If you are getting into the wonderful world of photography, the 50mm lens is probably the best place to start. This camera has a fixed lens, so you won’t be able to zoom in, but you will be able to come to grips with the rudiments of photography, such as manual focus.
These lenses are also some of the cheapest that you can find on the market. If you’re a student and on a budget, then having a 50mm will thankfully not be too hard on your wallet (although we’ll be honest, there are some pricey models on this list).
This is also a great lens to have for faster photography, with a wider aperture that will produce shots that are not that out-of-focus or blurry. This will also be very important if you are new to the game of photography and want those crystal clear shots to give them the confidence to carry on with their new hobby.
This camera is great for wedding photography, as well as snapping small birds and other animals in the wild, taking portraits of your good friends and getting those amazing landscape shots.
If you are looking to buy a gift for your photographically-minded friend, then we can recommend that you pick up one of these lenses.
So where can you find the best 50mm lenses? What features does one of these lenses have to give you the best picture quality? What is the best material for one of these lenses to be made out of? How much can you be expected to pay for one of these lenses, either second-hand or brand-new?
Well, if you are looking for answers to these questions and a lot more, then we would suggest that you keep reading.
We have compiled a list of some of our favorite Nikon 50mm lenses and where you can find them. We also have a buyer’s guide that will help you when you are shopping for lenses and need something for your style of photography.
Table of Contents
Zeiss Milvus 50mm f/2M ZE Lens
This first lens is made from the highest quality glass, with a specialized lens that will really make up for the lack of automatic focus.
You can really use this one to help work on your manual focus, which will certainly be an important skill if you are a learning photographer, even if you end up getting a lens with auto-focus – introducing Zeiss Milvus 50mm f/2M ZE Lens.
This comes with a floating lens construction, which means that you’ll get much clearer shots that will not blur when you acquire and snap your target.
This has an anti-reflective coating, giving you the ultimate protection when you drop it on the floor. This is very important if you are thinking of dragging your camera across the wild.
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A great starting lens for anyone who might be interested in starting photography. This has all the very basics, without any of the daunting extra features.
This has a reflective coating that will offer you the utmost protection, especially if you drop your camera on the floor.
This produces great high-quality images, which will allow you to focus on the framing rather than the shot quality itself.
This will produce very clear and vibrant images. If you keep your lens clean, then you won’t experience that much smudging.
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The price – this is certainly on the expensive side, which might deter any newbies who are not sure whether or not they want to commit to this very expensive hobby.
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Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Lens
This next lens is one that has a great optical quality, giving you everything that you need for a crystal clear image free of any motion blur or smudging.
This can capture images super fast, with a great quality lens that you can be sure will give you everything that you need to build your confidence with the shutter – introducing Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Lens.
This has a super integrated coating in the lens that will help you to reduce common camera anomalies such as lens flare and ghosting, which can often ruin a very good photograph.
It has a very wide aperture of around f/1.2, which means that you can expect to have maximum light absorption.
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This has a simple manual focus that is perfect for beginners to get to grips with before they move on to the more complicated photograph gestures.
You can control the aperture of this camera with a ring around the edge, which is perfect for low-light photography, where you need to let in as much light as possible.
This lens is very easy to manipulate and use, again, another perfect model for beginners.
The price – this is very reasonable considering how good the quality of the lens is. We would definitely recommend this for a first-time camera owner.
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Some users have reported that all they get with this lens is a repeated error message, causing them to have to return the camera.
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Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D Lens for Nikon
This is the best budget lens on this list, you can grab one for just a few hundred dollars. This has a great aperture, along with a depth of field indicator that will help you to get the target that you want in your sights. This will give you limited auto-focus on certain targets – introducing Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D Lens for Nikon.
This has a super integrated lens coating, which will offer you a lot of protection from the elements. This lens is also highly waterproof and, while you don’t want to be operating this one in any wet conditions, you can certainly have a few more minutes to get from out in the rain to under some cover.
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This has a state-of-the-art 7 blade aperture opening, which will enable you to grab images of fast-moving objects very quickly and easily.
With a wide aperture like this, you can grab plenty of low-light images, which is perfect if you want to specialize in dusk photography.
This has an indicator that you can use to gauge the depth of field. This is a neat little feature, which will be invaluable if you are new to photography and have never used a manual focus before.
This has a very durable construction, which is perfect if you are going to want to take your camera into a busy crowd or outdoors where the weather can change quickly.
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This is another expensive unit, so you might want to get yourself accustomed to a cheaper lens before graduating onto one of these.
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Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Nikon
This next lens is one of the best that you can buy for the Nikon camera, not only does it have everything that you need for an impressively sharp image, but it will make sure the edges of even the fastest-moving object are completely crystal clear.
You can be sure that this camera lens will be able to hold up against cold and hot weather – introducing Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Nikon.
This has a great depth of field indicator, which will surely give you the best image quality and make sure that your images are not blurry.
This will be very important to anyone who is just starting out in the world of amateur photography. This will reduce the amount of lens flare, with a body that is highly resistant to dust and water.
