Customers value the AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Standard Lens for its superb image quality and beautiful bokeh, finding it excellent for portraits and offering great value for the price. Its ease of use and strong low-light performance are also frequently praised. While some users experienced challenges with autofocusing, the overall feedback highlights the lens's strengths in image quality and versatility.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 2,201 reviews
Pros mentioned:
Bokeh, Image quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
LOVE this lens
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Before this lens, I'd always have my heavy 18-140mm attached to my camera, but since purchasing this lens, it's my MAIN go to lens and is 95% of the time the one I've got on my camera. It's very light and my neck doesn't ache after an hour long shoot. I opted to go with the 1.8G vs the 1.4G for price but I am so SO happy that I went with the 1.8G. The crisp pictures and depth of field is beautiful! The bokah is incredible and I just absolutely love this lens. Being a portrait photographer, this is an essential lens to have! I have an 85mm as well that I love for senior pictures and close up head shots, but for couples, small families, and just everyday shooting, this is the lens for you!!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Bokeh, Image quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Tickled Pink
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
For several years I have been doing portrait photography on the side with just a basic Nikon DSLR and basic 18-55mm lens. I was taking pretty good photos, but knew there was something I could do to enhance my photos without breaking my bank account. I started looking at Best Buy's lens guide and found this lens, which was recommended for portrait photography. I new that it's capacity to have such a wide aperture would give me a lot of exaggerated depth of field, and I figured that was definitely the thing missing from my current photography.
Once I got the lens, I immediately tried it out and was immediately pleased. Walking on Cloud 9, seriously. Definitely worth the purchase for the photography enthusiast! My photos look so much more professional! You need this lens in your collection!
The first night I had the lens, we went out with family to a pizza place, and I was shooting everything. I've uploaded a photo of a shaker of Parmesan that was taken at 3200 ISO, f/1.8, and 1/125. Doesn't it look like an important little shaker?
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Bokeh, Image quality, Low light performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Amazing Lens
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The best bang for your buck anywhere. This nifty fifty at just over $200 is an absolute steal. They are practically giving it away at that price. It is a very fast lens. It is light which gives you the impression it’s not well made, but it is actually a very tough lens. Comes with a lens hood. Crisp images. Perfect creamy bokeh. I use it almost exclusively for portraits now but it can be used for many things. Does very well in lowlight. Does have a bit of a sound when it auto focuses but that is water under the bridge considering how amazing this lens is. It’s worth at least 2 times what it costs.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Bokeh, Image quality, Low light performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Best Bang for the Buck...!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Hands down one of the clearest lens to get given the price. Ultra sharp, low light shooting capabilities and economical. If you're interested in bokeh, this lens will give you the results you're looking for...
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Image quality, Low light performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Get it! You won’t regret it!
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This is my first prime lens. I wanted to see what the hype is and wanted the capability to shoot in low light. Now I know why! This thing is amazing! I compared my kit lenses and this lens outperforms them easily. The image quality I get is what you normally see on a professional photographer! Now I’m going to save up on more prime lenses! My passion for photography is back!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Image quality, Low light performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
My go to lens
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Overall, I've taken some awesome portraits with this lens that look like magazine quality photos although they were just real quick snap shots. They were taken in low light, I wasn't using flash and the subject wasn't posing but they were great! Since then, I've used it at parties, great for the kids. Focus is very quick with this lens and no image stabilization necessary as the lens is that fast.---The worst thing about this lens is, well, me. I'm an amateur photographer and I know this lens (and my camera) are capable of great images. Looking forward to learning more, building my cache of equipment and lighting modifiers, but I totally love this lens and have been using it over the kit lens for a while now. The only time I put the kit on is for scenery or anything where I need a wider angle.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Image quality, Price
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
A must-have lens for full-frame SLR owners
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
If you have a full-frame digital camera, the chances are it came with what's called a "kit" zoom. That's a lens that covers 28-70mm or so, no faster than f3.5 at the wide end and f4.5 or so at 50mm. That lens can't be used in low-light without a flash--and flash makes ugly pictures in dim light. This lens two stops faster than that kit lens over most of its range. Which means you can take pictures indoors or in low light outside without a flash. AND, when it does that, it throws everything but the subject into soft focus. That looks MUCH better than everything near and far being in more or less sharp focus. That's what phone cameras do.
Plus it comparatively cheap. BTW, if your camera is APS-C (Nikon DX, for insance), then the equivalent lens is the 35mm f1.8.
I also used for astrophotos with the camera on a tripod, taking 6-8 second images.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Bokeh, Image quality, Low light performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Excellent lens
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Great quality, amazing bokeh. I just got a D3200 for Christmas, so this is my first lens aside from the kit lens... Highly recommend this to anyone. Autofocus is wonderful, and this lens does wonders in low light situations!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Image quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Fantastic lens!!!!
