Review of the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.4G SWM

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.4G SWM (abbreviated Nikon 50 / 1.4G) is one of Nikon's fastest autofocus lenses. It's classic half a ruble (a lens with a focal length of 50 mm), which is suitable for a huge number of photo tasks, in particular, such a lens can be shot in low light, used as a standard fixed lens on Nikon FX cameras, the lens is suitable for portrait and artistic shooting. With huge aperture F / 1.4 you can create and enjoy the result.

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f / 1.4g

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f / 1.4g

All Nikon 50-58 / 1.4 / 1.2 autofocus lenses

  1. Nikon 50mm 1: 1.4 AF Nikkor (first version, MK I) - the lens was produced only in Japan from 1986 to 1991
  2. Nikon 50mm 1: 1.4 AF Nikkor (second version, MK II, also known as the 'N', or the 'NEW' version) - the lens was only available in Japan from 1991 to 1995
  3. Nikon 50mm 1: 1.4D AF Nikkor (third version, MKIIIbetter known as 'D'-version) - the lens is available from 1995 to this day. There are two subversions that are no different.
  4. Nikon 50mm 1: 1.4G AF-S Nikkor SWM (fourth version, MKIVbetter known as 'G' version) - the lens is only available in China from 2008 to this day.
  5. Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 58mm 1: 1.4G Nano Crystal Coat SWM Aspherical (version better known as'58/1.4') - the lens is only available in Japan from 2013 to this day.
  6. Nikon Nikkor Z 58mm 1: 0.95 S Noct - The lens is available from 2019 to this day. Premium Lens for Mirrorless Cameras Nikon Z... It does not have automatic focus, but has a record aperture. Complex optical design with 17 elements in 10 groups, with 4 ED elements and 3 aspherical elements.
  7. Nikon Nikkor Z 50 / 1.2 S - The lens has been produced from 2020 to the present day. Professional S-line lens for mirrorless cameras Nikon Z... Complex optical design with 17 elements in 15 groups, with 2 ED elements and 3 aspherical elements

Nikon Nikkor-SC Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm and Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.4G SWM

Nikon Nikkor-SC Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm and Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.4G SWM

Main technical characteristics of Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.4G SWM:

Review Instance Name Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.4G SWM 309536
Basic properties
Front Filter Diameter 58 mm, plastic thread for filters
Focal length 50 mm, EGF for Nikon DX cameras is 75 mm, EGF for Nikon CX cameras is 135 mm
Zoom ratio 1 X (this is a fixed lens, it does not have a zoom)
Designed by for digital and film cameras
Number of aperture blades 9 pieces, petals rounded
Tags focusing distance in meters and feet, depth of field tags for F / 11 and F / 16 values, bayonet mount tag and lens hood attachment / fixation
Diaphragm F / 1.4 to F / 16, without aperture ring.
MDF 0.45 m, maximum magnification ratio 1: 6.7
The weight 280 g
Optical design 8 elements in 7 groups. The lens does not use special optical elements in its design.Nikon 50 1.4g optical designThe image of the circuit is clickable.
Lens hood Replaceable Nikon HB-47 plastic lens hood, lenses use the same lens hood Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8G SWM Aspherical and Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8G SWM Aspherical Special Edition
Manufacturer country MADE IN CHINA
Period From September 2008 ->
Instruction View ->
Price

The Nikon 50 / 1.4G lens will work great on any Nikon DSLR camera. Among fifty brothersthis Nikon 50 / 1.4G is the best. At one time, he became a replacement for his older brother Nikon 50mm f / 1.4D AF Nikkor... In fact, the Nikon 50 / 1.4G was introduced back in 2008, and I think that soon we will see a fifty-kopeck piece (50mm lens) from Nikon with more serious performance.

Addition: my prediction came true, and in addition to the 'non-professional' Nikon 50 / 1.4G Nikon has released a 'professional' about fifty kopecks Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 58mm 1: 1.4G SWM... Still, it's a shame that Nikon doesn't have professional fifty dollars. At the same time, Canon has two of them - Canon Lens EF 50mm 1: 1.2 L USM and Canon Lens EF 50mm 1: 1.0 L USM.

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f / 1.4g

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f / 1.4g

Focus on Nikon 50 / 1.4G

The Nikon 50 / 1.4G lens will focus on any modern DSLR camera. If you found your camera in genealogy nameplatethen you can rest assured that the Nikon 50 / 1.4G will work great with it. The Nikon 50 / 1.4G has a built-in focusing motor, as indicated by the AF-S designation. When focusing, the lens practically does not make noise, a special Nikon SWM (Silent Wave Motor) ultrasonic motor helps it. After two years of using my Nikon 50mm 1: 1.8D AF Nikkor (MKIII)which makes a lot of noise when focusing, using the new Nikon 50 / 1.4G is a pleasure.

