NIKON 50mm/f-1.4 D-series

Submitted by Reviewer (not verified) on 3 October, 2005 - 19:34.
Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
ModelB00005LENO
ProducerNikon
MediaElectronics
CatalogPhotography
AvailabilityUsually ships in 24 hours
List PriceUS$369.99
Our Price*US$329.95
*Price subject to change
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Reviews:

Rating 4.5/5 from 93 reviews
Compatibility
Rating: 5/5 (1 out of 1 think this is helpful) 2010-07-07
You stated in your description of this product that it is compatible with ALL Nikon digital SLRs. This is only partially true. The autofocus feature DOES NOT work on Camera bodies such as the Nikon D5000 which do not have an internal autofocus motor. I feel that I was misrepresented on this item. I kept the lens because it was a little cheaper and I've owned camera's that I had to focus manually but I'm not altogether happy with it.
You need to let people know that this lens is not 100% compatible.
Deciding Between the 1.4 and 1.8 50mm
Rating: 5/5 2010-06-28
After purchasing a Nikon D90 with two kit lenses (18-55mm and 55-200mm) this 50mm 1.4D lens was the first piece of glass I purchased after I realized that photography was something I cared deeply about and wanted to have the tools that matched that passion. The 50mm 1.4 lens does exactly that. However, the difference in price between the 1.4 and 1.8 is almost $300 so it's worth a little thought to decide which lens would be better. Here's some perspective gained after 6 months of shooting with the 1.4. Please keep in mind I haven't shot with the 1.8, but this is what I know about the 1.4
* The construction quality and general 'feel' of the 1.4 lens is remarkable. Compared to the kit lenses and other 50mm 1.8s, it's in another class.
* The picture quality of the 1.4 is exceptional. As with all 'fast' lenses, images don't get tack sharp until the 2.8 or 3.5 range, but the bokeh at the open apertures is stunning.
* The lens essentially sees in the dark. Open wide to 1.4 and matched with the decent noise reduction of the D90, I've captured ambient light images that would otherwise be impossible.
There's another non-tangible element involved in purchasing the 1.4, and that's the feeling you get from owning a professional-grade piece of glass. The extra money is well, well spent if you can A) afford it and B) keep from gloating around your friends who are shooting 1.8s
great lens.
Rating: 5/5 2010-06-25
This lens is amazing. If you use it for your Nikon D90, you need to realize that the outside controls really don't work. You use the internal camera FStops when programing it. The lens has to be locked on 16 for it to work. But once I figured it out, I've used this lens regularly and highly recommend it. It's great for making "bokeh" shots, too!
Excellent lens, just requires a lot of movement
Rating: 5/5 (1 out of 1 think this is helpful) 2010-04-26
I will preface this by saying I am not a pro photographer. As a matter of fact, I have only begun my trek down the path of photography. However, I have a bad (good?) habit of buying the best stuff for whatever task is at hand, which can get expensive (and man can photography equipment and accessories get expensive!) This was the first lens I purchased based on research and reviews outside of the lens that came with my Nikon D80 (which let's face it, the kit lens isn't that great.) I knew I'd need a few different lenses, as I enjoy a wide variety of shooting subjects: outdoor environments, portraits (outdoor and indoor), and various other types of shoots.

One of the things I was looking for was a flexible lens that I could shoot under low-light conditions, so aperture was important. Next I wanted to make sure I was getting a lens that could produce beautiful shots with excellent detail. The more research I did, the more this lens stood out. So I bought it, and after a lot of trial and error, I find the results with this lens are nothing short of extraordinary. When everything is dialed-in, the images this lens captures are simply amazing.

Now, the only bad thing about this lens is setting up the shot. Being a prime lens, which means there is no zoom, YOU become the zoom. You want to frame the subject? You have to move further or closer to it. Want to zoom in on it? Better start shuffling towards the object. If you're shooting models with this lens, it might be a good idea to let them know that the lens doesn't have a zoom, or you might get funny looks or make them uncomfortable by invading their space. You can always reassure them that the images it produces are worth it if you hook your camera up to an LCD screen to show them immediate results. I'm sure they'll feel good about your wandering feet when they see how gorgeous they look on a screen they can see some detail in.

I'd highly recommend this lens to anyone who wants to take pro-level shots. It makes a perfect addition to any photographer's arsenal of lenses.
Get this, not the F/1.8.
Rating: 5/5 2010-03-01
I had initially tried the 50mm f/1.8 version and hastily returned it due to its soft image characteristics at f/1.8. This lens on the other hand maintains great sharpness at f/1.8 trough f/16. While it is more expensive than the f/.1.8, it is worth the extra money if you are looking for a a lens that you can actually use at f/1.4. SWM focusing would have been nice, but the focusing on this lens is quiet and fast. I am very pleased with this gem's performance on my D300s.

Editorials:

Product Description
Fast enough for shooting in just about any type of light, this is an ideal first lens; perfect for full-length portraits, travel photography or any type of available-light shooting. The Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor lens delivers distortion-free images with superb resolution and color rendition. Accepts 52mm filters.

Features:

  • 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon DSLRs
  • Lens construction: 7 elements in 6 groups
  • Closest focusing: 0.45m/1.5 ft.
  • Accepts 52mm filters
  • Includes 52mm lens cap, rear cap