Nikon 50mm f/1.8G - Lens Review

image © NikonUSA

Background

The "nifty-fifty".  I highly recommend that everyone have one of these lenses.  Versatile, inexpensive and a great jack of all trades.  The Nikon 50mm f/1.8G is an upgrade to our older 50mm f/1.8D.  If you've read our 70-300mm AF-P lens review, you'll know that this is an upgrade to prepare for our impending purchase of the new Nikon mirrorless camera, Z6.

This 50mm with AF-S should work perfectly on the Z6 with FTZ adapter.

How does the newer lens hold up against our previous version?    Let's discuss!

Nikon D750
1/100, f/4, ISO 100

Handling/Size/Weight

The 50mm f/1.8G is larger in all dimensions than the older 50mm f/1.8D.   Don't get me wrong, the G version is still not "large", but it is definitely bigger.   As with most things in the camera world, size is relative to the person.

One thing that I did not like about the 50mm D version was the fact that the AF ring at the front of the lens would move.  The G version does not do this.   You do get the added bonus of the G lens having full time manual focus override.

Since the lens is a little bit bigger and you don't have to worry about your fingers on the AF ring, I'd definitely give the handling edge to the G.

The amount of plastics and the simple design do not make this a heavy lens either.  Definitely something that we can keep with us a lot of the time with little to no carry penalty.

It feels quality in the hand, so do not be put off by the amount of plastic used in the body.  You've still got the metal lens mount.

Nikon D750
1/50, f/4, ISO 500

Image Quality

With modern optics and coatings the newer 50mm G may have a slight edge over the D.  Certainly not enough to make that a sole decision on which on to buy.   50mm prime was the second lens I ever bought and one that I wish I had convinced myself to buy earlier.  The IQ is great, rendering is crisp with good contrast.

Images for you to view:

Nikon D750
1/125, f/4, ISO 100

Nikon D750
1/50, f/4, ISO 125

Focusing

Focusing is quick and accurate.   The AF-S motor is not silent like other lenses, but it is quieter by far than the screw drive D version we owned previously.

I did not experience any focus hunting while using the lens on the Nikon D750.

Focus speed is great and I never fear that using this lens will make me miss a shot because the AF was not fast enough.

Bottom Line

If I were not wanting to migrate my lenses in anticipation of the Nikon Z6, I would still own the 50mm f/1.8D.  The move here was basically a lateral move.  My big question to answer was to ensure that the functionality and IQ is at least lateral.   I'm not going to lie, I did think about upgrading and getting the 50mm f/1.4G.   Given the price increase and other reviews and our use....if all these years the 50mm f/1.8D worked just fine - shifting over to the 50mm f/1.8G just made the most sense.

We are again in a situation where a recommendation for either lens really comes down to what you want to spend and what cameras you have.  If you need f/1.4, then there really is no substitute.

If you have no desire to upgrade to a camera without an in body focus motor and want to save some money....the Nikon 50mm f1/.8D is my recommendation.

If you have a plan on getting a Nikon camera without an in body focus motor or are looking to move to the new mirrorless Z cameras the newer 50mm f1/.8G is a perfect choice.

Some additional images for your viewing pleasure!

Nikon Df
1/2000, f/2.8, ISO 100

Nikon Df
1/1250, f/1.8, ISO 100

Nikon Df
1/60, f/1.8, ISO 100

The above image of the Butterfinger wrapper is shot through glass as well, just to be completely transparent on the shooting conditions.  Auto Focus was on the 'r' on the wrapper.

Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-P DX VR - Lens Review

image © NikonUSA

Background

Looking for a smaller wide to medium zoom lens for use on the Nikon D500, one of the highly regarded consumer zooms is the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DX AF-P VR.

Having previously used the Nikon 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6 VR, that lens has not really gotten a lot of use.

Will this smaller, newer lens be able to cut the grade?  Come with us on our review and find out.

