Nikon 50mm 1.2

hexi · Expire: 2011-11-18

Hi to all

I bought lately a Nikon FM2 with its 50mm F2 lens. I am very happy with the camera, and after first dev also with the lens.

Nonetheless, i plan to buy a lens that allows low light photos, so i wonder if a 1.4 is worth it when i saw the 1.2 version at about 100€ more.

So any Nikon users with those lenses ( 1.2/ 1.4 ) are more than welcome, thanx for any advices : )

Esox lucius · Expire: 2011-11-18

They are all capable performers, but nevertheless differences exist. My personal favorite of my Nikkor 50mm lenses is the 50/1.4 Ai-S for it's detail, 3D effect (build/handling is also good, bokeh as well). Best bokeh, build/handling and focusing feel - winner is 50/1.2 Ai-S. Detail is not up to it's slightly slower cousins, but nevertheless good. The modern 50/1.4G AF-S is technically the best, and bokeh is also very pleasing.

Subjectively, here are my recommendations (depending on what you value most in a lens)

Bokeh - take the 50/1.2 Ai-S or 50/1.4G AF-S. Bokeh highlights are painted as round circles, as opposed to hexagons on the 50/1.4 Ai-S and 50/1.4D AF. It's not just the bokeh highlights though, it's how these two paint out-of-focus areas in general. Please note that the AF-S versions are better manually focused than the screw-driven AF-D Nikkors.

Focusing feel - take the 50/1.2 Ai-S. 50/1.4 Ai-S is also very good, but slightly snappier than faster cousin which is built for f/1.2 focusing. The 50/1.2 Ai-S is really a joy to focus, especially with the split screen FM2n (I have one myself - love it)

3D - take the 50/1.4 Ai-S. Very very good, natural and dimensional fingerprint, lots of members here on Mflenses who have shared photos where they have noticed the same.

Build quality - 50/1.2 Ai-S or 50/1.4 Ai-S are both very solid lenses with fine tolerances. 50/1.4G AF-S is a little behind, better than the 50/1.4D though (worst is the 50/1.8 AF version, plastic toy).

For use with modern AF body - 50/1.4G AF-S. Newer is not always better, but in this case it is in almost every way when it comes to image technical quality.

My Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai-S samples
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=50mmf12ais&m=tags&w=50441299%40N00&s=int

My Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Ai-S samples
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=50mmf14ais&m=tags&w=50441299%40N00&s=int

My Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D AF samples
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=50mmf14d&m=tags&w=50441299%40N00&s=int

My Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G AF-S samples
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=50mmf14g&m=tags&w=50441299%40N00&s=int

hexi · Expire: 2011-11-18

Thanx Vilhelm for your advices, much appreciated. First feel : the 1.2 looks warmer than the 1.4 but i must take a second eye .. view : )

Esox lucius · Expire: 2011-11-18

james · Expire: 2011-12-28

I owned a 50/1.4 for better than 15 years and found myself using it less and less as time passed. Never found it's rendering particularly interesting but then, 50mm was never my favorite FL. The 50/1.2, bought about 2 years ago upon reading more about it, not least of which that it was likely the sharpest Nikkor 50 at f/2, seemed to me to be the more interesting of the two. Perhaps it was the deficiencies with my copy but I never warmed to the 1.4.

Vilhelm, any comments on the 50 G @ f/2?

Esox lucius · Expire: 2011-11-18

This is a long reply, bare with me. I just did a thorough 4 hours of testing the

Voigtländer SL 58/1.4 Nokton
Nikkor 50/1.4 Ai-S
Nikkor 50/1.2 Ai-S
Nikkor 50/1.4G AF-S
Nikkor 50/1.4D AF

I am not going to post crops as that would be even more time-consuming, I'm settling with results which are easier to read as well.

I can't rule out sample variation, but I can say all my Nikkors have been hand-picked from several copies tried. I can rule out focusing error - I used a very heavy Gitzo which was duck-taped to the floor from its legs with gaffer tape. I used Live View and made 5 individual re-focused exposures at both f/1.4 + another five exposures re-focused at f/2 to rule out focus error and focus shift. I chose the best detailed exposure (yes, even with tripod and live view miniscule focusing errors happen, some were not as good as the others).

