Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars | 9,889 ratings

Price: 216.95

Last update: 01-08-2025


About this item

Fast, upgraded f/1.8, compact FX format prime lens. The picture angle with 35 millimeter (135) format is 47 degree and the maximum reproduction ratio is 0.15X
Focal length 50 millimeter, minimum focus distance 1.48 feet (0.45 meter)
Newly developed optical system with aspherical lens element, exclusive Nikon silent wave motor (SWM)
M/a focus mode switch, filter thread 58 millimeter, autofocus: Yes. Dimensions (approx.) (from the camera lens mounting flange): Approximately 2.83 inches diameter x 2.01 inches
Optimized for edge to edge sharpness on both fx and dx format d SLRS
Lens not zoomable

Product information


Top reviews from the United States

Halain
5.0 out of 5 stars Great prime lens
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2024
I bought this because the auto focus for my Nikon D, but is much better than the AF 50mm 1:1.8 without autofocus. This is brighter and clearer and the obtained photos are more balanced. The auto focus is quick enough to take photos in social events but maybe not for sports. Still manual focus can do the job. For my opinion, great value for money.
Customer image
Halain
5.0 out of 5 stars Great prime lens
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2024
I bought this because the auto focus for my Nikon D, but is much better than the AF 50mm 1:1.8 without autofocus. This is brighter and clearer and the obtained photos are more balanced. The auto focus is quick enough to take photos in social events but maybe not for sports. Still manual focus can do the job. For my opinion, great value for money.
Images in this review
Customer image Customer image Customer image
Michael Jin
5.0 out of 5 stars Probably a great lens. My copy wasn't.
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2016
--UPDATED REVIEW--
After a good deal of time using the 50mm f/1.4D, I decided that I wanted to pick up a quieter auto-focus lens so I decided to give the 50mm f/1.8G another shot. I'm pleased to say that the experience has been much better this time around.

On my D810 and D850, it's still not wicked sharp wide open, but few lenses are on those camera. Once I stop down to around f/2.8 or so, it actually gets surprisingly sharp for such a cheap lens. I won't get into color rendition because it seems rather pointless given how much the colors get changed anyway during post-processing. Overall, I find the rendition of the lens to be rather clinical, which is to say that it's seems to focus more on accurately recording the scene in sharp detail rather than imparting "character" as some other lenses tend to do. I find this to be a good thing in a 50mm since the focal length itself tends to be one that most photographers would consider to be the "normal" focal length.

Overall, this lens has been a joy to use this second time around which makes me wonder what was going on with that first copy. Maybe it got knocked around during shipping? I don't know. Either way, after experiencing what this lens is capable of offering, I felt compelled to come and update this review because it really is a great lens for the beginner and enthusiast alike that's offered a very reasonable price.

-- OLD REVIEW --
Given all of the positive reviews, I probably just got a bad copy, but the lens was just unacceptably soft for me which I didn't expect since it flies in the face of most of the reviews I've read about this. As far as I could tell, it wasn't a front or back-focusing issue as micro-adjustments didn't seem to help at all and in order to get my copy as sharp as I wanted, I had to stop it down to f5.6, which just completely defeats the purpose.

Ended up returning it and trying out a 50mm 1.4D which I just decided to stick with. I know I could have exchanged it and it probably would have been fine, but the whole experience just left a bad taste in my mouth.

Aside from my particular issues, I can definitely say that the lens itself felt built pretty well for the price. A lot of people like to cry about how they don't make them like they used to—which usually just means that they don't make them out of metal anymore—but plastics have come a long way over the years and definitely have plenty of benefits. Most of the people that make this complaint just miss that hefty feeling, which is more of an argument of personal preference rather than an argument of the objective merits of the materials used. All materials have their pros and cons, but the materials used to construct this lens seemed more than durable enough while having the benefit of being lightweight.

The autofocus responded quickly and crisply without much hunting at all.

All in all, given the low cost of the lens, it's worth at least trying out. You'll probably have better luck than me.
Customer image
Michael Jin
5.0 out of 5 stars Probably a great lens. My copy wasn't.
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2016
--UPDATED REVIEW--
After a good deal of time using the 50mm f/1.4D, I decided that I wanted to pick up a quieter auto-focus lens so I decided to give the 50mm f/1.8G another shot. I'm pleased to say that the experience has been much better this time around.

