Let’s find out if we can really tell the difference between f/1.4 and f/1.8.
The difference beyond price, I mean 😉
Half a stop may not seem significant in well-lit conditions, but is there a noticeable difference in low-light situations or when shooting with a narrow depth of field?
And, perhaps the question we’re asking is, is it worth the higher price point?
In this article, I’ll show some examples of shooting f/1.8 versus f/1.4 as well as talk through the differences in these aperture values and lens designs.
The choice between f/1.8 and f/1.4 lenses will depend on budget, shooting needs, and image quality. Is it worth the money? Let’s find out!
What Are f/1.8 and f/1.4 Lenses?
f/1.8 and f/1.4 lenses refer to lenses with specific maximum aperture sizes.
The f-number, also known as the f-stop or aperture value, indicates the size of the aperture.
This applies to both prime lenses and zoom lenses, but the reality is that almost all lenses below f/2 are prime lenses.
The aperture indicates how much light is let in. Decreasing the number means more light.
More light is let in because the f-number is a ratio of the focal length of the lens to the diameter of the aperture.
For example, a 50mm lens with a 25mm maximum aperture would be an f/2 lens. To get to f/1.4, the same lens would need a ~36mm opening.
In this comparison, f/1.4 allows 2/3rds of a stop more light than f/1.8. Each f/stop is twice as much light.
The standard f stop numbers are f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, f/22. Most lenses also have half stops in between these numbers.
Many lenses offer 1/3 stop increments between whole stops, but some lenses offer a continuous aperture that allows you to adjust the aperture without stepping down in specific increments.
Because each stop is twice as much light, you can shoot at double the shutter speed to get the same exposure. This is why they call them “fast lenses.”
Another consideration is sensor size. It’s much easier to manufacture a low aperture APS-C sensor lens than a full frame lens.
This is shown by the price increase when you shop for full-frame lenses. Because of the larger sensor, these lenses will need a larger aperture to let in the same ratio of light.
In the full frame lens category, f/1.8 lenses are usually mid-grade lenses while f/1.4 lenses are often a higher level of quality.
There are also lenses with even wider apertures of f/1.2 and even f/1.0. These are often either very expensive or specialty lenses.
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On average, f/1.8 lenses for APS-C-sized sensors are relatively affordable (~ US$300-500 on average).
For full frame, you can usually find f/1.8 lenses for around $500-1,000. To get an f/1.4 lens, you’re usually looking at above $1,000.
A modern f/1.2 lens will usually cost $2,000 or more.
These price estimates are accurate if you shop from a premium lens manufacturer (i.e. camera brand lenses like Sony or Canon).
When you shop from less name brand offerings, you will find cheaper options (i.e. Samyang). In addition, you can also find deals if you’re willing to forego autofocus.
In comparing f/1.4 to f/1.8, the other factor that most people consider is bokeh, or the amount of blur in the background.
Bokeh is a factor of aperture, as well as focal length and the distance to the subject.
To get the most bokeh, you’ll want as telephoto a lens as possible with the lowest aperture (i.e. 85mm is better than 35mm and f/1.4 over f/1.8).
Additionally, you’ll want the subject as close as possible and the background as far away as possible.
Because of all these factors, f/1.4 vs f/1.8 may not be the only consideration when creating beautiful bokeh.
What Is an f/1.8 Lens Good for?
If you’ve ever shot in low light conditions, you’ll understand why prime lenses are the go-to option.
In addition to the beautiful background blur (bokeh), the amount of light let into the camera at f/1.8 vs f/4 is significant. You’re talking about 4-5 times more light.
An f/1.8 lens is going to be great for shooting in dark situations compared to an inexpensive zoom lens that probably has a minimum aperture of around f/4 or higher.
Though not the fastest lenses available, f/1.8 lenses are considered to be wide-aperture lenses that let in a significant amount of light.
The other place an f/1.8 lens is going to excel is in creating bokeh. This is especially true at longer focal lengths like 85mm or higher.
Lastly, f/1.8 lenses are a good choice if you’re on a budget.
Sure, that f/1.4 G-Master lens from Sony will be awesome, but is it worth double the money?
I would argue that in most cases, no it’s not worth the extra money.
Yes, f/1.4 lenses will let in 2/3 of a stop more light and have more bokeh, but in most cases, that isn’t going to make a huge difference.
What Is an f/1.4 Lens Good for?
Like f/1.8 lenses, f/1.4 lenses are wide-aperture lenses that let in a significant amount of light.
From premium manufacturers, f/1.4 lenses will be the top-of-the-line option. They will offer the highest quality, sharpest images, and best bokeh.
If you’re shooting in situations where you need the maximum amount of light (think indoor sporting events or astrophotography), f/1.4 lenses are going to be the best choice.
With an f/1.4 lens, you’ll get 2/3 of a stop more light than an f/1.8 lens, which means almost double the shutter speed.
The difference in shutter speed between 1/250 vs 1/400 is going to be most noticeable if you’re trying to freeze the motion of a moving subject.
Sure you can always increase your ISO sensitivity, but what if you’re already pushing the upper bounds of your camera? This is the scenario where an f/1.4 lens shines.
In addition to more light transmission, an f/1.4 lens will often have higher image quality because they’re usually designed with the best-in-class specs.
