Nikon AF-D 50mm f1.4

It's been a long time that i haven't got the time to update this blog...sorry:)

Now i would like to review one of my lens which is one of Nikon's big aperture lens: Nikon AF-D 50mm f1.4.

At film camera era...50mm is considered as "Normal Lens" due to it's coverage/ angle which is similar to human eye. It also has low distortion which is good for full body potrait...

But in digital era...50mm is not always a normal lens.
in DX format, 50 mm will become 75mm which only good for half body potrait lens. Only in FX format this lens shines again.

There are several version of this 50 mm classic lens, from AI, AIS, AF (non D), AF-D (subject of this review), and newer AF-S version

Many review said that the best design compared to other 50mm version is the AF-D version...but this is not considering the new AF_S which i havent tried yet:)

Currently Nikon has re-new this 50 mm model...adding AF-S feature for fast focussing and i think they also improve their lens coating and arrangement (which actually already quite good in this version), but i wonder why nikon choose f1.4 not f1.2 which is already obsolete and available only in manual mode??? Hmmppfff i don't understand Nikon's strategy:(

In f1.4 this lens produces acceptable image, but rather soft and lower contrast. Stopped down to f2 this lens start shines... in terms of sharpness, contrast and saturation this lens is nearly flawless...it even become sharpness standard for other Nikon Lenses, but it only the case if you stopped down to f2 and above. It perform very well and shows excellent center to corner sharpness with slight reduction in extreme corner.

If you shoot models, product shoot, or other still image and you need fast aperture for nice bokeh/ low light capability...this might be the lens for you.

But if you're landscape/ travel photographer like me...this lens will often left in the drybox unused because it's better to bring super wide angle/ telephoto rather than fast prime normal (almost telephoto) lens.

If you need further review on this lens, just check:
http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/216-nikkor-af-50mm-f14-d-review--lab-test-report
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/5014af.htm
http://www.camerahobby.com/Review-50mm.htm
http://www.olegnovikov.com/technical/50mmf14d/50mmf14d.shtml

Decide wisely whether this lens is the one for you or not...if you need a normal lens for DX format, you could check Nikon AF-D 35mm f2, it considered as normal lens for DX.