Noct Nikkor for Close-up

[Michael Erlewine]

You have no one but yourselves to blame for inspiring me to consider the Noct Nikkor for the kind of close-up work I do. As luck would have it I picked up a mint version of this lens on Ebay for $2758, which is not bad for this lens, especially the condition. I am selling off one of my PC Nikkors (85mm) and my Zeiss 100mm Makro-Planar, which I never use.

Well, it arrived and I have only begun to work with it. Heavy little bugger, and so well-made. Anyway, what I wanted to see in this lens seems to be there, the idea of a fast, wide-up lens with which to paint focus. Here are a couple of images (my first) with the Noct and the D810.

[Frank Fremerey]

magical smooth transitions. Very intersting. Like to see more.

[Andy]

Michael,
congratulations to your newst lens addition!

I am sure you will find the Noct a very pleasing lens to work with. Looking at your first images, you seem to enjoy it already 😃

rgds,
Andy

[KarlMera]

The poor man´s noct is the 1,2/55mm nikkor which gives you the same results.

[stenrasmussen]

The poor man´s noct is the 1,2/55mm nikkor which gives you the same results.

I disagree.

[Michael Erlewine]

I can already see that I have a lot to learn about the Noct Nikkor. It is definitely a lens with real character and probably many faces and uses. One limitation for my work is the focus throw, which is something like 140 degrees. This very much limits the number of layers for focus stacking. The increments are not fine enough just turning the helicoid. I will have to mount it on a focus rail to do large stacks, which is not the preferred way to stack.

Here is a 140 layer stack done on a focus rail with the Nikon D810 and the Noct, just for interest’s sake.

I have a lot to do and I wish spring would come sooner.

[Erik Lund]

The Noct you got is the Ais - The old  Ai has a lot more focus throw, it has about 230 deg since the mechanics are totally different, longer helicoils a bit stronger old fashion design stronger,,,

I agree with Sten, the other 50, 55 and 58mm Ai and Ais lenses doesn't come close to the Noct-Nikkor - The New 58mm 1.4 G does,,,

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Pushing any lens into assignments for which it never was designed is always a risky undertaking. Sometimes it works, even surprisingly well so; at other times, the lens fails to deliver.

[Michael Erlewine]

Pushing any lens into assignments for which it never was designed is always a risky undertaking. Sometimes it works, even surprisingly well so; at other times, the lens fails to deliver.

Very true. I like to push the boundaries, but as you said, the results are not always what we hope for. The Noct is a very interesting lens, at least so far.

[Erik Lund]

To me it looks like stacking ruins the Karma of the lens,,,

First two images starts to bring out some of the potential,,, Bokeh

[Michael Erlewine]

To me it looks like stacking ruins the Karma of the lens,,,

First two images starts to bring out some of the potential,,, Bokeh

Yep. I agree. This is how we find out. Looks like this will be a one-shot or a one-shot with a couple layers stacked to bring out a point. That's fine. Very nice lens.

[Frank Fremerey]

Your multifocus work with only a few but quite distant points of interest in the frame might profit from
the special drawing style.

[Michael Erlewine]

Your multifocus work with only a few but quite distant points of interest in the frame might profit from
the special drawing style.

It is clear to me that the Noct requires some special consideration. The first couple of shots show an approach that works. The multi-layer stacked image is not the way to go, but this is how we find out, right?

I am interested in learning to use the Noct, finding my own way to make it useful.

[richardHaw]

currently saving up for a NOCT to do something similar for larger bugs
focusing might be a pain but it is expected.

[pluton]

The poor man´s noct is the 1,2/55mm nikkor which gives you the same results.

  Based on what I've seen here and elsewhere shot with the Noct, the 55/1.2K that I have would be a very poor man's substitute for the Noct.
I got the 55/1.2K for the defects in the imaging it creates when wide open.
Photo showing strong soft effects coming entirely from the 55/1.2K lens wide open and focused close: