If Nikon D lenses are minus the aperature ring why are the G more expensive?

Just getting into photography and ordered a 50mm 1.4G AF-S lens for my D5000. Then someone tells me that she likes her D better and its $150 cheaper. Just wondered what some of the differences are and why the price difference?

I'm a Canon guy so I don't really know from Nikon. But, I'd suspect it's the higher quality glass and the mechanisms and the quality of the lens overall.

I was actually looking at that lens lol. But because I couldn't afford it I had to go with a 35mm F1.8, sigh. That lens in particular and a few others are in short supply so the price keeps going up. Not sure if that's the reason for the difference in cost though.

Actually, the G lenses are the ones without the aperture ring. D lenses have them.

http://www.luminescentphoto.com/articles/50mm/50mm_Nikkor.html

The D version is cheaper and has not just only an additional aperture ring (not a big issue unless you wish to reverse-mount it for macro shots), but also a depth of field scale. That's a certain advantage.

The G version is more expensive because it's an AF-S lens, it has an internal autofocus motor and thus will autofocus on your camera, unlike the D version which uses the "screwdriver" type autofocua with a motor in the camera body.