One focal length, and usually the widest aperture the money buys · review
Nikon’s classic 50 mm f/1.8 for F-mount DSLRs, with 10,193 ratings at 4.8 stars and a price around $167.
For Nikon DSLR owners, the 50mm f/1.8G is the usual first upgrade from a kit zoom. At f/1.8, it gathers more than three stops more light than a kit zoom at its long end.
On FX it gives a 47° view, close to natural vision. On DX it becomes a short portrait lens.
It focuses to 0.45 m with a 58 mm filter thread and an M/A switch for manual override.
With more than 10,000 ratings at 4.8 stars, it is one of the best-rated lenses on Amazon.com.
| Mount | Nikon F, FX (full frame); works on DX |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 50 mm |
| Aperture | f/1.8 |
| Angle of view | 47° on FX |
| Close focus | 0.45 m (1.48 ft); 0.15× maximum |
| Autofocus | Silent Wave Motor, with M/A switch |
| Filter | 58 mm |
| Size | About 2.83 in diameter × 2.01 in long |
| Amazon reference | B004Y1AYAC |
| EAN | 0018208021994 |
Yes. It is an AF-S lens with its own Silent Wave Motor, so it focuses on DX bodies that lack an in-body motor.
An equivalent focal length is a calculation that describes the field of view on a full-frame camera; the engraved focal length never changes. On DX, it frames like about 75 mm, a good head-and-shoulders portrait lens.
With the FTZ adapter, yes.
At $167, it is the 3 cheapest of the 8 models in this category published here.
8.7/ 10
A cheap, proven and bright lens that every Nikon DSLR owner can use. Nikon Z owners should prefer a Z-mount 50mm.
photo equipment from the same category, at nearby prices. Only what all of them publish is shown: a column with holes compares nothing.
| Model | Price | Mount | Focal length | Aperture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8G | $167 | Nikon F, FX (full frame); works on DX | 50 mm | f/1.8 |
| Panasonic Lumix G 25mm F1.7 | $179 | Micro Four Thirds (Panasonic and Olympus/OM System) | 25 mm; Panasonic gives 50 mm equivalent | f/1.7 to f/22 |
| Lightdow 85mm F1.8 Manual (EF) | $97 | Canon EF and EF-S DSLRs | 85 mm | f/1.8, set on the lens |
| TTARTISAN AF 50mm F1.8 Neo (FE) | $89 | Sony E, full frame | 50 mm | f/1.8 |
This model is listed on Amazon.com, at ≈ $167 at the last reading. Listed is not the same as in stock: availability changes daily, and the buy box shows the live price.
Details checked on November 2, 2026.
Nikon DSLR owners buying their first fast prime.
Amazon reports what buyers took in the month before this page was last checked: at least 50.
The figure is a floor, rounded by Amazon, and read through Keepa — it says what buyers picked, not what a maker claims.
Specifications: the manufacturer sheet for photo equipment and the matching Amazon product page. Prices and availability: Keepa. Every figure on this page names its source.
Canon RF, full frame · 45mm · f/1.2 · STM · one PMo aspheric element · digital distortion correction
Canon’s affordable f/1.2 standard prime for RF bodies, made possible by digital distortion correction, sold by Amazon.com for about $429.
Best for: Canon RF owners who want a bright everyday lens for low light and soft backgrounds.
≈ $429
Canon EF and EF-S mount · 85mm · f/1.8 · fully manual focus and aperture · no electronic contacts · 6 rounded blades · internal focus
A fully manual 85 mm f/1.8 portrait lens for Canon DSLRs at about $97. It has no electronic contacts, so the camera must be set to manual exposure.
Best for: Canon DSLR owners who want to try 85 mm portraits cheaply and are happy to focus by hand.
≈ $97
Micro Four Thirds · 25mm (50mm equivalent, per Panasonic) · f/1.7 to f/22 · 47° diagonal · 125 g (4.4 oz) · 46mm filter · 0.25 m close focus
A light 25 mm f/1.7 for Micro Four Thirds bodies, Panasonic and Olympus, that frames like a 50 mm on full frame. It ships from Amazon Germany at about $179.
Best for: Micro Four Thirds owners who want a small, bright standard lens.
≈ $179
Each amount in a write-up is what the listing showed when that page was written. The figure next to the product is pulled in as you read, and it is the one that counts.
