Stuart Richardson
Active member
Well, to each their own. I don't own the 58/1.4, but the first example or your last post did not really bother me other than the color fringing in the branch.
As for the 50/1.4D -- it is sometimes fine, sometimes unpleasant. Considering it is the "standard lens" of the Nikon system, it is pretty unimpressive. The only other fast 50's I have used are the Leica 50/1.4 ASPH and pre-asph, 50/1.4 summilux R E60, and the Canon FD 50mm f/1.2L. All of them are dramatically better than the 50/1.4D. The vignetting wide open is really strong on FX or film, and it is not that sharp. The vignetting improves dramatically by f/1.8 or f/2, but it is still not the sharpest tool in the drawer. The biggest redeeming factor of it is that it is cheap and very compact.
This is the vignetting wide open on FX:
As for the 50/1.4D -- it is sometimes fine, sometimes unpleasant. Considering it is the "standard lens" of the Nikon system, it is pretty unimpressive. The only other fast 50's I have used are the Leica 50/1.4 ASPH and pre-asph, 50/1.4 summilux R E60, and the Canon FD 50mm f/1.2L. All of them are dramatically better than the 50/1.4D. The vignetting wide open is really strong on FX or film, and it is not that sharp. The vignetting improves dramatically by f/1.8 or f/2, but it is still not the sharpest tool in the drawer. The biggest redeeming factor of it is that it is cheap and very compact.
This is the vignetting wide open on FX: