Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G Lens

I purchased this only after spending about 3 weeks reading and reviewing posts, forums, YouTube reviews, MTF and other charts; the better known websites with comprehensive lens testing reports, evaluations from users who had purchased the lens and put it to task, etc. Safe to say I had been apprised of every good thing and every bad thing anyone had to say about it, ever (at least the past 4 years).I think a little over 60 hours of reading can be boiled down very easy. Good: it has “character” and is a great “art” lens, even great for portraits and for those who enjoy somewhat 3D people pictures. Good for night city or street photography. It has amazing bokeh, razor sharp DOF wide-open and controls all that scientific lens/light source stuff very well ... MoreI purchased this only after spending about 3 weeks reading and reviewing posts, forums, YouTube reviews, MTF and other charts; the better known websites with comprehensive lens testing reports, evaluations from users who had purchased the lens and put it to task, etc. Safe to say I had been apprised of every good thing and every bad thing anyone had to say about it, ever (at least the past 4 years).I think a little over 60 hours of reading can be boiled down very easy. Good: it has “character” and is a great “art” lens, even great for portraits and for those who enjoy somewhat 3D people pictures. Good for night city or street photography. It has amazing bokeh, razor sharp DOF wide-open and controls all that scientific lens/light source stuff very well (distortion-barrel, pin, aberrations-chromatic, spherical, point light, astigmatism, color fringing, field curvature, acutance, coma, flare and ghosting) and on and on. Bad: it costs way too much, isn’t even as good as the nifty-fifties that cost 4-times less, is way too soft wide-open, made out of “cheap plastic,” and many people will actually ramble on about how bad the very aspects are that were purposely built in for the optical goals that deliver the ‘rendering’ qualities of the lens. Moreover, the internet is replete with horrible reviews on this lens from folks who have never had it in their hands… and for the ones that did - never bothered to do any AF-fine tuning to correct any slight OOF issues they may have been experiencing on their particular Nikon DSLR. One of the best tips you can receive about whether you should get this lens is simply “go to Flickr (58mm group) or Fred Miranda and look at the tons of images posted that were taken with the Nikkor 58mm f/1.4 lens - most are illustrated @ 1.4.”Okay, as for me, yes, I went ahead and made the purchase. As soon as I received the lens I went straight to night shots, low light and other difficult picture taking situations to see just how bad it really was. Furthermore, I didn’t check, test or adjust AF-fine-tune. I wanted it to be out-of-the-box for initial tests. I guess I was lucky with the fine-tune, as my center focus seems to be dead on… I will probably still check it, just in case (first tests were on D800e). As for softness, well, I can see what some people might be talking about if you get very close to your subject (MFD) AND have your aperture at f/1.4. In all other situations the only “softness” I experience is in front of or behind the razor thin area of focus, which itself is definitely sharp, and then beautifully transitions to extreme bokeh. And, I’ll also say here what most sensible people say that own this lens, I’m qualifying sharp as in not as sharp as the 85 or 105 1.4’s or an Otus - but otherwise relatively sharp. However, referring to the moaning about how poor IQ is from many reviewers on the net, I personally can’t see what they’re talking about, IF you’re looking in your zone of focus (within the limited DOF) and your AF-fine-tune is squared away, as it should be with any lens. If you actually stop-down with this lens, 2.0, 2.8… and especially to 5.6 the lens becomes very sharp - yes, very... there just isn’t much to debate there unless perhaps it would behoove you to seek the expert assistance of an optometrist.Lastly, since it’s compared ad nauseum to the Sigma Art 50mm, I’ll say (yes, I had one for a short bit) that indeed, the Sigma is sharper, and that’s about it. The Sigma is in all honestly very over rated. If you want to buy the entire line of Sigma Art lenses because “they are just so sharp” then I think there is nothing bad anyone can say about that, as they are indeed ‘sharp.’ Just understand, all the reviewers that are long-time Nikon users and retort that the “really sharp” Sigma Art lenses have no soul and certainly have no character - are absolutely right. To many photographers I fear those thoughts and words may sound crazy. Who cares about soul or character in a lens, right? Well, as these many others have said, if you have these traits in a lens and you are photographically inclined to recognize that quality, then you will certainly see it. Otherwise, the uninitiated using their Sigmas will most likely see little more than a very sharp rectangular box when they look through their viewfinders-which, in and of itself, is okay - I suspect.Thus far, the Nikon 58mm f/1.4 has exceeded my expectations. I’m not just a headshot photographer, I use it for “walking around” and cityscapes, landscapes and just about anything else that looks good at 58mm - which is quite a lot. Admittedly, my initial expectations may have been low in part because so much negative talk inundates the internet regarding this lens. So, I took the lens out the first time with low-hopes. Then, after seeing it shine, I took it out again and again getting more pleased as I went. Indeed, the lens is 4 years old now (since Nikon introduced it, not to me), and I think the 50mm f/1.4G is pushing something like 10 years. Certainly Nikon is going to be presenting a new Nikon 50mm E series 1.4 lens soon (maybe 2018?). For those who want a more clinical response from your lenses, I might suggest waiting for that lens. If inclined, you could just play it safe with the Sigma, which, like a new car is great… at first. After it wears a little, the AF components start to atrophy, you carry that weight around all day, and all the aspects of a lens that costs half what Nikon/Canon/Sony lenses cost start to show their ugly heads - you can always take the money you saved on the Sigma, and go buy a new one! :)In conclusion, the 58mm is actually phenomenal if you understand it’s not a utility-fifty you shove in your back pocket for the catch-all lens of the day when you’re tired of carrying around beast #1 & beast #2 (Nikon 24-70 f/2.8 & 70-200 f/2.8). The 58mm is a gem you want to use when you actually “think” about your photography and “compose” your shots. I love it. I also love 58mm, more than 50mm, but that’s just me. The 58mm is actually a “fifty” you can leave on your body all day and shoot everything in site. Expensive? Heck yes. But, the thing that I don’t understand about all the remarks regarding its price is that all the 1.4 high-quality lenses from the major lens companies are in this price range. And, yes… no matter how much hating anyone does on the lens, it IS high-quality, like it or not. If you read much on this lens, you will see these incessant comments, based primarily on ignorance, regarding the “cheap plastic” of the lens. Seriously, hand-to-head-slap on that one. I think we have to wake up to reality and understand it’s 2017 (at the time of this writing) and “plastics” for one, cover a seriously diverse array of manufacturing materials. That is to say, materials that are safe, solid and have even better protection qualities compared to metal. Number two, there is the weight factor; regardless of whether or not you’re proud to carry around 3 to 5 lb. lenses, there are other considerations being contemplated and calculated when engineers develop the casings for lenses (I’m just assuming because I’m pretty sure lens designers and engineers know more than me, and most of you about this topic). Cutting cost and saving money? Sure, I think that’s probably a consideration, and I’m good with that as long as some of the savings is going into optics research, which I’m doubtful it isn’t.I’d say get this lens if you’re “thinking about it” and you’re a serious photographer. If you’re not a serious photographer, then seriously, don’t get it.