When focusing, the front lens group moves in the middle of the frame of the housing. I can’t say that the lens has internal focus. But when focusing, the lens does not change its size, and the filter is wound on a fixed external part of the lens, which does not rotate when focusing. This type of focusing can also be found in Nikon 50mm f / 1.8G AF-S Nikkor. The minimum focusing distance is 45cm.

In focus mode 'M / A'Automatic focusing with manual focus priority is available. This means that in autofocus mode, the focus can be manually adjusted immediately. The 'M / A' mode is very useful, for example for creating focus trap effect... In 'M' mode, only manual focus is available. The focusing ring is rubberized.

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f / 1.4g

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f / 1.4g

Focus Speed

Nikon 50 / 1.4G one of the lowest fokiroki speeds among all fifty dollars Nikon Nikkor. Focus speed is average. The rest fifty kopecks Nikkon Nikkor, even the oldest Nikon 50mm 1: 1.8 AF Nikkor MKIoutperform the focusing speed of the Nikon 50mm F1.4G. Of course, to say that a low speed will not be right, but I would like a faster reaction of the lens for that kind of money.

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f / 1.4g

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f / 1.4g

Attention! Very often they write that the lens is very fast. This term is applied not so much to the focusing speed, but more to the description of the lens aperture at which shutter is very fast, decreasing the shutter speed. The confusion came from the English Fast Lens (fast "fast" lens).

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f / 1.4g

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f / 1.4g

The focus ring is rubberized, in the active position it rotates as much as 180 degrees. Due to the fact that the lens is quite chubby, such a move of the focusing ring is quite enough for comfortable work with manual focusing. During auto focus, the ring remains stationary. In manual focus mode, when the ring reaches its extreme positions, it does not rest, but continues to rotate, slipping, like on many native Nikon lenses.

There is a window on the lens with a scale for focusing distances and a depth of field scale. My Nikon 50mm F1.4G misses focus very rarely, even on F1.4.

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f / 1.4g

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f / 1.4g

Iris control

The lens does not have an aperture control ring, since it is a G-type lens. This fifty dollars is very large aperture F / 1.4, this allows you to achieve a very small depth of field, reduce shutter speed and without raising ISO. This lens is very simple take off... The lens has a 9-blade diaphragm, which is a good indicator. The petals are rounded and give a nice smooth bokeh without nuts or other artifacts.

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f / 1.4g

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f / 1.4g

Compatible with FX and DX cameras

The lens will work perfectly on Nikon FX full-frame cameras. On Nikon DX cameras, due to crop factor, EGF lens will be 75mm. This allows the Nikon AF-S 50mm F/1.4G to be used as a portrait lens on DX cameras without any problems. Rumor has it that Nikon AF-S 50mm F / 1.4G is the best portrait lens for crop, I personally like mine much more for crop portrait Nikon 85mm F / 1.8D AF Nikkor.

Diameter of filter and hood

The lens has a filter diameter of 58 mm. The lens comes with a wonderful hood and pouch bag. The hood can be installed backwards, in this position it is easy to carry on the lens and the hood does not take up extra space in the case.

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f / 1.4g

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f / 1.4g on camera Nikon D40x

Nikon 50mm F1.4G Image Quality

The lens, as expected, showed an excellent picture and optical characteristics. The main problem of the Nikon 50mm F1.4G is HA on apertures F1.4-F2.0. The most interesting thing is that HA disappear already at F2.0 - which is a very good indicator. Units have a fully working aperture of F2.0, for example Nikon 50mm F1.2 MF. The lens produces the best image quality at apertures within F2.0-F8.0. Up to F2.0, the lens is inherent HA. After F8.0, diffraction takes effect. About the sharpness: Nikon 50mm F1.4G on F1.4 gives the image is already quite sharp, due to aberrations there is a light software effect. On F1.4, you can make high-quality portraits where strong sharpness of the lens is not always a necessity. Lens gives slightly warm image. The lens provides good contrast. On my cropped camera, vignetting disappears already at F2.8, on F1.4 the vignetting is slightly noticeable. I do not bother with vignetting, it is easy to fix it in the editor. The lens normally tolerates side and back light. A strong drawback in the image of a lens of this class is a slight barrel-shaped distortion (distorting the geometry of the image). Many fifty dollars have much less distortion or do not have it at all. On crop, distortion is barely noticeable. The bokeh of the lens deserves special attention. The lens gives a very nice, even bokeh. Even on closed apertures, discs in the blur zone have a regular round shape. Very funny, but on F1.4, the discs in the blur zone are oval and create twisted bokeh. Generally: high image quality.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.4G SWM on a Nikon F6 Film Top Camera

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.4G SWM on a film TOP camera Nikon F6

Sample Photos on Nikon D40 (APS-C, DX)

All photos in the gallery below were taken on Nikon D40. I specifically filmed on Nikon D40to show that even on the simplest DSLR, the lens Nikon 50mm F1.4G works great and with it you can achieve a good result.

