Author Topic: What's Your Favorite Vintage Nikkor "BOKEH" Lens?  (Read 7577 times)

Birna Rørslett

  • Global Moderator
  • **
  • Posts: 5182
  • A lesser fierce bear of the North
Re: What's Your Favorite Vintage Nikkor "BOKEH" Lens?
« Reply #30 on: June 21, 2022, 08:34:36 »
Some lenses stand above the others in terms of their bokeh qualities. Most of them have been mentioned already in the earlier posts.

My top favourite was and still is the AFS 200mm f/2 Nikkor. By the way, I have the 2004 version, so it is not very "modern" now. The manual 200/2 ED-IF shared much of the same behaviour, but had lower contrast and more colour fringing. (I no longer use the ED-IF as there is a malfunction with its aperture the local techs haven't been able to fix).

(D3X, 200/2AFS)

Birna Rørslett

  • Global Moderator
  • **
  • Posts: 5182
  • A lesser fierce bear of the North
Re: What's Your Favorite Vintage Nikkor "BOKEH" Lens?
« Reply #31 on: June 21, 2022, 08:40:49 »
Another example of the AFS 200/2 + D3X. The rendition is almost 'painterly', for lack of a better term. A light spring rain adds to the mood.

Birna Rørslett

  • Global Moderator
  • **
  • Posts: 5182
  • A lesser fierce bear of the North
Re: What's Your Favorite Vintage Nikkor "BOKEH" Lens?
« Reply #32 on: June 21, 2022, 10:04:57 »
A final example of what the 200/2 AFS so easily and effortlessly delivers.

Fresh snow over autumn fields

Jakov Minić

  • Jakov Minic
  • Global Moderator
  • **
  • Posts: 5341
  • The Hague, The Netherlands
    • Jakov Minić
Re: What's Your Favorite Vintage Nikkor "BOKEH" Lens?
« Reply #33 on: June 21, 2022, 11:14:29 »
Birna, thank you so much for reviving this thread that i have missed in the past somehow.
It is no secret that I adore all bokeh lenses.
Toby's 85/1.0 Repro Nikkor is my absolute favorite. Toby, Toby, Toby!
The 55-O is second on my list of lenses to buy/try-out.
There are many lenses that haven't been mentioned, like the 180/2.8 or 85/1.4, but I would like to share an old one that I shot with Zenit 85/1.5.

Free your mind and your ass will follow. - George Clinton
Before I jump like monkey give me banana. - Fela Kuti
Confidence is what you have before you understand the problem. - Woody Allen

Michael Erlewine

  • Close-Up Photographer
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 2041
  • Close-Up with APO
    • Spirit Grooves
Re: What's Your Favorite Vintage Nikkor "BOKEH" Lens?
« Reply #34 on: June 21, 2022, 11:41:59 »
The Nikkor "O" CRT Lens has wonderful bokeh, IMO.
MichaelErlewine.smugmug.com, Daily Blog at https://www.facebook.com/MichaelErlewine. main site: SpiritGrooves.net, https://www.youtube.com/user/merlewine, Founder: MacroStop.com, All-Music Guide, All-Movie Guide, Classic Posters.com, Matrix Software, DharmaGrooves.com

Birna Rørslett

  • Global Moderator
  • **
  • Posts: 5182
  • A lesser fierce bear of the North
Re: What's Your Favorite Vintage Nikkor "BOKEH" Lens?
« Reply #35 on: June 21, 2022, 11:57:39 »
The Repro-Nikkor 85mm f/1 has a more limited range of applications than the 55/1.2 CRT, but still is a nice lens and bokeh is beyond reproach.

