Nikon AF 50mm f/1.4D

Nikon 50mm

There was a time when the ‘kit’ lens was a 50mm. There was a good reason for that, as it was an excellent tool to help you learn photography. Those days are long since gone now that we are in the digital era, but a 50mm lens is still worth a look as they are one of the easiest to design for optical glass companies such as Nikon and they tend to be excellent performers.

The Nikon 50mm f/1.4 is the more expensive of the two 50mm’s that Nikon is currently selling. Its down to the fact that it has a larger f/1.4 aperture of course, and relatively higher build quality. I say relatively, as although this lens is made well enough, its certainly nowhere near the same league as many of Nikon’s professional lenses.

As I said above, 50mm lenses tend to deliver very good performance and this model is no exception. It delivers quite sharp images straight from f/1.4 and by the time you get to f/4 I can’t imagine anybody having a complaint with sharpness. CA’s and especially vignetting are nothing to get too concerned about as it delivers a solid performance in each regard.

The great news for cropped sensor camera owners, is that this 50mm ends up as a great portrait lens. Compared to what a 85mm f/1.4 will cost you to shoot on a full frame camera, this 50mm f/1.4 looks like an absolute bargain. In this roll, it performs admirably as it has good centre sharpness and the bokeh is very respectable. Not in the same class as the 85mm f/1.4 of course, but then, there isn’t anything else in that class and regardless, this 50mm does a very good job. These 50mm lenses may not be the go to lens that they were in times past, but this lens is reasonably priced and delivers a great performance. What more can we ask for - well, perhaps an AF-S motor, but that will come in time and as it stands, this is a great little lens.