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f4.0 at 1/2000 seconds

I am so impressed with this lens. It is fast and very sharp. I've read both on here and other forums (I like to do research before I make purchases) that it is sharpest from about f4.0 to f8.0 and my initial test would seem to agree.

For those considering this fine piece of equipment please do some homework and don't put it off any longer.

Beautiful sharp shot there John! Congrats on your new purchase!

John H,
You made me feeling of jumpimg into my car and drive to NC now!
Tack sharp, and very nice, if you have the CPL on, it should tell the big difference with the blue sky.

A note:
radar got one of the very "mint" condition of the 50/f1.4 yesterday at give away price, and it'll beat the 50/1.8 distance away.

Good shot John

Was this taken on Nobby's breakwater like the other one you posted?

Nice shot John
I would be tempted to fine tune the colour balance just a tad. Maybe select the rusty gear/invert the selection and cool the background down a tad.

Nice.

I just bought the same lens yesterday, cant wait to use it now.

Jamie

Hi John
It is the best lens for the money, light weight sharp, I had one and very happy with it.

Regards
Spada

Thanks for the comments guys.

stubbsy, the winch is near the carpark at the "dog beach" exercise area.

Matt. K, the only pp I did was a little unsharp mask in capture then resized to post. The shot is very representative of the day, fog and haze.

Jamie, you won't be disappointed. Mine has not come off since it arrived on Tuesday

Edit:

Missed your post spada, and yes you are spot on, great value.

Hi Birddog,

Birddog114 wrote:John H,
A note:
radar got one of the very "mint" condition of the 50/f1.4 yesterday at give away price, and it'll beat the 50/1.8 distance away.

That's right, got the 50mm 1.4 yesterday at the mini-meet, at a very good price, thanks Chi. Just about to download some of the images. After showing a few of pictures that this lens can take, even my wife is happy with the price , so I can't complain.

John H, I do take the dogs to that beach, so I'll have to do a similar pict to see how it compares I'll look for you with the D70 and the 50mm.

In case any of you are interested in a direct comparaison, there was a good one made on this French D70 web site (equivalent to here, but in French). He has various pictures at various f-stops on both lenses. You don't have to understand French, just look at the pictures

http://www.fotoweb.free.fr/lenstest/Nikon_50_18_VS_50_14/test_Nikon_50mm_14_VS_18.php

Looking forward to using my "new" lens even more.

Cheers,

Radar
(aka André)

radar wrote:Hi Birddog,

Birddog114 wrote:John H,
A note:
radar got one of the very "mint" condition of the 50/f1.4 yesterday at give away price, and it'll beat the 50/1.8 distance away.

That's right, got the 50mm 1.4 yesterday at the mini-meet, at a very good price, thanks Chi. Just about to download some of the images. After showing a few of pictures that this lens can take, even my wife is happy with the price , so I can't complain.

John H, I do take the dogs to that beach, so I'll have to do a similar pict to see how it compares I'll look for you with the D70 and the 50mm.

In case any of you are interested in a direct comparaison, there was a good one made on this French D70 web site (equivalent to here, but in French). He has various pictures at various f-stops on both lenses. You don't have to understand French, just look at the pictures

http://www.fotoweb.free.fr/lenstest/Nikon_50_18_VS_50_14/test_Nikon_50mm_14_VS_18.php

Looking forward to using my "new" lens even more.

Cheers,

Radar
(aka André)

I hope you get a nice bright day with perhaps a few nice clouds in the background André. A polarizer, which I currently don't own, would help make the perfect shot.

Google Translation for that page.

Sorry for the hijack but I thought I would follow on from robboh's post.... that google translation page loads all the photos again as well, so can be v-e-r-y slow.... this is the Babelfish translation of the test comparison summary only (but with some minor edits for readability only - I tried not to edit anything where I wasn't certain of the intended meaning...)

Assessment of the test:

The Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 lens cost (as at early 2005), approx 230? in HongKong (via ebay to add the VAT) compared to approx 100? for the 50mm Nikon Nikkor 1.8. The quality of construction is really different - the 1.8 is more plastic and fragile than the 1.4. The lens of the 1.4 is much larger and is inserted [set deeper??] than that of the 1.8, which shows to me at least, in a very subjective way, a more professional aspect ) I have personally appreciated the 1.8 as well during many months before making this test and reselling it thereafter for a 50 1.4. And remember, that the 1.8 - for the price of a polarizing filter - is an unbeatable price:quality ratio. It was finally - paradoxically - the pleasure gotten with the extreme luminosity of the 50 1.8 which made me plunge in the light (of the 1.4). With the passing which I have in the world of the photograph (3ans about date of writing of this test) the light (and not that of a flash) [ie the flash-less low-light capacity] is for me the most pleasing quality, although I realise that for others it will be the long focal distance, the macro report/ratio, the power of a flash, the number of méga pixel... By looking at the original photographs one can also criticize the colors of the 1.8 in favour of the 1.4, from time to time, pink spots appear on the 1.8! And I do not speak here about the bokeh légerment better on the 1.4. Accordingly, here is for the test Nikon 50mm f/1.4 VS Nikon 50mm f/1.8 your choice and good photographs

Edited to add: How rude of me.... John H., apologies, I meant to also comment on your image. The report/review above is obviously correct when it says the price:quality ratio of this lens is fantastic, and your shot only proves this. Nice clear image, and I like the bokeh in this too - retains some context but is not intrusive. Enjoy your great new lens!

Sharp as, maybe even sharper than.

Thanks again for the comments people.

cyanide, absolutely no apology necessary. This is a forum for the exchange of information and technique, the more the better.