Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AF-D. (52mm filters, 5.5 oz./157g, about $125.) enlarge. My biggest source of support is when you use these links, especially this one directly to it at Adorama or at Amazon, when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Thank you! Ken.

September 2012, June 2011, 2008   More Nikon Reviews   Nikon Lenses   All Reviews

NEW: Nikon 50mm f/1.8 G. Weighs more, costs more, and does the same thing, but with instant manual-focus override, much more distortion and the ability to autofocus on Nikon's cheapest DSLRs.

How This Lens is Great for Low Light

Sample Images from California's Central Coast June 2010

Introduction     top

Intro   Specifications    Performance    Recommendations

This is Nikon's latest 50mm lens which replaces the 50mm f/1.8 AF (non D). It sells for only about $125 and is super sharp. See it compared to lenses costing 15 times as much at my Nikon Pro Normal Zoom Comparison. It is as sharp or sharper!

This unassuming lens is the best budget choice for a D3 or D700, much better than any zoom, to get you the fast autofocus, great low-light performance and the sharpness for which you bought a D3 or D700 in the first place. If you do buy one of those expensive cameras, consider as well the 50mm f/1.4 version.

Compatibility
As a traditional AF lens (not gelded as a G), it works with every Nikon ever made, digital and film, auto and manual focus.
It's a full-coverage FX lens, so it works great on FX digital, DX digital and film. It works especially well on the Nikon D3 and D300.
It won't autofocus on the cheapest digital like the D40 or D40x, but it won't autofocus on an F3 either! For autofocus on the cheapest digitals, get the 50mm f/1.8 G.
See Nikon Lens Compatibility for details for older cameras. See the "AF, AF-D" column.

Production History
This AF 50mm f/1.8 D was introduced in 2002 to replace the non-D version. It is still in production as of 2007.
Nikon has made over 400,000 of these through 2007.

Specifications    top

Intro   Specifications    Performance    Recommendations

Name

Nikon calls this the Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 D.

Optics

6 elements in 5 groups, a classic design.

Multicoated; the non-D version wasn't.

Diaphragm

7 straight blades. Stops down to f/22.

Close Focus

1.5 feet (0.45 meters).

Focus Scale

Yes.

Depth-of-Field Scale

Yes.

Infra-Red Focus Index

Yes.

Filter Thread

52mm.

Plastic.

Does not rotate.

Size

1.541" extension from flange by 2.505" diameter (39.14 x 63.62mm), measured.

Nikon specifies 1.5" (38mm) long by 2.5" (64mm) around.

Weight
5.543 oz. (157.1g), measured, naked.
Nikon specifies 5.5 oz. (155g).

Hood
HR-2 rubber hood, sold separately for about $15.

Nikon Product Number
2137.

Price
2012 September: $125.
2011: $140.
2010: $125.
2008: $115

Performance    top

Intro   Specifications    Performance    Recommendations

Sharpness

It is among Nikon's sharpest lenses ever. See my Nikon Pro Normal Zoom Comparison in which I show examples. It's sharper than any $1,800 zoom.

Christmas, California Desert. D7000, f/8 at 1/250, ISO 100. original © BASIC JPG.

Cactus, California Desert. D7000, f/8 at 1/250, ISO 100. original © BASIC JPG.

On a D3 it is sharp and contrasty in the center at every aperture.

In the corners on a D3, spherical aberration makes it a bit less contrasty (but still well defined) at f/1.8, and it's just about perfect by f/4.

The only difference between this and the 50mm f/1.4 D and 50mm f/1.2 AI-s is that the faster lenses become sharper at f/2, but all are the same by f/4. The faster lenses also cost two to four times as much and have more distortion.

MTF Curve, specified, f/1.8

Canon 50mm f/1.8 EF II (1990-today)

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II (52mm filters, 4.320 oz/122.5g, about $119). enlarge. I bought mine at Adorama, Amazon also has it. My biggest source of support is when you use any of these links, especially this link directly to it at Adorama or directly to it at Amazon, when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. It helps me keep adding to this free website when you get yours through those links — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you buy elsewhere. Thanks for your support! Ken.

November 2013    Canon Reviews   Canon Lenses   All Reviews

NEW: Canon 50mm Lenses Compared 05 Nov 2013

Sample Images From New York City May and June 2010

Sample Photos from Maui May 2010

Gran Tortuga Resort, Cayman Island. Original © 18MP (1.5 MB) JPG. Shot with Canon 1D X at ISO 100, f/9 at 1/400, STANDARD Picture Style with +4 Saturation and 6 sharpening, AUTO A4 WB, LARGE JPG Quality 1.

