Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4G Review

First impressions
The lens arrived at my doorstep today. It's a little hard to compare it directly against my old Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.4D as I financed the new one by selling the old. But I have still my AF 35mm f/2.0D which has almost identical built-quality and mechanics as the old AF 50mm f/1.4D.

First impressions are that focusing on the new model is much quieter and quicker than the old version – as you’d expect with its SWM focusing motor. But the new 50mm is perhaps not as quick a focuser as you’d hope as the travel of the focus ring itself is so long. This does however make precision manual focusing easier.

The build quality of the new model is "solid plastic" with the movement of the focus ring sharing the same plasticky feeling compared to the focus ring on the older AF-version. But it now has a rubber grommet at the lens-mount which provides environmental sealing.

The design is a little bulkier at 74x54mm and 280g versus 65x43mm and 230g. This actually makes it easier to hold while having the additional benefit of a deeply recessed front-element. What you lose from the new model though is the manual aperture ring. But you do gain a focusing ring that’s broader than the old one and doesn’t turn with AF.

Thomas

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