Got mine last Friday here in Tokyo, had the chance to shoot a bit with it during the weekend and have come out very impressed, it is very close to my Otus 55mm f1.4.
It is by far the best Nikon 50mm ever as far as I can tell.
I agree! Never loved any of the Nikon AF 50s. My current fave 50 is the Fuji 35 1.4...if only the AF was a tad quicker.
InlawBiker wrote:
I've used pretty regularly the 50 1.8's, 1.4's, g and d. Even the DX 35 1.8g, I think they all have their strengths but none of them is special. I prefer to use the 60 2.8 micro as my 50.
My favorite now in that focal length is the Micro 4/3 Panasonic 25 1.4, which is somehow better than all Nikon's 50's in my book. I would love to own the 58 1.4g but that's another thing.
It looks like maybe 50mm is coming back into style. This new "S" 50 seems to be on the right track. There is also a 1.2 on the roadmap, and Canon's 50mm 1.2 RF, and the Sony 55 ZA & Sigma Art 50 which probably caused this ruckus.
bernardl wrote:
It is by far the best Nikon 50mm ever as far as I can tell.
Agreed, just super clean image quality and lots of well controlled contrast, colors are outstanding.
I have to say so far in using the Z 24-70 F4 and this lens, Nikon has really stepped up the transmissive qualities of these lenses, they are stunning in the way they render the overall image.
I got the lens two days ago and finally got to shoot yesterday. The clouds were thick in Upstate NY, but the sun broke through for a few precious moments. I really like this lens. It may just be the best 50 I've ever used!
I'm including a few landscapes which with one exception, were SOOC. I pulled the shadows up some in the barn and pond scene.
Loving what I'm seeing so far, can't wait to get my Z gear in today. Have the Z6 kit and both the 35 and 50 coming in. Hopefully get to put it through it's paces this weekend.
Also, the Z6 + 50s weighs about the same as the Sigma 50 Art + FTZ. I'll get some photos up sometime, this week is a little crazy but I'll get something.
I've had it since tuesday but have only been shooting it in the evening. Holy smokes it is incredibly sharp with really nice rendering. The possibilities for designing lenses on the Z series bodies sure seems like it's a lot easier. A lot of lenses have good bokeh at short distances, but there seems to be a spot where they all suffer, and this includes the sigma art lenses. At about 10-15 feet for a 35mm lens and maybe 15-20 feet for a 50mm. These distances still allow background separation but they almost always result in harsh bokeh. These new Z lenses seem to defy that.
Finally got mine in! Initial thoughts are that it is super super sharp wide open and I enjoy the rendering. Lens is larger in diameter than the sony zeiss 55 f1.8 (which I'm sure it'll get the most comparisons to) but about the same length. Very well balanced but I do kind of wish it was smaller. Guessing Nikon will come out with a cheap nifty fifty that isn't as sharp that is a little smaller and lighter.
Also kind of annoyed by the plastic filter threads and somewhat uncommon filter size of 62mm, but I'm really just nitpicking.
It fits perfectly along with the 24-70 f4 S in my Ona Bowery bag, which is my go-to walkaround bag for a couple lenses and body.
sungphoto wrote:
Finally got mine in! Initial thoughts are that it is super super sharp wide open and I enjoy the rendering. Lens is larger in diameter than the sony zeiss 55 f1.8 (which I'm sure it'll get the most comparisons to) but about the same length. Very well balanced but I do kind of wish it was smaller. Guessing Nikon will come out with a cheap nifty fifty that isn't as sharp that is a little smaller and lighter.
Also kind of annoyed by the plastic filter threads and somewhat uncommon filter size of 62mm, but I'm really just nitpicking.
It fits perfectly along with the 24-70 f4 S in my Ona Bowery bag, which is my go-to walkaround bag for a couple lenses and body....Show more →
Plastic filter threads on a $600 lens are kind of a drag. IIRC, the 60 macro also has 62mm filter size.
I don’t expect a less sharp 50 for the Z system. With the 1.2 on the roadmap, that will be the premium lens. In a perfect world, they would make a slower compact f/2.8 or f/4 prime.
BSPhotog wrote:
Plastic filter threads on a $600 lens are kind of a drag. IIRC, the 60 macro also has 62mm filter size.
I don’t expect a less sharp 50 for the Z system. With the 1.2 on the roadmap, that will be the premium lens. In a perfect world, they would make a slower compact f/2.8 or f/4 prime.
Ha well I suppose Nikon is at least consistent, as even the 105 f1.4E and 58 f1.4G have plastic filter threads. Womp womp.
And yeah, the 60mm f2.8 G and 105 f2.8 G macro both have a 62mm filter thread. I know this because I just stole the B+W filter from my 105 macro for the 50 f1.8 S haha. Heading out for a walk with the 50 1.8 S in a few after I have my morning coffee, and will try and get some studio portraits with it later tonight.
I'm honestly blown away by how sharp this thing is wide open.
sungphoto wrote:
Ha well I suppose Nikon is at least consistent, as even the 105 f1.4E and 58 f1.4G have plastic filter threads. Womp womp.
And yeah, the 60mm f2.8 G and 105 f2.8 G macro both have a 62mm filter thread. I know this because I just stole the B+W filter from my 105 macro for the 50 f1.8 S haha. Heading out for a walk with the 50 1.8 S in a few after I have my morning coffee, and will try and get some studio portraits with it later tonight.
I'm honestly blown away by how sharp this thing is wide open....Show more →
Ha, I shot my some photos of my 5yo daughter’s birthday party with the 50S and the 24 f/1.4G on my Z6. Will be fun to look through the photos and see how the focus did on some action bursts.
The 10% off coupon on ebay is up again today. 
