which..? - a Nikon 50mm 1.8 Series E or 1.8 AF/AF-D lens

Yardbent

Yardbent

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John
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anybody used or compared these ...?

I know all the Series E are by default Ai-S lenses

I'm thinking of adding a 50mm to my Nikon F80 - which can also be used on my D300

I'm not concerned about AF-S
not bothered about 'D' really ( unless they are better optically)

thanks for looking
and 1.4 is too pricey....:)
 
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I have both.

Obviously the E series are cheap as chips, but IMO the AF-D is significantly better.

On the other hand, I quite like the softer look from the e.
 
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^^ +1 for what he says!
 
simon ess said:
I have both.

Obviously the E series are cheap as chips, but IMO the AF-D is significantly better.

On the other hand, I quite like the softer look from the e.
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well that's helped me decide......:):):).....:exit:
 
simon ess said:
...Obviously the E series are cheap as chips, .........
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some of the 'E' series on eBay are really pricey now
altho several months ago i lucked out on a mint as-new 100 'E' 2.8 - quite impressed with build and IQ....
 
I could let you have my e-series at a very good price, if you want it.

If so, stick a wanted post in classifieds and we can sort something out.
 
I'd say that the D does, perhaps offer improved results optically over the E series lenses but something to bear in mind is that those differences have only really been noticable by me when I've used them on digital bodies.

With film bodies, the film is naturally developed / processed and then usually scanned to a dgital file ( in my case, at home by me) ..........the weak point in the IQ is always the scanning.

If drum scanned by a lab then pretty much the results are generally, although not always, an improvement than what can be achieved by a flatbed scanner.

The point I'm making is that if you intend to use the lens predominantly on a film body then depending on budget, the E series may serve you perfectly well as by the time the negs are scanned to a positive image, the likelyhood is there will be little difference to see between the same shot taken with the D lens or E lens.......unless of course you're an obsessive pixel peeper :p

Personally I don't follow the often generalised view that E series lenses were for the "poor man" and as such they are carp ......They are perfectly capable of producing decent results in the same way certain togs are more capable than others at producing good photographs ....Gear is an important area to consider, but the skills,( or lack of!) , of the tog and the lab can easily turn an expensive camera like a Hassy or Leica image into a load of carp!!

!
 
Being afflicted with pretty bad GAS, I've been tempted to "upgrade" my old AF 50mm f/1.8 for a newer f/1.4 versions. I've been talked out of it by 2 different SALES persons who reckon the old AF (pre D) is sharper than the modern f/1.4 versions at all apertures but (obviously!) can't do f/1.4. Both your bodies can handle screw driven AF lenses.
 
IQ of a lens is very often maintained by the structure of the body. 'E' series lens were large volume produced to a price which resulted in a lens that was reasonable when new. The years (of abuse?) would be kinder to a 'D' series against the less robust build of an 'E' series.

'E' series kit was generally used by kids and lesser mortals who wouldn't necessarily have known how to 'be kind' to photographic paraphernalia!
 
chuckles said:
IQ of a lens is very often maintained by the structure of the body. 'E' series lens were large volume produced to a price which resulted in a lens that was reasonable when new. The years (of abuse?) would be kinder to a 'D' series against the less robust build of an 'E' series.

'E' series kit was generally used by kids and lesser mortals who wouldn't necessarily have known how to 'be kind' to photographic paraphernalia!
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So potentially if one finds an E series lens in good condition, then the chances are it could work out to be a "bargain" buy.

Just to add to what i mentioned above, there is always the good / bad copies of lenses ..... I wouldn't say that I've ever been unfortuanate to pick up a "bad" copy but without doubt 2 identical lenses won't necessarily offer the exact same results ( even under lab conditions)

If the OP finds a decent copy of an E lens then imo he's onto a winner!

I have "good copies", both pin sharp, E and D versions of the 50mm but for the mo, I'm hanging onto 'em;):D
 
Asha said:
I'd say that the D does, perhaps offer improved results optically over the E series lenses but ... only really been noticable by me when I've used them on digital bodies....
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thank you for that information...:thumbs:
 
chuckles said:
.......'E' series kit was generally used by kids and lesser mortals who wouldn't necessarily have known how to 'be kind' to photographic paraphernalia!
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could be - guess i got 'lucky' with my 100mm 2.8 E which is 'as-new'........very impressed by the IQ
 
I have both (well kinda, I have the 50mm f1.8 pancake which looks exactly the same as the E series). Side my side I don't think I could tell the difference in the images.
 
I bought an AF-D in mint condition for £55 and at that price it's hard to justify anything else as better VFM. Its autofocus is good, nearly excellent in fact. It's as sharp as the combination of my sensor resolution and my abilities can take advantage of.

Getting an older lens which might not focus as quickly (or be manual focus) or a newer lens at 50% more money (or higher still) is only worth it if there's something this lens simply won't do what you want well enough. Having come from a Pentax 50mm f/1.8 which was nowhere near as sharp as this one, I can confirm that some lenses just don't cut the mustard but this ain't one of them.

