Fast f/1.8, compact FX format prime (fixed focal length) lens
Optimized for FX format D SLR cameras but equally at home on any Nikon DX format D SLR, this updated classic with a fast maximum aperture is ideal for everyday shooting, perfect in low lighting situations and great for producing pictures with beautiful background blur (bokeh). The AF S 50mm f/1.8G will include Silent Wave Motor technology (SWM) for fast and exact autofocus, M/A concentrate Mode Switch for seamless changes between manual and autofocus operation and an aspherical lens element for remaining optical performance with high contrast.

323 of 329 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of five stars Review of the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G AF S versus other Nikkor 50mm AF lenses, June 16, 2011
By LGO “LG10″ (QC MM RP) See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) This review is from: Nikon 50mm f/1.8G AF S NIKKOR Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (Camera) Review of the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G AF S versus other Nikkor 50mm AF lenses

This fast review is depending on my use of this lens for nearly 3 weeks. It’s meant for those already familiar with Nikkor’s line of 50mm prime lenses but are wondering how this lens compare with the other Nikkor 50mm autofocusing lenses that I also own. I did but supply a section for beginners or novice at the last section of this review.


AGAINST THE NIKKOR f/1.8D

The Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G is somewhat bigger than the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D and a bit heavier but by a mere 31 grams, hardly obvious at all. Unlike the 50mm f/1.8D, it comes with a reversible hood which does a great job in defending and shading the lens. Unlike the 50mm f/1.8D which uses a 52mm filter, this lens uses a 58mm filter. Unlike the 50mm f/1.8D which has a maximum aperture of f/22, the maximum aperture of this lens is f/16 (as do the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D and 1/4G). As the “G” suffix indicates, the 50mm f/1.8G doesn’t have an aperture ring while the 50mm f/1.8D has an aperture ring (see notes below for the significance of this).

The new Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G is sharper and has better bokeh. The aspherical element in the new Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G has more improved the acuity of this lens specially obvious at the corners at its wide open setting. Still Nikon also improved the bokeh of this new lens versus the 50mm f/1.8D! I also noticed many slight improvement in the color and contrast, specially when shot from f/2.0 and above. Concentrate speed is decently fast and is about the same on a Nikon DX D7000 still the 50mm f/1.8G looks to be more steadily exact and considerably quieter. Priced reasonably, this 50mm f/1.8G lens also now concentrates on Nikon bodies without fitted focusing motors like the Nikon D3000, D3100, D5000, D5100, D40, and D60. Concentrate speed is decently fast. This lens is a winner by a clear margin!

As the price of the 50mm f/1.8D has risen in the recent months, the price disparity between this lens (USD$219.00) and the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D narrowed. Considering that the 50mm f/1.8G has better optical performance (sharper, better bokeh, improvement on color and contrast), has an included hood, lens pouch, plus the flexibility of being able to use this lens with all of Nikon’s dSLR, I strongly recommend anybody looking for a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 lens to decide this Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G over the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D.


AGAINST THE NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4D

The Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G is somewhat bigger than the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D but is lighter by 63 grams. Unlike the 50mm f/1.4D, it comes with a reversible hood which does a great job in defending and shading the lens. Unlike the 50mm f/1.4D which uses a 52mm filter, the 50mm f/1.8G uses a 58mm filter.

At the same aperture setting from f/1.8 and above, the new Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G is again sharper and has better bokeh. This is surprising considering that the 50mm f/1.4D is already stepped down 2/3 of a stop when these two lenses are compared at the same aperture setting. The bokeh of the 50mm f/1.8G is better! concentrate on the 50mm f/1.8G looks about the same or just a bit faster than the 50mm f/1.4D on a Nikon DX D7000 but the difference is so small as to be nearly imperceptible. Concentrate precision between these two lenses are about the same but the 50mm f/1.8G concentrates quieter than the 50mm f/1.4D.

The main benefit of the 50mm f/1.4D over this lens is mainly in it being 2/3 of a stop faster and it having an aperture ring. The former is vital for still photography while both are vital for video where 2/3 of a stop advantage and being able to manually set the aperture have a considerable affect on the last output. The 50mm f/1.4D remains nice for these. For still photography shooting at f/1.8 and above, I could decide the 50mm f/1.8G over the 50mm f/1.4D.


AGAINST THE NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G

In terms of size, this lens is about equal with the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G and also uses the same 58mm filter. The 50mm f/1.8G is lighter by 94 grams than the 50mm f/1.4G. Like the 50mm f/1.4G, it comes with a useful hood.

