In case you are new to photography, let me emphasize that this $120 lens is as sharp and over twice as sensitive to dim light as the $1,500 28-70mm AF-S lens. The reason to spend sixteen times as much is for no other reason than to get a lens that can zoom instead of you having to move forward and back to compose your image.

If you need super sharpness and a fast aperture than choose this over a zoom at the same price. This lens makes almost no compromises in image quality; it is inexpensive because it is both a very simple lens to make and few people want them today. A $120 zoom lens has to cut many corners in image quality that this 50mm doesn't.