Nikon charges a premium for the 58/1.4g and purchasing this lens is a very personal decision. Why would you buy this 58? If you want gorgeous bokeh and out of focus rendering. If you want shallow DOF and a dreamy look or glow to your portraits. If you want a superb low light lens. If you want a lens that takes the place of a 50 and 85 in your camera bag. In fact the last reason does not get enough attention. Not perfectly, but this lens can produce portraits similar to the 85 while retaining the versatility of the 50. Kind of a two for one lens deal. There are other reasons, but these should suffice. And of course there are a couple of things to consider. At close distance, the DOF is very thin so I recommend making certain the focus is fine tuned to your camera. The lens has been criticized for lack of sharpness wide open. No question, the lens is sharper at f2, but IMO sharpness is not an issue wide open as long as focus is spot on. The lens is about the same size and weight as the 85/1.8g and handles and balances fine on a D800e. Focus speed is fast and consistent in good light and bad. No complaints. Nikon charges a premium going from the 85/1.8g to the 85/1.4g, from the 50/1.8g to the 50/1.4g. The only question is whether its worth paying a premium for the 58/1.4g - and that is a decision you must make. I did and am very pleased.
dmbTank
5
Comment
Many people point out that at f/1.4 the lens is soft but they fail to realize this lens is very useful for both people, Nighttime, and landscapes. You can see some photos taken with this excellent lens on the truetoad site, review section - just google truetoad 58mm. The lens is light - The lens focuses fast - The lens renders color and contrast very well - The lens is very sharp - Makes an excellent lens for taking people pictures - Yes it is pricey, but this lens provides a unique look and in my opinion worth the price.
Jim T.
5
Comment
This lens is amazing for street photography and even portraits of babies and children. Although it is optimized more for pleasing images over sharpness, it is still plenty sharp. While this lens is expensive, one look at images of children makes it obvious what the money went towards. Anyone thinking of buying this lens should go for it.
Haniel
5
Comment
I got rid of all my SIGMA lenses, YES I said it! Sigma your lenses are sharp and great until they are out of calibration and then its dooms day to calibrate them even with the Sigma hub! Nikon 58 F1.4G is one of the sharpest lens I have used. Build quality is slightly cheap, however it backs it up in sharpness and quality of images. If you are pro wedding Photog, you need this lens for portraits period!
Flying Saucer
5
Comment
Ive had this lens for about two years. All you have read is true. Great Bokeh, expensive, and for many, not worth the price. I have both this and the 50mm 1.8G. This is the lens that stays on my camera when i leave the the house. At the first, the FL is a bit odd...not quite 50, but not 85. The bokeh is as good as the 85G, if not better. This lens is not as sharp as the 85, but it is sharper than the 50 1.8 G. I shoot at 1.4 only if i have to (Low low light), I think the sweet spot is 1.6-2.8.
Haruna
5
Comment
Great bokeh, works great at dim light. Some reviews mentioned there is a focus drift for this lens, I guess Im lucky because my copy do not has that. One thing you need to know is that a lens has to either cover the sharpness or the bokeh and it is very hard to get both, so if you want a corner to corner sharpness, this lens is not the exact thing you want. It is absolutely a very good lens, just designed in a very unique way.
Naldox
5
Comment
Its sharp when you want it to be sharp but the transition from sharp to out of focus is the most delicate Ive ever seen. Definitely one of Nikons best.
Weston C Photographer
5
Comment
Great lens! I was hesitant because of the price point but the focal range, color rendering and design make it well worth the dough. As a full-time wedding photographer holding a camera (even with a rapid strap) puts a lot of strain on my fingers/wrist. This lens is so light you dont even know its there. It feels like its 1/3 of the weight of the 24mm or 85mm 1.4! The focal range is rad simply because you get all the nifty fifty versatility but not the distortion that the 50mm 1.4 puts on a closer portrait. I used to shoot my 50mm @ 1.4G a lot because it could handle it. My only complaint with the 58mm is that it doesnt seem to nail the focus as much @ f1.4. f2 is golden though. Im still getting used to it so that aspect could be me but so far I love it. If I do need the wider look of the 50mm, which is rare, I use my 50mm 1.4D from my F3 film body. Still has the auto focus and aperture ring and works with both film and digital! #nikonforlife So far I have shot 2 weddings and 2 engagements with the 58mm. I tend to switch to my 85mm less now simply because it takes care of those closer 3/4 portraits of two people. If I was shooting a single subject I would prefer the perspective of the 85mm though. You can see some examples on my website/blog if youre like me and need a visual to confirm your purchase! WestonCPhotographer.com
Tim F.
5
Comment
Absolutely love this lens for what it helps me create. From low light photos to beatuful bokeh and sharp wide images this lens is now my go to.
GS
5
Comment
I have used a lot of high quality lenses and so write with a fair amount of experience. I love this lens. In the Nikon range this is the closest thing to the Leica 50mm Summilux that I have come across. Colors are perhaps not as vibrant as with other fine Nikkor lenses but it has a wonderful ethereal feel to it. It is plenty sharp, certainly at the center, and has a wonderful bokeh. But its distinguishing feature is its look. If you are looking for a straight-up 50mm prime (which is unfortunately a bit of a challenge in the Nikon line-up) this lens may not be for you. But if you want what this lens is designed for you wont be disappointed. Dont just think of it as a regular Nikkor because it isnt. Read what Nikon had in mind when they designed it so you know what to expect.
Make sure this fitsby entering your model number. Excels in low-light and nighttime applications Maximum reproduction ratio: 0.13x. Exceptionally sharp, evenly lit, high-contrast shots Focus Mode - Auto,Manual,Manual/Auto 9 rounded-blade aperture for excellent bokeh control Picture Angle with 35mm (135) format-40° 50′
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