f1.8 or f1.4 and around £100 difference?

bywhacky

bywhacky

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Liz
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Gosh it gets so confusing - the more you read and research the worse the headache gets.

I am currently looking for a 50mm prime for my D5200 and cannot decide let between these too (so far)

Nikon 50mm f1.8 afs

or
Nikon f1.4 g 50mm af-s

mainly for portrait work and of course depth of feild I am also interested to know if anyone has used either of the above with a reversing ring for macro shots
 
I'd say it's worth an extra £100 but in other lenses such as the 85mm 'g' you could pay up to £600 difference... this, I don't think is worth it.

You should be aware that the 50mm afs 1.8 is both sharper and faster than the 1.4g
 
I'd say save the £100 and get the f1.8 or put the extra for the 85mm f1.8g, highly unlikely you will use f1.4 for portraits, not unless you just want the eye lash's in focus and everything else a blur.
 
they both good lenses. is it worth extra £100??? hmmm... depends on your wallet and how often you will be using @1.4? I had them both, not anymore... got samyang 85mm 1.4 instead. Never used them with with reverse ring too, but used 35mm 1.8 and it's ok, focusing very difficult. Also you need to keep aperture lever open with your finger, as G versions doesn't have aperture ring (older D version has) :)
 
For studio portraits, I don't think the 1.4 is required. However, when I'm doing portraits in low light conditions I use 1.4 all the time.
 
I use canon so not much help on the choosing of the Nikon lens but I shoot my 50mm stopped down to f2.2-f2.8 as that's where its sharpest so unless you are going to be shooting wide open every tine you use it then I dont think the 100quid extra is justifiable.

You'll still get nice dof with either.

Nick
 
Get the 1.8, enjoy it, if you really feel you need to move to 1.4, do so in the knowledge that you'll recoup most of the money for the 1.8. If you don't, feel the need, then you've saved a ton.
 
I shoot Canon so I can't directly give you any good advice, but I had the Canon 50 f1.8 and the build quality wasn't too great and mine wasn't too sharp until it was stopped down to f2.8. I decided to go for a Canon 50 f1.4 when one came up second hand at a decent price and the difference was amazing. Mine's sharp at f1.4 and like a razor at f2.8 and the build quality is far better. I've had no problems at all with it and it's been used for most of my indoor portraits. The price difference was around £150 and not £100 like the lenses you're looking into but, for me anyway, it was well worth the extra outlay.
 
I would say go for the 1.4, it gives you more leeway in low light and also allows you to stop down a stop or two and still have a fast aperture.

My brothers tried a reversing ring with both those and it worked ok for him, but he said using extension tubes was a better experience.
 
I went for the f1.4 when I had the same decision to make, one of the main things I like is that it feels far better built than the f1.8 and I'd rather have the choice to go to f1.4 if I need to.

All depends how tight money is but if you can afford it I'd go for it.
 
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