Nikon Z 50mm F1.8 vs. Nikon Z MC 50mm F2.8

[JMV2]

https://www.dpreview.com/products/c...&products=nikon_z_mc_50_2p8&sortDir=ascending

Does anyone have any idea which lens I should get ?
My primary use will be to scan slides or negatives using the
ES-2 Film Digitizing Adapter Set

The pricing difference isn't much, so I was wondering what makes them different.
Since the F1.8 was built in 2018, is the F2.8 built in 2022 a better lens ?

I have a Z6

Any Insights ?

Thanks

 

[PLShutterbug]

https://www.dpreview.com/products/c...&products=nikon_z_mc_50_2p8&sortDir=ascending

Does anyone have any idea which lens I should get ?
My primary use will be to scan slides or negatives using the
ES-2 Film Digitizing Adapter Set

The pricing difference isn't much, so I was wondering what makes them different.
Since the F1.8 was built in 2018, is the F2.8 built in 2022 a better lens ?

I have a Z6

Any Insights ?

Thanks

The MC is a macro lens, capable of focusing at 1:1 ratio. It also has a maximum aperture of f/2.8.

The 50/1.8 S is a really fine lens, from what I hear. I don’t own one.

Since it is an S lens that implies it is optically superior to the MC 50.

If you are digitizing slides then you will need a macro lens.

 

[Whois]

Does anyone have any idea which lens I should get ?
My primary use will be to scan slides or negatives using the
ES-2 Film Digitizing Adapter Set

If that's all you want to do with it and you already have an FTZ adapter have you considered getting an old 60mm macro second-hand?

 

[JayPhizzt]

https://www.dpreview.com/products/c...&products=nikon_z_mc_50_2p8&sortDir=ascending

Does anyone have any idea which lens I should get ?
My primary use will be to scan slides or negatives using the
ES-2 Film Digitizing Adapter Set

The pricing difference isn't much, so I was wondering what makes them different.
Since the F1.8 was built in 2018, is the F2.8 built in 2022 a better lens ?

I have a Z6

Any Insights ?

Thanks

The Z50/2.8 is a macro lens while the Z50/1.8 isn't.

The Z50/1.8 is an S-line lens so it should be better optically, although the Z50/2.8 is still a very good performer.

For slides/negatives I'd go with the Z50/2.8 since a macro lens is better suited for that job. I don't know if you'd even be able to get close enough with the Z50/1.8.

Another upside to the Z50/2.8 is that it's smaller and lighter than the Z50/1.8.

 

[emax]

https://www.dpreview.com/products/c...&products=nikon_z_mc_50_2p8&sortDir=ascending

Does anyone have any idea which lens I should get ?
My primary use will be to scan slides or negatives.

The f/1,8 lens has a maximum reproduction ratio of only 0.15x, so it won't be optimal for copying a 35mm frame without extension tubes or bellows.

 

[WalterH]

The old F2.8 and F3.5 Micro Nikkor work very well for slide copying. Unless you bid on a collectors item these lenses can be had for very little money.

 

[MoreorLess]

The old F2.8 and F3.5 Micro Nikkor work very well for slide copying. Unless you bid on a collectors item these lenses can be had for very little money.

Honestly that would be my feeling, Macro lenses tended to be some of if not the sharpest on offer back in the day so your losing less performance wise than you would with an older normal prime.

 

[Terrible Photographer]

https://www.dpreview.com/products/c...&products=nikon_z_mc_50_2p8&sortDir=ascending

Does anyone have any idea which lens I should get ?
My primary use will be to scan slides or negatives using the
ES-2 Film Digitizing Adapter Set

The pricing difference isn't much, so I was wondering what makes them different.
Since the F1.8 was built in 2018, is the F2.8 built in 2022 a better lens ?

I have a Z6

Any Insights ?

Thanks

For sure the 50MC, it's practically designed for work like that.

The 60mm AF-S Micro might be a slightly more appropriate focal length for that though, the ES-2 was designed for that lens in mind.

 

[NeedMorePractice]

Between those two, the MC 50 2.8 is the clear choice for your purposes. The 1.8 is a great lens, but it would not meet your needs based on your stated requirements.

 

[rscott900ss]

I would look for a used Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 Ai-S.

 

[PLShutterbug]

Two more comments on this:

You created another thread about the Nikon vs. 3rd party slide adapter. The 3p adapter specifically mentions the 50MC, and that is because it is a macro lens.

The year of release has nothing to do with Z lens quality, because the whole range is only four years old. Manufacturers tend to sell the same lens for five-plus years before releasing a new version, and the Z lenses have all been superb. Ask that question again in 10 years about the gen-1 vs. gen-2 lenses and you will get good debate.

 

[DuncanIdaho]

I would choose a lens with no field curvature that is optimized for close distances. Hence I’d give the edge to the macro lens in this case

--
Visit my Flickr albums: https://www.flickr.com/photos/duncanidaho/

 

[carnaby]

Buy a magazine scanner instead, or you'll give up before you're done if you have more than 100 images to scan.

 

[JMV2]

Good point but I am considering using it for more than negative digitizing

JM

 

[JMV2]

Thanks

 

[JMV2]

Thanks

 

[vbuhay]

https://www.dpreview.com/products/c...&products=nikon_z_mc_50_2p8&sortDir=ascending

Does anyone have any idea which lens I should get ?
My primary use will be to scan slides or negatives using the
ES-2 Film Digitizing Adapter Set

The pricing difference isn't much, so I was wondering what makes them different.
Since the F1.8 was built in 2018, is the F2.8 built in 2022 a better lens ?

I have a Z6

Any Insights ?

Thanks

Have a look at both MTF charts, for copying slides you would want to have the flattest curve across the full frame....









Looks to me that the 1.8S will be best for your scanning purpose.

Good luck in you choice...

 

[PLShutterbug]

Well … those MTF charts don’t help much with the OP’s use case. While the 50/1.8 S is sharper, it is not a macro lens so it cannot focus at the 1:1 ratio required for slide or negative reproduction.

For the 50/1.8 S to get to 1:1 the OP will need either extension tubes, a bellows, or close-up lenses. Others have written that the performance of Z lenses suffers more at the edges of the frame than F lenses did if used with bellows or extension tubes, and speculate that the reason is the rear elements being close to the sensor.

While the 50/1.8 S is sharper at its intended focus range, what the OP needs to know is whether that lens will be acceptably sharp in the corners at 1:1.

 

[JMV2]

Great info although I am not knowledgeable about MTF and how to interpret the chart.

But still I will most likely go with your recommendation.

Thanks

 

[JMV2]

What is OP ?
In conclusion which of the 2 lens would you go with ?
Why is 50/1.8s not a macro lens?
Is it because it doesn’t have a 1:1 reproduction ratio?

PLShutterbug wrote:

Well … those MTF charts don’t help much with the OP’s use case. While the 50/1.8 S is sharper, it is not a macro lens so it cannot focus at the 1:1 ratio required for slide or negative reproduction.

For the 50/1.8 S to get to 1:1 the OP will need either extension tubes, a bellows, or close-up lenses. Others have written that the performance of Z lenses suffers more at the edges of the frame than F lenses did if used with bellows or extension tubes, and speculate that the reason is the rear elements being close to the sensor.

While the 50/1.8 S is sharper at its intended focus range, what the OP needs to know is whether that lens will be acceptably sharp in the corners at 1:1.