Nikkor 58mm f/1.4 AFS The New Noct-Nikkor

[Martin Zimelka]

Taken at Wüstenquell, Namibia.

D810 @ f/11


You can see it larger <a href="http://www.martinzimelka.com/Lens_Review/Nikkor_AFS_58G/Images/rock-merging-with-landscape_wustenquell/rock-merging-with-landscape_wustenquell.html">HERE</a>


D810 @ f/1.4

[Michael Erlewine]

Has anyone tried this lens with the K-1 Ring to see if it works to get us closer?

[Bjørn Rørslett]

It is a "G" lens and thus has no aperture ring. If mounted on the K-1, it will work at f/16 all the time.

[Michael Erlewine]

It is a "G" lens and thus has no aperture ring. If mounted on the K-1, it will work at f/16 all the time.

Ouch! If it worked wide-open, that would work.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

There is no problem blocking the aperture of the lens to be at the wide open position when mounted on the K-1. All you need is a little splinter of wood or similar, for example, a broken match stick.

However, the issue is you cannot have any reliable means of *controlling* the aperture of a "G"-lens when it is combined with the K-1. That is, unless the K-1 has a "G"-type CPU in it. The normal K-1 is on the narrow side for that, though. So the next step up the ladder will be the PK-11A. Still no means of controlling the aperture though, unless the ring gets a CPU of its own.

[Michael Erlewine]

This is probably for Erik Lund. How does this new lens compare to the legendary Noct-Nikkor, which I have heard so much from you about over the years? Another way to phrases this might be: if one purchased the old Noct-Nikkor, what would be the advantages and disadvantages?

[Airy]

The old noct is smaller. The "new" one fares undoubtedly better for night shots (less flare and artefacts). One of the shop staff at PCH in Brussels has both and reported on his comparisons for a magazine; he showed me his portfolio and the comparison was well to the advantage of the 58.

But it is (from experience) difficult to say something about a lens you did not use intensively. Unfortunately I got none of the tewo.

[Erik Lund]

Both lenses has a lot of field curvature as you get closer to min focus distance, the old has the most by far, when you add extension this is even more...
For images where you can use this ' feature' it works... Both Bjørn and I have dedicated extension rings for the old and new...

I will again warn against chipping K1 rings due to very high risk of destroying the contact block and CPU if you mount a lens with aperture leaver (ie all 'normal' lenses!

[PeterN]

This lens has something magical. I haven't used it for night shots yet but I love this lens.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

I did extensive A/B shooting when I tested the the new AFS 581.4. The newer lens has a flatter field than the older Noct, and this field curvature is very evident for close-ups. However, none of them is a 'flat-field' corrected lens by any stretch of imagination.

Apart from the field curvature and increased propensity of flare, due to its older coatings, the Noct did pretty well against the AFS 58/1.4. I decided that I would keep the old lens for its added (1/2 stop) speed advantage, plus the improvements of the new lens wasn't sufficient to make me want fork out the money for it. Plus of course the Noct is much smaller and thus fits my Df better.

[Erik Lund]

NIKKOR Future Vision - Lens Design Concepts

Here some words from the designer of 58mm 1.4

http://nikkor.com/technology/02.html

[stenrasmussen]

Photographylife.com has some nice evaluations of the Noct and the prinz:
https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-noct-nikkor-58mm-f1-2
https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-58mm-f1-4g

[Airy]

Interesting comparison, but along all discussed features, I do not see any direct coma comparison, which is one essential design goal for both.

[Fons Baerken]

there was some discussion on the lens on a different post
well to my pleasure it works



this mornings snap @1,6 on Df iso 1000
processed thru pn and ps

[Jacques]

A misty Shropshire morning.