Nikon D500
1/50, f/5.6, ISO 100 @ 18mm

Handling/Size/Weight

18-55mm is a tiny lens.  Mainly plastic, this lens is also very light weight.   It is a DX only lens, so it's utility will be limited to APS-C sensors.

There is a lock button on the 18-55mm which prevents the zoom from extending when it is in the locked position.  Pressing the button and turning the zoom ring will get you to 18mm and then the zoom lens will work like any other you are used to.   To go back to it's compact position, you press the lock button again and park the lens.

The mount is plastic, so if there is a potential point of failure, it could be this part.

Zooming from 18-55 does not take very long of a throw, so zooming through the range is fast.

The focus ring is very small, so using manual focus may be a bit of a challenge for those who need it.

VR

Another point to mention is that there is no VR on/off switch on the lens.  This lens leaves the VR on by default.  If you want to turn it off, you'll need to use a camera that has the ability to turn the VR on/off within the menu system.

The VR works adequately.   Normally 18-55mm focal lengths don't need a lot of VR help, but it is nice to have it for when you need it that to not have it at all.

Nikon D500
1/60, f/4.8, ISO 1250 @ 38mm

Nikon D500
1/40, f/8, ISO 1400 @ 24mm

Image Quality

Nikon has done something very special with these AF-P lenses.  They are some of the sharpest kit lenses I've used for DSLR systems.  We were pleasantly surprised by the 70-300 AF-P and wondered if other reviews of the 18-55 AF-P would follow the 70-300.

Well, they certainly did.  While I won't say that the 18-55 AF-P is as sharp as the 70-300 AF-P, the lens is no slouch on the D500 it was tested on.

From 18mm to 55mm the lens performs very well even wide open.

There is some distortion at all focal lengths, but that can be dealt with easily in post processing.

Focusing

As with most AF-P stepper motor lenses, the AF speed is swift and sure.  Using it for landscape and street photography, there is no issue with its performance.

Bottom Line

So why give up the versatility of the 18-140VR for the 18-55mm?  Size is one factor, obviously.  The 18-140 is a sharp lens, but it is an older design and it does lag in the IQ department somewhat for me.   Since we picked up the 70-300 AF-P, we also have the longer end of the zoom range covered.  Don't get me wrong...the 18-140 is a great lens...I'm just being super nitpicky, to be honest.

Lastly, we look at price.  New, on its own the 18-55mm AF-P retails for $249.  However, since this lens is packed in with a lot of kit lenses and the used market is saturated with people wanting to upgrade to faster aperture glass, you can find these lenses now for $100 or less.

Would I want to use this lens to shoot very low light?   As good as the Nikon D500 is, no I would not.  However, if you have good light and need something inexpensive, sharp and versatile this is a great choice.

Nikon D750 Review

Image © NikonUSA

Background

The decision was made March 2018. The decision that I didn't want to admit.  My D700 was not cutting it anymore.  Before you go all crazy on me, hear me out.   The D700 is a great camera.  It was the camera that got me into my first FX size sensor.  It used the same batteries as my D300, had the same layout and could use the same battery grip.  Everything at the time made sense.

I needed better low light performance. The D700 was newer than the D300, has a larger sensor and similar performance.  It did everything I needed it to do at the time. It was a revelation and it served me well for many years.  It never had a hiccup, issue or failed me in any way mechanically.

Time moves on, D300 could use an upgrade and it was replaced with the D500.

Yeah....now we look at the D500 against the D700....and it doesn't sparkle as much as it used to.  IQ we are looking at something very comparable.  Let me repeat that a different way...the D500 APS-C (DX) sensor was performing on equal footing with the D700's FX size sensor.   On top of that, you also have newer imaging tech, better AF performance and more FPS for those times when you need that.

Still...that may not be enough to justify a D700 upgrade.  We head back to March 2018.   We are covering the Arnold Fitness Expo.  Hollywood Casino hosted boxing matches there.  Low and tricky lighting, a place where the D700 should excel.

