Nikkor AI 50mm f=1:1.4

[Orio]

This is a lens that, sharpness wise, beats the Contax/Zeiss Planar 1.4/50 and gets VERY close to the Leica Summicron-R 50:



But as you can see from the picture, the colour rendition isn't nowhere near that of German or Russian lenses.

If you shoot digital, you can correct it (at the risk of clipping important image information), but if you shoot slides, this can make a decisive difference, as you will need a denser and probably slower film in order to make up.
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ХОРИОС-61 ( ώρεος ) : Lens sana in corpore sano
www.timelessphotography.eu
www.oriofoto.net

Read list of equipment HERE

[LucisPictor]

Thanks, Orio!

This is a conclusion which I have made several times as well.

Japanese lenses in general and Nikkors in particular (I like Nikkors a lot, you can tell!) are extremely good at detail reproduction, resolution and sharpness but there is rarely this "special" feeling about colours that Russian or German glass provides.

Something that is hard to measure and thus normally does nor show in test diagrams.

Anyway, as a lens fan who really likes German or Russian glass, I meanwhile have found quite a number of Japanese lenses that I am fascinated of - and not, or not only, because of their immense sharpness, but because of their overall performance.

Nikkor lenses tend to be the best Japanese lenses, followed by Tamron, Tomioka, Kiron, Komine and sometimes Tokina and Soligor (actually, Soligor often ordered lenses by those others).
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There are two kinds of people in the world: those who divide the world into two kinds of people, and those who don’t.
"KAPCTEH" | "Karusutenu" | "Carsten" | T-shirt?
Cams in use: EOS 40D, EOS 350D, EOS 50e, EOS 500, Spotmatic SPII, EXA I & 1c, Zenit EM; Oly 35RC,Minolta Hi-Matic E & F, Ricoh 500RF, Yashica Electro 35 GS, FED-3b and some others...
Lenses in use: Asahi Pentax: 2.8/28;3.5/35;1.4/50;1.7/50;2.8/105;3.5/135;28-80 | Canon (AF):1.8/50;17-85;75-300 | Former GDR: CZJ Flek 4/20; Pentacon 3.5/30; Pentaflex 1.8/50; CZJ 2.8/50; CZJ 4/135; Pentacon 4/200 | Fujinon: 43-75 on sale! | Hanimex: 3.5/23 on sale!; 4/100;80-200 | Hoya: 25-42;80-205 | Leica: Elmarit-R 2.8/35; Summicron 2.0/50 | Mamiya: 1.8/55 | Minolta: 1.7/50 | Nikkor: 2.8/24;2/35;2/50;1.2/55;1.8/85;3.5/135 | West German: Zeiss 2.8/50; Ludwig 2.9/50; Meyer 2.8/100; Will 4.5/105;Schneider 3.5/135;Enna 3.5/135; Zeiss 4/135;Isco 4/135; Enna 4.5/240 | Olympus: 3.5/28;1.4/50;3.5/135 | Rikenon: 1.7/50 on sale!;35-70 | Rollei/Voigtländer: 1.4/55;1.8/50 | Russian: Peleng3.5/8; Zenitar2.8/16; MIR2.8/37; Volna2.8/50; Industar2.8/50; Industar3.5/50; Industar3.5/5cm; Helios2/50; Helios2/58; MIR38 3.5/65; Volna2.8/80; Jupiter2/85; Kaleinar2.8/100;Tair2.8/133; Jupiter3.5/135; Jupiter4/135;Telear3.5/200;Jupiter4/200; Tair4.5/300;RF: Jupiter2.8/35;Industar2.8/53 | Sigma: 28-85;28-105(AF);17-70(AF) | Soligor: 28-105;35-200;70-220 | Tamron: 2.5/24;2.5/135;60-300;70-210 | Tokina: 28-105;80-200;12-24(AF);70-210(AF) | Vivitar: 3.5/17;2/24 on sale!;2/28;2.5/28;2.8/28 | Yashica: 2/5cm | Other Japanese: Cosina3.8/20; Albinar2.8/28; Porst1.8/35; Beroflex 8/500; Spiratone28-200; Maginon70-210
Green are the lenses I shoot the most.
More? http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=65

[TDN]

you forgot to mention Pentax Carsten! grrrr


lol


Looks very sharp indeed. But like Carsten said, some German lenses have something special in their colour rendition that's just great. I guess it depends on the application

Tom
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TDN - tdn9.be
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SLR: Nikon EM , Pentax K2 DMD
DSLR: Pentax *ist DL
Lenses (Nikon): E-series 1.8 50mm & 100mm f2.8; Tokina RMC 80-200mm f4
Lenses (Pentax): Pentax-A 50mm f1.7; Kiron 105mm f2.8 macro; Pentax-M 135mm f3.5;Pentax-A 35-135mm f3.5-4.5; Rikenon 28mm f2.8; Vivitar 400mm f5.6; Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 EX Aspherical; DA 18-55mm f3.-5.6; Tamron 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR;
Lenses (M42): Jupiter-9 85mm f2; Pentacon 200mm f4; Cosinon 35mm f2.8; Pentacon 50mm f1.8
Lenses (Adaptall): Tamron SP 60-300mm f3.8-5.6; Tamron SP 80-200mm f2.8 LD

