f1.4 or f1.8 at DVinfo.net

Todd Smaretsky · February 24th, 2008, 12:20 AM

I am getting an AF Nikkor 50mm lens - shooting with an xh a1 with a lens adapter. Would you prefer f1.4 or f1.8? - I heard the f1.4 dof is too shallow.

What do you think?

Thanks,
Todd

Ben Winter · February 24th, 2008, 12:58 AM

If it is, you can just close down the aperture.

The brighter the better, but 1.4 vs. 1.8 difference is negligible when dealing with video.

Todd Smaretsky · February 24th, 2008, 01:17 AM

Thank you for responding. Good to know; I will go with the f1.8.

I am so grateful for this forum!!!

Robert Gradisen · February 24th, 2008, 06:46 AM

personally i would go with the f 1.8, i'm not sure about the nikon but with older japanese lenses the bokeh ( the quality of out of focus region in the shot) tends to be more pleasing to the eye with lense that are slightly slower i.e. f1.8 as apposed to f1.4 , it seems you sacrifice some of the quality when you go for brightness, but even with an f1.8 lense you will probably want to stop down a bit because you will still get quite extreme dof with the aperture fully open , and aparently the nicest part of your lense optics is at around f5.6 , so i would say more importantly would be that you have a bright focus screen like a canon ee s screen or something and your lense is f2 or faster , your cool
hope this helps

Ted Ramasola · February 24th, 2008, 07:55 AM

Todd,

I have an adapter and i have both the F1.4 and f1.8. I found the f1.4 more useful because of the larger rear lens element. The smaller rear lens element of the f1.8 will cause a subtle vignetting on the extreme corners when i want to use a larger gg image area. The larger rear lens element of the f1.4 eliminates this problem. With the 1.8 you will have to zoom in more than the 1.4 this will result in a smaller gg image and thus slightly grainier.

Ted

February 24th, 2008, 12:20 AM	#1
Todd Smaretsky Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 36	f1.4 or f1.8 I am getting an AF Nikkor 50mm lens - shooting with an xh a1 with a lens adapter. Would you prefer f1.4 or f1.8? - I heard the f1.4 dof is too shallow. What do you think? Thanks, Todd

February 24th, 2008, 12:58 AM	#2
Ben Winter Trustee Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,675 Images: 1	If it is, you can just close down the aperture. The brighter the better, but 1.4 vs. 1.8 difference is negligible when dealing with video. __________________ BenWinter.com

February 24th, 2008, 01:17 AM	#3
Todd Smaretsky Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 36	Thank you for responding. Good to know; I will go with the f1.8. I am so grateful for this forum!!!

February 24th, 2008, 06:46 AM	#4
Robert Gradisen New Boot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Amsterdam , Netherlands Posts: 22	personally i would go with the f 1.8, i'm not sure about the nikon but with older japanese lenses the bokeh ( the quality of out of focus region in the shot) tends to be more pleasing to the eye with lense that are slightly slower i.e. f1.8 as apposed to f1.4 , it seems you sacrifice some of the quality when you go for brightness, but even with an f1.8 lense you will probably want to stop down a bit because you will still get quite extreme dof with the aperture fully open , and aparently the nicest part of your lense optics is at around f5.6 , so i would say more importantly would be that you have a bright focus screen like a canon ee s screen or something and your lense is f2 or faster , your cool hope this helps

February 24th, 2008, 07:55 AM	#5
Ted Ramasola Trustee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Allen, Texas U.S.A Posts: 1,117	Todd, I have an adapter and i have both the F1.4 and f1.8. I found the f1.4 more useful because of the larger rear lens element. The smaller rear lens element of the f1.8 will cause a subtle vignetting on the extreme corners when i want to use a larger gg image area. The larger rear lens element of the f1.4 eliminates this problem. With the 1.8 you will have to zoom in more than the 1.4 this will result in a smaller gg image and thus slightly grainier. Ted