which is sharpest 50mm for nikon?? - FM Forums

Register · Search · Software · Join Upload & Sell · Hosting

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

FM Forum Rules
Nikon SLRs, primes, and zooms lenses reviews

FM Forums \| Nikon-mount SLRs \| Join Upload & Sell	Search Used
1 2 end

Archive 2010 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

jaehoppa
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #1 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

nikkor 50mm f1.2
zeiss 50mm f1.4
nikon 50mm f1.4
nikon 50mm f1.8
sigma 50mm f1.4

out of these..which one is the sharpest wide open? or maybe stop down a bit.
i currently have the zeiss but i find it little soft for my taste. (wide open)
which one is the sharpest??
thanks.

Feb 08, 2010 at 06:31 AM

philber
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #2 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

The Zeiss ZF 50 f:1.4 is indeed slightly soft wide open. It corrects that by f:2.0, and becomes stunningly sharp from f:4.0 to infinity. The Sigma f:1.4 is optimized the other way around: at its best close up and wide open, and least impressive stopped down and at infinity.
The quest for the "perfect 50" has yet to be successful.

Feb 08, 2010 at 06:49 AM

luminosity
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

The Zeiss 50/2 is probably the sharpest of all.

Feb 08, 2010 at 06:53 AM

lou f
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #4 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

the macros a very sharp but there 55mm and 60mm and f2.8-f3.5 wo.

Feb 08, 2010 at 01:09 PM

theSuede
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #5 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

From F/1.4 to F/2.8 I prefer the Sigma for general photography. It's better than my AIS50/1.4 (same as the AFD50/1.4) and has better small-level contrast than the 50AFS at wide apertures (inverse at smaller apertures). A good copy of this lens that functions well with your AF is probably the best overall bet. If you can take the F/2 limitation, the Zeiss F/2 macro is most probably better. But then, If you're on DX - try the Tamron 60F/2 macro... :-)

Feb 08, 2010 at 01:17 PM

jaehoppa
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #6 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

is zeiss 50mm f2 macro good for general use? aren't macro's designed for close up shots or doesn't matter?

Feb 08, 2010 at 01:32 PM

Mishu01
Online
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #7 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

It depends on the aperture. For instance:

- at f1.2 the most sharp is Nikkor 50/f1.2

because is the only working at this focal!

- at f2 the podium is shared by the same lens and Zeiss 50mm/f2 macro, followed at some distance by Sigma

- at f4 Nikkor 50/1.2 and Zeiss 50/2 still rules but Zeiss 50/1.4 come very close

Feb 08, 2010 at 01:52 PM

Jammy Straub
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #8 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

jaehoppa wrote:
is zeiss 50mm f2 macro good for general use? aren't macro's designed for close up shots or doesn't matter?

It depends on the lens, the ZF 50 f/2 looks to be an excellent all around lens. If I had the cash for one and planned on upgrading to 30-40mp FX bodies in the future, it'd be the standard lens to own.

Feb 08, 2010 at 02:15 PM

ISO1600
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #9 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

most, if not all, Nikon mount ~50mm macros are going to be amazingly sharp wide open.

a VERY good and also very cheap option would be the Nikon 50mm f2.0 AI. This lens is small, cheap, and just amazing wide open to one stop down. It takes such beautiful pictures.

Feb 08, 2010 at 02:32 PM

Gregory.Rotter
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #10 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

Nikon 50mm 1.8D;

Snap shot of my dad

This image is copyrighted by the owner

This image is copyrighted by the owner

D700, 50mm 1.8D, F1.8, 1/100th, Iso 400

Doh, I mean, for the money

Or perhaps just mine is special

Feb 08, 2010 at 02:46 PM

ISO1600
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #11 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

The 50/1.8D i had was horrible. Far worse than any 50mm f1.4 Nikkor i've owned (out of like 8 different 1.4's haha).

Feb 08, 2010 at 03:02 PM

Mishu01
Online
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #12 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

Yeah, this thread is useless without pictures...

This one is with D700, Nikkor 50mm/f1.2 at f2, 1/50s and ISO 800, in available light.

Feb 08, 2010 at 03:26 PM

froda
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #13 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

full frame or crop? it matters

Feb 08, 2010 at 09:16 PM

Mishu01
Online
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #14 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

this one is 100% crop from another image:

Feb 08, 2010 at 11:48 PM

Grognard
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #15 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

50mm f/1.4 D

This image is copyrighted by the owner

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Feb 09, 2010 at 01:59 AM

Matthew Sweet
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #16 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

Here's a few from the Sigma 50 on a D40x.

The gallery has a few more samples and the full size is available if you want to really peep.

D40x, 50mm @ F/1.4, ISO 100, 1/125 - Window gate

This image is copyrighted by the owner

This image is copyrighted by the owner

D40x, 50mm @ F/1.8, ISO 100, 1/1250 - Local coffee shop sign

This image is copyrighted by the owner

This image is copyrighted by the owner

D40x, 50mm @ F/2.0, ISO 100, 1/250 - Weathered sign

This image is copyrighted by the owner

This image is copyrighted by the owner

D40x, 50mm @ F/2.8, ISO 100, 1/100 - Light peeking through stained glass

This image is copyrighted by the owner

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Happy Hunting!

Matt

Feb 09, 2010 at 12:56 PM

Mishu01
Online
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #17 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

Oh, yeah! Your Sigma is a very good performer! The window gate looks very nice. I'd be curious to see some images in low light...

P.S. Maybe off topic... I visited your site and I saw nice pictures too. I found also that your wife has a really very "sweet" name...

Feb 09, 2010 at 01:13 PM

Chris Langer
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #18 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

I really like my Sigma 50 f/1.4. Shot open and I love it. Very sharp lens once AF is dialed in. Worth the extra dough over the Nikon

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Feb 09, 2010 at 11:39 PM

jay tieger
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #19 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

OP didn't list the 50/F2 late pre-AI Nikkor...an excellent lens.

Feb 10, 2010 at 12:17 AM

ISO1600
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #20 · which is sharpest 50mm for nikon??

yeah, but i listed the AI version, which is much easier to use since it is already AI.... and multicoated.

Feb 10, 2010 at 12:20 AM

1 2 end
FM Forums \| Nikon-mount SLRs \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 end