To be honest, at the prices these lenses go for, you could pick up a Series E and an AF-D, try them and then re-sell the one you don't like as much for next to no loss. And still have a great value lens which you KNOW is the right one for you :)
 
Just want to check you are aware that the F80 won't meter with AIS lenses which tends to make the AF lens a better choice? Don't have any Series E lenses in my collection but fancy the 75-150 which is supposed to be quite something.
 
Had an e series lens but think it was a 24mm. Also used a 50mm 1,8D on my old F80 too. I don't think you can go wrong with the D, I sold mine for around £55 so a bargain, and it will AF too which personally I prefer.
 
DNH said:
Just want to check you are aware that the F80 won't meter with AIS lenses which tends to make the AF lens a better choice? ...............
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THANKS for that info
lens compatibility is a minefield innit....:(
 
i think they are both the same optically .6 in 5. the e series bodies may be a bit more fragile tho. ive got them both and cant tell the difference between them .
 
With the AF/AF-D, you get metering and autofocus with your F80, and metering and autofocus with your D300.

With the E, you get no metering and no autofocus with your F80, and metering (aperture-priority and manual only) and no autofocus with your D300.

Buy the AF!
 
freecom2 said:
......., and metering (aperture-priority and manual only) and no autofocus with your D300..................Buy the AF!....
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yep - tried my 100/2.8 'E' on the D300 and agree
the wee green focus confirm light works too

OK OK.. .........................just bought a 50/1.8 AF non-D.......:)

need some sunny landscape weather now instead of this- after i cut the lawn
 
I have the 50mm f1.8 G AF-S lens on my F80 most of the time and it is a gem....and it focuses faster than the D lens I would say. Might be worth considering that if also to be used on a digital body at some time (esp one without a focus motor in the body). However if the AF performance is of no concern, then the cheaper D is a better bet (some slight differences optically, swings and roundabouts probably), or perhaps an AI or AI-S which are probably no better optically, but better made and much more pleasant to use than all the other options IMO.
 
The E series 1.8 is very capable but I would save a bit more and have the Nikkor F1.4 it is available for very little in the real world and is a class of its own.
It just takes lovely pictures. I recently shifted some of my older stuff and sold my F1.4 for very reasonable money on ebay.

I have kept my F2 with its 50mm F1.4
 
I have the E series 50mm and the Nikkor 50mm from the same time period and their is no optical difference in them, both soft as s*** at 1.8 and sharp from 2.8 onwards. Get the modern equivalent.
 
There are not many bad 50mms for sharpness and IMO would have to go well over 10 X 8 to see the difference between them all (not bottle glass ones)....the main difference would be copy variation, bokeh, contrast and of course micro contrast and more chance of pop, some say colours (me) and so on
 
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Asha said:
..........................
The point I'm making is that if you intend to use the lens predominantly on a film body then depending on budget, the E series may serve you perfectly well as by the time the negs are scanned to a positive image, the likelyhood is there will be little difference to see between the same shot taken with the D lens or E lens.......................!
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UPDATE

well I now have a Series 'E' 50mm/1.8.. a very nice lens and suits my Nikon EM perfectly. Have yet to run a film through...:(
on the D300 - apart from the metering and AF shortcomings - I found it too 'long'

also bought a 50/1.8 AF...disaster - with sticking shutter and oil residue on the blades and rear element
see my thread --- it's on its way back to eBay for an agreed full refund
https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/possible-oil-on-shutter-bades.624280/

so -- using my 18-70mm DX set at 35mm on the D300 I can see a more workable FOV = to the EM + 50mm 'E'
all my [cheaper] zooms are f3.5 and up ...:(......... so I'm thinking the ubiquitous AF-S 35mm/1.8 DX is my next purchase for the D300

thanks for all the comments......................john
 
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Going off on a digital tangent, the 35mm DX is a fantastic lens. Fast to focus, with excellent image quality (even wide open). They are available second hand for an absolute bargain - highly recommended.
 
freecom2 said:
Going off on a digital tangent, the 35mm DX is a fantastic lens. Fast to focus, with excellent image quality (even wide open). They are available second hand for an absolute bargain - highly recommended.
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+1, its only lens I use on my D3100 on the rare occasions I'm shooting digital.
 
freecom2 said:
Going off on a digital tangent, the 35mm DX is a fantastic lens. Fast to focus, with excellent image quality (even wide open). They are available second hand for an absolute bargain - highly recommended.
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OK
looking for an absolute bargain.....:) in Classifieds

wotcha got.?
 
Yardbent said:
OK
looking for an absolute bargain.....:) in Classifieds
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I sold mine for £80 + RMSD (£8.55 at the time) on eBay about a year ago - boxed, excellent sample. I no longer shoot Nikon digital (only Fuji X), but assuming the prices are still below £100, the lens still represents an excellent purchase. I learnt all my photography with that lens and a D40 - happy days.
 
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