50 mm

I recently bought the Nikkor 50 mm 1.4 and I'm tempted to send it back...
I don't understand. This is the most favourite lens of all photographers, I think ?
I noticed intense magenta aberrations and subtle green ones at the far back and not only on the edges of the frames. While talking with Claudwc, I thought it was because of the cheap UV filter I had on it. Today, I removed it and snapped around. Chromatic aberrations are still there. :(

What's your experience with it ? Is it possible that it's only the lens I got that's defective ? Or are they all like that ?

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Permalink Reply by Claudcw on March 4, 2010 at 8:02pm: You see mine were gone as soon as I removed the filter of the lens, my 52mm filter is not super expensive but is decent, I am using the Tiffen UV filter, I had a little dust on it and cleaned hoping that it would stop but never did, so I shoot with it with no filter... Eric also a member of D2 has the same lens and he uses it both on his Nikon D2x and D90 and he has not have the same problem as we did, now I wonder if it is a D300s and the Nikkor 50mm f1.8 combo that does it... we are going to shoot in a few days and i want to try his 50mm on my D300s and mine on both his other bodies...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mao on March 4, 2010 at 8:41pm: I've just read that it's typical of fast primes on large apertures. Around, 4, it should diminish. I've only tested up to 2.8 today, on a quick stroll around the block. It seems to happen when I'm facing the light.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Claudcw on March 4, 2010 at 10:21pm: well let me know what you come up with, i'll do a test myself on the tripod and i'll run the whole aperture ring to see what happens my self... kind of really sucks, because I really like this 50mm myself, wonder if I should of went with the Sigma 50mm 1.4 instead...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mao on March 5, 2010 at 7:58am: The day before I tested the 35 mm around 1.8 and man, it's awesome. super sharp, more than the review implied and fast AF. No CAs.. even with a cheap UV... At larger aperture, the bokeh's great but isolates less. My 85 mm 1.8 can provide that type of bokeh but I'm beginning to be less shy to be a paparazzi so I prefer something more intimate and the AF isn't really racing. I'm more on manual on this one. If I can only use the 50 mm at 4, I'll be less tempted to use it so that's why I'm wondering why I should keep it. I'll do some more tests with the three of them to compare.
Reviews says the sigma 50 mm is similar for axial CAs...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mao on March 6, 2010 at 9:24am: I cropped in closer so you can see better. These details are all in centre of the frame at 1.4 except the first at 1.8. The first 2 are with cheap UV Filter and the last 2 are without.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mao on March 6, 2010 at 10:53am: So, it's normal then ? So, I guess, I just need to know how to handle it and when not to use it ? I'll have to get to know it more.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Don on March 6, 2010 at 11:38am: Mao...I would say it looks extreme to me. We have a cheap 50mm Canon only paid $99 for it and we get better results than what I see here. I suggest that you take the lens and your camera to your local dealer and let them take a look at it. Lenses are very sensitive and you might just have a bad one.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mao on March 6, 2010 at 4:08pm: I did some test on all the apertures. It really depends on the angle with the light as It wasn't so noticeable around 45 degrees. So I went direct back lit, no filter, with hood :

Here's the worst

Here's the web sized satisfactory

And here, it's gone.

No pp was done except resizing and writing. Da V. kindly sent me some actions in ps to remove such fringes. (not use on these pictures) So I guess I will keep the lens.

But Don, after seeing these, do you still think it's abnormal and that I should go have a chat with the vendor ?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mao on March 6, 2010 at 5:17pm: Oh ! I didn't think about that ! I was on my balcony outside. Quite a beautiful day. In my back is a light coloured metal door that reflected the light and bouncing on the metal opening of my thermos used as a flower pot.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mao on March 6, 2010 at 5:38pm: (?_?)
I've read that it's typical of fast lenses ? But, anyway, it really happens on a certain angle with the light at its weakest as Les mentioned. It's not as dramatic as I thought. I may go anyway ask the vendor to check it out just to make sure. He's a decent guy.

@Les- I'll let him take the pictures. ;p; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mark P on March 6, 2010 at 7:10pm: I have the 50mm 1.8 lens on the D300 and have no where near the quality issues you seem to have. I have to agree with Don's comment, although I wonder how close to subject you are in your Flower Thermos shots. The 50 1.8 can focus very closely but a tad to close and it is very messy very quickly even at fast shutter speed. I would err on the side of caution an take that lens back. After all the nikon has way more money than you do.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mao on March 6, 2010 at 7:54pm: ok, will go for real first thing tomorrow. ... OUPs ! bloody sunday... well black monday, then.
I was about 2 feet.. 2 feet and a half but don't check the sharpness. That I have no complaints. I only tried to nail the focus right. It was very very windy. That's why I had to tie it with a scarf. Earlier, The Flower thermos almost knock somebody 2 storey below... ;o0; ▶ Reply to This