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Question: Which lens will produce better pictures around the 50mm range!?
Nikkor 18-135mm or a Nikkor 50mm f/1!.4 AI (manual focus)

The 50mm has quite a bit of dust INSIDE the lens!. (not under the filter, it's literally inside the lens)

Not sure if this would really affect image quality!. I've taken a few pictures with it and I can see no traces of dust!.
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Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I have the Nikon 18-135mm and 50 f1!.8 AF!.

I can only say the 50mm prime lens producing better pictures then the 18-135mm only because it's what it is!. A prime lens, a fast lens!. Prime lenses are known to be better then zoom lenses!.

However I also love my 18-135mm lens!. It works well!. All the way down to 18mm, 50mm and all the way up to 135mm!.

I have had no problems so far having dust inside the 50mm lens!. So I'm not sure how that will affect the image!. You may have black spots on the photo, but you can always clone that out in your post processing!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

' better '

the 50mm f/1!.4 because you can keep the aperture at f/1!.4

The 18-135mm at 50mm's would go to around f/4

Producing much more depth of field!. I would rather the shallow depth of field from the 50mm prime!. That's many f/stops faster, and much better in low light conditions!. Why not get both!? The 18-135mm is a good all purpose lens!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

This might be overly obvious, but if you own both, then why don't you try taking the same images with both of the lenses and compare them side by side!?

That way you can see for yourself which is more in line with what you want!.

Just a thought!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

(I don't use those lenses--but do have old Nikkor (AI-S), the 50 mm f 2 and f 1!.2!.)

Anyway, I do feel that a prime lens is usually sharper than a zoom!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'm more of a Canon girl so I can't speak specifically, but in general primes are always sharper than zooms!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

if you cant see dust in the images, cant you see the prime is sharper!?Www@QuestionHome@Com