Exposure delay mode was on to rule out mirror slap, camera was triggered by self-timer. Shutter was 1/250s and I used flash in manual mode to balance exposures (f/1.4 1/128 and f/2 1/64). Target was Norman Koren's lpm test chart printed as a large photoprint in highest quality. All files received identical RAW conversion.

CATEGORY 1 - CENTER DETAIL AT f/1.4 (focusing distance 1.5m)

1. 50/1.4 Ai-S
2. 50/1.4G AF-S
3. 50/1.2 Ai-S
4. 50/1.4D

The top 3 are clearly ahead of the 50/1.4D AF.

NOTE: General image quality does not equal detail - the 50/1.4 Ai-S shows best detail wide open, but overall quality is deteriorated by lateral CA. Overall, the 50/1.4G AF-S is the best at f/1.4. The 50/1.2 Ai-S is troubled by low contrast at this aperture, something that however can be cured with post-processing. The 50/1.4D AF is left behind in both detail and general image quality.

CATEGORY 2 - CENTER DETAIL AT f/2 (focusing distance 1.5m)

1. 50/1.4 Ai-S (note! troubled by lateral CA)
2. 50/1.2 Ai-S
3. 50/1.4G AF-S
4. 50/1.4D AF

50/1.4 Ai-S and 50/1.2 Ai-S are very very close at f/2 what comes to detail. Suprisingly, the 50/1.4G AF-S does not improve as much as expected, when it comes to center detail from f/1.4 to f/2. The 50/1.4D AF is clearly behind others.

CATEGORY 3a - AMOUNT OF AXIAL CA at f/1.4

1. 50/1.4G AF-S
2. 50/1.2 Ai-S
3. 50/1.4 Ai-S
4. 50/1.4D AF

50/1.4G AF-S is in a league of its own, 50/1.2 Ai-S is also very good. 50/1.4 Ai-S and 50/1.4D AF are left behind.

CATEGORY 3b - AMOUNT OF AXIAL CA at f/2

1. 50/1.4G AF-S
2. 50/1.2 Ai-S
3. 50/1.4 Ai-S
4. 50/1.4D AF

The newest 50/1.4G AF-S is still #1, with the 50/1.2 Ai-S and 50/1.4 Ai-S very close behind. 50/1.4D AF comes last, again.

CATEGORY 4a - AMOUNT OF LATERAL CA AT f/1.4

1. 50/1.4G AF-S
2. 50/1.4D AF
3. 50/1.2 Ai-S
4. 50/1.4 Ai-S

The newest 50/1.4G AF-S is in a league of its own.

CATEGORY 4b - AMOUNT OF LATERAL CA AT f/2

None of the lenses show center lateral CA when stopped down to f/2.

CATEGORY 5 - GEOMETRIC DISTORTION AT 1.5m
They all show more or less the same geometric distortion, although the 50/1.2 Ai-S has slightly more than the others. The Voigtländer SL 58/1.4 Nokton has clearly less geometric distortion than the wider Nikkors (no surprise due to focal length advantage).

The Voigtländer SL 58/1.4 Nokton enjoys the benefit of 58 vs 50mm, which shows in the clearly better technical quality. In fact, if thrown in the results, the Nokton will top all categories 1 to 6 (technical quality).

Here ends the technical quality comparison. Next, subjective categories:

CATEGORY 6 - FOCUS THROW, FOCUSING FEEL (subjective)
The Voigtländer SL 58/1.4 Nokton has the best design: firm but smooth focusing feel and a longer focusing throw than the others - clearly the manual focus user's choice of these five lenses.

Of the Nikkors, the 50/1.2 Ai-S clearly has the best focusing feel. It is slightly stiffer and has slightly slower throw. The 50/1.4 Ai-S is not far behind but it's slightly snappier than the faster version. The 50/1.4G AF-S is in the same class as 50/1.4 Ai-S, perhaps better if you like less resistance when focusing (but beware of faster throw). The 50/1.4D is screw-driven AF and manual focuses not so well as the others - loose feel, too snappy.

CATEGORY 7 - BUILD QUALITY (subjective)
The Voigtländer beats all the Nikkors. Next is Nikkor 50/1.2 Ai-S, closely followed by the 50/1.4 Ai-S which nevertheless feels slightly inferior to the f/1.2 version. The 50/1.4G AF-S is 3rd, followed by the metal/plastic combo of the 50/1.4D AF.