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This has a superlens coating that will reduce the risk of lens flare, which is one of the main obstacles for shooting, especially if it is a bright sunny day.
This has a high sonic motor, which is great for autofocusing on the target and getting that high-definition, true color shot.
If you are needing a camera lens for the great outdoors, then you can’t go far wrong with this model. This is also very discreet and will not snag on many items.
This is compatible with many different varieties of Nikon cameras, so if Nikon is your favorite brand, then you can have this lens for close-quarters shots.
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The price – this is another very expensive camera kit, coming with plenty of accessories that might seem a little overwhelming to the newbie photographer.
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Yongnuo YN50mm F1.8 Lens
This next camera is very affordable, giving you a wide range of features for a knock-down price.
This has a very wide aperture that makes it great for low-light photography and capturing those fast-moving objects such as that rare deer in nature or a rabbit flying from its burrow – introducing the Yongnuo YN50mm F1.8 Lens.
The natural state on this lens is slightly zoomed in, which will slightly help you compensate for the lack of an actual zoom.
However, when you are first starting, we would definitely recommend against having a zoom and learning the basics such as depth of field, focus and aperture length.
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This has a great 7 blade aperture that will give you a very wide depth of field. This is perfect if you are trying to capture those panoramic shots.
This is a cheaper lens than some of the others that you’ll find on this list, so if you are having to keep one eye on the wallet, then you can’t go far wrong with this camera.
This comes with a gold-plated element, which makes it very compatible with most Nikon cameras.
This can be used with a full-frame camera, which means that you have clearer pictures and a much better depth of field.
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Some reviewers have claimed that the rubber focus ring on their camera is slightly off, which makes it difficult for them to get those crystal clear shots.
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Zeiss Loxia 50mm f/2 Planar T Lens
Next up we have a macro prime lens that is probably one of the most popular on Amazon, coming with thousands of positive reviews.
This will give you crystal clear images, giving you great macro and micro shooting abilities, which is great for anyone who wants to get those awe-inspiring vistas or the curious details on a person’s face – introducing Zeiss Loxia 50mm f/2 Planar T Lens.
This has a minimum focusing distance of around 3.9 inches, which means that you really can pick up those finer details on a person’s face.
This also comes with an anti-reflective coating, which will reduce the amount of lens flare that you’ll get in your pictures.
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This comes with a super reflective coating, which will not only reduce the level of lens flare but will also keep it highly protected from scratches and nicks.
This is probably the best 50mm lens for macro shooting abilities. You can capture all the subtle details on a person’s face.
You can also have this lens for video shooting capabilities, so if you are a budding filmmaker who wants that zoomed-in, high-definition quality on their films, then this is the one to choose.
This camera lens is very versatile, ready for shooting weddings, outdoors, nature and portraits. If you are thinking of setting up a photography business, this is a great lens to have in your arsenal.
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The price – another expensive lens, however, a lot of users have rated it very highly, so if you want all the optimum features for your Nikon, then we’d suggest that you pick this one.
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Buyer’s Guide
When you are looking for a 50mm lens, then there are a few things that you simply must have to get that perfect shot. You’ll need crystal clarity in your shots, along with a decent aperture and the ability to toggle the focus.
Here are a few of the must-have features that you’ll be looking for:
How Wide Is The Aperture?
Having a wider aperture will all but guarantee you better shots. The wider the aperture then the more light will get into your camera. This will really work well with anyone who wants to take dusk photographs or capture the natural movement of animals in their habitat.
Does It Have Auto Or Manual Focus?
Manual focus is a great skill for a new photographer to learn, as it will give you a better idea of how far away from your desired subject you should be and it will improve the speed at which you can focus on it. This will be especially useful if you are doing wildlife photography and need to focus on an animal before it gets away.
How Durable Is It?
Using a camera regularly will only increase the likelihood that it will get damaged at some point. So having durable housing will be crucial for preserving the longevity of your camera lens.
Having a completely sealed housing will also reduce the risk of your camera getting damaged if there is a sudden shower.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is A 50mm Lens Good For A Beginner Photographer?
This type of lens comes with most of the basic features: aperture and focus, allowing you control over these elements. This will help you get to grips with the very basics before having to upgrade to the more fancy features like ISO settings and depth of field.
Is A 50mm Lens Good For Your Style Of Photography?
A 50mm has been described by various reviewers as being a really good mid-range lens, which means that you can pretty much take photographs of anything in the immediate vicinity.
If you like taking pictures of people up close (otherwise known as portraiture) or animals in nature, then you can use a 50mm lens.
However, most of these lenses are prime lenses, in that they have no zoom function. This will be very difficult if you are hoping to camp out and spot a certain object from a distance.
The only way you can compensate for this is to get as close as you can and then sharpen the image afterward in a program such as Photoshop, although you will experience some loss in image quality.
Our Final Say
We hope that our list of some of the best 50mm lenses for the Nikon has helped you to narrow down which lens will be the most suited to your needs.
Remember that you’ll need to make sure that your lens is waterproof, otherwise, you run the risk of it collecting in the housing of the lens, which will ruin your shots.
