The Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4 G is a bright normal lens for full frame sensors which, like most similar lenses, benefits from being stopped down a couple of stops. But then it performs really good.
A disadvantage not helped by stopping down is the pronounced barrel distortion, evident when placing for instance a straight horizon near the edge of the picture. But it’s not too big of an issue, distortion can quite easily be corrected in a good raw-conversion software.
It’s also possible to use Nikon’s 50mm f/1.4 as a short telephoto lens on a camera wih APS-C sensor. A good combination for portraits. But the same goes here; you need to reduce the aperture at least a stop if you want the images to look crispy. The distortion however is not as obvious with the smaller sensor format.
The Nikon 50mm f/1.4 G has a plastic body but feels solid and well built. The G-version also has an important advantage to its predecessor, the Nikon AF 50mm f/1.4 D. Namely a built in ultrasonic focus motor (Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor, SWM). It’s both silent and provides manual focus override even when the camera is set on autofocus. It also gives intenal focusing which means the front end of the lens doesn’t rotate when focusing. A clear advantage when using filters, such as a polarizer.
Overall, this is undoubtedly a fine 50mm lens, but doesn’t reach the optical performance of the very best.
Specifications
Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4 G
Image circle: 24 x 36 mm (full frame)
Angle of view, horisontal: 40° (full frame)/27° (APS-C)
Filter thread: 58 mm
Minimum focus: 45 cm
Minimum aperture: 16
Dimensions: Length 5,4 cm, diameter 7,4 cm
Weight: 280 g
Other features: Ultrasonic motor (SWM). Distance scale window. Aperture with nine rounded blades. Lens hood and soft lens bag included.
Visit Nikon’s product page for the Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4 G. Click here.
Optical performance
Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4 G
Measured focal length:
51 mm
Sharpness
For easier comparison with other tested lenses, we first present an MTF chart showing the result at both full aperture and at f/8. The charts below it show MTF at f/2.0 and f/4.
With full frame:
A tad soft at full aperture (f/1.4). Stopping down to f/2.0 gives a significant improvement of sharpness across most of the image area. At the far edge, however, it’s still a bit fuzzy (see MTF chart no 2). But already at f/4 the lens is very sharp, from center to corners (MTF chart no 3). Stopping down more gives a very slight improvement, which is bareley visible even at large prints.
With APS-C:
Relatively soft contrast and low detail resolution at full aperture. Stopping down a stop, to f/2.0, provides a significant improvement (see MTF chart no 2). Now the sharpness is perceived as very good across the whole image area. At f/4 the lens has basically reached its maximum performance (MTF chart no 3). Here it produces very brilliant pictures with distinct rendering of fine details. Further reducing the aperture doesn’t give any visual gain, besides the obvious increase in depth of field.
Vignetting
With full frame:
Clearly noticable vignetting at f/1.4 but low after stopping down just a couple of stops, to f/2.8. From f/5.6 and smaller apertures the vignetting is practically invisible.
With APS-C:
Low at f/1.4 and totally gone already at f/2.8.
Distortion
With full frame:
Pronounced barrel distortion
With APS-C:
Small barrel distortion