Volodja
Forum Enthusiast
- Messages
- 316
- Reaction score
- 319
Ordered Z 50 mm f1.8S for my Z6 because initially wasn't extremely happy with sharpness delivered by Z 24-70 f4S … Yes, take it as my personal opinion and, despite of plenty of positive feedback from different sites, I have to say, I am more happy with my Nikkor 24-70 f2.8G at f/4 on D750 than Z 24-70 f4S on Z6. Derived this conclusion after portrait photoshoot using Godox AD600BM and different light scenarios. Nikon 24-70 f2.8G and D750 sensor just work together differently. It's not about sharpness but look, well, this post is not about that.
So new 50 mm f1.8 from lens Nikon! We have been waiting ages for an update!
Finally it arrived. How does it perform? Sharp, sharp from f/1.8 already. Different league compared to Nikkor 50 mm f1.8G.
It focuses fast. Well, there were some missed shots in both AF-S and AF-C and statistically I still have to evaluate them to separate camera effect and effect caused by user (still in learning curve with mirrorless). Seemingly there were few more shots in not perfect focus when object moved. There where no obvious issue with static objects.
You will appreciate this new 50 mm on Z7 as well as on Z6. On Z6 you particularly want to have the sharpest lens in order to squeeze as much resolution as possible from its new sensor. Why so? Because it has strong AA filter. Stronger than its predecessor D750. You will see less details from Z6 using the same lens. I tried it with FTZ adapted 60 mm 2.8G macro lens. That is why friend of mine is extremely happy with 24-70 f4S lens on Z7 and I am less so on Z6 but 50 mm is very good one!
Finally had an opportunity to take it out and perform small test. While photographing people, regular people not models with professional makeup, Z7 won't forgive any imperfection, D750 will, and you will spend much less time with corrections in post. That is what I expected and why purchased Z6. Unless high res is needed 24 MP should deliver enough quality to satisfy most but still, speaking about sensor only, Sony A7III and D750 will be sharper. You can also derive this conclusion from dpreview scene comparison chart when looking on RAW files (JPEG processing changes with newer generations of course). Please note 50 mm 1.8S lens was used for Z6 scene test whereas all other Nikon cameras including high res Z7 were tested with 85 mm 1.8G lens at f/5.6. I still think that to have apple to apple reference sensor only comparison dpreview stuff should also test Z6 with 85 mm 1.8G not with this new 50 mm 1.8S.
If I use primes outdoor then mostly wide opened unless group photograph or when more background has to be shown. When it comes to aesthetic the sharpness isn't the most important factor but overall atmosphere lens can create and deliver to viewer. Sometimes it is very subjective. I like Nikon 85 1.8G and 135 1.8 Art Sigma for example. They offer something special. However, often there is not enough space for those two and 50 mm is very handy despite of distortion it may introduce to portraits at close distances.
While reviewing images from new 50 mm 1.8S lens I notices that off-focus highlights where a bit too busy. Onion rings? O no!
Checked all resources and only Cameralab review "so far" recently reported about it while comparing the lens with Otus 55 mm f1.4 and Sigma 50 mm f1.4 Art.
https://www.cameralabs.com/nikon-z-50mm-f1-8s-review/
It is there, if you buy the lens, you have to live with this small aesthetical handicap.
Here are some examples from real life scenario (100% cropped background) to emphasize the issue.
Z6, lens Nikon Z 50 mm f1.8S at f/1.8, 100% crop
Z6, lens Nikon Z 50 mm f1.8S at f/1.8, 100% crop
Z6, lens Nikon Z 50 mm f1.8S at f/1.8, 100% crop
Here is following home test. LED lights only, dark background.
Z6, Nikon Z 50 mm f1.8S at f/1.8, closest focus
Z6, Nikon Z 50 mm f1.8S at f/1.8, closest focus, 100% crop from above
Z6, Nikon Z 50 mm f1.8S at f/1.8, middle focus distance
Z6, Nikon Z 50 mm f1.8S at f/1.8, middle focus distance, 100% crop from above
As you can see, there is distinct ring surrounding circle and circle itself isn't very busy at closest focus distance. The closer focus point is, the bigger size of circle in background, the most clean inside it appears to be. Those are the best examples. When moving focusing point further away towards infinity, circles become smaller and at this point one starts to observe formation of onion rings. You try different scenarios to learn how lens behave but you will troubles to engineer not busy looking off-focus highlights in real life scenario with Christmas lights in background for example. Quality and nature of highlights itself in reality are different and not always perfect like in this scene ( mixed of reflected lights, light sources), etc.
Few more examples
Z6, Nikon Z 50 mm f1.8S at f/4, closer focus distance
Z6, Nikon Z 50 mm f1.8S at f/4, closer focus distance, 100% crop from above
How does it compared with different lenses?
