In article <32EAD100.2F1F@erols.com>, tnassif@erols.com says...
>Terry A. Smith wrote:
>> Musse Pigg wrote:

>> > I plan to buy an AF-Nikkor 50mm/1.8 lens to my Nikon F50 (US N50). How
>> > good is this lens? Will I see any difference between pitures taken with
>> > this lens and pictures taken with my Sigma 28-80/3.5-5.6?

>> I don't want to put down your Sigma lens, but it's not in the same class
>> as a Nikon AF50 1.8 in speed or sharpness. You should be able to see the
>> difference even in a 3 1/2 x 5 print. If you can't, there's something
>> wrong with the 50mm or you have an unbelieveably good zoom. The Nikon
>> 50mm AF 50 1.8 is the most under-rated lens I know of, probably because
>> most people use zooms today. You should be able to find a good used one
>> for $50-$75 US. A new one is less than $100. I have heard it's better
>> than the f1.4, I know it's much cheaper. I have not tried the 1.4
>> myself, though usually you give up some things for the extra speed.
>> Also your autofocus will be "MUCH" faster with the 50mm.

> Is there anyone else out there that thinks the 50mm1.8 is
>sharper than the 50mm 1.4? I'm about to get the 1.4, but lately I've
>been hearing that its not all that sharp.
> My phot. teacher told me to get the 1.4 b/c its sharper, but maybe
>he's just relying on theory, and perhaps the 1.8 disproves that.

The 50 f1.8 and the 50 f1.4 AF Nikkors are of about equal quality, but
different in particulars...: the 1.8 has no linear distortion, the
1.4 a bit of barrel; the 1.8 is more even center-to-corner in sharpness
wider than about f2.8, the 1.4 is a bit snappier over most of the frame
at wide apertures; the 1.8 is cheaper; the 1.4 is almost a stop faster.

>I'd like to buy the 50mm 1.4D (Nikor of course) Monday afternoon.
>Should I save my money and get the 1.8D? I'm also getting the
>35-70mm/2.8D....should that influence my decision on which 50mm to get?

Yes, but in a different way from what you think...;-): I would get either
50mm, and skip the very-short-range, not-all-that-hot-or-fast-at-f2.8
35-70, at least until later, if you still feel the need to have it...;-)

> I'd be using it with an N70, and would be purchasing it for its optics
>for use in low light shots, and more than anything...shallow DOF.
>Will the 1.4's shallow DOF shots blow the 1.8's shots away?

No. The DOF difference with less than a stop aperture difference will
be minor. BTW, maybe better than the above options would be just
the 35mm f2 and 85mm f1.8 - the 35mm FL is THE useful FL for many
types of photography, and the 85 gives you the limited-DOF option.
Both lenses should perform better than the zoom wider than f5.6 or so.
Hope This Helps