Worth getting another 50mm Nikkor? 1.4/50 AIS

[Fons Baerken]

Df 50mm/1.4 ais @f8
Amsterdam

[Airy]

This kind of lens slightly defocused certainly will add "glow" to all kinds of shiny objects.

I see surprisingly little CA on my sample of the 50/1.4 Nikkor AIS in general use.

I suspect the 58 to be off focus. For the 50, I picked the best out of several and it looks spot on. Never could get rid of the glow. But once again, it is a minor issue concerning a very good lens.

[longzoom]

20141227-029-2 by 20141227-20141227-029-2 by longzoom, on Flickr/photos/longzoom/]longzoom[/url], on Flickr.      In my long experience with Nikkors 50-th, most of them are suffering with poor performance to infinity. So, it is extremely important to perform accurate FT.  But, as I know, there is significant focus shift when the lens is closed down.  My new G  50/1.8 SE Nikkor is at its best at f4.0. So, I've done FT for it when it set to 4.0. It was not fast nor easy, but does pay for my efforts. Image, crop.   LZ

[longzoom]

20130522-012 by 20130522-012-4 by longzoom, on Flickrm/photos/longzoom/]longzoom[/url], on Flickr.     With all due respect to members, but old Nikkor AF 50/1.8 (Japan, non-D) is not a toy. Test at  f 4.0, crop.  LZ

[Airy]

"Toy" was aiming at the manufacturing quality. Optical qualities at f/4 are obviously very good, but that can be said of any Nikkor 50/something (including the older 50/2 AI).

[longzoom]

0608 308 - Copy by longzoom, on Flickr.  In this case, agreed, Airy! The old 50/2 is working for me when I need an extra tonality. Nothing is comparable!   This image at 5.6. Old wonder, no words!  LZ

[Airy]

What do you mean by "extra tonality" ?

From a quick check, with the 50/2 AI, pics are hazy at 2.0, contrasts rises sharply at 2.8 ielding a sharp center, and overall sharpness is good from 4.0 (with the Df), 5.6 being of course better. But that's not tonality. Something with the colors ?

[longzoom]

For me "more tonality" means more shadows of gray, deepest highlights. Not possible for many today's glasses, due to high contrast. It is very subjective, of course, as everything in art. LZ

[Akira]

Longzoom, do you mean the current AF-S50/1.8G with "My new G  50/1.8 SE Nikkor"?  I've had a smearing right side problem with my first sample, but now I'm really satisfied with the second sample I'm using now.

[longzoom]

Yes, I mean this one, but SE - Special Edition , black one from the DF kit. LZ

[Akira]

Yes, I mean this one, but SE - Special Edition , black one from the DF kit. LZ

Oh, I see.  Thank you!

[richardHaw]

you can never own too many of them (seriously)

[Hugh_3170]

Richard, you are seriously leading us all astray.  (LOL)        

you can never own too many of them (seriously)

[the solitaire]

I agree, never too many 50's in a household

direct comparison between the 50mm f1,4 Nikkor-S.C not being discussed here and a 5cm f2 Nikkor-S which, in my opinion, performs better then the mentioned 50mm f2 Ai whcih I also owned at one point... for some 10+ years

50mm f1,4 Nikkor-S.C (contrasty)



5cm f2 Nikkor-S



The image from the 5cm f2 appears darker. When I darken the 50mm f1,4 image I lose shadow detail right away. I therefor adjusted both images for shadow detail and the 5cm lens gives me an image with a narrower dynamic range, but an image that because of this looks more appealing because the difference between the bright and dark areas is smaller and the image appears to be more evenly lit.

[richardHaw]

The 5cm f/2 is sharper. however, some people say that the 50 1.4 has more micro contrast.

if anybody of you read the 1001 nights article about the 5cm, it was pointed out that the 5cm f/2 changes character in various f-stops which may be desirable for some.