Author Topic: Nikon 50mm f2 AI (late version) vs 50mm f1.8 AIS (long nose)  (Read 10679 times)

Akira

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Re: Nikon 50mm f2 AI (late version) vs 50mm f1.8 AIS (long nose)
« Reply #15 on: February 11, 2019, 15:51:17 »
I did try without filters and I saw no difference LOL I had bad experience with Zeiss 30 years ago. T* coating is extremely soft and I learned how to clean Zeiss lenses the hard way. Although, Nikon lenses seem to be much more scratch resistant, the habit of putting filters remains.

You should try to shoot (very) distant scenes to make sure if a protection filter has no effect on the image quality.  I did detect some image degradation and stopped using a protection filter except in dusty or splashy situations.  As Jacques noted, a hood and/or a lens cap are protective enough in most situations.
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Zang

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Re: Nikon 50mm f2 AI (late version) vs 50mm f1.8 AIS (long nose)
« Reply #16 on: February 11, 2019, 16:15:22 »
I am sure the filters will affect the PQ in general and will create weird effect in some extreme situation. I will consider removing filters for critical works. Thanks guys for the hint.

Zang

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Re: Nikon 50mm f2 AI (late version) vs 50mm f1.8 AIS (long nose)
« Reply #17 on: March 20, 2021, 17:00:02 »
I know this is an old thread, but hey, how is your experience with Nikkor 50mm f1.4 AIS. having 50mm f1.8, is there any reason I should try 50mm f1.4? :)

Cheers,
Zang

Airy

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Re: Nikon 50mm f2 AI (late version) vs 50mm f1.8 AIS (long nose)
« Reply #18 on: March 20, 2021, 17:25:56 »
Not really. The 50/1.4 AIS is fine, but performance at full aperture is modest. Besides, the 1.4 lens has more visible distortion.
I'r rather use the 50/2 (my copy of the 50/1.8 needs infinity adjustment).
When I need 1.4, I'd rather use the Noct (high contrast) or the Voigtländer 58/1.4 (lower contrast at that aperture).
Airy Magnien

Zang

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Re: Nikon 50mm f2 AI (late version) vs 50mm f1.8 AIS (long nose)
« Reply #19 on: March 20, 2021, 17:28:41 »
Thanks Airy. I just saw and mint copy of 1.4 for less than 100USD and I was tempted. But I would probably never use it as I already have a couple of different 50mm.

Airy

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Re: Nikon 50mm f2 AI (late version) vs 50mm f1.8 AIS (long nose)
« Reply #20 on: March 20, 2021, 17:39:56 »
That's a nice price. But if redundant...
Airy Magnien

Akira

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Re: Nikon 50mm f2 AI (late version) vs 50mm f1.8 AIS (long nose)
« Reply #21 on: March 20, 2021, 17:56:55 »
Given the excellent high-ISO performance of the current digital cameras, I don't see any benefit of getting Ais 50/1.4 at any bargain price.

Nokton 58/1.4 is an excellent and fun lens.  I loved  various characters shown by the lens when the aperture is changed between f1.4 and f2.8.
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Zang

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Re: Nikon 50mm f2 AI (late version) vs 50mm f1.8 AIS (long nose)
« Reply #22 on: March 20, 2021, 18:15:46 »
I had Contax Zeiss 50mm f1.4 unused for 20 years before I bought used Sony Nex-6 and crafted an adapter using a part that Matt (from here) sent me. I was surprised how good the results were. I think Zeiss is way better than any Nikkors I have including 50mm F1.8. I ended up using that lens and Zeiss 28mm f2.8 most of the time. 

David H. Hartman

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Re: Nikon 50mm f2 AI (late version) vs 50mm f1.8 AIS (long nose)
« Reply #23 on: March 20, 2021, 18:57:41 »
I did try without filters and I saw no difference...

One situation where you might want to always remove a filter is night photography. I find a filter often causes a ghost of a light source like a street light, store sign or a car's headlights.

In my experience the latest super multi-coated filters don't cause additional flare as they reflect so little light. Where a filter may cause some extra flare a proper lens hood or for wide angle lenses and zooms shading the front element with the hand will make more difference than removing the filter. I always use a lens hood except on a 55mm or 60mm Micro-Nikkor.

I'm using a protection filter on my 50/1.8 AI but not on my AF-S 50/1.8G Nikkor. Does this make sense?

Dave
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Airy

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Re: Nikon 50mm f2 AI (late version) vs 50mm f1.8 AIS (long nose)
« Reply #24 on: March 20, 2021, 18:59:57 »
The Contax has a top reputation (except maybe the bokeh). On my Df, the Zeiss Milvus 50/2 earns top marks (incl. for bokeh). Nevertheless, I found the 50/2 AI to have a special (vintage ?) "character", very different from the Zeiss, that makes me use it quite often. Hard to tell why.

I also think that blind tests could lead to surprizing results. As an active (albeit amateur) photographer, my lens appreciation has lots to do with the size, shape, touch, focussing action, etc., so I'm sure to pay attention to other things than the final result, which is not even final (post-processing...).

The only optical defects that I think are difficult to "appreciate" are fringes (esp. LoCA) and mush in the center, and more seldom coma or heavy distortion. Everything else can pass as a virtue in expert hands, depending on the subject... so "optical perfection" remains subjective and may depend on circumstances. The Noct Nikkor is such an imperfect, but beautiful lens. Of course, some lenses (Zeiss 50/2, Nikkor 105/2.5...) will more *consistently* deliver fine pics; maybe that defines 'optical perfection'.
Airy Magnien

Zang

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Re: Nikon 50mm f2 AI (late version) vs 50mm f1.8 AIS (long nose)
« Reply #25 on: March 20, 2021, 19:03:55 »
Right, most of my picture are not sharp nor colorful anyway. I do not like vivid colors and over sharpened images. So yes, handling and feeling is also a quality for me.

MEPER

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Re: Nikon 50mm f2 AI (late version) vs 50mm f1.8 AIS (long nose)
« Reply #26 on: March 20, 2021, 19:06:10 »
It is a bit like audio amplifiers?
A singled ended triode tube amplifier can sound very good (if speakers are easy to drive) but if you make objective measurements on amplifier it is far from "perfect".......

Zang

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Re: Nikon 50mm f2 AI (late version) vs 50mm f1.8 AIS (long nose)
« Reply #27 on: March 20, 2021, 19:08:14 »
LOL... I soldered myself a single ended one for headphones and I love it :)

MEPER

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Re: Nikon 50mm f2 AI (late version) vs 50mm f1.8 AIS (long nose)
« Reply #28 on: March 20, 2021, 19:11:07 »
I have often wondered if "lens nerds" also has DIY audio or just audio as hobby as there are some similarities..... :-)
 

Zang

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Re: Nikon 50mm f2 AI (late version) vs 50mm f1.8 AIS (long nose)
« Reply #29 on: March 20, 2021, 19:20:08 »
Yeah... funs go in pair LOL.