide open close-up shot I just took and processed. You'd have to agree it is 'tack sharp!'
http://images.pixelpeeping.net/elanr/50mmF18G/DSC_6404b.jpg



But it's not. It's just over-processed and over-sharpened. Once you get up close, that facade falls apart.
http://images.pixelpeeping.net/elanr/50mmF18G/DSC_6404_Center.jpg



The corner is even worse.
http://images.pixelpeeping.net/elanr/50mmF18G/DSC_6404_Corner.jpg



Without processing.
http://images.pixelpeeping.net/elanr/50mmF18G/DSC_6404s.jpg


You can say my copy is good. You can say it's not. It doesn't change the fact that the little shot looks good until you get close.




Edited on Jul 26, 2012 at 10:16 PM · View previous versions



Jul 26, 2012 at 09:57 PM
Elan II
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


There's a very noticeable improvement when you stop this lens down 2-3 stops.


1.8 shot.
http://images.pixelpeeping.net/elanr/50mmF18G/DSC_6401b.jpg



Same shot at 5.6.
http://images.pixelpeeping.net/elanr/50mmF18G/DSC_6402b.jpg



1.8 Center.
http://images.pixelpeeping.net/elanr/50mmF18G/DSC_6401_Center.jpg



5.6 Center.
http://images.pixelpeeping.net/elanr/50mmF18G/DSC_6402_Center.jpg



1.8 Corner.
http://images.pixelpeeping.net/elanr/50mmF18G/DSC_6401_Corner.jpg



5.6 Corner.
http://images.pixelpeeping.net/elanr/50mmF18G/DSC_6402_Corner.jpg


The 1.8 shots are more than useable. I'm not sure I would call even the 5.6 shots 'tack sharp.' They are definitely sharp though.

To me, 1.8 is more for mood or artistic shots. It takes 2.8+ to have the eyes and the tip of the nose in focus with a head shot. Of course if you have no light, you take what DOF you can get.






Jul 26, 2012 at 10:09 PM
okafoja
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Question for Nikon AF-S 50/f1.8G owners


Elan II wrote:
1.8 shot.
http://images.pixelpeeping.net/elanr/50mmF18G/DSC_6401b.jpg

1.8 Center.
http://images.pixelpeeping.net/elanr/50mmF18G/DSC_6401_Center.jpg

1.8 Corner.
http://images.pixelpeeping.net/elanr/50mmF18G/DSC_6401_Corner.jpg

The 1.8 shots are more than useable. I'm not sure I would call even the 5.6 shots 'tack sharp.' They are definitely sharp though.

To me, 1.8 is more for mood or artistic shots. It takes 2.8+ to have the eyes and the tip of the nose in focus with a head shot. Of course if you have no light, you take what DOF you can get.



Wow that's very impressive. That's what I was hoping for with mine. I will be picking my second copy today and I hope to be lucky this time around.



Jul 27, 2012 at 08:56 AM
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