Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

Nikon Nikkor  50mm f/1.8D
$143
50 mm
autofocus prime lens
f/1.8

reviewswhat are people saying

starstarstarstarstar
B&H Photo Video

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars by 1,066 users at B&H Photo Video

"This is a MUST OWN lens in the Nikon AF line. Not only sharp and fast, but my favorite perspective and CHEAP to buy! It's the best way to learn how ALL of the photojournalists in the 40s-70s shot EVERYTHING they printed."

"Perfect photos at 65 mph at f8 @1/800! This lens lets in lots of light so I can use a fast shutter and get absolutely no blur at highway speeds."

"One thing I do not like about the lens is that the aperture ring moves easily and causes the camera not to register any f/stop."

compatibilitywith digital cameras

Full frame

This lens is compatible with Full frame cameras such as the Nikon D800, Nikon D4 and Nikon D3S.

Nikon D800
39.5°
horizontal angle of view
50mm
35mm equivalent focal length

APS-C (1.5x crop factor)

This lens is compatible with APS-C (1.5x crop factor) cameras such as the Nikon D5100, Nikon D7000 and Nikon D3100. However, this lens won't auto focus on cameras such as the Nikon D5100, Nikon D3100 and Nikon D3200 that are lacking focus motors.

Nikon D5100
26.6°
horizontal angle of view
76.5mm
35mm equivalent focal length

Pros

The Nikon 50mm f/1.8D vs other Nikon FX lenses

Prime lens Prime lens Help
Typically very sharp
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
$142.78
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/1.8
Weight Very light Help
154 g
Length Quite short Help
38 mm

The Nikon 50mm f/1.8D vs other Nikon FX low light lenses

Auto focus Supports autofocus Help
Easier to use
Diameter Small diameter Help
64 mm

Cons

The Nikon 50mm f/1.8D vs other Nikon FX lenses

Magnification Poor macro Help
1:6.6 (0.2x)
Focus motor Lacks a silent focus motor Help
Louder and slower
Max focal length Poor telephoto lens Help
50 mm

Specifications

General

Min focal length
Help
50 mm
Max focal length
Help
50 mm
below average below average
Zoom range
Help
1x
below average below average
Magnification
Help
1:6.6 (0.2x)
below average below average

Aperture

Wide minimum
Help
f/1.8
above average above average
Wide maximum
Help
f/22
Tele minimum
Help
f/1.8
above average above average
Tele maximum
Help
f/22

Features

Auto focus
Help
Yes
Focus motor
Help
None
below average below average
Image stabilization
Help
None
Fisheye
Help
No
Tilt-shift
Help
No

Form factor

Lens mount
Help
Nikon FX
Length
Help
38 mm
above average above average
Diameter
Help
64 mm
Filter size
Help
52 mm
Weight
Help
154 g
above average above average

Angle of view

Wide horizontal
Help
39.6°
Telephoto horizontal
Help
39.6°
Wide vertical
Help
27°
Telephoto vertical
Help
27°
Wide diagonal
Help
46.8°
Telephoto diagonal
Help
46.8°

Angle of view (On Nikon DX APS-C 1.5x crop cameras)

Wide horizontal
Help
26.6°
below average below average
Telephoto horizontal
Help
26.6°
Wide vertical
Help
18°
below average below average
Telephoto vertical
Help
18°
Wide diagonal
Help
31.7°
below average below average
Telephoto diagonal
Help
31.7°

DiscussionWhat do you think about the Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D lens?

Speech is free, but discussion at LensHero is moderated! Please discuss the your opinion of this lens here, and discuss feedback for LensHero at our support community.

Showing 10 comments

Vgjai (0:51 PM, April 09, 2012)
Interesting details! It would be more intersting if compared with similar images taken with different lens..after all a single picture speaks more than 1000 words...test of the pudding is in...??
 
Avatar for Mike Svitek Mike Svitek (1:09 PM, March 08, 2012)
This may be a little late, but there is no difference between the two in terms of quality. One lens gives the camera accurate distance information while the other does not. 
 
Avatar for Mike Svitek Mike Svitek (1:27 AM, February 24, 2012)
Buy cheap at Henry's
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (7:31 PM, January 19, 2012)
Hi Latterdaisysaint, this lens won't autofocus with the Nikon D3100, it will only autofocus with DSLRs that have a built in focus motor.  See above where it says "However, this lens won't auto focus on cameras such as the Nikon D5100, Nikon D3100 and Nikon D5000 that are lacking focus motor"

Consider the Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8G instead!
 
Latterdaisysaint (8:56 AM, January 19, 2012)
I am very frustrated. I have a Nikon D3100 and purchased this lens.....but it will not autofocus for me. Is it broken or am I clueless and doing something wrong?? Arghh...
 
Avatar for Chaitanya Kapadia Chaitanya Kapadia (5:39 PM, September 07, 2011)
what's the difference in quality vs the af-d and the af-s lenses?
 
Avatar for lenshero lenshero (1:40 PM, July 21, 2011)
Hi Tayllor, I've used this lens, and its awesome.  However, it won't autofocus with cameras like the Nikon D5100, since they lack a focus motor, other cameras like the Nikon D90 do have a focus motor.

I haven't compared it directly to the 35mm f/1.8, but I expect they're quite similar, but the 35mm f/1.8 probably has quieter/faster focusing since its AF-S.  However, the 50mm focal length would be more visually pleasing for portraits.
 
Avatar for Tayllor Masi Tayllor Masi (2:40 AM, July 21, 2011)
Hi, guys, i just trying to find out if this lens is alot inferior to the http://lenshero.com/lens/Nikon-AF-S-35mm-f1.8G-DX-lens ,cuz its way cheaper, im using those with a d5100 as a complementary lens for the one that comes on the Kit the 18~55 mm.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (5:50 PM, May 09, 2011)
Hi Yesmkr, yes, this lens will work great on the Nikon D90! The Nikon D90 has a built in focus motor, so it can autofocus with this lens, unlike some of the lower end Nikon DSLRs.
 
Yesmkr (5:27 PM, May 09, 2011)
Can some one tell me whether this lens can be used with Nikon D90