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Nikon 50mm f/1.8D vs 1.8G

Ah, the 50mm f/1.8 prime lens.  It's one of the most popular lenses in the world, but if you shoot Nikon, you have two choices of models, and it can be confusing to know which one to choose.

This is one of the questions I get all the time from people who use our extremely popular DSLR lens finder to choose a lens.

In this article, I'll highlight the differences between the cameras and help you make the right choice.

f/1.8G

Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras
f/1.8D

Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D Lens for Nikon DSLR Cameras

What is the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D?

The Nikon 50mm f/1.8D lens is the older of the two lenses.  The basic design of the lens was created in the 1970s, but this version was released in 2002.

The focus motor on the f/1.8D lens is surprisingly noisy.  That makes this lens a particularly poor choice for shooting weddings where you'll be in a quiet ceremony, or for other situations where you'll need to be stealthy.  

However, as Pop Photo reports, the focus speed of the lens is actually a minute fraction of a second faster than the f/1.8G.  

However, the silent wave motor of the 50mm f/1.8G is generally regarded as being slightly more accurate.

Another drawback is that it comes with a really cheap and poorly designed white rear lens cap which does not stay on well and is not durable.  

It's nothing like the standard rear lens caps for Nikon lenses.

Perhaps the 50mm f/1.8D lens's biggest drawback is that it is not compatible with all Nikon cameras.  

Most modern lenses, the 50mm f/1.8G have a small motor in the lens which allows it to focus.  The 50mm f/1.8D, however, has no motor.  

On older Nikon lenses, the camera had the motor and would power the lens with a small white X-shaped prod that would extend out from the camera.

So if your camera does not have a focus motor, you will not be able to autofocus with this lens.

Cameras that will NOT autofocus with this lens (if your camera is not on this list, it will autofocus fine)

  • Nikon D3300 and previous models (Nikon D3200, D3100, D3000, etc)
  • Nikon D5500 and previous models (Nikon D5300, D5100, D5000, etc)
  • Nikon D80, D70, D60, D40 (though the D90 does have a motor)

However, there are a few select benefits to the f/1.8D over the f/1.8G.  First of all, price.  

The f/1.8D is generally about $100 cheaper than the g version, but you can check the price of the f/1.8D version and the f/1.8G version by tapping the buttons below to see what the current price difference is.

I would also check the price difference on a really high quality used one from KEH camera.

Another benefit of the f/1.8D is that it can stop down to f/22 while the f/1.8g can only go to f/18.  

However, that's an extremely limited benefit.  I don't know that I have ever encountered a situation where I'd want to shoot at a very high aperture on a 50mm lens before.

One thing that I love about the older lens style is that it includes an aperture ring.  

This is a physical ring you can twist to change the aperture, rather than doing the same from the camera (which you can also do).  

Most camera manufacturers moved away from this style in the mid-1990s, but I've always found the aperture right to be extremely convenient.

The 50mm f/1.8D lens has some optical advantages over the f/1.8G.  It distorts slightly less and has a little less vignetting around the edges.  

Both of these are very minor changes, however.

What is the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G?

The 50mm f/1.8G lens is the newer version of the aging 50mm f/1.8D.  

It's more expensive, has some slight updates to the optical quality which will attract more picky buyers, and includes features typical of higher-end lenses such as a silent-wave motor, rounded aperture blades, and decent build quality.

The 50mm f/1.8G version feels like a completely different lens.  Even without shooting the lens and seeing the optical quality, you can feel right away that the “g” version is much more substantial and well-built.

The Nikon 50mm f/1.8G lens is sharper than the 50mm f/1.8D, but I'm hesitant to write that sentence at all.  

When I write lens reviews, readers often care only about sharpness and fail to recognize that sharpness is only one of a whole host of features that impact the quality of a lens.  

You should know that the 50mm f/1.8D and G lenses are extremely close cousins in terms of optical quality, and you'd only really notice the sharpness improvement in the 50mm f/1.8G lens if you see it side-by-side with the 50mm f/1.8D.  

The difference is very slight.

Another benefit of the f/1.8g is that the aperture blades are more rounded than those of the f/1.8D lens.  

This generally produces more smooth and attractive bokeh in photos.

However, both lenses have the exact same number of aperture blades (7) so there really is a limited difference between the two.

What is the same in both lenses?

Both lenses have the same close focus distance of .45 meters.  This is a disappointment for me.  

I was hoping to see the close focus distance shrink on the new 50mm f/1.8G lens.  

Since a 50mm is a general, walk around lens, having macro capabilities would have been a nice touch on this popular lens and would have helped to justify the significantly higher price tag.

Both lenses also have a similar build style with no lens hood, but a front element which is deeply recessed inside the lens.  

This makes the front element well protected from the elements.

One of the reasons I highly recommend the 50mm f/1.8 lenses is because both models work on crop sensor or full-frame cameras.  

That's a nice benefit for photographers who only had a budget for a crop sensor camera when starting out in photography, but who want to buy lenses that will be compatible with a full frame camera when they are eventually ready to upgrade.

Which lens should you buy?

There are very few drawbacks to the 50mm f/1.8G in terms of simply “which lens performs better?”  

The 50mm f/1.8G is very slightly better than the 50mm f/1.8D in that regard.

However, the price difference overcomes a lot of that difference because the slight optical quality improvements may not warrant the increased price tag for many photographers.

When it comes right down to it, this is what I'd recommend for photographers in different situations.

Get the 50mm f/1.8G lens if….

