p.1 #1 · Is there a decent AF 50mm for the F bayonet?
Always wondered why Nikon never updated the 50/1.4G, maybe they were already aiming at the Z mount but I wonder what D-SLR shooters use as a good fifty onepointfour, the Sigma is a 50 in the body of a 135, the Zeiss are MF, same goes for Cosina Voightwhatever.
Back in time I got the 60G but it's not a 50 and it's f2.8, got the 58G, amazing lens but big and not easy to use or for everyday's shooting.
p.1 #3 · Is there a decent AF 50mm for the F bayonet?
I had the 1.8G for a long time. It does everything it says on the box. The Phil Reeve article above is on the screws.
I don't think Nikon put much effort into their 50s back then, as most used the 24-70G 2.8 on higher end cameras and had a fast 50 for low-light backup, just in case 2.8 was too slow or you broke your zoom. You needed a 1000g lens on a 1500g body. The 58G being something of an exception, and a bit niche as a character lens with an emphasis on portraits.
Shooting manual focus lenses on DSLRs isn't great - poor focus aids.
p.1 #5 · Is there a decent AF 50mm for the F bayonet?
I was always pleased with the 50/1.8G, mostly using it from f/2.8-f/8, rarely close up. It was an excellent compromise for the weight, size, and cost. The 1.4g was a soft mess by comparison, maybe a nice portrait lens if that was your bag. The Sigma is great, but if going huge, their 40/1.4 is even better.
p.1 #6 · Is there a decent AF 50mm for the F bayonet?
Is there some reason to need an F-mount DSLR in 2026? Try the Sigma or get a Z body to access modern, short-backfocus lens designs. The Z7 II is just what is needed for fine 50mm images.
p.1 #7 · Is there a decent AF 50mm for the F bayonet?
Once upon a time, I bought a new 50 1.4G. I was unhappy enough to return it for a different copy, which turned out to be no better, so I returned it for a refund. The problems I had were mainly difficulties with autofocus. If I tuned it for one distance it got worse at another. These are the only two Nikon lenses I’ve ever returned in 30 years. The 50 1.8G wasn’t a perfect lens, but it’s good for its price class and worked a lot better for me than the 1.4. Years later I added a 58 1.4G, which has its own idiosyncrasies, but at least it offers something interesting (if not spectacular, even) in return for the trouble. I also own the 50 1.8D which is decent. Somehow I never tried the 1.4D, probably because when it was current, I was constrained by financial considerations.
Of course the mirrorless Z lenses are an entirely different kettle of fish, but that’s another topic.
p.1 #8 · Is there a decent AF 50mm for the F bayonet?
Tokina’s 50mm f/1.4 Opera is another F-mount option, although it is, surprisingly, larger and heavier than the Sigma 50mm Art. The Tokina is supposedly a great lens, but it was never very popular…
I will echo everyone else and say Nikon’s 50mm f/1.8 is really the only choice in F-mount for an autofocus 50 that is optically decent and a reasonable size.
I did not find the f/1.4 G to be THAT terrible as long as you set your expectations accordingly, but it certainly falls far short of what we consider a sharp modern optic these days. I like it better on Z mount (with FTZ) as it focuses far more accurately than any DSLR ever managed. I think some of the f/1.4’s poor reputation stems from subpar focus accuracy inherent in the lens itself, amplified by DSLR AF limitations.
p.1 #9 · Is there a decent AF 50mm for the F bayonet?
The Nikon 50mm 1.4G is a fairly small and light weight lens. I don't think there's any other 50/1.4 with better optic at that size and weight, and still offers AF, across any mount. Modern 50/1.4 have gone much larger and heavier in favor to optical quality.
p.1 #12 · Is there a decent AF 50mm for the F bayonet?
58 1.4G or Sigma Art 50 1.4 if you want something sharp at or near wide open. 50 1.8G doesn’t start to sharpen up until f2.8-4, and the 50 1.4G is about the same. If you found the 58 1.4G too heavy wide then the Sigma is definitely too heavy. 58 1.4G on the D850 is beautifully balanced though, and the lens flare when shooting against backlit light sources is gorgeous
p.1 #13 · Is there a decent AF 50mm for the F bayonet?