I am a full-time professional photographer who has been shooting pro for over 30 years. As you can imagine I have been through many cameras and lenses. Although I fully embrace digital equipment, its ceaseless effort towards perfection can actually lead to loss of character in my opinion. That's when a lens like this comes in. If you look at the hardcore by-the-numbers tests this lens fails. However, if you shoot with it you just might *love* it like I do. Nikon has clearly created this lens with total disregard to the technical testers, with one goal in mind: make beautiful photographs. Yes, it vignettes, yes, it distorts; but I shoot it at f/1.4 all the time and end up with stunning, artistic images that evoke a time before digital existed. In fact, when ... MoreI am a full-time professional photographer who has been shooting pro for over 30 years. As you can imagine I have been through many cameras and lenses. Although I fully embrace digital equipment, its ceaseless effort towards perfection can actually lead to loss of character in my opinion. That's when a lens like this comes in. If you look at the hardcore by-the-numbers tests this lens fails. However, if you shoot with it you just might *love* it like I do. Nikon has clearly created this lens with total disregard to the technical testers, with one goal in mind: make beautiful photographs. Yes, it vignettes, yes, it distorts; but I shoot it at f/1.4 all the time and end up with stunning, artistic images that evoke a time before digital existed. In fact, when processing in Lightroom I usually leave the Lens Corrections setting turned off! If you like to shoot wide open and strive for an artistic look you will love this lens. Happy shooting!

Awesome, as usual! I especially loved the lens! One thing that surprised me is that I received my rental two days prior to expected. I just wish I didn't have to work those two days! Otherwise, I would have snuck in some extra shoots. LOL I don't rent often, but when I do it's Lensrentals.com!