On my D810 and D850, it's still not wicked sharp wide open, but few lenses are on those camera. Once I stop down to around f/2.8 or so, it actually gets surprisingly sharp for such a cheap lens. I won't get into color rendition because it seems rather pointless given how much the colors get changed anyway during post-processing. Overall, I find the rendition of the lens to be rather clinical, which is to say that it's seems to focus more on accurately recording the scene in sharp detail rather than imparting "character" as some other lenses tend to do. I find this to be a good thing in a 50mm since the focal length itself tends to be one that most photographers would consider to be the "normal" focal length.

Overall, this lens has been a joy to use this second time around which makes me wonder what was going on with that first copy. Maybe it got knocked around during shipping? I don't know. Either way, after experiencing what this lens is capable of offering, I felt compelled to come and update this review because it really is a great lens for the beginner and enthusiast alike that's offered a very reasonable price.

-- OLD REVIEW --
Given all of the positive reviews, I probably just got a bad copy, but the lens was just unacceptably soft for me which I didn't expect since it flies in the face of most of the reviews I've read about this. As far as I could tell, it wasn't a front or back-focusing issue as micro-adjustments didn't seem to help at all and in order to get my copy as sharp as I wanted, I had to stop it down to f5.6, which just completely defeats the purpose.

Ended up returning it and trying out a 50mm 1.4D which I just decided to stick with. I know I could have exchanged it and it probably would have been fine, but the whole experience just left a bad taste in my mouth.

Aside from my particular issues, I can definitely say that the lens itself felt built pretty well for the price. A lot of people like to cry about how they don't make them like they used to—which usually just means that they don't make them out of metal anymore—but plastics have come a long way over the years and definitely have plenty of benefits. Most of the people that make this complaint just miss that hefty feeling, which is more of an argument of personal preference rather than an argument of the objective merits of the materials used. All materials have their pros and cons, but the materials used to construct this lens seemed more than durable enough while having the benefit of being lightweight.

The autofocus responded quickly and crisply without much hunting at all.

All in all, given the low cost of the lens, it's worth at least trying out. You'll probably have better luck than me.
Images in this review
Customer image Customer image Customer image
shuTTL3bus
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Lens a review from Someone who owns both the 1.8D and 1.8G and a former owner of the 1.5G.
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2011
The 50 f/1.8 is a lens almost every FX shooter should have. However, which one of these you should buy is a little tricky. The D is about $80 cheaper, is smaller, lighter, has less distortion, and has manual aperture control. The D doesn't have auto focus but as of right now every FX camera has an autofocus motor built in. What the G really brings to the table is curved aperture blades, better construction, sharper corners, quieter autofocus and instant manual override focus.

On a DX camera it is still a no brainer lens but not as much as on a FX. The 1.5x crop makes this a 75mm lens on a DX. Usually portrait lenses start around 85mm. So this lens, on a DX, is too long to be a normal focal length and too short to be a portrait lens. With that said, those are just generalities. Even at 75mm it will work great in a dark house and great outside. In the house you may find yourself running out of room to back up. However, that can probably help some peoples photography as one of the biggest mistakes most people make is not framing in close enough. The 35mm f1.8 DX only lens is probably a better starting lens to get as it is ~52mm on the DX and the 50mm f1.8 a good second lens.

I used to own the f1.4G but it was stolen from me. I personally don't believe it is worth the extra money over this. It has 9 rounded aperture blades for a smother bokeh and is 2/3 stop faster but has significant distortion. Also, it has been shown that many manufactures have been playing with the ISO on the edges to get the f1.4. At very wide apertures the light hitting the edges of the sensor is not perpendicular to the sensor but is angled. Because digital sensors are very sensitive to the direction of light, camera manufactures have been increasing the ISO at the edges of the sensor to get the same amount of light as the middle. This causes some noise. It is not hugely noticeable but you are paying a premium for a slightly worse image. However, the bokeh is nicer, you can shoot a 2/3 faster in low light, and you have a shallower depth of field. If those are important to you then the 1.4G is the way to go.

Compared to the 1.8D the 1.8G is
Bigger
Will autofocus on the cheaper bodies with no built in auto focus motor (D3100 and D5100)
A little better optically in the corners but has more distortion
About $80 more expensive
Has full time access to manual focusing
7 rounded aperture blades instead of straight
tops out at f16 instead of f22
has quieter focus

If you have a body that has a built in autofocus motor and you want the smallest lightest and cheapest kit then the 1.8D is a no brainer.

If you don't have the built in autofocus motor and size is not an issue or you want instant ability to manually focus then the 1.8G is the way to go.

The 50 f1.8 is a brilliant lens and one of the true bargains in photography. A must for almost every kit.

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