Canon 50/1.8 vs Nikon 50/1.8

S

stip

Well-known member
Anybody got to compare the Canon 50mm 1.8 plastic fantastic and the Nikon 50mm 1.8 (D, AF, Nikkor or Series E)?

I have the Canon and like it, but I use it a lot at 1.8 and was wondering if the Nikon might be sharper wide open?! I know it's said to be one of the sharpest lenses, but only when stopped down as far as I've read.
 
With an adaptor such as the Fotodiox, you'll be using an older model Nikon which will have a manual aperature adjustment.

Those 1.8 Nikons are very sharp. But so is the Canon. There is nothing to decide between them in terms of optical quality.

The Canon might be slightly easier to use due to the fact that the f-stop setting can be done electronically.

An older Nikon may have a longer focus throw, however. Since manual focus is usually the order of the day, that might influence your choice.

The Nikon will be heavier regardless of the vintage. The Canon 1.8 is extremely light.
 
Ive owned both and the nikon is FAR superior.

I also now have a nikon 50 1.4 taht i really like (its the old school one), focus isnt super smooth like the newer 1.8, but might just be my copy.
 
I prefer the Nikon as well but the new Canon 1.8 actually has superior optics. Mechanically, it sucks, though, especially on manual focus, where you need it for video. But it's a spectacularly sharp lens, which is not necessarily great for video. The Nikon is also extremely good, but a little softer wide open. ( A very, very little softer ).
 
Thanks guys!
I made a little test yesterday and found that the Canon 50 1.8 is actually pretty sharp wide open. The thing is that, in real life, you simply can't focus as precise as you'd need to get it that sharp wide open. I manually focused using 10x magnifying function on LCD and it took several seconds to get "clean" focus. Anything even VERY slightly off immidiately produced halo; my test object was a flat surface, so that's not really "real life" as well.
And yeah, mechanically it sucks and doesn't make focusing easy.

How does the Nikon 50 1.4 that you mentioned perform wide open?
 
I have a Nikon 1.4 as well (I find the focus to be fine, with lots of rotation.

I'm posting a test shortly on my website, but for photos, it's a little soft wide open. I don't mind that for video, though. I'll have some tests shot at night and early evening.

It's not considered one of their better photo lenses, for sure. Less sharp than the 1.8. But has a great "look".
 
stip said:
Anybody got to compare the Canon 50mm 1.8 plastic fantastic and the Nikon 50mm 1.8 (D, AF, Nikkor or Series E)?

I have the Canon and like it, but I use it a lot at 1.8 and was wondering if the Nikon might be sharper wide open?! I know it's said to be one of the sharpest lenses, but only when stopped down as far as I've read
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Click to expand...

dude if you have a chance comparing these two, the canons will almost always beat any lens out there in terms of quality.
 
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