I've been considering this lens recently as I would like something that has a lot of "character". I have never shot a 58mm prime, but I have shot a 50mm 1.8g. I liked the lens, but felt it just wasn't anything special. I didnt mind the focal length, I think, so not sure how much difference 8mm would make. I did really like my 85mm 1.8G as it was the sharpest lens I have ever shot, albeit kind of "clinical" rendering too. And I do love the 85mm focal length.
I dont have the ability to test out the 58mm focal length for a day or two (as in grab a zoom and just see if the focal length works) as my lens was stolen, so I have to head into this blind (or rent). Thinking maybe a 28 G and the 58G would compliment my 70-200 VR II quite well. Thoughts?
myboostedgst wrote:
I've been considering this lens recently as I would like something that has a lot of "character". I have never shot a 58mm prime, but I have shot a 50mm 1.8g. I liked the lens, but felt it just wasn't anything special. I didnt mind the focal length, I think, so not sure how much difference 8mm would make. I did really like my 85mm 1.8G as it was the sharpest lens I have ever shot, albeit kind of "clinical" rendering too. And I do love the 85mm focal length.
I dont have the ability to test out the 58mm focal length for a day or two (as in grab a zoom and just see if the focal length works) as my lens was stolen, so I have to head into this blind (or rent). Thinking maybe a 28 G and the 58G would compliment my 70-200 VR II quite well. Thoughts?...Show more →
It compliments REAL well.
I pair my 28G + 58G during the prime shoot and 24-70mm + 70-200mm during the zoom times.
I will pair my 28/58/105 once I get the new 105mm f/1.4E, that will be a bomb setup!
myboostedgst wrote:
I've been considering this lens recently as I would like something that has a lot of "character". I have never shot a 58mm prime, but I have shot a 50mm 1.8g. I liked the lens, but felt it just wasn't anything special. I didnt mind the focal length, I think, so not sure how much difference 8mm would make. I did really like my 85mm 1.8G as it was the sharpest lens I have ever shot, albeit kind of "clinical" rendering too. And I do love the 85mm focal length.
I dont have the ability to test out the 58mm focal length for a day or two (as in grab a zoom and just see if the focal length works) as my lens was stolen, so I have to head into this blind (or rent). Thinking maybe a 28 G and the 58G would compliment my 70-200 VR II quite well. Thoughts?...Show more →
I lurked for ages around this thread drooling over the spectacular images posted by Joe Marquez, Elijah, Hardcore, Jason_Brook and nextelbuddy to name but a few. I've had various 50s over the years - 1.8D, 1.4G, 1.4D, 1.8G plus a couple of manual focus versions. The 1.4D had the best rendering, 1.8G was the sharpest, but I just didn't seem to gel with that focal length.
The 58 is a very different beast. The slightly longer focal length gives a different look and the rendering is sublime. This lens begs to be shot wide open. The real magic happens between f/1.4 and f/2. Beyond f/2 it doesn't look all that different to other similar lenses IMO. Many claim it's soft wide open - it's not. You need to fine tune precisely. DoF is wafer-thin. Apparently much thinner than you would expect @ 58 and f/1.4. It exhibits a slightly soft, almost ethereal look at MFD as well. It's superb for portraits close in and when you take a few steps back, the way it separates subject from background is so 3-dimensional it makes you think Nikon sprinkled some kind of magic dust on this lens.
It takes patience and perseverence to truly learn to use it properly - lots of guys have bought and sold and bought it again. After 2 months' use I'm finally getting my head around it and loving the results. The wedding I shot on Friday was over 60% 58mm shots... Lots of 28, a few 85 (soon to be 105) and a few with other lengths (70-200, 20G).
20/28/58/105/70-200 is where I'm heading!
Buy one, grab some ND filters, get your head around HSS flash and don't look back!
Finally got my 58 1,4G lens and after one day testing I'm loving what I see. It's an amazing lens and i never seen such a beautiful color rendering from any other lens. I have all trinity Nikon lenses and my favorite prime lenses - 24 1,4G; 58 1,4G; 85 1,4G; (pre ordered 105 1,4) and 200 f2 VRII.
gfinlayson wrote:
I lurked for ages around this thread drooling over the spectacular images posted by Joe Marquez, Elijah, Hardcore, Jason_Brook and nextelbuddy to name but a few. I've had various 50s over the years - 1.8D, 1.4G, 1.4D, 1.8G plus a couple of manual focus versions. The 1.4D had the best rendering, 1.8G was the sharpest, but I just didn't seem to gel with that focal length.
The 58 is a very different beast. The slightly longer focal length gives a different look and the rendering is sublime. This lens begs to be shot wide open. The real magic happens between f/1.4 and f/2. Beyond f/2 it doesn't look all that different to other similar lenses IMO. Many claim it's soft wide open - it's not. You need to fine tune precisely. DoF is wafer-thin. Apparently much thinner than you would expect @ 58 and f/1.4. It exhibits a slightly soft, almost ethereal look at MFD as well. It's superb for portraits close in and when you take a few steps back, the way it separates subject from background is so 3-dimensional it makes you think Nikon sprinkled some kind of magic dust on this lens.
It takes patience and perseverence to truly learn to use it properly - lots of guys have bought and sold and bought it again. After 2 months' use I'm finally getting my head around it and loving the results. The wedding I shot on Friday was over 60% 58mm shots... Lots of 28, a few 85 (soon to be 105) and a few with other lengths (70-200, 20G).
20/28/58/105/70-200 is where I'm heading!
Buy one, grab some ND filters, get your head around HSS flash and don't look back! ...Show more →
Great post. I think having a 24-70 is going to be the route I need to take. Too useful for one important aspect of my shooting. But maybe I can add the 58mm to that after a little while. I do think I will rent it this fall though and try it out once or twice. My only concern is 58mm being a little long in hotel rooms for boudoir shoots. That's one of the instances where the zoom comes in handy.
One from a series I took at a Fantasy event a week ago
The clothes and look remind me of a 19th century portrait, and the exceptional IQ of the 58mm wide open, combined with the shallow DoF make it my favorite.
Processed in Nikon NX2 only (including BW conversion and sepia tone), sharpening locally on the eyes only
