Nikon has been aggressively promoting the interior diameter of the Z mount as being 17% greater than the Nikon F mount, and the greater mount permits further flexibility in the optical design of the Z lenses like their newest 58mm f/0.95 lens.
On this text, I obtained’t be testing on the 58mm f/0.95 as I’m unlikely a fan of handbook focus. We’ll be taking a look into how the new Nikon 50mm f/1.2 lens holds up in opposition to the well-liked Third-party Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art lens.
Some major introduction of the Sigma 50mm Art: Sigma has recently been creating some spectacular lenses which is likely to be tack-sharp huge open. Aside from their harmful reputation in the earlier for harmful glass coating (that led to chromatic aberration) and entrance/once more focus problem, they have been doing slightly effectively since the launch of their Art assortment — they effectively developed lenses that might get hold of tack sharp huge open at f/1.4 (although all their lens are pretty heavy in weight).
The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 art work has been thought of considered one of my favorite workhorses for all my professional work for the earlier 2 years.
The Setup
1. Nikon Z6 II and Nikon 50mm f/1.2 S
2. Nikon Z6 II and Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art with FTZ adapter
The intention of the examine: I’ll be doing all my testing at f/1.4 aperture to be truthful to the Sigma Art. The intention of testing at huge open as a substitute of stopping proper right down to f/2 or f/5.6 is to search out out the lens sharpness huge open. If I try an f/1.4 lens and it might probably’t perform correctly huge open, I obtained’t see a necessity to consider such a lens.
Full disclosure: On account of Nikon Singapore, I managed to mortgage every the Z6 II and 50mm f/1.2 S to do some examine on them in opposition to my very personal Sigma 50mm Art copy.
Daytime Testing
For this examine, my digital digicam was mounted on the tripod to guarantee that the setup and the capturing distance don’t change. I moreover tried to swap the lens shortly so that I’ll maintain the lighting scenario to be as shut as potential. I completed down the Nikon lens to f/1.4 to be truthful for all the exams.
The very very first thing I seen with the Nikon 50mm was the physique appeared tighter than the Sigma 50mm, I might say maybe a 5% tighter in physique although every had been 50mm focal dimension.
By the use of focus sharpness, every lenses had been equally good huge open. Zoomed in at 200%, I do uncover the Nikon 50mm was a tad sharper on the strains in opposition to Sigma art work. Having said that, every lenses’ effectivity had been nonetheless pretty on par, no shopper will zoom in 200% to check in your photos. Every lenses have what it takes to ship your work correctly.
By the use of bokeh, it was pretty noticeable that the Nikon 50mm f/1.2 S does have increased glass and renders bokeh loads smoother than the Sigma 50mm.
Alongside the white edges of the van, I moreover seen some inexperienced ‘CA’ alongside the white line in every lenses. The Sigma Art confirmed stronger inexperienced fringing than the Nikon. It’s unlikely a large problem usually as ‘CA’ correction in Adobe Lightroom is just one click on on away to dispose of the fringing.
At the extreme correct nook of the Nikon 50mm f/1.2 S even after stopping proper right down to f/1.4, it produced a extremely pleasing bokeh at the nook. The Sigma 50mm Art on the completely different hand has a busy-looking bokeh.
Nighttime Testing
The primary focus for this examine isn’t almost sharpness as it is going to possible be lined in all the completely different exams. In my nighttime examine, I need to consider the distinction in how every lenses produce their bokeh. Who doesn’t love a creamy bokeh from a 50mm?
To examine the bokeh, I positioned my focus onto the metal railing so that the buildings at the once more shall be outside the shallow depth of self-discipline. The Nikon 50mm f/1.2 produced a significantly greater and smoother bokeh circle at the center and spherical the mid-frame than the Sigma 50mm.
At the left lower nook of the physique, the Nikon 50mm bokeh flip close to a cat’s eye kind whereas the Sigma 50mm Art nonetheless maintains a pleasing spherical circle kind.
At the mid-frame, the Nikon 50mm confirmed a higher shallow depth of influence effectivity together with some cat’s eye bokeh influence whereas the Sigma Art maintains its circle influence bokeh spherical the physique.
For this image, I take care of the tail delicate of the car so that I’ll get a shallow depth of self-discipline of the street lights in the background. It’s a robust info in case you’re doing a half-body portrait at evening time that’s very like how the bokeh may show.
At the mid-frame, Nikon 50mm bokeh appeared barely further blurred at the prolonged silver street lamp pole. The bokeh on Nikon 50mm moreover gave the impression to be brighter than the Sigma 50mm.
At the prime nook physique, capturing in opposition to the shiny street lamp the Nikon 50mm reveals a loads higher administration in the path of flares than the Sigma art work. This is likely to be attributable to the newer coating utilized to the Nikon Z lens, the place every Nano Crystal and ARNEO coats are used.
