NikonGear'23
Gear Talk => Lens Talk => Topic started by: BruceSD on May 04, 2021, 19:19:41
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I'm a confirmed bokeh fanatic (Bokeholic?). I shoot mostly fast lenses at wide apertures. Often I even use speed boosters to achieve even shallower DOF.
I have lots of vintage bokeh lenses from a variety of lens makers (Olympus Zuiko, MOG, Zeiss, Voigtlander, Leica, etc.).
As far as my favorite Nikkor bokeh lenses, my personal favorite is the 55 mm f/1.2 Oscilloscope-Nikkor (I own 2 copies). I like it's incredible sharpness and artistic/painterly bokeh rendering (see photo).
You might be surprised to hear that my second favorite Nikkor bokeh lens is the humble/inexpensive/light-weight 50mm f/2 non-Ai lens - it really shines on a Metabones Speed Booster.
Do you have a favorite old Nikkor bokeh lens? Care to share your tips for creating outstanding bokeh with it?
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Not really "vintage" but my favorite anyway--Nikkor 85mm ƒ/1.4D. Gorgeous blur.
I also like the humble 50/1.4 from the early 70's. Maybe because it was the only good lens I owned back then.
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Another big fan of Nikkor-O 55/1.2. Its field curvature adds some character to the unique overall rendition.
#1: One of my oldest images shot with the lens on D2H.
#2: The latest image shot with it on SIGMA fp.
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Another big fan of Nikkor-O 55/1.2. Its field curvature adds some character to the unique overall rendition.
#1: One of my oldest image shot with the lens on D2H.
#2: The latest image shot with it on SIGMA fp.
Lovely images! Thank you for posting! They inspired me to go out and shoot more with this lens.
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Lovely images! Thank you for posting! They inspired me to go out and shoot more with this lens.
Glad you like them, Bruce!
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The Non-AI Nikkor 35/1.4 NC also has considerable curvature of field. Here it was (ab?)used wide open at near the minimum focal distance, the image is slightly cropped. This lens humbles me. I've had two copies of it over the course of almost 50 years; perhaps more than any other mainstream Nikkor that I've used the result obtained can, with few constraints, be deliberately varied by how the lens is used.
Bob
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You show probably one of the best Nikkor-O 55mm f/1.2 with a wonderful sample image!
The Noct-Nikkor is capable of something similar if you take care with the post processing ;)
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Wonderful bokeh is the hallmark of the 55mm f/1.2 CRT-Nikkor ('oscillioscope')
(https://nikongear.net/revival/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=9980.0;attach=49284;image)
Here a recent capture done with the Z6. The 55 CRT does focus to infinity on this camera system, but results are "special".
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(https://live.staticflickr.com/7863/46241253915_7992409700_o.jpg)
D850, 35mm f/1.4g
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I'm so glad that I started this blog.
Appreciate all of your excellent responses! The photos that have been posted are all outstanding!
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First the Noct-Nikkor 58mm f/1.2 Ai CPU Modified
(https://live.staticflickr.com/4041/4564783531_e1ba675e58_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/7XnH7k)_EGL4003 (https://flic.kr/p/7XnH7k) by Erik Gunst Lund (https://www.flickr.com/photos/erik_lund/), on Flickr
Second is 300mm f/2.8 Af-S first version
(https://live.staticflickr.com/1520/24981276341_a444444a6d_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/E4vz84)_EGL2278 (https://flic.kr/p/E4vz84) by Erik Gunst Lund (https://www.flickr.com/photos/erik_lund/), on Flickr
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Love this page.
Erik, that first image resonates extra with me.
Thank you all for sharing!
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Here are a couple images made with the Nikon "O" CRT 55mm f/1.2 lens that I like.
I don't know why this post is limited to "vintage" bokeh. The Nikon Z 58mm f/0.95 has the best bokeh of all, IMO.