Fabric, British Museum. Original 18MP JPG © 5MB. Shot at ISO 100, Canon 1D X, at f/5.6 at a couple of feet at 1/200 hand-held, STANDARD Picture Style with +3 Saturation and 6 sharpening,Auto A4 WB, LARGE JPG Quality 1.

Ryan on our bed, morning time, 27 July 2012. (Canon 1D X, Auto ISO 1,000, f/2 at 1/125, AUTO A4 white balance, STANDARD Picture Style, 6 sharpening.) bigger.

Good

Spectacular optics (better than most Canon lenses of any price), ultra light weight and ultra low price. Perfect as a normal lens for full-frame digital and film, and a short tele for 1.6x cameras. Excellent for use in low light; I prefer it to the faster 50mm f/1.4 because this f/1.8 lens gives me more accurate autofocus.

Bad

Manual focus requires moving a switch, and the focus ring turns as the lens autofocuses. With a plastic mount, this lens won't take much of a beating. In light of its better optical performance than the $2,200 14mm f/2.8 L II, treat it with the respect it deserves and you'll be fine.

Optics:
Mechanics:
Ergonomics:
Usefulness:
Availability:
Overall:

Introduction       top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Recommendations

Adorama pays top dollar for your used gear.

This little lens is Canon's biggest secret.

The Canon 50mm f/1.8 II has fantastically good optics, better than Canon's "L" series wide lenses like the 16-35mm f/2.8 L II.

In fact, this $99 plastic lens gives sharper results than the 50mm f/1.4 USM I've used, especially in no light. The f/1.4 is soft at f/1.4, and worse, I rarely get in-focus results with it, while this $99 f/1.8 lens is sharp at f/1.8, and always delivers perfect in-focus results!

The 50mm f/1.8 II weighs less, costs less, and autofocuses more accurately than the 50mm f/1.4 USM.

Try to hate this plastic-mount made-in-Malaysia 50mm f/1.8 II, but when you look at the images, you'll be convinced. The mount is plastic, but the glass is all Canon's finest multicoated glass.

How can this cheap lens be so good? Simple: every time you ask a lens to do more, like to be faster, to be wider, to be longer, to offer instant manual-focus override, or especially if you ask it to zoom, a lens has to get bigger, heavier, more expensive, more distorted and/or less sharp. Lens design is always a compromise among these trade-offs.

When you ask for a non-zoom, fixed focal length normal lens of only moderate speed, it's easy to make the optics fantastic, and at a very, very low cost if you don't mind plastic.

Did I say "only moderate" speed? Even though it's only moderate as fixed lenses go, f/1.8 is still over a stop faster than any Canon EF zoom. This f/1.8 lens lets you shoot at ISO 800, while in the same light you'd need ISO 4,000 with the 24-105mm f/4 L IS to get the same shutter speed! f/1.8 lets in five times more light than an f/4 lens. This 50/1.8 is also less than one-fitth the weight and less than one-tenth the price of the 24-105mm, and has only half the distortion!

This 50mm f/1.8 II uses the same optics as the original 50mm f/1.8 EF of 1987. The 1987 lens used a metal mount and had a focus scale.

Canon 50/1.8 II. enlarge.

Sample image, 1/250 at f/7.1, Canon 5D Mark II. Camera-original JPG (7MB).

Realize that depth-of-feild is limited: the branches at the lower left are out-of-focus.

This was at ISO 200 with highlight (D+) and shadow optimizatton on, and shade A4 WB at +3 saturation.

Flowers. 1/80 at f/7.1,hand-held Canon 5D Mark II, ISO 50, Cloudy WB + A5 trim, Standard picture style with +3 saturation. Camera-original JPG (4.7MB).

In the original image, you can see that they're fake. Note how clearly you can see the depth of field with a lens this sharp.

 

Tilted Wall. 1/250 at f/7.1, Canon 5D Mark II. Camera-original JPG (7MB).

Again, when looking at the original file, realize that the camera is tilted-up, to the top and bottom isn't in focus, so of course it won't be as sharp.

With the Canon 5D Mark II, these would have been even sharper if I had bothered shooting them in CR2 and tweaking later.

 

Specifications         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Recommendations

Name

Canon calls this the CANON LENS EF 50mm f/1.8 II.

EF means "electronic focus," meaning that there is an autofocus motor in the lens itself.