Here is 24-70 f4S, 50mm at f/4
Z6, Nikon Z 24-70 kit lens f4S, 50 mm at f/4, closer focus distance
Z6, Nikon Z 24-70 kit lens f4S, 50 mm at f/4, closer focus distance, 100% crop from above
Here is 24-70 f/2.8G lens
Z6 with adapted 24-70 f2.8G lens, 50 mm at f/4, closer focus
Here is 85 mm 1.8G lens
Z6 with adapted 85 mm f1.8G lens at f/1.8, closer focus
Z6 with adapted Nikon 85 mm f1.8G lens at f/1.8, closer focus, 100% crop from above
Here is “Onion rings master” Tamron 35 f1.8 Di VC at f/1.8. You can see that it can be much worse.
Z6 with adapted Tamron 35 mm f1.8 VC lens, at f/1.8, middle focus distance
Z6 with adapted Tamron 35 mm f1.8 VC lens, at f/1.8, middle focus distance, 100% crop from above
And the last one Sigma 135 at f/1.8, beautiful ...
Z6 with adapted Sigma Art 135 mm 1.8 lens, at f/1.8, close focus distance
Z6 with adapted Sigma Art 135 mm 1.8 lens, at f/1.8, middle focus distance
It's a bit sad... If Nikon Z 85 mm 1.8S (supposed to arrive in 2019) will show such quality of off-focus point-like light sources as this new 50 mm Z lens it won't score much or applause.
One more aspect, handling, particularly focus ring.
Personally I didn't find the tactile feeling it provides very pleasant. It seems to be build out of plastic (?) with very tiny groves. Those grooves capture dust particles very efficiently in contrast to wider groves of classical rubber F-mount rings. Somehow fingers slides on this ring instead of gripping it. Don't get me wrong lens provide solid build quality impression and focus ring is smooth and very “buttery” when rotating. It is definitely useful for manual focus usage in contrast to extremely thin loose focus ring on 24-70 f4S kit lens which is literally useless (try to control something with it ...). I just would prefer that is made of nice and tactile rubber that has by far better adhesion properties and, as result, better grip with fingers. It's all about feeling it in hands. Durability? One can always replace polished by time rubber ring with new one like on F-mount lenses but how this new ring will look like after bumping into something after couple of years I can't say. Nikon went with this design across complete S-line starting with kit zoom (only rubber zoom ring) and 35 mm f1.8S lens. It seems that coming soon Noct 58 mm f0.95S will adopt similar concept. Again, it is just personal experience that has nothing to do with lens or image quality but, it is also not a lens for 200$. I love focus rings quality of Sigma Art primes.
Will I keep the lens? If I have to sell something, Nikon Z 24-70 f4S lens will be the first in row. The question is rather if I keep Z6 system in general. If so, yes, I will keep 50 mm f1.8S as well because, as I mentioned above, if you want to squeeze maximum out of this new sensor, you need the sharpest possible lens. As it seems so far, this new Z 50 mm prime is the sharpest one from still very young S-line.
So new 50 mm f1.8 from lens Nikon! We have been waiting ages for an update!
Finally it arrived. How does it perform? Sharp, sharp from f/1.8 already. Different league compared to Nikkor 50 mm f1.8G.
It focuses fast. Well, there were some missed shots in both AF-S and AF-C and statistically I still have to evaluate them to separate camera effect and effect caused by user (still in learning curve with mirrorless). Seemingly there were few more shots in not perfect focus when object moved. There where no obvious issue with static objects.
You will appreciate this new 50 mm on Z7 as well as on Z6. On Z6 you particularly want to have the sharpest lens in order to squeeze as much resolution as possible from its new sensor. Why so? Because it has strong AA filter. Stronger than its predecessor D750. You will see less details from Z6 using the same lens. I tried it with FTZ adapted 60 mm 2.8G macro lens. That is why friend of mine is extremely happy with 24-70 f4S lens on Z7 and I am less so on Z6 but 50 mm is very good one!
Finally had an opportunity to take it out and perform small test. While photographing people, regular people not models with professional makeup, Z7 won't forgive any imperfection, D750 will, and you will spend much less time with corrections in post. That is what I expected and why purchased Z6. Unless high res is needed 24 MP should deliver enough quality to satisfy most but still, speaking about sensor only, Sony A7III and D750 will be sharper. You can also derive this conclusion from dpreview scene comparison chart when looking on RAW files (JPEG processing changes with newer generations of course). Please note 50 mm 1.8S lens was used for Z6 scene test whereas all other Nikon cameras including high res Z7 were tested with 85 mm 1.8G lens at f/5.6. I still think that to have apple to apple reference sensor only comparison dpreview stuff should also test Z6 with 85 mm 1.8G not with this new 50 mm 1.8S.
If I use primes outdoor then mostly wide opened unless group photograph or when more background has to be shown. When it comes to aesthetic the sharpness isn't the most important factor but overall atmosphere lens can create and deliver to viewer. Sometimes it is very subjective. I like Nikon 85 1.8G and 135 1.8 Art Sigma for example. They offer something special. However, often there is not enough space for those two and 50 mm is very handy despite of distortion it may introduce to portraits at close distances.