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I’ve been doing photography for over 8 years now and I have a variety of lens in my bag. This lens here is the best lens for the money. The focus is always spot on and the depth of field is amazing. I needed a 50 in pinch so I grabbed one at Best Buy. I had the 50 1.4 but sold it to get the 85. Even after shooting with the 85 and 100mm, this lens did fantastic! It was great for the family shots I took. It is so sharp!!!!!! Honestly, for as cheap as this lens is, it is definitely one of the best!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Image quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great Nikon 50mm lens!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Ordered this lens to be used with a Nikon D7500. Great lens that’s easy to use, comes with a lens hood & lens case (which is nice to have these items on hand), and it produces great quality shots. Overall happy with the purchase!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Image quality, Price
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Super Sharp Prime Lens
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I'm a photojournalist and like traveling light, relying on a 24mm and 50mm for 90% of my photos. After destroying my old Nikon 50mm 1.4 on a climbing trip I picked up this lens in Seattle to hold me over. More than holding me over, I'm not even looking at getting another 1.4. Good build quality and super sharp at all apertures. The 1.4 was a little soft wide-open and I often stopped down to f2 anyway. This lens at f1.8 is every bit as sharp, and for half the price.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Make me your first!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I am an amatuer photographer who picked up the hobby of photography to kill time and capture the moments of my later in life surprise children so my review is simple and not going to be highly technical for the semi professional and up.
I am using an entry level Nikon D3200 (DX body that is important to note since this is an FX lens) with an 18 - 55mm stock lens. Adding this lens to my camera made an immediate difference in the photos I could shoot. Much faster focusing than the stock or entry level 50 - 200mm zoom lens.
As I am shooting on a budget I had reservation about the utility of a prime lens at the fixxed focal length of 50mm, but I have been humbled and shamed for my doubt by the sheer exceptional performance of this lens.
The DX crop factor makes this feel a touch more zoomed in, maybe what you would frame up in the mid 70mm-ish range using a DX lens.
Excellent DoF .
Quick-ish (compared to stock lens)
Great for low-light and "magic hour" shooting
I would not only recommend this lens to... well... everyone, but if you are looking to buy in on your first entry level camera and are on a budget skip spending money on the stock 18-55mm and buy a body and the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G. You will be much happier starting, men will want to be you, women will want to be with you and unicorns will love you.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Bokeh, Image quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
50mm Bokeh Star
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This lens is great! I'm a beginner photographer and everywhere I read, every YouTube guru, and photography professional recommends having either a 35mm or 50mm prime lens. I chose this one. I've taken around 300 photos with it, and over 60% of those are keepers. It's my favorite lens - no doubt. Perfect for portraits, and it provides that beautiful Bokeh that makes your subject stand out.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Image quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great prime lens!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
A great lens that everyone should have in their arsenal! This 50mm f1.8 prime is a fantastic lens for the price, the depth of field and sharpness are amazing. If you're in the market for an affordable lens or looking for a lens to complement your new FX or DX DSLR, without breaking the bank, then this is the lens for you!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Bokeh, Low light performance
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
The only prime lens you need in your bag.
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I wish my Nikon D3100 kit came with this lens instead of those kit/travel zoom lenses (18-55 and 55-200mm). Because it is a fixed focal length lens, the only way to compose your shots is by moving your camera about. It promotes you to think about your composition before you snap away at your subject. This lens works great in low light and it renders nice Bokeh in the background! It is actually made for an full frame camera body, so if I ever "need" to upgrade to an FX body, I don't have to buy new 50mm lens.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Bokeh, Low light performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
My Go to Lens
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This lens never leaves my camera. I actually own two versions of it, this new one on my d3500 and an old one on a d200.
It creates a dreamy bokeh, and works well in all light situations. If you are looking to take portraits, it is a great lens to work with.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Bokeh, Image quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Excellent first lens
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Great lens for someone whos looking for something different than the standard kits lenses. Sharp images, great bokeh, and the focal length allows it to be used in a variety of situations.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Bokeh, Image quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great Lens for the money
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This is my first experience with a macro lens, and I love it. Photos are sharp at a 1.8 F stop. Perfect for all your close ups where you want to draw attention to the subject and softly blur out the background. I find little to no post production needed with this lens.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Image quality, Low light performance
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
good low cost prime lense
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I am new to digital photography and did some research on what a good lens was to have besides the one that came with the camera. I chose this lens and am very happy with the versatility of it. It allows good quality in low light when @f1.8 and also great picture quality overall. I would recommend checking out the 35mm and 50mm side by side to see which fixed length you like longer. If taking indoor shots of your kids and stuff the 35mm might be a little better since its a wider angle.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Bokeh
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great lens/ good bargain
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G prime lens is an awesome lens. It is pin sharp and produces good color resolution. It is too long to be a standard lens on a DX body, but works well for portraits. Of course, it is a bit short for portraits on an FX body, but then it could be used as a standard lens on an FX. I bought this lens mainly for portraits, but it is on my camera for most of the time as it is such a great lens. Apart from the sharpness and the clarity, it renders the out of focus areas nicely as well.