Optics       top

6 elements in 5 groups.

Some surfaces multicoated.

Diaphragm       top

Canon 50mm II at f/1.8. (EF diaphragm not visible). enlarge.

5 straight blades.

Stops down to f/22.

Close Focus       top

1.5 feet (0.45m) from the image plane.

Maximum Reproduction Ratio       top

1:6.7.

Hard Infinity Focus Stop?        top

No. You have to let the AF system dial you in.

Focus Scale       top

No.

The ring turns from near to far in about 80.º

Depth-of-Field Scale       top

No.

Infra-Red Focus Index       top

No.

Filter Thread       top

52mm.

Plastic.

Does not rotate.

Size       top

2.683" (68.16mm) diameter, measured.

1.591" (40.4mm) extension from flange.

Canon specifies 68.2mm diameter by 41mm long.

Weight       top

4.320 oz. (122.5g).

Canon specifies 4.6 oz. (130g).

 

Hood       top

None; the front of the lens is sufficiently recessed to cover you most of the time.

Canon's best shot at a hood for this lens is the ES-62 hood, which only fits if you use it with its cockamamie included adapter.

I'd use a rubber hood, like the nice Nikon HR-2, which sells for half the price.

Caps       top

52mm front.

Standard EOS cap rear.

Canon 6D Full-Frame 20MP, 4.5 FPS HDR, 1080p, GPS & Wi-Fi

Canon 6D (26.8 oz./760g with battery and card, about $2,000) and Canon EF 35mm f/2. enlarge. I got mine from Adorama (or kit with lens), and it also comes from Amazon (or kit with lens) as well as from J&R.

My biggest source of support for this free website is when you use those or any of these links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. It helps me keep adding to this free website when you get your things through these links — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you buy elsewhere. Thanks for your support! Ken.

Back, Canon 6D. enlarge.

Top, Canon 6D and Canon EF 35mm f/2. enlarge.

Top, Canon 6D and Canon EF 35mm f/2. enlarge.

September 2013   Canon Reviews   Canon Lenses   All Reviews

Plain-English Canon 6D User's Guide
Canon 6D versus 5D Mark III.

2012 Full-Frame DSLR Comparison.

 

Introduction      top

Intro   Specs   Accessories   Lenses   Performance   

Compared   Usage   Recommendations   More

The Canon EOS 6D is the world's smallest and lightest full-frame DSLR.

The Canon 6D is the world's second-best DSLR regardless of price, right behind the very similar Canon 5D Mark III. If you're in the market for a full-frame DSLR for ultimate technical quality and super-fast autofocus for action, but don't want to pay extra for (or carry the weight of) the 5D Mark III, the 6D is about 95% of the 5D Mark III for a lot less money. I own both, and see and feel very little difference between them. (I also own the Nikon D600, which is inferior).

Even if the price was the same, the reduced weight of the 6D often makes it a better choice for carrying all day. Technical image quality is extraordinary and the same as the 5D Mark III; megapixels mean nothing today, and the 6D looks great even shot at ISO 25,600. With the 6D, you need not spend extra for fast lenses, and with automatic lens aberration correction, cheap lenses that didn't look very good on older cameras like the old 5D Mark II now look stunning when used properly on the 6D.

At only 26.8 oz. (760g), the 6D weighs 7 oz. (200g) less than the 5D Mark III and 3.3 oz. (95g) less than the Nikon D600. The Nikon D600 is inferior, with worse handing, more weight, cheaper build and poorer color rendition, as I'll cover below.

Added from 5D Mark III

GPS.

Wi-Fi for almost everything except replacing a card reader. You can view and email images directly from your smart phone, and control the 6D remotely, all with a free app.

UHS-1 SD card compatible.

Interchangeable focus screens, especially the optional Eg-S super-precision manual-focus screen for use with fast lenses.

Improved from 5D Mark III

Slightly more sensitive central AF sensor in low light.

I prefer the simpler AF system of the 6D. Neither camera has face recognition in its AF system, so the extra AF zones of the 5D Mark III don't do much other than complicate the system beyond all recognition.

Play, Zoom and Delete buttons moved to the right side for one-handed shooting.

Slightly better battery life: rated 1,090 versus 950 shots per charge.

 

Lost from 5D Mark III

11, not 61, AF zones.

Only one SD card slot.

Only C1 and C2 memories, no C3.

Finder grid requires using Live View, or an optional Eg-D finder screen.