[LucisPictor]

[revlimiter]

Very nice! I ebay'd one last week. I'm eager for it to arrive.
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Adam

Nikkor 50/1.2 AI, Nippon Kogaku 50/1.4, Nikkor 55/2.8 macro
Vivitar Series 1 28/1.9, Vivitar Series 1 90/2.5 macro, Vivitar 135/2.8 Close Focusing, Vivitar 19/3.8

[Ballu]

Can we have different sub section for 50mm.. so that I dont have to open those threads... I have these 50mm

Canon EF 50mm f1.8
Oly 50mm f1.8
CZ Planar 50mm f1.7
Super Takumar 50mm f1.4
INDUSTAR-50-2 50mm f3.5
Industar-61 LZ MC 50mm f2.8
Pentacon 50mm f1.8 Multi Coating
Nikon Series E 50mm f1.8

And I dont want to count any 55mm and zoom covering this range...
Oly 50mm f1.4 is already in the list (if I can get really cheap).. And I am resisting adding Nikon in this list...

Although my Tak 1.4 is my one of the best buddy...

Keeping different threads will keep my life simple...
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-Ballu
http://balyanpage.blogspot.com/

[Attila]

One more 1.4, Ballu Olympus OM 50 f1.4 good as Nikkor perhaps better
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Olympus E-1,Bessa L,Bessa RF Skopar 10,5cm,Besa I Color Skopar 105mm,Olympus OM2n,Nikon FA,Yashica Eletro 35 GN,
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Carl Zeiss Jena:Flektogon 2.8/20mm,4/25mm,2.4/35,2.8/65mm,4.5/4cm Tessar, 8/500mm Fernobjektiv
Pancolar 1.4/55mm,1.8/50mm,1.8/80mm,Tessar 2.8/50mm,Biotar 2/58mm,1.5/75mm,1.5/7,5cm
Carl Zeiss: Sonnar 2.8/135,2.8/180mm,Tessar 4/135mm
Nikon: 3.5/20mm,2.8/28mm,1.4/35mm,1.4/50mm,1.2/50mm,2/50mm,1.8/105mm,2.5/105mm,4/200mm macro,4.5/300mm
Pentax: Pentax 1.2/50mm,1.8/85mm,4/200mm
Helios: Helios-40 1.5/8,5cm,Helios-44-1 2/58mm,Helios-44-2 2/58mm
Olympus OM: 3.5/18mm,3.5/21mm,1.4/50mm,3.5/55mm macro,2.8/135mm,2/90mm macro,35-70mm,60-250mm
Meyer: 4.5/35mm Primagon,Primoplan 1.9/58mm,1.9/75mm,2.8/100mm,Orestegor 2.8/135mm,4.5/40 Helioplan
Leica: 4/100 Macro Elmar,2.8/90 Elmarit last version
Please visit my shop to support my reviews !
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[Ballu]

_________________
-Ballu
http://balyanpage.blogspot.com/

[Attila]

Sorry I was blind
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Olympus E-1,Bessa L,Bessa RF Skopar 10,5cm,Besa I Color Skopar 105mm,Olympus OM2n,Nikon FA,Yashica Eletro 35 GN,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carl Zeiss Jena:Flektogon 2.8/20mm,4/25mm,2.4/35,2.8/65mm,4.5/4cm Tessar, 8/500mm Fernobjektiv
Pancolar 1.4/55mm,1.8/50mm,1.8/80mm,Tessar 2.8/50mm,Biotar 2/58mm,1.5/75mm,1.5/7,5cm
Carl Zeiss: Sonnar 2.8/135,2.8/180mm,Tessar 4/135mm
Nikon: 3.5/20mm,2.8/28mm,1.4/35mm,1.4/50mm,1.2/50mm,2/50mm,1.8/105mm,2.5/105mm,4/200mm macro,4.5/300mm
Pentax: Pentax 1.2/50mm,1.8/85mm,4/200mm
Helios: Helios-40 1.5/8,5cm,Helios-44-1 2/58mm,Helios-44-2 2/58mm
Olympus OM: 3.5/18mm,3.5/21mm,1.4/50mm,3.5/55mm macro,2.8/135mm,2/90mm macro,35-70mm,60-250mm
Meyer: 4.5/35mm Primagon,Primoplan 1.9/58mm,1.9/75mm,2.8/100mm,Orestegor 2.8/135mm,4.5/40 Helioplan
Leica: 4/100 Macro Elmar,2.8/90 Elmarit last version
Please visit my shop to support my reviews !
http://www.hqdesign.us/