Great depth-of-field control with down to f/22 of f/stops
It is among Nikon's sharpest lenses ever. On many of the Nikon bodies we tested it on it was sharp and contrasty in the center at every aperture.It also focused very fast on all the bodies we tested it on, this you would expect on a f1.8 lens.
The only difference between this and the 50mm f/1.4 D and 50mm f/1.2 AI-s
is that the faster lenses become sharper at f/2, but all are the same
by f/4.
(Note)
This lens will not autofocus on the D40 or D40x.
Filter Threads: Plastic.
External Barrel: Plastic.
Focus Ring: Rubber-covered plastic.
Aperture Ring: Plastic.
Markings: Paint.
Lens Mount: Metal.
Internals: Seem like metal.
Noises when Shaken: Minor clicking (diaphragm blades).
Serial Number: Printed on a label which is glued into a recess on the bottom of the barrel.
I love everything about this lens except AF not supported by D40 and D60, D3000, D5000 cameras. Since I have a Nikon D5000, I need to use it manually. So for the people who have mentioned cameras should think before they buy if they will be comfortable with manual focus. Otherwise It is a great deal and great quality for the price.
This lens is very nice and great for the price. Does not work on auto with certain Nikons but doing it manually isn't that bad. Gives a nice sharp image however I found the lens a little difficult to use and understand. Also, the your view is very constricted and would not be good to use on a day to day basis in my opinion. I like my 35mm much better.
Fun little lens that's totally versatile., Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Overall rating (weighted)
4.8
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
5.0
This lens is perfect for portraits because the 1.8 aperture lets in a lot of light. It's a very versatile lens at 50mm, which makes this the perfect lens to take out on adventures when you don't want to lug around a bag full of accessories.
Just got it-It is versatile., Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Overall rating (weighted)
4.5
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
4.0
After using the Tamron 18-270 zoom, I found myself missing something. I wanted to get a macro lens, but instead found myself getting this lens and the AF-s DX 35mm F/1.8G and a set of extension tubes.
Certainly I must have been crazy going from an "ultra zoom" to this thing. But so far after just a day and a half of playing around, I've found this lens to run circles around my Tamron lens when it comes to certain shots.
Back to what makes this more versatile than the ultra zoom Tamron: - 52 mm filters are cheaper than 72 mm filters (something not to overlook) - It takes less light to get the shot. Higher shutter speeds and F stops are possible with this lens, more than the zoom lens. I don't have to set the ISO as high, so less grain with a lower ISO. - affordable. At $120 this is about a 3rd of the price of what I paid for the zoom. With an added extension tube, it was still cheaper than the zoom. - Image quality is better. The focus is sharp. So far I've found myself using this lens a Bit more than my 35mm G lens, which is also supposed to be sharp but didn't work as well with the extension tubes.) - small and light weight (this also can't be overlooked, especially if hand-held.)
This lens also has a bit of a learning curb. Being a prime, takes getting rather close to the subject to "zoom in" and stepping back to "zoom out". With the crop factor, I get a bit of working room in front of the minimum focus. (which can also be a pro, depending on the situation such as using extension tubes.) Not being able to zoom may also be a drawback in some settings like in zoos or places where you can't or not allowed to get close. It also took me a day to figure out how to get manual focusing out of this lens. On a camera with an autofocus motor, you flip the switch on the camera to switch from manual to auto. There is no switch on the lens itself.
A few drawbacks I've found: On a crop sensor camera, there is no wide angle to be had. Getting landscapes and building shots will require some playing around with composition to make it work. (you may not be able to get the full thing in the frame.) There doesn't appear to be vibration control on this lens so it may take a few shots to get one in focus, but then again even with a VC lens, there may be drawbacks of its own. I wouldn't have minded if it were to cost a little more and included the lens hood. Without it I have to be careful not to get too close to my subjects and also have to keep cleaning the filter to get rid of dust, smudges and and fingerprints. It is also not the most quiet lens to be had. But for most of my shooting, it doesn't bother me. - 7 blade bokeh (please see photo added to gallery.) Light sources may show up as heptagons which may or may not be what I want in a particular shot. But each lens is a tool, and each tool has its own use and drawbacks.
Great lens for the money BUT, Friday, 13 August 2010
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
This is a great lens for the money. I'm not going to review the lens but I would like to let you know about the free shipping. I live 3+ hours from where the lens was shipped. It took amazon close to a week to ship and it was in stock. It you want this lens in a reasonable time you need to buy local or pay the extra shipping. Amazon use to be a fast shipper but I guess times have changed.
