Best 50mm lens for the D600

Gwolf64

I am buying a D600 and I want to buy a 50mm lens to go with. I am a bit overwhelmed with the Nikon offerings in this category. Below are the (as you all know) lenses:

AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D
AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D
AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G
AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G

What I do know:
All lenses are compatible with the D600
AF-S is the silent wave motor
D is for distance information
G is for no aperture ring

I like the 1.8G because it has an aspherical lens, “better” optics (per reviews), and better bohka (per reviews). What lens is your favorite for the D600??? What am I missing? I am sure this question has been asked before…

P.S. I like to shoot night city scapes and street shots

TaoTeJared

AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G or the AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G are both good options. I love the 1.4 and never had the issues that it had when it first was released. Personally I think the 1.4 has better bokeh but that is a bit subjective on what you think is good. The 1.8 is modestly sharper, if you take technical photos it might be better for that. 1.4 has a "1.4 look" which I like for candid shots. I think the 1.4 is built a bit better as well.

Note* aspherical does not equal Better - just that they used a aspherical element instead of more complex and expensive lens elements to achieve the same result.

In all, if you are stretching funds or passing on buying something for the 1.4, I would just go with the 1.8.

The only lens you asked about that I would skip is the AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D - it's the least sharp and has the most optical issues out of all of them, and the oldest as well.

Gwolf64

My reference to the aspherical is in terms of coma. A aspherical lens has less coma on the edges, right?

Golf007sd

Go with the 50 1.4G. Specially since you have mentioned you are a "night" shooter...the extra amount of light coming via the larger aperture will allow you to user a lower ISO setting thus less noise in your photo's.

PB_PM

If you are going to use a 50mm lens a lot, the 1.4 would be best. If you plan to use it casually (less than 15% of your shooting) then the 1.8 would be better.

NSXTypeR

What's wrong with a 50mm 1.2?

*trolling*

roombarobot

Myself I got the 1.8G. I figured I would make up any low-light conditions with ISO, so didn't pay more for the 1.4G. I looked at the 1.8D, but felt the bokeh was not as smooth as the 1.8G, you could see rings around points on the 1.8D. Just my opinion. Happy lens shopping!

TaoTeJared

My reference to the aspherical is in terms of coma. A aspherical lens has less coma on the edges, right?

The 1.4 does have some chromatic aberrations to it but they are always on the muted green side and don't show up or are distracting unless you are pixel peeping. Many say they see them in the bokeh - but that is what bokeh kind of is. The better 1.4s bokeh all suffer from some coma. If you use Nx2 or lightroom, the auto lens profiles remove it to an un-noticeable state. I do notice chromatic aberrations probably more than most, and it has never bothered me. If you put a really good filter on it, it limits it as well. I did notice that If you put a cheap filter (i.e. <$45) on it, the coma increases. Hoya HD, BW or Helopan multi-coated and the like, work the best.

spraynpray

Aberrations Tao.

TaoTeJared

Thanks! - changed. I guess that auto correct chrome add-in doesn't work as advertised.

Msmoto

I have the 50mm f/1.4D which is about 10-15 years old. I think it is excellent. And, one can get a used one ofr less than $300 or a new one for about $350. Or a Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F/1.4 ZF.2, manual focus for $1200.

As the cost is usually a factor, I think the 1.4 D is an excellent value. I would not recommend the Zeiss unless you are very good at manual focusing a camera and have excellent eyes.

donaldejose

The best as far as resolving power goes seems to be the new (not yet released) Carl Zeiss Distagon T covered on the Nikon Rumors blog. Most impressive lens!

Symphotic

I'm happy with both the 1.4Gand the 1.8G, but I'm happier with the 1.8. It is light, quick to focus, has beautiful images, and it is of the best values in lenses to be had anywhere. When I decide to add another FX body, I'll semi-permanently install the 1.8 on it.