At the same aperture setting, the new Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G is as sharp in the center and has about the same quality of bokeh. The 1.4G of course could have a better bokeh shooting at f/1.4 and f/1.6 still than the 1.8G at f/1.8. More obvious is that the 50mm f/1.8G is sharper at the corner than the 50mm f/1.4G when shot wide open. This is surprising considering that the 50mm f/1.4G is considerably better than the 50mm f/1.4D still the 50mm f/1.8G is still a bit sharper beginning at f/1.8 but more obvious at f/2.0 in spite of the 50mm f/1.4G being already stepped down! calculated by optical performance alone, the 1.8G has a slight advantage over the 1.4G in corner acuity at f/1.8 but more so at f/2.0 and above. Color and contrast are about equal and I’m unable to see any difference between the two. It could seem that the aspherical lens element that Nikon added to the 1.8G but not to the 1.4G has made a pretty significant difference. Still Nikon also endowed this lens with excellent bokeh in spite of it being half the price. Kudos to Nikon for doing this!

In terms of concentrate precision, the 1.8G doesn’t differ much from the 1.4G on my Nikon D7000 and D3100. By concentrate speed, the 50mm f/1.8G concentrates a tad faster than the 50mm f/1.4G. Manual focusing on the 50mm f/1.4G but is simpler than on the 50mm f/1.8G. This can be an vital consideration when picking a lens for video use.

Like the 50mm f/1.4D, the main benefit of the 50mm f/1.4G is its being faster by 2/3 of a stop which may be invaluable for still photography and for video also for those aiming for the thinnest depth of field (DOF) or more light to keep the ISO setting as low as possible. For these benefits, the 50mm f/1.4G cost about double the price of this lens.

If only Nikon included nano coating and added an aspherical element into the 50mm f/1.4G to make it perform like or possibly better than the 50mm f/1.8G, then the extra cost of the 50mm f/1.4G could be easier to justify and the 1.4G could be a clear choice. But as it stands, one could decide the 1.4G when shooting at f/1.4 to f/1.6. But when shooting at f/1.8 and above, the 1.8G could be a better and also a less costly choice (at just half the price).


NOTES RE THE 50MM AND VIDEO ENABLED NIKON DSLRS:

The 1.8G like the 1.4G not has an aperture ring that the 1.8D and the 1.4D still retained. The aperture ring remains useful and useful for manual control of aperture in video more so as the current video enabled Nikon dSLRs don’t let the changing of aperture settings when video recording started. With an aperture ring, the aperture setting may be changed manually once video recording started.


ADDITIONAL NOTES holders OF THE NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G

The Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G is somewhat bigger and somewhat heavier than the Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G but the weight difference isn’t really obvious. The 50mm f/1.8G exhibit the same qualities as the Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G in that it’s usable and sharp when shot wide open. These two lenses are priced about the same. While the Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G is a DX lens, I used it with an FX body at night where the vignetting at the corners isn’t as issue as it isn’t obvious under certain light conditions. I could not but use the Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G on an FX body on daytime or where the light is . Sharpness at the corner is not good. The Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G may be used with a DX body also as with an FX with no vignetting or corner sharpness issue like I portrayed. Like the Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G, color and contrast improves considerably when this lens is stepped down a bit by 1/3 to 2/3 stop. If you own a Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G and need the field of view of this lens, to get this lens could be a no brainer.


SUMMARY

In sum, this lens is now the best Nikkor 50mm lens for general still photography when shooting from f/2.0 and above. The stellar performance of this lens paired with its comparatively low price and its capability to autofocus on Nikon’s lower model dSLRs makes it a hands down winner.

For still photography or video where every bit of light is required or where to get the thinnest DOF is crucial, the Nikkor f/1.4D and f/1.4G remains the better choice. The Nikkor f/1.4D with its aperture ring is especially useful for video with its capability to change the aperture setting through the aperture ring after video recording started. Changing the aperture setting after video recording started is now not possible with the Nikon D7000 and the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G. This circumstance makes it needed for me to own many kind of Nikkor 50mm lenses.


FOR THE NOVICE OR BEGINNER

This lens is light, compact inexpensive, but produces remarkable results. On a DX body like the Nikon D40, D60, D3000, D3100, D5000, D5100, D7000 and D300(s), this lens has a field of view of a 75mm. On an FX body like the Nikon D700, D3(s) or D3x, this lens has a field of view of a 50mm.