No M-Fn button by the shutter button.

Slightly smaller LCD has plastic, not glass, cover and lacks auto brightness control.

No way to reset file number prefix; files always start with IMG. (I wish I could reset it to KEN or 6D.)

Only 1/4,000 top speed and 1/180 sync, versus 1/8,000 and 1/200 (no big deal).

$1,400 less expensive and 7 oz./200g lighter.

I wish that while playback was zoomed and scrolled, that the SET button would bring you back to the center of the image. (The 5D Mark III doesn't do this either.)

The Same

Everything else, especially metering, resolution, high ISO performance and image quality, is essentially identical. The slight differences in some specifications are used to try to help upsell rich people into the more expensive 5D Mark III; they aren't significant. The battery and charger are the same, too.

No, I'm not going to waste your time showing side-by-side shots. I have real work to shoot, so no time to waste presenting things that are the same. Each of the 5D Mark III and the 6D look great even at ISO 25,600, and those of us who actually shoot realize that ISO 25,600 is enough to shoot the sky at night hand-held with an f/4 lens, so both have many stops more sensitivity than needed for real photography. Camera makers are going to need to invent another specification on which to compete.

See Canon 6D versus 5D Mark III for more.

Canon 6D and 24-70mm f/2.8 L II. enlarge.

Specifications      top

Intro   Specs   Accessories   Lenses   Performance   

Compared   Usage   Recommendations   More

Sensor

24 x 36mm (actually 35.8mm x 23.9mm) full-frame CMOS.

5,472 x 3,648 pixels native.

20 MP CMOS.

6.55 µm pitch.

Sensor cleaner.

ISO 100 ~ 25,600 (also whacko modes at ISO 50, ISO 51,200 and ISO 102,400).

14-bit converters.

sRGB or Adobe RGB.

Image Sizes
No cropping ability for professional 5:4 or other aspect ratios.

5,472 x 3,648 native, JPG or RAW (20 MP).

3,648 x 2,432 JPG Medium (9MP).

2,736 x 1,824 JPG Small 1 (5 MP).

1,920 x 1,280 JPG Small 2 (JPG FINE only, 2.5 MP).

720 x 480 JPG Small 3 (JPG FINE only, 350 kP).

M-RAW: 4,104 x 2,736.

S-RAW: 2,736 x 1,824.

Video      top
ISOs to ISO 12,800.
Embedded time code.
1,920 x 1,080 at 29.97p, 23.976p or 25p.
1,280 x 720 at 59.94p or 50p.
640 x 480 at 59.94p or 50p.
4 GB automatic file partitioning (continuous recording time 30 minutes).
Selectable all I-frame (bigger files for more precise editing) or I-P-B (smaller files) compression.
HDMI output (but no uncompressed live HDMI as do the newest Nikons).
Analog PAL or NTSC video output.

Audio (only with video)      top
Mono mic.
Stereo mic jack.
Auto and Manual audio recording level control.
Mono speaker.

Finder      top
97% coverage.
71% magnification.
21mm eyepoint.
-3 to +1 diopters.
33.3º apparent angle.
Interchangeable focus screens: Eg-A II provided. Interchangeable with Eg-D screen (grid) and Eg-S (special super-precision manual-focus screen for fast lenses). Incompatible with the older Eg-A from the 5D Mark II.

Electronic Level      top
Yes.
 
Autofocus      top
No AF illuminator.

Movies
No continuous AF, as a camcorder can do.

Still Images
All this below is only for still photos:
11 AF points:
   Center: cross-type at f/5.6; vertical line-sensitive at f/2.8.
   Upper and lower AF points: vertical line-sensitive AF at f/5.6.
   Other 8 AF points: Horizontal line-sensitive AF at f/5.6.
   Center AF point rated to work from LV -3 ~ 18 at 73°F (23°C), others from LV 0.5.
No EOS iTR (Intelligent Tracking and Recognition), so it can't recognize subjects based on face and color as can the 1D X.

Canon 6D and 24-105mm. enlarge.

Light Meter      top
Range: LV 1 or 1 to 20 at 73°F (23°C) with 50mm f/1.8 lens.
63-zone dual-layer meter. "Dual Layer" means it can't even see in full color; the 6D's an 5D Mark III's meters only see in warm and cool. Nikons have had 1,005 pixel full-color RGB meters since 1996.
The number of zones is irrelevant, what the firmware does with this data to determine exposure is far more important. My LEICA M9 only has one zone metering, and is more accurate than my Nikons or Canons, so what do you think about that, eh? Metering zones are irrelevant.