The 50/1.8G, which contains an aspherical element, is good if you get a good one, so to speak. I think a lot of them are decentered. Nikon fixed mine for this under warranty. The field flatness is quirky, mildly sombrero shaped and that is the main issue with shooting wide open. The Z-mount 50/1.8 is quite noticeably better, however.
The higher-end Sigma 50/1.4 ART and Nikkor 58/1.4G are flatter of field, with the Nikkor favoring tones and smooth focus transitions over resolution for portrait-rendering -- I don't think it's as sharp as the 1.8G -- and the substantially sharper Sigma being a more highly corrected and resolution-focused flat-field lens like the 1.2 and 1.8 Z mount Nikkors. I'd be curious to see a closer comparison of the 58G with the 50/1.4Z in terms of bokeh and transitions, but like the Z 50/1.8 very much.
I think the 1.4G F mount 50 focuses more slowly than the 1.8G. The same was true of the AF-D and original AF models as well.
p.1 #14 · Is there a decent AF 50mm for the F bayonet?
EB-1 wrote:
Is there some reason to need an F-mount DSLR in 2026? Try the Sigma or get a Z body to access modern, short-backfocus lens designs. The Z7 II is just what is needed for fine 50mm images.
EBH
Since you can reply I give for granted you can read, I own and use Z6II and Z8 and got a few lenses, there must be a reason if I ask about an F bayonet one, don't you think?
p.1 #15 · Is there a decent AF 50mm for the F bayonet?
chatcher wrote:
Once upon a time, I bought a new 50 1.4G. I was unhappy enough to return it for a different copy, which turned out to be no better, so I returned it for a refund. The problems I had were mainly difficulties with autofocus. If I tuned it for one distance it got worse at another. These are the only two Nikon lenses I’ve ever returned in 30 years. The 50 1.8G wasn’t a perfect lens, but it’s good for its price class and worked a lot better for me than the 1.4. Years later I added a 58 1.4G, which has its own idiosyncrasies, but at least it offers something interesting (if not spectacular, even) in return for the trouble. I also own the 50 1.8D which is decent. Somehow I never tried the 1.4D, probably because when it was current, I was constrained by financial considerations.
Of course the mirrorless Z lenses are an entirely different kettle of fish, but that’s another topic. ...Show more →
I had the 50/1.4D which on a DX body was good, small, not sharp but somehow it did it back in time, unfortunately it became unusable on FF, never tried the f1.8 version but if I could I'd go f1.4, not expecting it to be that small but not even like the Sigma Art.
I own and use the 58G, again, not an everyday's lens, it is very particular especially when shot wide open and too big for casual shooting.
I own the Z poor's 50, the f1.8S and it is very good but, again, not an F mount and not properly small.
p.1 #18 · Is there a decent AF 50mm for the F bayonet?
fjablo wrote:
Imo best compromise of performance and size is the AF-D 50mm f1.4 shot at f2 (or more stopped down of course).
The 50mm f1.8G is also nice but significantly larger. I‘d also stop that one down 1/3 - 2/3 of a stop.
Don’t expect 50mm 1.8S from either of these.
Imo the F-mount fifties are „sharp enough“. I‘d rather check if the bokeh is to your liking.
I had the 50/1.4D, back in time on a Fuji S5Pro, corners cropped by the DX sensor it was meh, soft also in the center, once you stop down it gets better but never sharp, it was probably decent on film but on digital I got very happy when I got rid of it.
p.1 #19 · Is there a decent AF 50mm for the F bayonet?
ahinesdesign wrote:
Tokina’s 50mm f/1.4 Opera is another F-mount option, although it is, surprisingly, larger and heavier than the Sigma 50mm Art. The Tokina is supposedly a great lens, but it was never very popular.
+1 on the Tokina Opera. I had the 50mm 1.8G and wasn't happy with it. Read the Tokina reviews and took a chance on it. I opted for it over the Sigma because it is a newer lens design than the Sigma.
Very happy with the purchase. It's heavy but the focus, feel, sharpness and rendering are all top of the line.
The 58G being something of an exception, and a bit niche as a character lens with an emphasis on portraits.