Nikon patents: 52/0.9 and 36/1.2 for mirrorless

[Jan Anne]

If these patents come to fruition these lenses would be a shock and awe move from Nikon to enter the full frame mirrorless market:
https://nikonrumors.com/2017/09/07/new-nikon-patents-nikkor-52mm-f0-9-and-36mm-f1-2-full-frame-mirrorless-lenses.aspx/#more-115928

Both spec wise and size wise btw as the 52mm f/0.9 is longer than the 70-200/2.8 

The 36/1.2 is also a third longer than my already very big (but also very good) Sony Zeiss 35/1.4 FE, hope the grip of the upcoming Nikon mirrorless will be big enough to comfortably wield these optical behemoths.

[Erik Lund]

Impressive figures! An eye opener for sure, if they really go all in on lenses like these we are in for a big treat! Wow

But I fear also at the price tag for such lenses,,, so a little hesitant to next news,,,

[richardHaw]

not happy with Nikon going down that path that Sigma went. Less is more in terms of lens design 

[Akira]

The speed race of the lens design is inevitable, but, concerning the constantly improving high-ISO performance of the cameras of any brand, I'd rather want to see compact lenses around the speed of f2.0.

Who said that the mirrorless system was smaller than the DLSR system?!   

[Jan Anne]

Lately the Japanese camera manufacturers seem to be working on extreme lens designs again like they used to in the old days, with camera performance becoming more equal like with film daring lens designs might become the "new" brand differentiator.

Even though these lenses will be out of reach for most photographers they will provide the necessary marketing exposure manufacturers need to stand out from the competition

 

[Erik Lund]

Agree!

Would make do as amazing Cine (Video) lenses

[Akira]

Jan, you are right.

Interestingly, the platform for the speed race in the old days was the Leica/Contax "mirrorless" system that enabled shorter back focus of the lens design.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Easier to implement on film, as oblique angles of incidence for the rays  had less impact with film or even was considered beneficial for the lens design.

The benefit of "long" optical designs is less highly refractive glass is required. The famous 29.5 mm f/1.2 Ultra-Micro-Nikkor was build this way.

[Akira]

Even though the long optical design may contribute to offer more options for designing the lenses, there are more obstacles to challenge nowadays: fast AF, very low CA, no breathing (if intended for the movies), smooth bokeh, etc.

As a result, high index glasses are employed in the design along with ED, extra ED, aspherical ED glasses.  The design requires more lens elements.  Olympus 25/1.2 uses as much as 19 elements, for an f1.2 standard lens!

[Jan Anne]

The design requires more lens elements.  Olympus 25/1.2 uses as much as 19 elements, for an f1.2 standard lens!

With that many elements its no surprise that the T-stop is only 1.8, so great for DOF control but no exposure gains with these fast but complex designs.

[Bill De Jager]

With that many elements its no surprise that the T-stop is only 1.8, so great for DOF control but no exposure gains with these fast but complex designs.

That would be a loss of >one stop, or a loss of >50% of incoming light!  Seems hard to believe, but confirmed by DXOMark.

[Akira]

With that many elements its no surprise that the T-stop is only 1.8, so great for DOF control but no exposure gains with these fast but complex designs.

That is disappointing but not surprising...

[Oskar O]

A 50/0.9 would be cool, but might be too impractical and in this case we don't even know what camera it would be mounted on (or will Nikon go back to old ways and make lenses for other cameras? doubt it, but fun thought).

Anyway, it's interesting what companies spend their time own, someone at Nikon believed that this avenue was worthwhile exploring.

[Akira]

With that many elements its no surprise that the T-stop is only 1.8, so great for DOF control but no exposure gains with these fast but complex designs.

According to DXOmarks, the T-stop of Panny/Leica 25/1.4 is T1.7.  Now I don't really see any reason to spend that much for Oly 25/1.2.