Flash      top
No built-in flash.
Flash Sync is 1/180, which is within a half stop of 1/250.
No PC sync terminal; use a hot-shoe adapter.
E-TTL II exposure control works with all EX-series flashes.
 
Shutter      top
4.5 FPS (fast) and 3 FPS (slow).
"Silent" 3 FPS mode.
Rated 100,000 shots.
1/4,000 ~ 30 seconds.
Sync is 1/180.

Buffer
73 JPG, 14 RAW, 7 RAW+JPG with slow card.
1,250 JPG, 17 RAW, 8 RAW+JPG with fast UHS-1 card.

Remote
RS-80N3.
TC-80N3.
RC-6, also RC-1 and RC-2 remotes work.

Data File & Folder Formats      top
 
Photos
JPEG
RAW (14-bit Canon Original)
M-RAW
S-RAW
RAW+JPEG
M-RAW+JPEG
S-RAW+JPEG
 
Video
.MOV files holding:
Picture: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC coding.
Audio: 48 ksps 16 bit Linear PCM coding.

GPS      top
Tags image locations.
Sets clock.
Can record a track log file.

Wi-Fi      top
With a smart phone app, allows one to see and email the images from your card. Also allows remote camera control, replacing the WFTs of older cameras, and more!

Storage      top
One SD slot, only.
SD, SDHC, SDXC and UHS-1.
 
LCD      top
3" (77mm) diagonal; 63.7mm x 42.5mm.
3:2 aspect ratio.
1,040,000 dot.
Manual brightness control only.
Coated plastic cover.

nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

	Tech Specs Lens Construction (Elements/Groups) 6/6 Picture Angle with 35mm (135) format 28°30' Picture Angle with Nikon DX Format 18°50' Minimum f/stop 16 Closest focusing distance 0.85m Maximum reproduction ratio 1/9.2 Filter Attachment Size 62mm Lens Cap Snap-on Lens Hood HN-23 Lens Case CL-15S Dimensions (approx.) (from the camera’s lens mounting flange) 71.5 x 58.5mm Weight (approx.) 380g Supplied Accessories (may differ by country or area) Front lens cap, Rear lens cap LF-1, Screw-in Hood HN-23

Nikon D7100

Overview

The Nikon D7100 brings you high-end D-SLR performance and advanced functions in a compact and lightweight body. Capture awe-inspiring photos with its large 24.1-megapixel DX-format CMOS and precise 51-point autofocus system.

Heavyweight performance. Lightweight body

The D7100 combines high-end performance and a range of advanced functions with the versatility of a lightweight and compact body. Its large 24.1-megapixel DX-format CMOS and precise 51-point autofocus system let you capture photos that will inspire envy.

Designed to dazzle

The D7100 offers the incredible image quality found in our top D-SLR cameras. At its core is the newly developed DX-format 24.1-megapixel CMOS and legendary EXPEED 3 engine. Capture stills and videos in all lighting conditions with its low-noise performance and high ISO sensitivity range. For maximum sharpness when capturing highly detailed subjects, the D7100 does not employ a low-pass filter - making it ideal for landscape photography.

A portable performer

The D7100 combines high performance with the agility of a compact and lightweight body. Its advanced high-speed continuous shooting allows for approximately 7 fps. The D7100 features a versatile 51-point autofocus that ensures your subjects are always in sharp focus. Furthermore, a 1.3x crop of DX function offers on-demand telephoto effects to your stills and videos, letting you bring the action closer when needed.

Clearly superior

Shooting through the D7100's glass pentaprism viewfinder is a true joy. This unique viewfinder offers 100% frame coverage at 0.94x magnification - letting you precisely compose your shots. Setting information is clearly presented in the viewfinder's organic EL display - a technology that is sharper and more energy-efficient.

Quality you can see

For those times when you prefer to frame your shots through the monitor, you will appreciate the extreme clarity and wide viewing angle of the D7100's 3.2-inch 1,229k-dot resolution TFT LCD monitor. This newly developed screen features RGBW alignment technology, offering improved brightness and resolution compared to RGB screens.

Precise control made simple

The high-performance D7100 is incredibly easy to control. A press of the enhanced button provides quick access to the camera's current settings and retouch menu. In Live View mode, an innovative Spot White Balance function automatically sets the white balance using the colour of a selected area. This eliminates the need for grey cards and can even be done while using a telephoto lens.