The low light photography with AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1-4G is the latest product offering by Nikon. The lens is perfect to be used at any time during the day or night. Additionally, it provides the fastest lens with auto focusing capabilities, which is far superior to any other product launched by the company until now. The lens provides excellent zoom while quadrupling the ISO without any increase in noise. The effective increase in ISO is more than ten times in comparison to any other camera in this category.

 

One of the differentiating factors when compared to other lenses manufactured by Nikon is the capability provided to the users in tweaking the manual focus with only a touch to the ring. In the older AF-D lens, users were required to move a switch located on the camera to change from manual focus to auto focus. With the latest lens, when users switch to the auto focus capability, only the glass moves inside the barrel without moving the focus ring or the filter ring.

The new lens manufactured by Nikon makes use of an eight element design, while all older lenses manufactured by other companies used a seven element design. When clicking real photographs that require high quality auto focusing capabilities and higher hit rate, this latest offering from Nikon provides significantly superior results when compared with all other comparable lenses. Additionally, when shooting moving objects, the lens offers consistently sharper and in focus outputs to the users. However, the lens has more linear distortion than any other lens in this category.

 

Another differentiating factor in the AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1-4G lens is an in-built Silent Wave Motor along with a new optical system comprising eight elements in seven groups. Additionally, the lens provide an enhanced picture quality, circular aperture diaphragm to provide a more attractive background blur along with a barrel design that does not change in length while you are auto focusing. The newly developed optical design delivers superior performance with its efficient and accurate sagittal coma flaring capabilities and chromatic aberration.

Moreover, the Silent Wave Motor ring provides a smoother and quieter AF operational capability. It is common for all types of lenses to shift while auto focusing; however, the latest lens from Nikon, the front element and the filter mount do not rotate. Moreover, the barrel length is not modified, which makes the lens ideal for clicking close-up pictures or when using along with Wireless Remote Speedlight devices. The new lens is manufactured with two types of focus modes, which include the manual priority auto focus and the manual focus. The nine-blade round diaphragm and the out of focus design elements provide a more natural appearance.

The maximum format size offered by the lens is thirty-five millimeter in full frame and the focal length is fifty millimeter. Users receive a diagonal angle of FF view at forty-six degrees while the APS-C view is available at thirty-one degrees. The maximum and minimum aperture provided by the latest Nikon lens is F1.4 and F16, respectively. The minimum focus is estimated at 0.45 millimeter and a maximum magnification of up to 0. 15times. Moreover, the lens is available with a ring-type Silent Wave Motor that does offers full time manual focus and a filter thread of fifty-eight millimeter that does not rotate while focusing. Users are provided additional accessories, such as the front and rear caps, the HB-47 bayonet hood, and the CL-1013 lens pouch. The lens weighs approximately ten ounces in dimensions of 73.5 millimeter diameter and 54.2 millimeter length.

The focus ring on the lens is comparable to the common AF-S types and is made from plastic, which is not completely unsmooth and free from snags or stiffness while you turn it around. Moreover, the lens is small and light weight, which balances very well on the front side of almost all the Nikon DSLR camera series. However, on larger professional cameras, you will find that the lens almost totally disappears, which may require some time before you are completely used to the feel. The HB-47 hood is a complete hood unlike the petal hood. Users can mount or take off the lens while the hood is on although finding the center placement to mount it back can be a little difficult.

The latest lens is slower while auto focus when compared to some other lenses in the same category. However, this is not a concern for most users unless they need to focus from one extreme to another extreme or need to click pictures of fast actions. The company has compromised on the auto focusing speeds while providing more focus ring rotations and manual focus precision. The lens provides moderate sharpness without actually offering exceptional corner performance capabilities. When you focus on close objects, you may get a minor magenta casting while receiving a green cast when you focus on objects located at a distance.

At maximum aperture, the AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1-4G lens provides the best auto focusing capabilities in comparison to all the other lenses manufactured by Nikon until now. Moreover, the higher quality bokeh with the nine-rounded blade opening provides it nice circular highlights. The optical quality received with this lens is extremely satisfactory for users who use maximum or almost maximum aperture capabilities. Moreover, the new lens offers a sharper picture especially at the corners, which makes it superior to the older versions manufactured by the company.

However, the low light photography with AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1-4G lacks the snappy focusing capabilities expected from long focuses changing lenses. Additionally, the absence of VR capabilities is a major drawback of this lens especially when users consider using the same for mild telephoto portraits. The colors do not focus on the similar planes when used at maximum aperture and the longitudinal aberrations are often very difficult to eliminate. The normal filter size for Nikon lenses is not fifty-eight millimeters and users who are heavy filter users will need to acquire a step-up ring or new filters. However, priced reasonably, this lens from Nikon will replace the older lenses among the DSLR camera users.