Notices
Photography | Art Show off your artistic side! Talk about the latest gear and trends in the world of photography and fine Art here!

50mm Prime Lens: 1.4 v. 1.8

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 13, 2009 | 09:58 PM
  #1  
dphouse's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Teamspeed Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 530
dphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond repute
50mm Prime Lens: 1.4 v. 1.8

So i'm in the market for either the Nikkor 50mm Prime AF 1.4, or 1.8 aperture. There's a significant difference in price, ~ $320 v. $120. is it worth it? Is the 1.4 that much sharper and faster in low light compared to the 1.8?

Anyone with either of these lenses please chime in with your thoughts. I'll be in NY next week and will be visiting BH Photo Video to pick something up.

Thanks,
Narbeh
 
Old Apr 13, 2009 | 10:01 PM
  #2  
chrissurfr's Avatar
Teamspeed Pro
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,396
chrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond repute
no big difference....get the 1.8
 
Old Apr 13, 2009 | 10:04 PM
  #3  
Alzilla's Avatar
Teamspeed Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 31,976
From: Minnesota
Alzilla has a reputation beyond reputeAlzilla has a reputation beyond reputeAlzilla has a reputation beyond reputeAlzilla has a reputation beyond reputeAlzilla has a reputation beyond reputeAlzilla has a reputation beyond reputeAlzilla has a reputation beyond reputeAlzilla has a reputation beyond reputeAlzilla has a reputation beyond reputeAlzilla has a reputation beyond reputeAlzilla has a reputation beyond repute
Originally Posted by chrissurfr
no big difference....get the 1.8
I love my Nikkor 50 f/1.4 but Chris is right. The money you save with the 50 1.8 could be better allocated towards other, pricier lenses.
 
Old Apr 13, 2009 | 10:05 PM
  #4  
dphouse's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Teamspeed Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 530
dphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond repute
Chris, thanks for the reply. Have you used both? What are you basing your opinion on? Thanks buddy.
 
Old Apr 13, 2009 | 10:06 PM
  #5  
chrissurfr's Avatar
Teamspeed Pro
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,396
chrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond repute
I have used both and really didn't notice any difference....if you are in super low light all the time get the 1.4 though
 
Old Apr 13, 2009 | 10:08 PM
  #6  
dphouse's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Teamspeed Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 530
dphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond repute
Originally Posted by Alzilla
I love my Nikkor 50 f/1.4 but Chris is right. The money you save with the 50 1.8 could be better allocated towards other, pricier lenses.
Thx. I already have a Nikkor 18-200, so the 50mm prime will likely be my last purchase for a while. I'll play with the 1.8 tonight (my friend has one) and see how it works at night.

-ns
 
Old Apr 13, 2009 | 10:09 PM
  #7  
dphouse's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Teamspeed Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 530
dphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond repute
Originally Posted by chrissurfr
I have used both and really didn't notice any difference....if you are in super low light all the time get the 1.4 though
Not in low light much, to be honest. But when I am, I'd like to have a faster lens. Maybe the 1.8 is the way to go. I'll let you know.
 
Old Apr 13, 2009 | 10:12 PM
  #8  
chrissurfr's Avatar
Teamspeed Pro
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,396
chrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond reputechrissurfr has a reputation beyond repute
Originally Posted by dphouse
Not in low light much, to be honest. But when I am, I'd like to have a faster lens. Maybe the 1.8 is the way to go. I'll let you know.
no need to let me know....











jk haha
 
Old Apr 13, 2009 | 10:15 PM
  #9  
dphouse's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Teamspeed Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 530
dphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond reputedphouse has a reputation beyond repute
Haha...
 
Old Apr 14, 2009 | 02:10 AM
  #10  
gociggie31's Avatar
Teamspeed Cigarette Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 620
From: Blue Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Monterey and beyond
gociggie31 has much to be proud ofgociggie31 has much to be proud ofgociggie31 has much to be proud ofgociggie31 has much to be proud ofgociggie31 has much to be proud ofgociggie31 has much to be proud ofgociggie31 has much to be proud ofgociggie31 has much to be proud ofgociggie31 has much to be proud ofgociggie31 has much to be proud ofgociggie31 has much to be proud of
Originally Posted by dphouse
So i'm in the market for either the Nikkor 50mm Prime AF 1.4, or 1.8 aperture. There's a significant difference in price, ~ $320 v. $120. is it worth it? Is the 1.4 that much sharper and faster in low light compared to the 1.8?

Anyone with either of these lenses please chime in with your thoughts. I'll be in NY next week and will be visiting BH Photo Video to pick something up.

Thanks,
Narbeh

imo,
both great lens. if you are on a tight budget, the 1.8 is wonderful, but if you got the coin and need the extra stop, the 1.4 has more flexibility. Check out the below link for more info to help narrow your needs:

Nikon 50mm Lens Comparison



..
 



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:28 PM.