To my surprise the D500 was out performing the D700 in those dark lighting conditions.  Why?  Metering.  It came down to metering.    The lights in the venue were often firing directly into the frame and the D700 was often fooled.   Depending on where you need to move and each scene being different from one part of the ring to the next, you need to be able to rely on the metering to help you out.  The D500 ate the D700's lunch here.

After that weekend event, I started looking at an upgrade. The logical place if I wanted to stay FX was the Nikon D750.

1/250  f/3.5   ISO 4000 @ 70mm
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 VC

Handling/Weight/Size

Size of the D750 is just about right for me.  It has a great grip and handles the larger lenses well.
The grip is deep and allows for a confident grip, even holding on to it one handed with a 70-200/2.8 lens attached.

It is a smidgen smaller in all dimensions than the D700, and it is lighter as well.

I'm still not a big fan of the was you switch about AF modes, having to press in the side button and then turn the dials.   I'd rather have the old 3 position switch, but I've gotten used to it since that is the system used on the Df and D500.

All the buttons feel quality.  I wish that the D750 had the thumb stick on the back for adjusting the AF point.

The rear LCD is great for reviewing images. It is also articulating so it can be tilted at an up and down angle.  Great for those times when you want to shoot at unconventional angles above or below you.

The shutter mechanism also sounds different than the older Nikon DLSRs I have.  It sounds and feels more dampened but has a bit of a "twang" sound to it.  You don't really notice it until you shoot in a very quite environment.

1/500   f/4   ISO 100
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G

Image Quality

While not a huge jump over the D700, the D750 metering is leaps above.  Shooting in difficult situations that are severely backlit or when light sources are coming directly into the camera, the D750 handles them more like the D500 does.  Thank you for that upgrade Nikon!

Base ISO is down to 100 now and the high ISO usability is now way higher.  You can get some great images at ISO 12,800 and 25,600.  ISO 6400 through is very clean in comparison to the D700.  I did not go over ISO 6400 on the older camera.

Dynamic range is also excellent and the files are rich in data so doing post processing has a lot of latitude, even in JPG files.

1/160   f/4   ISO 100  @ 52mm
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G

1/1000    f/4    ISO 12800 @ 200mm
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 VC

Auto Focus

AF here is basically the same as the D700 or D300.  That is not a bad thing.  The AF on those cameras is very good, predictable, rock solid.   It is not the phenom that is the D5/D500, but it is still going to get you where you need to be, just with a little more effort than the D500 requires.

One thing that I did notice is that I needed to auto focus fine tune every lens I put on the D750, except the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D.

The Nikon 35mm f/2, 24-70/2.8, Tamron 70-200/2.8VC all needed an adjustment.  Not much, between -2 and -5, but it needed it.

This is the first camera that I needed to use that feature.

In low light, the D750 also has an advantage over the D700.  It focus' more confidently in lower light, with less hesitation.  It also does not need as much light to AF.  Another great improvement over the older brother.

1/1000    f/4    ISO 100   @ 200mm
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 VC

Video

You have a basic implementation of 1080p video here.  Nothing surprising.  It is there when you need it.   The camera includes mic input and headphone monitoring jack.

1/500   f/4   ISO 100 @ 200mm
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 VC

Battery Life

Powered by the EN-EN15a battery, it is rated at around 1400 shots per charge.  Plenty enough for all day shooting if needed with normal use.  I'm sure it is less with a lot of chimping or using the Live View or recording video.  This camera is so power efficient, it will last for DAYS!!

Other Misc. Items of Note

There are no regrets on upgrading the D700 to the D750.   It is an upgrade in all the areas that I needed it to be.   It performs well and the battery performance is phenomenal.  It doesn't hurt that it can also use the same batteries as the D500.

Right now, I feel that the Nikon D750 is the best affordable FX camera in the lineup.  The only way you could do better is spend the extra money on a D4 or D5.  If you are Ok with DX size sensors and need just that bit more AF performance and faster burst rates (10fps), then the D500 is where you should look, even though it has slightly poorer battery performance.

