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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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 )
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?
)