---
title: "YN50/1.8 vs Nikkor 35-70 3.3/4.5 – sharpness comparison"
url: https://michalasobczak.pl/posts/yn50-1-8-vs-nikkor-35-70-3-3-4-5-sharpness-comparison.html
author: "Michał Sobczak"
description: "I started wondering if cheap YN lens can be compared with with some cheap Nikkor lens. Yes it can. I shoot same lens cap with Nikon D200 with these two lenses with are Yongnuo 50mm/f1.8 and Nikkor 35 – 70mm f3.3/4.5."
published: 2021-07-21T17:03:39.000Z
updated: 2021-09-17T21:23:38.000Z
language: en
categories: ["Photography"]
tags: []
license: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
---
# YN50/1.8 vs Nikkor 35-70 3.3/4.5 – sharpness comparison

I started wondering if cheap YN lens can be compared with with some cheap Nikkor lens. Yes it can. I shoot same lens cap with Nikon D200 with these two lenses with are Yongnuo 50mm/f1.8 and Nikkor 35 – 70mm f3.3/4.5. I think that comparing fixed lens with zoom lens might be weird, but originally I though that even with zoom, Nikkor should be better. I was wrong. If anyone is not convinced why should you buy fixed-focus prime lens below you have practical explanation.

![YN 50mm / f1.8 fixed lens](https://michalasobczak.pl/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/image-2-2988x2000.png)
*YN 50mm / f1.8 fixed lens*

The reason why I even bother to compare them at such a level is that I was disappointed with the Nikkor lens. It produces flat output. I would not say that it is blurry but it is much less vibrant as cheap Chinese fixed lens. Which is somehow interesting.

![Nikkor AF 35 – 70 mm / f3.3 – f4.5](https://michalasobczak.pl/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/image-2988x2000.png)
*Nikkor AF 35 – 70 mm / f3.3 – f4.5*

As shown below on two samples YN produces much better image which is sharp with plenty of details. Nikkor produces image which is a little softer with less color details.

![YN at f/5.6](https://michalasobczak.pl/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/image-3.png)
*YN at f/5.6*

![Nikkor at 50mm f/5.6](https://michalasobczak.pl/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/image-4.png)
*Nikkor at 50mm f/5.6*

As a conclusion I should say that maybe comparing fixed lens with zoom is exaggeration, but it is nice to know that there are such differences.