A few illustrations to this fact,


Erik Lund

  • Global Moderator
  • **
  • Posts: 6480
  • Copenhagen
    • ErikLund.com
Re: What's Your Favorite Vintage Nikkor "BOKEH" Lens?
« Reply #36 on: June 21, 2022, 12:31:29 »
Another example of the AFS 200/2 + D3X. The rendition is almost 'painterly', for lack of a better term. A light spring rain adds to the mood.
Great illustration of the Bokeh! Yes Painterly it draws.
Erik Lund

Michael Erlewine

  • Close-Up Photographer
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 2041
  • Close-Up with APO
    • Spirit Grooves
Re: What's Your Favorite Vintage Nikkor "BOKEH" Lens?
« Reply #37 on: June 22, 2022, 22:33:29 »
Cosina-Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar
MichaelErlewine.smugmug.com, Daily Blog at https://www.facebook.com/MichaelErlewine. main site: SpiritGrooves.net, https://www.youtube.com/user/merlewine, Founder: MacroStop.com, All-Music Guide, All-Movie Guide, Classic Posters.com, Matrix Software, DharmaGrooves.com

John Geerts

  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 9117
  • Photojournalist in Tilburg, Netherlands
    • Tilburgers
Re: What's Your Favorite Vintage Nikkor "BOKEH" Lens?
« Reply #38 on: June 23, 2022, 08:45:46 »
Another example of the AFS 200/2 + D3X. The rendition is almost 'painterly', for lack of a better term. A light spring rain adds to the mood.
Beautiful  !!

Snoogly

  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 595
  • Flipping the bird
Re: What's Your Favorite Vintage Nikkor "BOKEH" Lens?
« Reply #39 on: June 23, 2022, 09:33:14 »
Cosina-Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar

Lovely, and a timely rebuff to someone’s comment that your images always strive for sharpness :-)
***************
Richard Hawking (not Richard Haw!), in Tokyo

Michael Erlewine

  • Close-Up Photographer
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 2041
  • Close-Up with APO
    • Spirit Grooves
Re: What's Your Favorite Vintage Nikkor "BOKEH" Lens?
« Reply #40 on: June 23, 2022, 09:40:36 »
Lovely, and a timely rebuff to someone’s comment that your images always strive for sharpness :-)


There is always something sharp in my photos. In this case it is the bottom curl of the Calla Lily flower.
MichaelErlewine.smugmug.com, Daily Blog at https://www.facebook.com/MichaelErlewine. main site: SpiritGrooves.net, https://www.youtube.com/user/merlewine, Founder: MacroStop.com, All-Music Guide, All-Movie Guide, Classic Posters.com, Matrix Software, DharmaGrooves.com

Erik Lund

  • Global Moderator
  • **
  • Posts: 6480
  • Copenhagen
    • ErikLund.com
Re: What's Your Favorite Vintage Nikkor "BOKEH" Lens?
« Reply #41 on: June 23, 2022, 09:41:21 »
Cosina-Voigtlander 125mm APO Lanthar
 
I can only concur if we add Nikkor-Mount to the Subject  ;D
Erik Lund

Michael Erlewine

  • Close-Up Photographer
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 2041
  • Close-Up with APO
    • Spirit Grooves
Re: What's Your Favorite Vintage Nikkor "BOKEH" Lens?
« Reply #42 on: June 23, 2022, 13:36:39 »
 
I can only concur if we add Nikkor-Mount to the Subject  ;D

The 125 APO Lanthar is vintage enough for me.
MichaelErlewine.smugmug.com, Daily Blog at https://www.facebook.com/MichaelErlewine. main site: SpiritGrooves.net, https://www.youtube.com/user/merlewine, Founder: MacroStop.com, All-Music Guide, All-Movie Guide, Classic Posters.com, Matrix Software, DharmaGrooves.com

Dr Klaus Schmitt

  • NG Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1005
Re: What's Your Favorite Vintage Nikkor "BOKEH" Lens?
« Reply #43 on: June 26, 2022, 17:17:37 »
The 125 APO Lanthar is vintage enough for me.

Cannot more than agree!!
formerly known as kds315

Robert Camfield

  • NG Member
  • *
  • Posts: 74
  • Hello from MadTown
Re: What's Your Favorite Vintage Nikkor "BOKEH" Lens?
« Reply #44 on: June 27, 2022, 01:52:42 »
Another example of the AFS 200/2 + D3X. The rendition is almost 'painterly', for lack of a better term. A light spring rain adds to the mood.

Birna,

This is an engaging photograph, with the background receding in out-of-focus boken - beautiful. Just curious: what aperture, noting the tree branches in the center-front appear to be the focus point.

Thanks, Robert