YONGNUO YN EF 50mm f/1.8N Lens Review
Buying a Nikon camera is not enough if you want to bring your photography skills to a higher level. You also need to purchase lenses (other than the kit lens) that are available in various models to use in different situations. You can choose between two popular types, namely a full-frame (FX) lens and a cropped sensor (DX) lens.
The common problem is that lenses can cost a lot, but nowadays, you will find some amazing high-quality lenses for Nikon offered by other top brands for an affordable price. To make it easier for our readers, we will talk about one such option: the YONGNUO YN EF 50mm f/1.8N, which is a full frame (FX) lens. Read ahead to learn about its features, pros, cons, and how it fares against a more expensive lens.
YONGNUO YN EF 50mm f/1.8N Lens
Yongnuo Digital is an established manufacturer of high-quality digital photography equipment and accessories. Based in Hong Kong, the brand is popular in Asia, Europe, and North America for their affordable copy versions of the original Nikon lenses.
The YONGNUO YN EF 50mm f/1.8N Lens is one of their trendiest lenses for Nikon cameras that promise to deliver almost the same results as the original version.
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Features
The YONGNUO YN EF 50mm f/1.8N Lens is an affordable version of the Nikon 50/1.8G barrel lens. It offers you almost the same quality but at a lesser price—almost thrice less than the original version by Nikon). Another great thing is that it can be used with a wide range of Nikon camera models like the D40, D40x, D60, D800, D810a, D700, D750, D7000 series, D5000 series, D3000 series, D300, D500, and D600.
The lens also comes with a built-in micro-focus motor that makes it easier for beginners and students to focus the shot. Other features include a photo filter thread size of 58 millimeters, a minimum focal length of 0.45 meters, a maximum focal length of 0.55 meters, and a manual focus system.
Having two types of focus systems, you can easily switch between the auto (AF) and manual (MF) focus mode with the help of the Focus Mode Switch. It also shows the depth of field that makes it easier for you to calculate the overall depth of the area.
The aperture is from F/1.8 to F/16, which adjusts without the help of an iris control ring. The diaphragm blades include seven rounded blades, while the 58mm filter thread is made of plastic.
The dimensions of the lens are 3.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches, and the weight is around six ounces. It also has a multi-layer coating that makes it durable. Once you purchase this lens, you’ll also receive front and rear lens caps, as well as a cleaning cloth.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Extremely lightweight
- Offers great length for portraits
- No need to extend or rotate the filter when focusing
- High-quality images
- Designed for almost all full-size Nikon FX cameras
Cons:
- Only works with Nikon cameras
- Doesn’t have a zoom function
Summary
For those who are searching for a reasonably priced version of expensive Nikon lenses without sacrificing much on quality, the YONGNUO YN EF 50mm f/1.8N Lens might just be a perfect choice. It comes with a metal bayonet, a window with a focusing distance, an internal focus, an AF/MF switch, and a DOF scale.
The built-in focus motor makes it a good option for beginners and you can use it with almost all Nikon models. However, you can’t use it with cameras of any other brands.
It produces good quality images, making it an excellent option for portraits and nighttime photography activities. The level of distortion is also very low, which is unique for a third-party lens.
Do keep in mind though that it is a copy of the original Nikon lens, so the quality of the image is not exactly the same. Additionally, as similar to other fixed lenses in the market, the YONGNUO YN EF 50mm f/1.8N Lens doesn’t come with a zoom function.
Comparison
To determine if the YONGNUO YN EF 50mm f/1.8N Lens is really worth a buy, let’s compare it with the original version: the Nikon 50mm 1.18D AF Nikkor Lens.
One of the principal differences is the age of both lenses. The one from Yongnuo Digital was released in 2016, which is almost 14 years after the release of the original Nikon lens. The design of the barrels in both lenses is also different.
The Nikon lens is comparatively smaller as well as 50g lighter than the Yongnuo version. The Yongnuo lens comes with a built-in micro-focus motor, while the Nikon lens lacks it. Instead, it uses the focusing motor that is built in the camera.
That makes the Yongnuo lens a better option for cameras that don’t feature built-in focus motors. Additionally, the Yongnuo lens doesn’t extend when focusing unlike the original Nikon version, which makes it easier to use.
On the other hand, the Nikon 50mm 1.18D AF Nikkor Lens comes with a diaphragm control ring which is not the case with the Yongnuo version. In terms of performance, the image quality is slightly better in the original Nikon version, which is expected since it is three times more expensive than the Yongnuo lens.
In the end, the Nikon lens is slightly better in terms of image quality, but the Yongnuo version comes with its own set of unique features. That said, it all comes down to how much you want to spend on the lens.
Verdict
After looking at what the YONGNUO YN EF 50mm f/1.8N Lens has to offer, we can conclude that it is an affordable third-party version of the expensive Nikon 50/1.8G Lens with an almost similar design and features. It offers you the best results when you compare price vs. performance with any other third-party lenses.
Overall, it is an excellent option for amateur photographers, students, and beginners who are using non-motorized Nikon cameras, as well as for those who have a tight budget. You can also use this lens at the start before switching to more expensive options. However, if you are a professional photographer, it is better to buy the original Nikon lenses.