Factors like ghosting, chromatic aberration, sharpness, and lens flare will all be improved with premium f/1.4 lenses.
Some of these factors will be noticeable to many, others differences will be very minimal.
It really depends on the scenario and how closely you look at your images. 800% crop, anyone?
We’ll dive deeper into this topic below.
Can You Really See the Difference Between f/1.8 and f/1.4?
This GIF shows the difference between f/1.8 and f/1.4 at 50mm.
The true difference between f/1.8 and f/1.4 on the same lens is minimal. Most people will look at the images side by side and notice a slight increase in bokeh.
When the real difference is evident is when you compare a less expensive f/1.8 lens to a more expensive f/1.4 lens.
The first thing I often notice is the increase in image quality. There is often less ghosting and lens flare when shooting into the sun.
Additionally, you might notice an increase in sharpness or contrast. This is especially true at the edges of the frame. Most lenses are sharp in the middle but high-end lenses are sharp at the edges.
If you shoot in low light, f/1.4 will give you 2/3 of a stop more light. For example, the same exposure will have a 1/400 shutter speed at f/1.4 instead of 1/25o with a f/1.8 lens.
The only way you will notice the difference is when you have a fast-moving subject. Alternatively, you can always increase the ISO.
If you have a modern camera body, ISO 1600 vs ISO 2500 may not matter. If your camera is 5-plus years old, the difference may be more significant.
Lastly, f/1.4 lenses typically have better build quality. They are heavier, bulkier, and usually offer a few more features than less expensive lenses (i.e. manual aperture ring).
In practical use, build quality doesn’t necessarily translate to image quality, but it can affect your experience using the lens.
All these factors add up to the single biggest difference most people notice: price.
If you want the best in quality/performance, go for an f/1.4 lens. If you want to save some money, go with the f/1.8 lens.
How Much of a Stop is the Difference Between f/1.4 and f/1.8?
The difference in aperture size between f/1.4 and f/1.8 is two-thirds of a stop of light.
A full stop refers to doubling or halving the amount of light reaching the camera’s sensor. This corresponds to a doubling or halving the aperture size.
Aperture values represent different aperture sizes, with the standard sizes being: f/1.0, f/1.4, f/2.0, f/2.8, f/4.0, f/5.6, f/8.0. f/11, f/16, f/22.
Although f/1.8 isn’t listed above because it’s between f/1.4 and f/2, it is 2/3 of a stop more light.
Other Differences Between f/1.8 and f/1.4
This GIF shows the difference between f/1.8 and f/1.4 at 85mm.
Both f/1.8 and f/1.4 lenses are considered low aperture lenses and thus they will be fast in low light and create beautiful bokeh effects.
So, what are the main differences between these two lenses?
Wide aperture lenses are more complex in their design and the premium of glass used.
This means that an f/1.4 lens has a better build quality than an f/1.8. It will typically have higher-quality lens elements and more coatings on the glass.
More coatings help to improve image quality, especially when shooting in backlit scenes.
It also means that an f/1.4 lens is heavier than an f/1.8 lens.
For example, the Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 lens costs around US$250, measures 2.7 x 2.34″ and weighs in at 6.56 oz.
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 lens is around US$1300, which seems like a big price jump. However, this lens has the G-Master Design with advanced optics, measuring 3.1 x 3.7 and weighing in at 18 oz.
There are often so many choices for a 50mm lens that it can be difficult to decide.
Price is often the most important factor that gets balanced against image quality and overall performance.
I like to find a middle ground where I’m not buying the cheapest lens, but I’m also not spending money on unneeded features.
Is an f/1.4 Aperture Really Worth It?
Instead of answering whether an f/1.4 aperture lens is worth it, let’s talk about when it would be worth it.
If the genre of photography that you’re shooting requires a shallow depth of field and a strong background blur, you might consider the f/1.4.
This might be the case if you’re shooting portraits where emphasizing your subject and creating a background separation is important.
Additionally, if you’re working in low-light conditions and concerned about increasing your ISO or lowering your shutter speed too much, then you might want the lowest aperture lens that you can afford.
This might be if you’re shooting nighttime photography or fast-moving subjects in dimly lit environments.
Lenses with wider apertures, as we discussed, are more expensive so you’ll need to weigh the cost against the benefit.
Below is an example of lens a review deciding between cost, weight, and low-light capabilities.
It can be a challenging situation to decide what lens is going to provide the most value and performance.
To further complicate the situation, there are also less expensive f/1.4 lenses from other manufacturers.
Instead of the Sony 50mm f/1.4 GM, you might look at the Samyang 50mm f/1.4 II.
The Samyang lens offers a lot of the benefits of a low-aperture lens in a much cheaper package.
If you don’t have the budget for a high-end f/1.4 lens, offerings from brands like Samyang can be a great alternative!
Conclusion
Comparing and shopping for lenses is something that all photographers will need to do.
Hopefully, this article helped outline some of the differences between f/1.4 and f/1.8 lenses.
With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to choose.
It’s often a good idea to start with less expensive lenses and upgrade as your skills and earnings increase.
If you have any questions about a specific lens comparison, leave a comment below and I’ll be happy to weigh in!