While reviewing images from new 50 mm 1.8S lens I notices that off-focus highlights where a bit too busy. Onion rings? O no!
Checked all resources and only Cameralab review "so far" recently reported about it while comparing the lens with Otus 55 mm f1.4 and Sigma 50 mm f1.4 Art.
https://www.cameralabs.com/nikon-z-50mm-f1-8s-review/
It is there, if you buy the lens, you have to live with this small aesthetical handicap.
Here are some examples from real life scenario (100% cropped background) to emphasize the issue.
Z6, lens Nikon Z 50 mm f1.8S at f/1.8, 100% crop
Z6, lens Nikon Z 50 mm f1.8S at f/1.8, 100% crop
Z6, lens Nikon Z 50 mm f1.8S at f/1.8, 100% crop
Here is following home test. LED lights only, dark background.
Z6, Nikon Z 50 mm f1.8S at f/1.8, closest focus
Z6, Nikon Z 50 mm f1.8S at f/1.8, closest focus, 100% crop from above
Z6, Nikon Z 50 mm f1.8S at f/1.8, middle focus distance
Z6, Nikon Z 50 mm f1.8S at f/1.8, middle focus distance, 100% crop from above
As you can see, there is distinct ring surrounding circle and circle itself isn't very busy at closest focus distance. The closer focus point is, the bigger size of circle in background, the most clean inside it appears to be. Those are the best examples. When moving focusing point further away towards infinity, circles become smaller and at this point one starts to observe formation of onion rings. You try different scenarios to learn how lens behave but you will troubles to engineer not busy looking off-focus highlights in real life scenario with Christmas lights in background for example. Quality and nature of highlights itself in reality are different and not always perfect like in this scene ( mixed of reflected lights, light sources), etc.
Few more examples
Z6, Nikon Z 50 mm f1.8S at f/4, closer focus distance
Z6, Nikon Z 50 mm f1.8S at f/4, closer focus distance, 100% crop from above
How does it compared with different lenses?
Here is 24-70 f4S, 50mm at f/4
Z6, Nikon Z 24-70 kit lens f4S, 50 mm at f/4, closer focus distance
Z6, Nikon Z 24-70 kit lens f4S, 50 mm at f/4, closer focus distance, 100% crop from above
Here is 24-70 f/2.8G lens
Z6 with adapted 24-70 f2.8G lens, 50 mm at f/4, closer focus
Here is 85 mm 1.8G lens
Z6 with adapted 85 mm f1.8G lens at f/1.8, closer focus
Z6 with adapted Nikon 85 mm f1.8G lens at f/1.8, closer focus, 100% crop from above
Here is “Onion rings master” Tamron 35 f1.8 Di VC at f/1.8. You can see that it can be much worse.
Z6 with adapted Tamron 35 mm f1.8 VC lens, at f/1.8, middle focus distance
Z6 with adapted Tamron 35 mm f1.8 VC lens, at f/1.8, middle focus distance, 100% crop from above
And the last one Sigma 135 at f/1.8, beautiful ...
Z6 with adapted Sigma Art 135 mm 1.8 lens, at f/1.8, close focus distance
Z6 with adapted Sigma Art 135 mm 1.8 lens, at f/1.8, middle focus distance
It's a bit sad... If Nikon Z 85 mm 1.8S (supposed to arrive in 2019) will show such quality of off-focus point-like light sources as this new 50 mm Z lens it won't score much or applause.
One more aspect, handling, particularly focus ring.
Personally I didn't find the tactile feeling it provides very pleasant. It seems to be build out of plastic (?) with very tiny groves. Those grooves capture dust particles very efficiently in contrast to wider groves of classical rubber F-mount rings. Somehow fingers slides on this ring instead of gripping it. Don't get me wrong lens provide solid build quality impression and focus ring is smooth and very “buttery” when rotating. It is definitely useful for manual focus usage in contrast to extremely thin loose focus ring on 24-70 f4S kit lens which is literally useless (try to control something with it ...). I just would prefer that is made of nice and tactile rubber that has by far better adhesion properties and, as result, better grip with fingers. It's all about feeling it in hands. Durability? One can always replace polished by time rubber ring with new one like on F-mount lenses but how this new ring will look like after bumping into something after couple of years I can't say. Nikon went with this design across complete S-line starting with kit zoom (only rubber zoom ring) and 35 mm f1.8S lens. It seems that coming soon Noct 58 mm f0.95S will adopt similar concept. Again, it is just personal experience that has nothing to do with lens or image quality but, it is also not a lens for 200$. I love focus rings quality of Sigma Art primes.
Will I keep the lens? If I have to sell something, Nikon Z 24-70 f4S lens will be the first in row. The question is rather if I keep Z6 system in general. If so, yes, I will keep 50 mm f1.8S as well because, as I mentioned above, if you want to squeeze maximum out of this new sensor, you need the sharpest possible lens. As it seems so far, this new Z 50 mm prime is the sharpest one from still very young S-line.
. 