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105mm/4 for bellows in front of 105mm/4 micro-Nikkor
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51161822291_a8e0f658ea_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kWZHjk)
Løvetann (https://flic.kr/p/2kWZHjk) by Asle Feten (https://www.flickr.com/photos/afoton/), on Flickr
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Of all the lens makers of a certain era, I find the Nikkors rival the Takumars for lenses with uninteresting bokeh. I tend to like overcorrected spherical aberration, which typically creates etched "ni-sen" bokeh, and Nikkors don't do that. I do like the CRT Nikkor, but it is not actually one of my favorites among my industrial lenses. The Repro Nikkor 85mm f1.0, however, does have very interesting bokeh, and that would be the lens I would choose as my favorite in that respect. Sadly, it cannot be used for anything less than about 1:1 even on short flange mirrorless cameras
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Very, very nice bokeh, but definitely not "ni-sen"
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The closest to ni-sen that I have nikkor-wise is the old 55mm f1. 2, but I much prefer the bokeh of a 55mm f1. 2 Cosina.
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Looks amazing. Unfortunately, it cannot be converted to Nikon F mount.
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Leopoldia comosa (aka Muscari comosum L.)
Some of the suggested setups/lenses will have me trying in the future: I have the 35/1.4 NC Ais, and also Asle's 105/4 μNikkor+ 105 Bellows Nikkor
Many have spoken in favor of the DC-Nikkor 105/2, but no photos have been provided, here's one from my May 07 hill trek:
Nikon DF, 105/2 DC-Nikkor @ f/2.5, Bokeh control on R/2.8
Ciao from Massimo
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My favourite Vintage Nikkor with bokeh is the 5.8cm f/1.4
(https://nikongear.net/revival/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4066.0;attach=28001;image)
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D3
(https://live.staticflickr.com/825/27099407147_17ca5cb74a_o.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/962/27099408377_be838c55e2_b.jpg)
105 f/2dc
(https://live.staticflickr.com/963/41909758072_e37d67f58b_o.jpg)
135 f/2dc
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(https://live.staticflickr.com/947/40929747435_60695053ae_o.jpg)
nikkor-o 55/1.2, d800
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My favourite Vintage Nikkor with bokeh is the 5.8cm f/1.4
(https://nikongear.net/revival/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4066.0;attach=28001;image)
Lovely results with the 5.8cm/1.4, another lens I'm having, I'll have to have an outing with that one to see how my sample behaves...
I'm having nice results at close range with the 70-180mm/4.5~5.6 AFD.zoom μNikkor, 8-9-10 of May have been dedicated (*) to this lens, more images to follow.
Ciao from Massimo
(*) Lately I go out with a single lens with the object of testing all aspects of the lens, using what one is given...
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Micro-Nikkor 70-180mm
Photo 1: Nikon Df, 70-180mm f/4.5-5.6 AF-D micro-Nikkor @160mm, 1/100" f/6.3, 0,79m
Photo 2: Nikon Df, 70-180mm f/4.5-5.6 AF-D micro-Nikkor @150mm, 1/100" f/6.3, 0,89m
Both straight out of camera, only resized for this site
Ciao from Massimo
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For me, the original AI Noct Nikkor f/1.2 is awesome.
But as someone pointed out above, the 135 DC 2.0 and similarly 105 DC 2.0 have outrageously good bokeh.
the 135 / 2.0, especially, is a real favourite of mine... It sits without shame between the entirely unmatched 200 2.0 and the magnificent 105mm 1.4! Not as sharp as those two entirely modern lenses, but my god does its bokeh make up for it in spades.
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vintage for me is pre-70s...
so it's the 105/2.5 :o :o :o
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Another thread which cost me money.
I picked up the 135mm f/2 DC.
Still just getting to know it, but it is great the way it offers what ever you want from smooth to bubbly at the twist of a ring.
The 55mm O is another favorite.
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and one can leave the subject out nearly entirely
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my favorite is definitely the Noct-Nikkor 58/1.2, but I also love the 105/2.5 Ai-s and the 135/2.0 DC...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51026745031_82914c08ec_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kK4py4)Emmi-Noct-Nikkor-D850-004 (https://flic.kr/p/2kK4py4) by Wurli (https://www.flickr.com/photos/wurli/), on Flickr
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Though it's pretty hard to hold steady on extension tubes, and not killer-diller sharp, I maintain a fondness for the 200/4Q.
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Some lenses stand above the others in terms of their bokeh qualities. Most of them have been mentioned already in the earlier posts.
My top favourite was and still is the AFS 200mm f/2 Nikkor. By the way, I have the 2004 version, so it is not very "modern" now. The manual 200/2 ED-IF shared much of the same behaviour, but had lower contrast and more colour fringing. (I no longer use the ED-IF as there is a malfunction with its aperture the local techs haven't been able to fix).
