{"id":18054,"date":"2013-11-15T03:44:41","date_gmt":"2013-11-15T07:44:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/?p=18054"},"modified":"2017-08-11T21:35:53","modified_gmt":"2017-08-12T01:35:53","slug":"review-nikon-58mm-f1-4g-lens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/review-nikon-58mm-f1-4g-lens\/","title":{"rendered":"review: Nikon 58mm f\/1.4G lens"},"content":{"rendered":"

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review: Nikon 58mm f\/1.4G lens<\/h1>\n

The Nikon 58mm f\/1.4G<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0 (B&H<\/a> \/ Amazon<\/a><\/em>) is an odd focal length. It’s not-50mm. More than that, the\u00a0Nikon 50mm f\/1.4G<\/a>\u00a0(affiliate<\/em>) is only $440, and this new 58mm lens is $1,700 … yup, that’s a pretty hefty difference! The price of the 58mm lens is in line with the 85mm f\/1.4G \u2026 so could one expect improved performance?<\/p>\n

I have to admit that the 50mm f\/1.4G is my least used lens, along with the fish-eye. I’m just not that excited about using it. The focal length is just not wide enough (like a 35mm might be), nor tighter like a 85mm lens might be. So while the 50mm lens is affordable, it doesn’t set my creativity alight. So here’s a new version, which from the outside, looks like it is only slightly different. So what would set this new 58mm apart?<\/p>\n

Looking at Nikon’s info about the lens, a little more is revealed:<\/p>\n

Its fast f\/1.4 maximum aperture produces outstanding evenly lit images with edge-to-edge sharpness\u2014virtually no sagittal coma or light falloff. Its unique design and rounded 9-blade diaphragm produce stunning bokeh and depth of field control from f\/1.4 to infinity\u2014equally useful in daytime portraits and nighttime cityscapes.<\/p>\n

So we’d expect a crisply sharp lens with minimal optical aberrations when used wide open. This would make the lens geared towards low-light photography (with pin-point light-sources that are controlled well.) And this lens is designed to have great bokeh.<\/p>\n

That it handles coma very well, would indicate that this lens might be seen as a successor to the Noct Nikkor 58mm f\/1.2 which is a legendary performer.<\/p>\n

I was fortunate in being able to try out the\u00a0Nikon 58mm f\/1.4G<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(affiliate<\/em>), and took some photographs at night in Manhattan. I also did a few comparison shots with the Nikon 50mm f\/1.4G<\/a>\u00a0(affiliate<\/em>). Now,\u00a0I didn’t shoot that much because it’s cold out there! So I’m only posting a few images for now, but they should suffice to show the optical performance of this lens.<\/p>\n

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Specifications of the Nikon 58mm f\/1.4G<\/h2>\n