Sharp, cheap Nikkor

[Deleted]

Nikon is known for building some really good lenses. Unfortunately, those super lenses are as expensive as they are sharp. One exception to that rule is the 50mm f/1.8 Nikkor. The 50mm 1.8 carried on a tradition that dates back to the first manual focus version which appeared when the Nikon FM was introduced at leas 30 years ago. You can often find an AF version of the lens used for around $100 and a brand new one isn't much higher. The 50mm f/1,8 probably has cost Nikon a lot of sales for their 50mm f/1.4 which costs A LOT more, isn't that much faster--especially the way DSLRs handle low light, and the f/1.8 is much more compact and lighter.

I shot this picture of our granddaughter with an 50mm f/1.8 Nikkor while we were attending her older sister's graduation from kindergarten. I think I was shooting at ISO 400 at f.4.5. I'll bet the parents and grandparents who relied on the cameras built into their cell phones to record the event didn't get any images this sharp.

Wayne

[PeterW]

Wayne, that is so sharp it bites.

PeterW

[vintageslrs]

Ditto....what PerterW said!

Beautiful!

Bob

[Deleted]

Thanks.

I don't shoot with the f/1.8 too much. On a DSLR you get about the same coverage you would get with a 75mm lens on a film camera. But sometimes I'll use it because that extra stop or so below an f/2.8 lens can help.

BTW: The photo wasn't sharpened at all in post processing.

W.

[daveh]

Perfectly focused on the eyes - nothing else really matters (in terms of focus). The outstretched arm leads the viewer's eye in nicely.


I notice someone in the background appears to have a decent camera too.

[Deleted]

I think it was a Canon Rebel

[photax]

Hi Wayne,

This is truly a sharp picture and by the way a lovely model. I had the 50mm/1.4 in use on a Nikon EM some years, but handed it over to my son. One of the best lenses i ever used

MIK

[seele]

While I do not use my Nikon kit too often (as I prefer some other brands in more cases) the only 50mm Nikkor I have is an old 50/2 HC, factory Ai converted. It works well, and at times I wonder how it compares against the later 50/1.8. Last time I look the long helicoid and short helicoid ones are about the same price, on the used market. While not being outrageously costly I do not think the expenditure would be justified by its extra performance - if there be any - over the HC.

By the way I also wonder about how the long-helicoid 50/1.8 fares against the Pancolar. This I might never be able to find out!