Excellent review. After purchasing a Z8 and Z 85mm f/.8 S, I bought a used Z50mm f/1.8 priced at $300, in the same store for its wider FOV on our first family trip, it was become my most used lens, for family and landscape photos.
I had previously shot the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 and f/1.54 G versions and the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG Art – the new Z 50mm f/1.8 S is my favorite.
steve
October 28, 2024 4:53 pm
Hi, I have searched and searched but cannot find anything published for two questions about your lens reviews.
1. What is the scale on your imatest sharpness score? What does a score of say 3900 mean? How does the imatest score relate to a mtf score of 90 or 95?
2. What is a noticeable difference in imatest scores? That is am I likely to subjectively see a difference in sharpness with score differences of 50, 100, 500?
John
March 3, 2024 7:14 pm
I love the Nifty Fifties, I.e., the 50mm f/1.8 standard lenses. They are, hands down, the most versatile primes available. I used to favor fast 35mm lenses. However, I find the Nifty Fifty is versatile enough to somewhat ‘cover’ the 35mm’s role. I now prefer to opt for a fast 28mm lens as my core wide angle optic.
Nikon really appear to have outdone themselves with this lens. It may be the cheapest of the S-line lenses, but it may well be bordering on prestige glass territory. Not bad
Thank you for all the work you do Nasim but I have a question. I know I’m late to this but looking at the charts, I’m not seeing that the Nikon is really better according to the charts. It basically betters the Sigma in a couple center comparisons but really loses out a lot on mid and outer parts of frame. In many. See my problem is that I have a D850 and Z7. I have the Sigma 50 and I thought it would be an upgrade to look at the Nikon 50. I do mainly Studio and some location. The adapter and weight is not a problem but looking at the charts losing the 1.4 and the differences in the mid frame and outer, it seems I’m taking a slight step backwards with the Nikon. Am I looking at this wrong. BTW I pretty much use the Sigma 40 most of the time and it buries both of these.
Literally no one is using appretures higher than 8 on a 50mil or any other lens than macro lenses. Why you take into consoderation the scores for that?
I’m not looking at F8. Don’t assume. Im Looking at F4 and 5.6. I take it that you don’t shoot in Studio. There are times when you have to Black the Background out and yes you do go to F8 and beyond.
Not at all true. Perhaps go back and review the basics as there are many use cases to shoot at slower apertures beyond f/8. If anything landscape photography thrives at f/11. So does lunar photography.
Jacob
March 5, 2020 8:42 am
With a 50mm 1.2 Z lens announced for later this year, I am wondering whether to get the 1.8 or to wait and compare. Does anyone already know roughly what the price and weight difference between the two is likely to be?
How is the comparisson with the z 50mm 1.4 ?
Excellent review. After purchasing a Z8 and Z 85mm f/.8 S, I bought a used Z50mm f/1.8 priced at $300, in the same store for its wider FOV on our first family trip, it was become my most used lens, for family and landscape photos.
I had previously shot the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 and f/1.54 G versions and the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG Art – the new Z 50mm f/1.8 S is my favorite.
Hi, I have searched and searched but cannot find anything published for two questions about your lens reviews.
1. What is the scale on your imatest sharpness score? What does a score of say 3900 mean? How does the imatest score relate to a mtf score of 90 or 95?
2. What is a noticeable difference in imatest scores? That is am I likely to subjectively see a difference in sharpness with score differences of 50, 100, 500?
I love the Nifty Fifties, I.e., the 50mm f/1.8 standard lenses. They are, hands down, the most versatile primes available. I used to favor fast 35mm lenses. However, I find the Nifty Fifty is versatile enough to somewhat ‘cover’ the 35mm’s role. I now prefer to opt for a fast 28mm lens as my core wide angle optic.
Nikon really appear to have outdone themselves with this lens. It may be the cheapest of the S-line lenses, but it may well be bordering on prestige glass territory. Not bad
Not bad for a $630 optic!!!
Would love to see how this compares to the z50mm 1.2 in sharpness across the board. Any plans to review that one?
Done, we just added it to the comparisons page of the review!
Why do you state the lens is plastic when it clearly has a metal focus ring and the first part of the lens is metal too?
The body is plastic. It is, however, high quality plastic, suitable for an S-line lens.
Hi and thanks for the review!
I’m curious why you chose the F mount 1.8G for comparison instead of the 1.4?
It seems like the 1.4 is the nearer target audience (and price point) to this lens. Would love to see you add some details there!
It is fair to compare two lenses with 1.8 max aperture.
The portrait images look strange, like the subject is a cardboard cutout. Maybe there is such a thing as too sharp…
I would do post-processing to soften if needed.
Thank you for all the work you do Nasim but I have a question. I know I’m late to this but looking at the charts, I’m not seeing that the Nikon is really better according to the charts. It basically betters the Sigma in a couple center comparisons but really loses out a lot on mid and outer parts of frame. In many. See my problem is that I have a D850 and Z7. I have the Sigma 50 and I thought it would be an upgrade to look at the Nikon 50. I do mainly Studio and some location. The adapter and weight is not a problem but looking at the charts losing the 1.4 and the differences in the mid frame and outer, it seems I’m taking a slight step backwards with the Nikon. Am I looking at this wrong. BTW I pretty much use the Sigma 40 most of the time and it buries both of these.
Literally no one is using appretures higher than 8 on a 50mil or any other lens than macro lenses. Why you take into consoderation the scores for that?
I’m not looking at F8. Don’t assume. Im Looking at F4 and 5.6. I take it that you don’t shoot in Studio. There are times when you have to Black the Background out and yes you do go to F8 and beyond.
Not at all true. Perhaps go back and review the basics as there are many use cases to shoot at slower apertures beyond f/8. If anything landscape photography thrives at f/11. So does lunar photography.
With a 50mm 1.2 Z lens announced for later this year, I am wondering whether to get the 1.8 or to wait and compare. Does anyone already know roughly what the price and weight difference between the two is likely to be?