Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm F 1 4G Review | 54 Data compared

The DPReview evaluation of the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4G highlights it as a redesigned lens optimized for high-resolution full-frame sensors, offering exceptionally even image quality and superb sharpness at intermediate apertures. Key strengths include the near-total elimination of lateral chromatic aberration and a quiet Silent Wave Motor (AF-S) that brings full-time manual override and compatibility with all Nikon DSLR bodies. Conversely, the lens exhibits notable weaknesses, including slight softness and visible vignetting at the maximum f/1.4 aperture, along with lingering longitudinal chromatic aberration. Furthermore, while the AF-S motor provides improved handling, the lens surprisingly offers slower autofocus speeds compared to its predecessor, the 50mm f/1.4D, and is prone to veiling glare when shooting against strong light sources.

Ken Rockwell highlights the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-S as a versatile, low-light "secret weapon" for FX, DX, and 35mm cameras, offering exceptional center sharpness and instant manual-focus override. Featuring an 8-element design and 9-blade diaphragm, this lens excels at capturing light, effectively providing four times the speed of an f/2.8 zoom, while improving bokeh over previous models. Conversely, the review notes significant cons, including slower autofocus speeds compared to other Nikon AF-S lenses and noticeable softness, spherical aberrations, and coma when shot wide open at f/1.4. Rockwell also identifies moderate barrel distortion and criticizes the manual-focus switch labeling, which he considers poorly designed.

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G is recognized for its compact design, excellent color rendering, and creamy bokeh, offering a natural perspective ideal for portraits and street photography. When stopped down, the lens provides strong sharpness across the frame, though its older optical design lacks the performance required for high-resolution sensors. Key drawbacks include disappointing, soft image quality when shooting wide open at f/1.4, significant vignetting, and noticeable barrel distortion. Due to these performance issues and slower autofocus compared to the more affordable 50mm f/1.8G, Photography Life no longer recommends this lens, favoring options like the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art for superior wide-aperture performance.

The ePHOTOzine review highlights the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G as a well-constructed, lightweight 280g lens featuring a nine-bladed diaphragm that produces smooth bokeh, ideal for portraiture. It features a Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for quiet, full-time manual focus, and excels in accuracy, making the f/1.4 aperture usable in low light. ePHOTOzine While offering great image quality, the review notes the autofocus speed is noticeably slower than the older AF-D version. Despite this, the lens is considered a competitively priced, high-quality option. ePHOTOzine

about buying this lens, let me know: What camera body you will be pairing it with? What type of photography you shoot most often? Whether you are considering alternative lenses like the Sigma 50mm Art or the Nikon 50mm f1.8G? Technical Specifications & Guides Cameralabs·12 years ago Nikon 50mm f1.4G review - Cameralabs If you focus a bit closer you can drastically reduce the magenta fringing but at the cost of visibly lower resolution. You can also try to reduce the magenta fring... Cameralabs·12 years ago Nikon 50mm f1.4G review - Cameralabs Hofstadter's book you can also see the effect of longitudinal CA in the greenish hues of the black letters on the back of the book.... The following shot shows so... Camera Labs·12 years ago Nikon 50mm f1.4G review | Cameralabs Summary.... The most affordable f1. 4 prime from Nikon. Great image quality on DX and FX bodies. Quiet and reliable AF operation. Small and light. Weather sealing...

The Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-S Nikkor is a full-frame compatible prime lens that provides an effective 75mm field of view when mounted on DX-format sub-frame bodies. Built to offer autofocus capabilities for "screw-less" entry-level camera bodies like the D40 and D60, the lens features a weather-sealed metal mount, a nine-rounded-blade diaphragm for pleasing out-of-focus elements, and a quiet internal AF-S motor. In terms of performance, the lens delivers excellent sharpness starting at f/2.8, reaches its peak clarity around f/8, and exhibits well-optimized control over chromatic aberration and barrel distortion. However, the lens suffers from notable drawbacks when shooting wide open at its maximum f/1.4 aperture, where images become significantly soft and display severe corner shading—vignetting reaches up to 1 1/3 EV darker on full-frame sensors. Additionally, its autofocus speed is surprisingly sluggish compared to older screw-driven AF-D models and higher-end Nikon lenses, taking just over one second to rack through its entire focus range. It also lacks true macro capabilities due to a restrictive 0.15x magnification ratio and a 45 cm minimum focusing distance, while the manual focus ring lacks...

The Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4G is a lightweight, 280g standard prime lens originally released in 2008 for Nikon's F-mount system, which also operates effectively as a 75mm portrait lens on DX-format bodies. Built around a traditional optical path consisting of eight elements in seven groups, the lens lacks specialized aspherical or ED elements but benefits from a 9-blade diaphragm that improves bokeh quality over its f/1.8 counterpart. In performance testing, it yields good center-sharpness wide-open at f/1.4, which elevates to excellent levels from f/1.8 down to f/16. Autofocus is handled by a quick and whisper-quiet ring-type ultrasonic motor that allows for full-time manual override and enables autofocus operation on entry-level bodies and mirrorless systems via an adapter. The core advantages of this lens include its highly compact build, its smooth ring-type ultrasonic autofocus, and its ability to generate pleasing image quality with narrow depth-of-field capabilities. On the downside, the lens exhibits a mediocre level of corner-sharpness when shot wide-open at f/1.4, although it improves dramatically between f/2.8 and f/16. Additional disadvantages noted by reviewers are a fairly basic optical design,...

The review on Tangents concludes that the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G is the superior choice over the 50mm f/1.4G due to its significantly faster autofocus, lower price, and lighter weight, all while maintaining comparable sharpness and bokeh. While the f/1.4G offers a 2/3-stop advantage in light gathering, its slow, long-throw autofocus makes it harder to justify for most users, particularly when compared to the value-driven performance of the cheaper f/1.8G.

in english language, be very specific, mention pros and cons inside You sent: 1 tab and said: 2 paragraphs summary of this review in english language, be very specific, mention pros and cons inside Review: Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-S 2 paragraphs summary of this review in english language, be very specific, mention pros and cons inside

The DXOMARK lab testing for the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G lens, specifically evaluated on a high-resolution Nikon D800E body, yields an overall DXOMARK score of 36, positioning it as a highly capable standard prime lens. Optically, its biggest advantages are excellent light transmission, measured at 1.5 TStop, and a remarkably sharp performance of 21 P-Mpix, which unlocks the resolution potential of advanced DSLR sensors. Furthermore, chromatic aberration is tightly controlled at just 7 µm, minimizing purple fringing in high-contrast scenes, while geometric distortion is kept minimal at a manageable 0.4%. However, the review also highlights clear optical challenges, particularly regarding corner performance and peripheral light falloff. The lens suffers from notable vignetting, measuring a heavy -2.1 EV, which means photographers will notice dimmed corners when shooting wide open at f/1.4. While the lens achieves its maximum potential at f/1.4 and a 50mm focal length, real-world handling and general consensus indicate that users must stop down the aperture to achieve perfect edge-to-edge sharpness. DxOMark

The Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-S lens is a compact and lightweight prime lens that serves as a mild telephoto portrait option for DX bodies and a standard normal lens for FX full-frame cameras. Optically, it provides a clear improvement over the older "D" version when shooting wide open. Its key advantages include a rounded 9-blade aperture that delivers attractive, circular bokeh shapes, minimal lateral chromatic aberration, and a generous half-turn of focus ring rotation for highly precise manual focus adjustments. Additionally, its built-in internal autofocus motor makes it fully compatible with Nikon's lower-end consumer DSLRs. However, the lens falls short of exceptional sharpness on modern high-resolution sensors, requiring the photographer to stop down to f/5.6 to achieve peak performance across the center and corners. A notable handling drawback is its sluggish autofocus speed during large distance shifts, as Nikon prioritized focus precision over raw motor speed. Other cons include visible vignetting on FX bodies at wide apertures, modest barrel distortion under 1%, and noticeable longitudinal chromatic aberration that produces distracting green or magenta color fringes on the edges of out-of-focus...