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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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5
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1368
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Tue July 8, 2008
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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100% of reviewers
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£181.25
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9.5
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Description:
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Even faster lens version of the classic f/1.8 50mm "Nifty Fifty"
Key Features
1. High-speed normal lens
2. Great for travel and for shooting full-length portraits in available light
3. Distortion-free images with superb resolution and colour rendition
4. Provides high-contrast images even at maximum aperture
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Keywords:
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Nikon AF 50mm f1.4 D lens Nikkor Nifty Fifty
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Author
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Matt F
Getting Comfy
Registered: November 2005
Posts: 136
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Review Date: Sat August 19, 2006
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: £190.00
| Rating: 0
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Pros:
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Super bright viewfinder, very sharp images
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Cons:
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None given that it's a fixed lens
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When you have been using a "standard" zoom (F3.5-5.6) for a while you forget just how lovely and bright the viewfinder image is when a F1.4 optic is attached. It's also very compact and seems pretty well made (for an auto-focus lens).
Then there's the performance - the fast aperature means that available light shooting is always an option and optically I'm very impressed - lovely contrast and colours and crisp images right across the frame. I've read reports that it's right up there with the infamous Zeiss 50mm F1.7 Planar.
Of course, it wasn't so long ago (before the 28-80 days) that the 50mm was the standard lens that came with your new SLR. Try this beauty and you'll wonder why this isn't still the case.
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P-E
Growing roots
Registered: August 2005
Location: Sheffield, S.Yorkshire UK
Posts: 8418
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Review Date: Mon August 21, 2006
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: £250.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Super sharp images
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Cons:
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Non
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You can expect to get super sharp images from this lens and nothing less.
My only regret was I didn't use it as much as it deserved to be used.
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VikingPhotography
Forum Regular
Registered: July 2006
Location: Just south of Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 821
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Review Date: Fri September 1, 2006
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: £240.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Compact, lightweight "go anywhere" lens
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Cons:
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75mm effective FOV on digital makes it a 'portrait' lens as opposed to a 'standard' one.
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A good versatile all-round lens that has saved my bacon during a few low-light concert shoots, where it yields excellent results wide open - as evidenced here
Needless to say accurate focusing is critical at such wide apertures and you may find that initial results are hit-and-miss.
Other than that, it's a steal for the price that it goes for and should be in the kit bag of everyone that owns and F-mount system camera 
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VinnyP
Forum Regular
Registered: February 2006
Location: Surbiton Surrey
Posts: 840
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Review Date: Sun February 11, 2007
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: £45.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Sharp as a tack, fast light.
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Cons:
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Non IF noisy focusing.
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I had one of these for a long time and made the mistake of letting it go because I thought the Sigma 30mm 1.4 would replace it. It wasn't long before I missed it so now it's back to stay. It's a great lens on a digital SLR up to at least a half height portrait. For children it's a super lens to deal with distracting backgrounds and in all circumstances it's very good in available light.
It's the smallest lightest lens I own so often gets popped in as a "just in case" lens no matter what I intend to shoot. It's lack of IF means it can be a bit noisy when focussing and that can be an issue if you are in a quiet environment but it is nothing next to a mirror thwack when actually taking the picture.
I was lucky and got a 1.4 back having decided a 1.8 was much beter value and does 95% of what this can do. The only thing I suppose is that 1.4 is there if you need it and at F2 it's already a stop down so is right in the zone. With an APS sized sensor that's not a big deal since the relative softness at 1.4 was always in the corners on film anyway.
So I would heartily recommend this lens for almost anyone but take a look at the 1.8 which is almost certainly better value and will give as good results in almost any circumstances.
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nichpr
Forum Regular
Registered: February 2007
Location: Michigan, USA
Posts: 885
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Review Date: Tue July 8, 2008
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp, great bokeh, light weight and versatile
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Cons:
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Simply put - its not a zoom
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Now that I have several months of use under my belt, I feel more convinced than ever that I should have gotten this lens sooner rather than later.
In his review above, Viking mentioned that the narrow depth of field inherent with the fast apertures this lens is capable of, may result in some disappointing results at first. As you develop an understanding of the reach and capabilities of this lens you will realize that this is the lens's strength. I have to say that for the first time in a couple of years, I feel in complete control of my depth of field and now am able to employ dof as an artistic element in my photography.
I don't find the auto focus too noisy. I often focus manually and when I do use AF it can be for action shots where noise is not a factor. Occasionally, I will rely on AF to nail the focus if I am in doubt about my ability to focus accurately in low light or if I am using a wide open aperture with narrow dof.
If you are trying to decide between the 50mm f1.4 and the 50mm f1.8 - remember the number one rule - never skimp on glass - buy the best you can afford.
Guess this form does not accept Price I Paid in dollars......Paid US $285
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