Despite it being a fixed focal length and not being able to zoom, I greatly recommend this lens for beginner Nikon dSLR users who own only the kit zoom lens. This prime lens is a safe, inexpensive, and exceptional path to trying out how good a prime lens may be as against zoom lens. Also, this lens lets you to shoot at low light or to blur the background of the subject of the photo. It also hints at what the professional Nikon zoom lens are able of should you get serious in this hobby. This lens is compact and easily filled in the bag for those times when a large open lens is required for shooting in low light conditions.

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43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of five stars smart Lens a review from Someone who owns both the 1.8D and 1.8G and a former owner of the 1.5G., July 13, 2011
By B. Fuller (United States) See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME) () This review is from: Nikon 50mm f/1.8G AF S NIKKOR Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (Camera) The 50 f/1.8 is a lens nearly every FX shooter should have. But, which one of these you may want to purchase is a little difficult. The D is about $80 cheaper, is smaller, lighter, has less distortion, and has manual aperture control. The D does not have auto concentrate but as of now every FX camera has an autofocus motor fitted. What the G really brings to the table is curved aperture blades, better construction, sharper corners, quieter autofocus and instant manual override concentrate.

On a DX camera it’s still a no brainer lens but not as much as on a FX. The 1.5x crop makes this a 75mm lens on a DX. Typically portrait lenses start around 85mm. So this lens, on a DX, is too long to be a normal focal length and too short to be a portrait lens. With that said, they are just generalities. At 75mm it’ll work great in a black house and great outside. In the house you may find yourself running out of room to back up. But, that can most likely help many peoples photography as one of the biggest mistakes majority of people make isn’t framing in close enough. The 35mm f1.8 DX only lens is most likely a better starting lens to get as it’s 52mm on the DX and the 50mm f1.8 a good second lens.

I used to own the f1.4G but it was stolen from me. I personally do not believe it’s worth the extra money over this. It has nine rounded aperture blades for a smother bokeh and is 2/3 stop faster but has important distortion. As well, it was shown that many manufactures have been playing with the ISO on the edges to get the f1.4. At large apertures the light hitting the edges of the sensor isn’t perpendicular to the sensor but is angled. Because digital sensors are sensitive to the direction of light, camera manufactures have been rising the ISO at the edges of the sensor to get the same total of light as the center. This causes many sound. It isn’t hugely obvious but you’re paying a premium for a somewhat worse image. But, the bokeh is nicer, you may be able to shoot a 2/3 faster in low light, and you have a shallower depth of field. If they are vital to you then the 1.4G is the way to go.

Compared to the 1.8D the 1.8G is
Bigger
Will autofocus on the cheaper bodies with no fitted auto concentrate motor (D3100 and D5100)
A little better optically in the corners but has more distortion
About $80 more expensive
Has full time access to manual focusing
7 rounded aperture blades instead of straight
Tops out at f16 instead of f22
Has quieter focus

If you have a body that has a fitted autofocus motor and you want the smallest lightest and cheapest kit then the 1.8D is a no brainer.

If you do not have the fitted autofocus motor and size isn’t an issue or you want instant capability to manually concentrate then the 1.8G is the way to go.

The 50 f1.8 is a smart lens and one of the true bargains in photography. A must for nearly every kit.

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33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of five stars A beginners point of view, July 11, 2011
By Ryan Encarnacion (Orlando, FL) See all my reviews
(REAL NAME) This review is from: Nikon 50mm f/1.8G AF S NIKKOR Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (Camera) I totally love this lens. This lens hasn’t come off my D3100 since I bought it three weeks ago. My main function for purchasing this lens was to take portrait pictures indoors of my two year old son. I found that with using the kit lens, I still had to use the flash at times with a high iso. That is when I started researching new lenses.

I chose the new 50 mm lens caused by its low light potential. This lens does such an amazing job that I haven’t used the flash at all since. It’s vital but to switch the white balance settings when moving from indoors to outdoors. I love how this lens can blur the backround, so more than the kit lens could. I firstly bought the d3100 to take better pictures than a point and shoot could, I feel that this lens has made a alike step up from the kit lens.

All in all, I can not see myself using the kit lens again. I easily got used to moving around many to take pictures, but when you are trying to concentrate in on a active two year old, you are used to doing that anyways. The investment really is worth it I believe, particularly if you are trying to catch those priceless times.

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