Amazing lens! Good quality for a good price!, Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
The lens is amazing. It may not be auto-focusing, but that is not required for it to be a good lens. I have only used it very briefly so far, but have gotten some amazing photos with it. I usually do landscape and wildlife photography, but have been getting into doing studio/portrait photography recently and this lens fits that bill perfectly. With a tripod and gentle manual focusing, I have been able to take some pretty decent test photos so far. I cannot wait until I have my backdrop set up and am able to take some true portraits with it. I have no doubt they will turn out quite well.
Excellent Lens for low light situations, Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Overall rating (weighted)
4.8
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
5.0
I bought this lens as i was unhappy with the amount of soft images i was getting using the stock VR zoom lens that came with the D90.
Amazon shipping was very quick, and i had the lens 2 days after ordering it, and began snapping away. It took a little getting used to the fixed lens coming from the zoom, but nothing prepared me for the first "snap" of the shutter. It was lighting fast with natural light coming in through a window with the blinds drawn. The image was SHARP! Repeated with a few shots of inanimate objects, and few very animated objects (Dogs, baby). Very impressed with the image quality. A few soft shots, but mostly due to me moving, or the subject moving, or being in very low light conditions.
All in all a great lens for a reasonable price. Simple to carry around with it being so small, no more bulky long lens. Very happy with the purchase, and recommend this lens to all reading this review.
If any Nikon owner does not own this lens, they are being foolish! Can't beat the image quality and Bokeh for triple the price. I own the 24-70 and the 85mm f 1.4. Almost as sharp as both of these lens. For the MONEY, just get one. I believe this is a great video lens on a D90/D300s. Once you start playing with it, you will be surprised how often you will throw it on the body!
Simply stunning results. I've been using this for portraits for several months and I'm never dissapointed with the results. If you haven't got one, you're missing out.
Why should you care what I think?
My relationship with this item: I own it Where did you buy this item?: Amazon.co.uk Price paid: 104 When did you buy this item?: April 2010
Conclusions at a glance
Would you recommend this Item: Yes Pros: Sharp images, quick focus, good contrast Cons: none really
All the other 5 star reviews are absolutely right. I'm glad I listened to them. This has been a much appreciated addition to my lens collection. If you're on the fence about buying it, just buy it.
This lens is well worth the money, Tuesday, 10 August 2010
Overall rating (weighted)
3.5
Sharpness
3.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
3.0
You will never be disappointed in this lens. It's on my D-90 most of the time. I really like the focal length of it. No zoom, so you have to move around a bit, but pics are sharp. Aperture of F1.8 translates to great bokeh and excellent low light pics. My only complaint is the outside ring turns while focusing. Takes a little getting used to. This lens is very compact and light. For the money it's a no brainer. Does not have a focus motor so will not auto focus on D-40, D-60, maybe others.
beward of faulty focus mechanism, Monday, 09 August 2010
Overall rating (weighted)
1.0
Sharpness
1.0
Build Quality
1.0
AF Speed
1.0
Value for Money
1.0
Brand new from Amazon, focus mechanism faulty. Hunts back and forth, sometimes finding focus, sometimes not. Nikon quality control clearly inadequate. Returned to Amazon. Better to buy this one in a store where you can check it out on the spot. To the back of the class, Nikon.
Fantastic Nikon SLR prime lens!, Sunday, 08 August 2010
Overall rating (weighted)
3.8
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
3.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
4.0
I'm an owner of a Nikon D90 dSLR and shopping around for prime lenses for low light and portraiture work when I came across this little bargain. The 50mm f1.8 is an affordable, lightweight, compact, fast prime lens that requires Nikon SLR bodies with the built in AF screw motor, so you'll lose AF abilities if you have a D40/60/3000/5000. This lens is also FX mount compatible so if you own a full frame D700/D3 model it is a perfect little lens to have in your photography armamentum.
AF is fast and while a little noisy, produces great images with soft, creamy bokeh at full wide open apeture. 50mm in a crop sensor body will produce a 35mm focal equivalent length of 75mm so it's far from ideal for getting wide angle shots, but produces beautiful images of individuals or up close images of static objects. This is my lens of choice for shooting objects in my tabletop softbox studio altho I've used this from time to time shooting outdoors as well as well as live models. There is an FX mount 50mm f1.4 lens which maybe faster but is almost much larger and heavier by comparison. Also it costs 2-3x as much which makes this lens a bargain in comparison and even if you never consider shooting with prime lenses, this one may provide you the perfect excuse to start.