Sample Photos on Nikon D80 (APS-C, DX)

All photos in the gallery below were taken on Nikon D80. All photos without treatment... RAW -> JPEG Q80%. Reduced size to 1600 * 1200 and printed data from EXIF.

Sample Photos on Nikon D3200 (APS-C, DX)

All photos in the gallery below were taken on Nikon D3200. All photos without treatment... RAW -> JPEG Q80%. Reduced size to 1600 * 1200 and printed data from EXIF.

RAW source files ('.NEF') can be download from this link (28 files, 350 MB).

More examples of photos can be found on my blog here и here.

Personal experience using

I have a lens Nikon 50mm F1.4G I liked it with my picture (image quality). I often work with optics that only support manual focusing, because the average focusing speed is Nikon 50mm F1.4G for me it doesn’t matter at all. The lens in the hands is quite weighty, but its outer plastic part is felt. And the inscription Made in China is not very credible. I used two years with a tail Nikon 50mm f / 1.8D AF Nikkor after which I switched to Nikon AF-S 50mm 1: 1.4G and I have no regrets about it. In general, if you need a fix after a whale lens, then Nikon 50mm f / 1.8D AF Nikkor or Nikon 50mm f / 1.8G AF-S Nikkor will be the best option. Usually aperture F / 1.4 is rarely required and is quite difficult to work with. F / 1.4 is often taken by professionals who know exactly what they need. My copy was out of order in a light collision from the limousine seat. The focusing motor broke down, the repair cost $ 150, after 3 months the motor broke down again during a long shooting on one of the frames. I sold this lens after repairs. A year later, I bought a new one, then sold it again. Then I bought the same lens again. But somehow this lens did not take root for me.

You can read more information about other autofocus fifty dollars here... In addition, there is also an analogue of Nikon AF-S 50mm 1: 1.4G from a third-party manufacturer - .

You can see the real prices for the lens in online stores here, or in the price block below:

Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.

Video review

You can watch the video review here (on my new YouTube channel) or in the box below. Many thanks to Vladimir Morgunov for helping create the video review.

Conclusions:

Nikon 50mm F1.4G - a wonderful lens. Has few shortcomings. It is the best Nikon Nikkor fifty. Recommend.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

Add a comment: Vsevolod

 

 

Comments: 465, on the topic: Review of the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.4G SWM

  • Mark

    It is a bad tradition of modern manufacturers to make equipment from fast-wearing materials, the quickly erased “gilding” looks especially dumb. For this reason, I don’t want to buy modern crafts at all, especially for their cost, which is clearly overpriced.

    • Eugene o

      Depends on whether you checkered or ride. My 28mm f/1.8G gold has worn off completely, but I'm more than satisfied with how he shoots with his own money.

  • Stas

    “And now the question, fellow experts: What unites a cat, Santa Barbara and white balance?” I would answer - they are united by the Nikkor 50mm 1.4G review article.

  • Bohdan

    Hello. Nikon D5000 + Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.4G. Tell me, is this normal focusing? Or do I need to realign?

  • Bohdan

    * Hello. Nikon D5000 + Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.4G. Tell me, is this normal focusing? Or do I need to realign?

    • B. R. P.

      ??

  • Dmitriy

    Subjectively, I don’t like this Nikor’s drawing. Somehow he is too correct, too sharp, too boring. Is bokeh hard? Bokeh sometimes resembles whale Nikon glass, well, the blur is naturally stronger. It’s like there’s no soul in this lens, pure techie. I like the picture of the less sharp Nikon 50/1.4D much better.

  • Alexey

    If compared with the Sigma 50 f/1.4 EX DG HSM, which is better to take if the price is the same, please advise?

    • Dmitry Kostin

      Better than Nikkor.
      Sigmas suffer from back-front focus. I had the same Sigma, albeit under Canon.
      I sent it for adjustment, and the errors stopped on digital cameras, but on the film camera they remained the same.

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