Z-DX 18-140 vs 50-250 (a bit disapointed)

Hello. I had heard that the Nikon z 50mm S lens does not have vibration reduction as well as this 50mm lens. Would it still work well in good light. What are your thoughts. Larry

mysteryman44 said:

Hello,

I don't know but heard that the 50mm prime S lens would not work well with Nikon z 50 cause the camera and lens does not have vibration reduction. I was almost going to buy the 50mm S lens. What are your thoughts. Larry

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The 50 f/1.8 S works great with the Z50 but since on an DX body this is essentially a short telephoto (field of view equiv to 75mm mounted on an FX body) some people may have an issue hand holding. Not everyone. I have a bit of a tremor in my hands and usually need to be at 1/250 to 1/500 shutter speed to get sharp images with a 50mm lens on a DX body. Some days faster. Some days slower. 10 years ago I could easily shoot at 1/60 second or maybe 1/50 or 1/40 hand held.

The 18-140 is a 7.8x super zoom

The 16-50 is about a 3x zoom and the 50-250 at 5x zoom. The 18-140 would require more optical compromises and a higher cost to get that 7.8x zoom range at its price point (or maybe even a higher price point - but Nikon wants to keep the lens price an appropriate match for the bodies it will be used on) so we would expect to give up something optically in exchange for that zoom range. There are always tradeoffs.

Given its zoom range and price I would have been a bit surprised if it equaled the 16-50 and 50-250 in its common focal lengths.

I have the F mount 18-140 (originally $600, now $500) which I have used for many years on DX DSLR bodies. By most accounts the new Z mount version is better. The F mount version isn't as good optically as most Nikon F mount primes but costs more than many the F mount 1.8 primes. However it it functions well enough as a single walk about lens for a day. I can see the differences when viewed 100% on a monitor. Have made a number of 8x10 and 11x14 prints of images made with that lens. No one has even commented on the sharpness of the prints being soft.

mysteryman44 said:

Hello,

I don't know but heard that the 50mm prime S lens would not work well with Nikon z 50 cause the camera and lens does not have vibration reduction. I was almost going to buy the 50mm S lens. What are your thoughts. Larry

Click to expand...

It doesn't have VR, but it also opens to f/1.8 so you don't need VR as much to avoid camera shake in photos. It's a good lens if you want a portrait focal length and a wide aperture for out of focus backgrounds

mysteryman44 said:

Hello,

I don't know but heard that the 50mm prime S lens would not work well with Nikon z 50 cause the camera and lens does not have vibration reduction. I was almost going to buy the 50mm S lens. What are your thoughts. Larry

Click to expand...

Those of us "slumming it" with our DX DSLR's and f2.8 primes for well over 10 years beg to differ with that opinion. LOL I do wish every Z lens had it since they fit it into the 16-50DXVR. I get by just fine with the 24-70F4S on my Z50. My shutter technique isn't what it used to be.

Hello, Thank you for replying about the Nikon 50mm S lens. I see you have the Nikon z 50. I have one as well. So far I like it a lot. Mainly that is so light. I will use it for travel, landscape. How do you like your z 50. What do you shoot with it. Larry

I don't plan on buying the 18-140 because I already own the other two and they are stellar!

Love the DX 16-50 & 50-250

skyrunr said:

mysteryman44 said:

Hello,

I don't know but heard that the 50mm prime S lens would not work well with Nikon z 50 cause the camera and lens does not have vibration reduction. I was almost going to buy the 50mm S lens. What are your thoughts. Larry

Click to expand...

Those of us "slumming it" with our DX DSLR's and f2.8 primes for well over 10 years beg to differ with that opinion. LOL I do wish every Z lens had it since they fit it into the 16-50DXVR. I get by just fine with the 24-70F4S on my Z50. My shutter technique isn't what it used to be.

Click to expand...

I love the Z50's kit lenses too but I also use a Viltrox Z DX 23mm F1.4 AF and a full frame NIKKOR Z FX 24-70mm f/4 S, both of which are "VR-less", on my Z50. Taking care about selecting the shutter speed when using them produces sharp images.