CATEGORY 8 - BOKEH HIGHLIGHTS (subjective)
Easy to guess, The 50/1.4G AF-S tops the list with near perfect circles, closely followed by the SL 58/1.4 Nokton. 50/1.2 Ai-S is quite round at the widest apertures but no longer when stopped down. The "hexagoned" 50/1.4 Ai-S and 50/1.4D AF versions create hexagons at all apertures where the diaphragm plays a part (not wide open of course).

CATEGORY 9 - OUT OF FOCUS RENDERING IN GENERAL (subjective)
The SL 58/1.4 Nokton tops the list, extra 8mm makes better bokeh than the 50/1.2 Ai-S and 50/1.4G AF-S (which are great as well!). These three lenses all paint differently, all very pleasing and smooth out-of focus rendering. The 50/1.4 Ai-S bokeh is not bad, but watch it with near backgrounds at wider than f/2.8. The 50/1.4D AF is not so good in my opinion, behind the others, even restless at times.

RECOMMENDATIONS
I won't give you recommendations, I think you can all decide which features and capabilities you most need from your 50-something millimeter Nikon mount lens.

Final comment: The Nokton is clearly built for the person who wants to move in very close, ie. <2 meters. The Nikkors all (except for the 50/1.4D) can measure up to it when used at longer focusing distances. This is shown when I compare these results with my long distance focusing comparison, where the 50/1.4 Ai-S was the winner ahead of the other Nikkors.

Note: My Nikkor 50/1.4 Ai-S is one of the limited series built after 2006 for the Japanese market only. Nikon switched serial number space when this batch was introduced in 2006, I suspect this lens has coating and other small improvements not present on the 1981-2005 versions.

james · Expire: 2011-12-28

Two questions for you, Vilhelm;

--for the CA, does the top lens mean the most or least CA?

--secondly, was there a great difference in center sharpness between the 50/1.2 AIS and the 50/1.4 AIS?

Esox lucius · Expire: 2011-11-18

WOOPS! ERROR - I HAVE NOW EDITED THE ORIGINAL POST

1st position in CA means least CA, yes.

If I compare the 50/1.4 Ai-S against the 50/1.2 Ai-S then:

Center detail f/1.4: 50/1.4 Ai-S has more lateral CA but very slightly better detail and contrast. The 50/1.2 Ai-S had same or slightly less detail, much less CA but slightly lower contrast.

Center detail f/2: both practically free of CA in the center. In detail very hard to see difference. The 50/1.2 Ai-S has a slightly lower contrast though at that aperture, which is why 50/1.4 Ai-S looks just a hint better.

I suspect that if you are using a 1981-2005 Nikkor 50/1.4 Ai-S then the choice would be to pick the 50/1.2 Ai-S. If you are one of the few lucky who have managed to get your hands on one of those Japan only limited edition Nikkor 50/1.4 Ai-S lenses which are manufactured since 2006... hold on to it. I suspect it has improved coating or something else which makes it stand out.

Esox lucius · Expire: 2011-11-18

Short question: Would I pick the 50/1.2 Ai-S over the 50/1.4 Ai-S?

For f/1.2 - f/1.4 - f/2 shooting Yes, I would. Easier to nail focus with the better suited longer focusing throw, plus it is less troubled with lateral CA. Slightly lower contrast I can always fix in post-processing.

For 3D and detail stopped down, the choice goes to the 50/1.4 Ai-S. This would explain why Nikon still manufactures both lenses for the Japanese market: the 50/1.2 is for low light shooters and the 50/1.4 is for those who want detail and 3D stopped down.

Please note these results are for RAW images from a Nikon D3 - I don't know how cross-system results compare.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

In my experience 1.2 lenses are top lenses from manufacturers , I rare or never shoot 1.2 , but I still have two 1.2 lenses. Pentax and Konica sadly I couldn't afford to keep Nikon 1.2.

William · Joined: 26 Nov 2009 Posts: 489 Location: London

The only Nikkor 50 I have tried is the non AI S.C. Auto 50 1.4. It is quite soft wide open so if planning to use wide open regularly as you seem to want to, I would recommend a later lens.

james · Expire: 2011-12-28

james · Expire: 2011-12-28

D700 + 50/1.2 @ f/2

Esox lucius · Expire: 2011-11-18

james · Expire: 2011-12-28