How Do They Perform in an Exact Shoot?
Now time for some cute moments by which I used the 50mm lenses to do some pet photography. As the canine doesn’t hold nonetheless like folks do, I don’t get to shoot them in the equivalent pose after switching my lens. The pose was barely utterly completely different nevertheless at the equivalent focus distance.
All through the dog photoshoot session, I didn’t uncover any distinction in the case of autofocus velocity. The Nikon new 50mm Z mount focuses pretty quick, I don’t truly uncover any fundamental distinction in focus velocity compared with the Sigma 50mm.
Moreover kudos to Nikon for doing a extraordinarily good job with their FTZ adapter now, as the adapter focuses comparatively correctly even with a Third-party F-mount lens, much like it does with their DSLR assortment. That’s good for photographers who private F-mount Third event lenses.
Every photos look truly good on the canine portrait session, I didn’t uncover any massive distinction in photos. Now let’s take a look into the efficient particulars.
At 200% magnification, spherical the eyes house the Nikon 50mm confirmed rather more particulars. In the eyeball, the particulars in the reflection particulars had been noticeably sharper! There have been moreover further particulars in the darkish brown fur between the eyes on the Nikon mannequin. On the Sigma copy, the particulars of the fur had been barely softer, and I don’t truly see that ‘wow’ concern in the case of particulars sharpness.
The Nikon 50mm produces a softer and smoother bokeh compared with the Sigma Art and however maintained tack-sharp particulars on the canine face. As soon as I first bought the Sigma Art, I was impressed with how they managed to offer such tack-sharp particulars at wide-open aperture on their Art lens. It was thought of considered one of the workhorses ever since.
Now with the new optical design from Nikon Z mount, I truly seen some breakthroughs over there. I’m impressed as quickly as as soon as extra after testing out the new 50mm f/1.2. The lens produces such sharp particulars however sustaining that simple creamy bokeh.
Portraits Check out
I did a lens comparability all through an outdoor family photoshoot with canine householders as correctly. Sadly, I didn’t perceive that the householders really modified their place whereas I was altering my lens. Other than that, focus distance nonetheless stays the equivalent for the examine.
At the mid-frame, the bokeh of the tree branches of the Sigma Art seems busy and further contrasty. I undoubtedly need the Nikon 50mm for smoother and further pure bokeh.
Equally, at the nook of the physique, the Sigma 50mm maintains its traits of busy background bokeh of the street bushes.
Spec Comparability
By the use of weight, the Nikon 50mm f/1.2 S weighs 1090g and the Sigma 50mm Art with the adapter solely weighs 950g in entire. When Sigma Art first obtained right here out, all people was commenting on how massive and heavy their Art assortment was. The Sigma Art with FTZ adapter is 130mm in time interval of dimension which is 20mm shorter than the Nikon 50mm f/1.2 S (150mm).
Whereas all people who likes to shoot with 50mm loves an f/1.2 bokeh, this doesn’t merely embody a greater price tag. It moreover comes together with a loads bigger filter thread now at 82mm evaluating to Sigma 77mm filter measurement. Which implies you may should spend cash on an 82mm filter must you need CPL or ND filter. The larger filter may additionally worth barely higher than the 77mm filter.
Further Sample Photos
Listed beneath are further photos shot with the Nikon 50mm f/1.2 S. All the photos are taken between f/1.2 and f/2 aperture.
Summary
It is pretty a difficult identify to say Nikon is a clear winner proper right here. By the use of specification and its effectivity in the precise world, I’m sure it is one hell of a lens anyone wish to have. As soon as you start to weigh in numerous elements like weight, dimension, and filter measurement, Nikon’s latest 50mm f/1.2 is simply not a lens for people with weak arms. I do know there are people who would sacrifice bokeh and like a lighter f/1.eight mannequin then this lens is definitely not for you.
To have the means to supply such high quality 50mm f/1.2 lens, the price tag could be double the value of the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art F-mount lens. It relies upon upon how loads you treasure image prime quality over weight and price as thought of considered one of the elements in your decision to get this new Nikon 50mm f/1.2 S.
As for myself, it’s a yay for me as I like tack sharp lenses at wide-open aperture, and that f/1.2 bokeh is just so lovely. That’s undoubtedly the lens which will trade the 50mm Sigma Art as my workhorse.
About the creator: Andy Chua is an knowledgeable photographer primarily based in a Singapore. The opinions expressed on this text are solely these of the creator. Chua’s portfolio is 70% sports activities actions, and he has lined every native and overseas worldwide meets. His sports activities actions work moreover obtained plenty of awards in IPA over the years and has been revealed on utterly completely different platforms. Together with sports activities actions, he moreover shoots underwater pictures, automotive, merchandise, inside, and so forth. You could possibly discover further of Chua’s work on his website or by following him on Instagram. This textual content was moreover revealed here.