Jay Maisel and the Concept of Gesture in Photography

Back in 2013, I posted some of my thoughts on words of wisdom from Jay Maisel.    Ever since I first saw "A Day With Jay Maisel" on KelbyOne, I've been fascinated by Jay Maisel's work, thoughts and ethos.

So much of our thought processes are the same, yet he has a way of explaining it through his words and his images that just hit home with me.  He is one of those photographers that I go back and re-read and re-watch often when I am in a rut or need inspiration.

One of the things that I did not cover in the original post above was the concept of "gesture".   I think it had more to do with the fact that I did not truly understand the concept as Jay talks about it until recently.  Below is a link to a video where Jay explains the concept way better than I ever could.  I'm going to attempt to give my thoughts on it, but better that you get it from the man himself before I possibly butcher it or go awry through my attempt.

Jay Maisel on Gesture

Like many, I thought that "gesture" was something that only a human or living creature could possess.

For me, gesture is not only the way that someone moves, but the air they put off by the way they move, stand, walk or interact with anything.  That something unique about what they do, and finding a way to capture the essence of that in a single fragment of time - that one single photo frame.

If you watched the video linked above, you'll soon learn that gesture is much more than a human or living creature concept.  Just about anything can have gesture.   For me it is about the feeling that that object conveys to you.  A tilted leg on a table may give you the impression of unstable or imperfect.

Then you can take those individual pieces and possibly you can get lucky and have multiples of them in the same image. 

This concept goes way beyond the science and technology of photography.   Forget f-stop, shutter speed, aperture.   No longer care about the 12fps of your motor drive or electronic shutter.  Today, marketing is more important than ever and the public is fed that the camera or the lens that has the most technology jammed into it is the one that is "best in market". 

Bullshit. 

Best in market is the gear that gets out of your way to allow you to get to what photography is all about.  Best in market is what is best for you and you alone.  Capturing the "decisive moment", if you like to use the Henri Cartier-Bresson term.  Immortalizing the gesture of someone in that shot that will most likely never repeat itself again.  Sharing the feeling that you had at that moment or that the subject of the image had; finding out that a crack in a pane of glass, the color and shape of a vase in a specific lighting scenario can make you FEEL something.

I often wondered why after going through all the iterations of high tech DSLRs that for portrait, personal and enriching photographic activities, I reach for the Nikon Df or the Olympus PEN-F.  I won't make you guess, I will share it with you.

I know my photography basics.  The gear I pick gives me access to use some of Nikon's awesome legacy lenses.  The Nikkor 200mm f/4Q, 105mm f/2.5 just to name a few.  Put those on the Nikon Df/PEN-F and walk around.  Just me. A shutter release.  A manual focus lens.   So simple, so organic, so inexpensive now.  Much less between me and the subject and just a good, honest capture.

I look more for the color and gesture and shape of something.  How it makes me feel.

So at the end of the day, what does all this do for me, or for you?

Introspection, self improvement, learning.   All those things cause growth.  Growth is life, stagnation is death.   Finding the gesture in something is finding what makes it sing, gives it life and makes it interesting, what makes it unique to everything else out there.   That is not bullshit.   It is an epiphany or an awakening that every image maker hopes to have eventually.  Sadly, once you have the awakening, you can lose it.  We often lose sight of the vision we had.  We stop looking for what makes things alive and fall back to the shiny bells, whistles and lights of the newest thing out there.

That is when we need to pull ourselves back into introspection mode and ask ourselves, "why am I doing this?"  Start that journey of growth again and move forward.  It is a never ending cycle.

I love photography because it allows this once shy, awkward nerd from a small Pennsylvania town to share what I see and feel with others.  It allows me to go beyond what is in front of you and dig deeper into the world.    Nothing should ever be judged solely on the depth of its skin, but on a grander scale of the potential it has.