  • You shoot a camera that does not have a focus motor.
  • You're willing to pay a bit more to get the top of the line.
  • You value build quality.

Get the 50mm f/1.8D lens if…

  • You're buying your first kit of photography gear and need to save the money for the camera or other accessories.
  • You don't have the budget for the 50mm f/1.8G.
  • You recognize that the optical differences between these two lenses are miniscule and are unlikely to differentiate your photos from the competition

If you're looking into getting a new lens for your camera, try out the DSLR lens finder.  

I spent over a year building it.  

It asks you 5 or 6 questions about your budget, what camera you shoot, and what you want to shoot with your new lens, and it recommends exactly the right lens for your situation.

 Check out the lens finder here to find the best lens for your DSLR.

If you want lens recommendations from other photographers, we would LOVE to have you in the Improve Your Photography Facebook Group!

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40 thoughts on “Nikon 50mm f/1.8D vs 1.8G”

  1. I have the 50mm 1.8D, and was disappointed when I discovered it would not autofocus with my camera, I wear glasses, “Bi-Focals”, and it’s hard to manual focus when your sweat is dripping on your glasses. However, there is one feature that not many people know about with this lens. you can still autofocus with it. This work with this lens and with Rokinon lenses that have the Nikon AE chip.
    I call it “Manual” Auto-Focus. In the viewfinder there is a small green LED “bottom left” that blinks when you are in focus. even though you have to manually turn the focus ring, the Green LED will let you know it’s in focus. This works great when using a single focus point, and the focus point is off center of the subject.

    Rokinon:
    AE (Auto Exposure/”Chipped”): Capabilities include focus confirmation with fine tuning, exposure modes Auto/P/A/S/M and EXIF data.

    In the old days, the viewfinder would have a prism or split image that you could line up to focus with. With the current viewfinders, it flat and does not give you any cues to focus with.

  2. Got an old D? Looks good to me 😉

    Seriously, I stress that people shouldn’t view the old D lenses as outdated rubbish. The G photos typically look better wide open, but I think the D is more aesthetically pleasing when stopped down past f/8.

    The straight aperture blades on the D model makes fantastic sun stars. One of my favorite night shots has beautiful lighthouse shining in a dramatic night sky with striking points of light radiating from the source. I don’t think the G would not be able to replicate this exactly with it’s rounded blades.

    But be warned, the D does not stand for “Durable”. Most Nikon D lenses are pretty easy to knock out of alignment. The new G lenses have improved durability over their older siblings. That being said, I own both of these lenses, and the D is pretty much my backup 50mm lens in case something goes wrong or if I need awesome stars points.

    In the end, at least I’ll have my D.

  3. The D-version is fully compatible with the D80 body. I used it a lot for portrait (75mm equivalent) and I am still using it as normal lens on FX

  4. Great review, except:
    The D version will auto focus on D70, D80 and D90 cameras.
    The aperture ring on the D version can not be used to adjust the aperture values on a modern camera. It must be locked into the F18 in order to operate. If it is set to any other f-stop it will give an error code and the camera cannot operate. You can only use the aperture ring on manual focus film cameras (FM2, F3 ect) and the earliest auto focus cameras (F4, N2002 ect)

    1. Not true.
      You can set it to be adjusted with the aperture ring too, which is also fantastic for shooting videos.
      That’s how I use it on my D7100

  5. *Both lenses also have a similar build style with no lens hood*

    The 50mm 1.8G comes with a lens hood.

  6. Thank you for this. I have been battling over which lens to get. I will just get the G.

  7. Hello,

    I am new to photography and will mainly use my Nikon D3200 for commercial shoots (clothing on a white background).

    I have been told that i should get a 50mm lens. Is the f/1.8D good for this type of jobs ? or should i get the f/1.8G ?

    Thank you.

    1. Or should I go for 1.8G? My budget is limited but I would want at least a decent quality to shoot portraits.

      1. The “D” won’t auto-focus on the D5200. You would regret the “D” lens on that camera. In order to get auto-focus, you’ll need the 50mm 1.8″G” lens.

  8. The d3200 cant tke the 1.8d lens as it requires an on body focus motor. You will hve to get the 1.8g that has an internal silent wave focus motor

  9. I have D5300. Now I want to buy a prime lens. Which will suit my camera for the best result? D or G?

    1. Selva Kumar from 3 fold training? From Qatar? hehe small world man… hope your having classes now and don’t always promise to your students!!!

  10. Get either a 35mm f1.8g or 50mm f1.8g. 35mm on a dx camera like 5300 is perfect for indoor photography,ie; tight spaces. 50mm is a portrait in dx camera,ie; good for outdoor, maybe in park. Both are good.

  11. Do NOT forget that these lenses are not the same in size!! The D is much smaller than the G is also cost more !

  12. You also forget to mention in the article that the 50/1.8D is more suited than it’s newer version for using in macro work with a reversing ring for example because it has an aperture ring enabling it to be stopped down when reversed whereas the newer G version cannot. 😉

  13. So With my d90 if I want to take picture of my daughter (baby of 11 month) the best is 1.8d or 1.8g?

  14. I have bought the 1.8D when I first bought my camera and really new to photography as the salesman said it is on a discount I buy a camera. Only after getting home that I figure out it won’t autofocus with my D5100. I haven’t use it since, because my camera also come with a tamron 18-200mm. I recently purchase a d500 and will try its autofocus tonight if it will work. Thanks for this

  15. Great article, thanks for the info (and not being prejudiced by pushing one over the other)

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