(D3X, 200/2AFS)
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Another example of the AFS 200/2 + D3X. The rendition is almost 'painterly', for lack of a better term. A light spring rain adds to the mood.
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A final example of what the 200/2 AFS so easily and effortlessly delivers.
Fresh snow over autumn fields
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Birna, thank you so much for reviving this thread that i have missed in the past somehow.
It is no secret that I adore all bokeh lenses.
Toby's 85/1.0 Repro Nikkor is my absolute favorite. Toby, Toby, Toby!
The 55-O is second on my list of lenses to buy/try-out.
There are many lenses that haven't been mentioned, like the 180/2.8 or 85/1.4, but I would like to share an old one that I shot with Zenit 85/1.5.
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The Nikkor "O" CRT Lens has wonderful bokeh, IMO.
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The Repro-Nikkor 85mm f/1 has a more limited range of applications than the 55/1.2 CRT, but still is a nice lens and bokeh is beyond reproach.
A few illustrations to this fact,
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Another example of the AFS 200/2 + D3X. The rendition is almost 'painterly', for lack of a better term. A light spring rain adds to the mood.
Great illustration of the Bokeh! Yes Painterly it draws.
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Cosina-Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar
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Another example of the AFS 200/2 + D3X. The rendition is almost 'painterly', for lack of a better term. A light spring rain adds to the mood.
Beautiful !!
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Cosina-Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar
Lovely, and a timely rebuff to someone’s comment that your images always strive for sharpness :-)
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Lovely, and a timely rebuff to someone’s comment that your images always strive for sharpness :-)
There is always something sharp in my photos. In this case it is the bottom curl of the Calla Lily flower.
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Cosina-Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar
I can only concur if we add Nikkor-Mount to the Subject ;D
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I can only concur if we add Nikkor-Mount to the Subject ;D
The 125 APO Lanthar is vintage enough for me.
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The 125 APO Lanthar is vintage enough for me.
Cannot more than agree!!
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Another example of the AFS 200/2 + D3X. The rendition is almost 'painterly', for lack of a better term. A light spring rain adds to the mood.
Birna,
This is an engaging photograph, with the background receding in out-of-focus boken - beautiful. Just curious: what aperture, noting the tree branches in the center-front appear to be the focus point.
Thanks, Robert
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According to my data base record, f/2.8.
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Birna,
Thanks for clarifying...I calculate that at f2.8, the depth of field for the 200mm at 16 meters focusing distance, is 130 centimeters based on Nikon's circle of confusion criteria for depth of field.
It's a beautiful photo...Robert
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It's the rain that makes most of the mood difference compared to photos of the same birch grove shot a little earlier that day.
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Another bokeh champion of the past, already mentioned, is the industrial 55mm f/1.2 Nikkor-O (CRT) lens in 39mm Leica thread mount.
Attached to the Z6 without a short helicoid, it is pushed into close to its design operating range (here 1:3, design is for 1:4.4). That makes it quite sharp across the entire frame and of course, at f/1.2, everything outside the razor-thin zone of acceptable focus is awash in bokeh blurs.
On the other hand, if put on a short helicoid on the Z system, it will reach infinity focus, but then only the on-axis centre is sharp and image quality elsewhere is - put mildly - 'not sharp'. Yet on a DX/Z camera it can be useful even under such abuse.
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Micro Nikkor 105mm f/4 (ai-s)
Micro Nikkor 105mm 1:4 (ai-s) + Nikkor-P 105mm 1:4
Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 Ai-s
other:
Ricoh GR 3 at close range
Zeiss Macroplanar 100mm f/2.0
Zeiss Milvus 35mm 1.4 (at close range and medium distance)
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2
++++
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Another with really wonderful bokeh (not too crazy but with character) is the Ultra Micro Nikkor 165mm f4.
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Very nice Toby, sharp subject and soft background ! Nice rendering and bokeh, indeed !
Must be a heavy lens, no ?
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Yes, 82mm filter thread and built like a tank. Probably about 1.5 kilos. Given that it is f4, you can see just how little of the lens is being used. I'm sure that's how they achieve a light falloff value of 0%.