f/1.8 and f/1.4 50mm lenses?

[shiroutsuki]

OK so I'm still a major greenhorn and was wondering if there was a huge difference between the two lenses when it comes to using them because the f/1.4 50mm lenses are well over $400 more than the f/1.8 50mm lenses... well, thing is the f/1.4 50mm lenses have the AF-S whereas the f/1.8 50mm lenses only have the AF function, so I'm confused as to whether that makes a huge difference either. :P

Thanks you!

[TheMoons678]

Originally Posted by shiroutsuki

OK so I'm still a major greenhorn and was wondering if there was a huge difference between the two lenses when it comes to using them because the f/1.4 50mm lenses are well over $400 more than the f/1.8 50mm lenses... well, thing is the f/1.4 50mm lenses have the AF-S whereas the f/1.8 50mm lenses only have the AF function, so I'm confused as to whether that makes a huge difference either. :P

AF lenses do not have their own motors to drive the auto-focus, so you need a camera body with one (all nikon DSLR except D40, 40X, 60, 3000, 5000). AF-S lenses have their own motor.

Ken rockwell does a good job explaining the difference between the 1.4 AF/AF-S here: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/50mm-f14-afs.htm

Choosing which lens all depends on you. What equipment do you already own, and what type of photography interests you?

Soon after I got my first DSLR (a used Nikon D60) I bought a 50mm f/1.8 AF. Not being able to autofocus a toddler on the run made me feel pretty limited with my camera body, so I went to a D80. The 50mm 1.8 AF really became my favorite lens as a hobbyist and I've owned all 3 models (the 2 early non-D versions, and I currently use the D version). It's a great lens to learn with and facilitates creativity.

I also have the 50mm 1.4 AF, but am selling it because I'd rather invest in other equipment that will help broaden my skills. If you have your first camera body with the kit lens it came with, I'd probably first look at the pictures you are taking right now and ask yourself what you want to improve the most. That normally dictates where you want to spend your money on lens/equipment upgrades. If money isnt an issue, go with the 1.4 AF or even AF-S. However, by the time you really learn to use it well, you may wish you had gone with a 35mm, or 85mm or 105mm prime. For that reason, I suggest going with a used 50mm f/1.8 for under $100. They hold their value extremely well and you can essentially rent it indefinitely for free.

As a college student with limited funds, I now am leaning more towards trying to master my equipment before I trade it in. I still find myself thinking "if only I had this lens, my pictures would be so great." And then I see pictures from people who have the same equipment as I do, and I realize that I still have a long way to go. It's pretty much the only thing that fights off lens-lust for me.

[ravncat]

The main differences, are as you mentioned - AF and Aperture.

As in the above comment, the camera you have makes a difference, the older AF-d type lenses (50 1.4 and 1.8) require a camera with a focus motor. If you don't have one, the newer 50 1.4 afs may be a better choice, because of autofocus.

As for the performance and the difference between 1.8 and 1.4? it matters if you are pursuing very low light shots - but if that is the case - you'll probably invest in a 50 1.2. In photography, you'll find the 80/20 rule in full effect - an 80% price difference for a 20% performance difference.

There's not alot of performance difference between the 50 1.8 and 50 1.4. There is, a difference, but it is "small". Like two wines, a wine connoisseur will find that small difference to be more meaningful. There is a difference in how the out of focus area is rendered,(bokeh) as well as differences in sharpness and vingetting at the wider end of the aperture, and of course, a bit more light at 1.4.

If that difference is worth 300 dollars to you however - is a much more personal choice. It was worth it for me, but not for a good photographer buddy of mine. (some people would even pay that much just to have af-s over the older af type.) When you stop the two lenses down - say to 5.6 or so - the differences seem to evaporate, by f11 they're practically the same. It depends alot on your personal shooting style, and what you like to shoot.

You can feel perfectly safe with whichever choice you make - just be sure that you are aware of AF compatibility - it would suck to buy a lens you can't AF with, without knowing you can't AF. So, double check your camera model with the list in the comment above.

[shiroutsuki]

OK now I really understand the AF and AF-S thing...
I have the D3000, so I tried using the MF function on my lenses, used the diopter adjustment, but I just can't seem to focus using MF. D: I would actually like to the get the f/1.8 50mm lenses, but I need help using MF... any tips? $:

If I can't get a hang of using MF, well...
I'm stuck between the choices of the 35mm and the 50mm AF-S lenses as they're both standard lenses and the only difference is pretty much their 'range', so any tips there either? :P

Thanks! DD

[TheMoons678]

Originally Posted by shiroutsuki

OK now I really understand the AF and AF-S thing...
I have the D3000, so I tried using the MF function on my lenses, used the diopter adjustment, but I just can't seem to focus using MF. D: I would actually like to the get the f/1.8 50mm lenses, but I need help using MF... any tips? $:

If I can't get a hang of using MF, well...
I'm stuck between the choices of the 35mm and the 50mm AF-S lenses as they're both standard lenses and the only difference is pretty much their 'range', so any tips there either? :P

Thanks! DD

When lens are you trying to manual focus on? If you are using a kit AF-S lens, you'll notice that you have a AF/M switch on your camera body, but there is also a M/A switch on your lens that does the same thing. So to manually focus your AF-S lens, you have to check both switches (i believe this is your problem).

No tips for manually focusing. It's surprisingly easy (on still objects), but not on kids running around. If it bugs you too much, maybe it's time to upgrade to a new body. I'd probably go to a new body instead of buying every AF-S prime lens. A used D80 easily sells for $375.

35mm vs 50mm really depends on what you'd use it for.

[shiroutsuki]

(;__" well, I've got my AF-S lenses on the M/A... plus I put my camera body on M/A, but my pictures are still insanely blurry when I try to take pictures of still objects (FAIL! X) D; I did figure out that using the focus ring helped focus my pictures a tad more, but they were still awfully blurry. D: Problem probably is that I don't exactly know how to focus on THE one thing, so yeah. *sigh ):
Yeah, a new body does sound like a better idea in comparison to only purchasing AF-S lenses since it seems that MF is an impossible task :P I'll keep that in mind as well (^^)
I mainly like taking people pictures but I'm not exactly sure if I want the 70-200mm... the zoom, I like a ton, but I've read that it's a bit slow which is something I don't really like... $: aha quite the decision I'll have to make! :P

Thank you again! (:

[Almond.Butterscotch]

Originally Posted by shiroutsuki

my pictures are still insanely blurry when I try to take pictures of still objects

blurry or out of focus? Blurry is all you. OOF is focus.

Originally Posted by shiroutsuki

since it seems that MF is an impossible task

as mentioned before, AF lenses aren't meant to be manually focussed. Hence the tiny rings (and in the case of lenses like the 18-55, hence the locked focussing modes- full auto or full manual, no m/a).

Originally Posted by shiroutsuki

the 70-200mm... the zoom, I like a ton, but I've read that it's a bit slow which is something I don't really like

slow how? It's a fixed f/2.8 across the board- fast considering its almost a 3x zoom. And it has VRII stabilization.