have a lot of fine lenses that are well corrected. Of late, I am checking out the new Nikkor NOCT f/95 in itself and how it compares to lenses like the Zeiss Otus series, in particular the Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 lens.
I am not much of a “lens tester,” aside from how a lens affects my own work. Here is what I find comparing these two lenses.
The bokeh of the NOCT95 is worlds better than the OTUS55, plain and simple.
The OTUS55 is slightly better corrected compared to the NOCT95. I do find a little CA in the NOCT95 (easily removed) compared to the OTUS55, which is better corrected.
The NOCT95, of course, is very much heavier compared to the OTUS55, which I used to think was heavy. LOL.
The lens barrel on the OTUS55 is velvety-smooth, while the lens barrel on the NOCT95 is stiff and difficult to turn, although it might be loosening up a little. I have put a focus-puller cogged band around the barrel of the NOCT95 and that helps.
You can be sure that I checked out the NOCT95 thoroughly, because if it is flawed (for my work) I could have returned it and had a lot of money to spend on other gear. That being said, the NOCT95 (for my work) is a keeper, especially thanks to the speed of the lens and the resulting bokeh. I can’t get that effect with any of the Otus lenses. The closest I can come is the Nikkor “O” CRT lens, which is fast, but has a somewhat restricted focus range and other quirks.
And so, I very much like the Nikon NOCT 58mm f/.095 lens. Here is a shot from each of the lenses, the first shot, one flower, is with the NOCT95 and the second shot, with three flowers, is the Otus55.
