Nokton 58 1.4 / Nikon 50mm 1.4 D / Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F1.4

[Hari]

Hi all,

I still have some funds left for buying lenses and wanted your opinion

Im between these lenses:

Nokton 58 1.4 / Nikon 50mm 1.4 D / Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F1.4

To use on my D90

My main criteria:
1. smooth and silky bokeh
2. good in low light situations
3. minimal distortion/ca

Please advise

Regards,
Hari

[Attila]

Planar of course I don't know others

[Esox lucius]

Use Flickr to search for lens samples, really. Best way to form an opinion about the lens.

What I remember from using them:

1. Zeiss ZF 50/1.4 bokeh is worst of the three, Nikkor 50/1.4D is not that good bokeh either (Nikkor 50/1.4 Ai-S and 50/1.4G AF-S are much better). Nokton best bokeh of the three you are choosing from. This is personal opinion of course, bokeh is subjective.

2. Splitting hairs finding differences, really. Nikkor 50/1.4D AF may save some shots on a D90 in low light, the D90 viewfinder is not so good for manual focusing and low light increases difficulty factor.

3. As a Nikon user you will get the least CA with the Nikkor, provided that you use either on-camera JPEG or Capture NX RAW conversion. Nikon has programmed their own CPU-equipped lenses into the firmware & software = they know how to auto-correct them. Sadly they don't support 3rd party lenses with the same attention.

[poilu]

[xjjohnno]

I only know the Voigtlander which joined the collection a couple of weeks ago so can't really comment. I can show some pics with the lens from my first day of using it.

[Esox lucius]

Well... reading the Photozone reviews of all three lenses when used on Nikon crop sensor seems to turn the tables somewhat (I've used them on full-frame).

1. Nokton because of least distortion, best detail (au par with Zeiss) and least CA
2. Nikkor least detail of the three but better corrected (distortion, CA) than Zeiss
3. Planar blooming with CA and highest barrel distortion of all, sad because detail is best of them all

http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/255-zeiss-planar-zf-t-50mm-f14-review--lab-test-report

http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/216-nikkor-af-50mm-f14-d-review--lab-test-report

http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/360-voigtlander-nokton-58mm-f14-sl-ii

Planar and Nokton are both manufactured by Cosina btw.

[james]

You might also consider the ZF 2/50 Makro Planar. In many ways superior to the ZF 1,4/50 and it can do double duty as a macro when needed. The recessed front element is well shielded from stray light.

Here's Photozone's review on a crop sensor:

http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/259-zeiss-zf-makro-planar-t-50mm-f2-review--test-report

[integrale]

You may also want to consider a Leitz/Leica 50mm; they come in f/1.4 (Summilux), f/2 (Summicron) and f/2.8 (Elmarit). Various sellers offer conversion kits to Nikon F-mount (e.g. leitax.com).

I have the Summicron (f/2) and use it frequently on my D700. It gives very pleasing IQ, including bokeh (remember though, that 'quality' of bokeh is a matter of personal taste).

I also have the Voigtländer Nokton; it is very different from the Leica; much softer pictures with less contrast and detail, but with a nice "warm" signature and very nice for portraits!

[Esox lucius]

For the price of the Summilux-R 50/1.4 you can get the Voigtländer SL 58/1.4 Nokton, Zeiss Planar T* 50/1.4, Summicron-R 50/2 and the Nikkor 50/1.4D AF and still have some money to spend

I will post some Nokton 58/1.4 samples tomorrow, I acquired a mint 58/1.4 Nokton today.

[integrale]

You're right about the high price for a Summilux

I really like the Nokton, and it's reasonably sharp too (D700 & Voigtländer Nokton 58/1.4 @ f/8 ):

[Orio]

[integrale]

Orio - that's a very competitive price! Unfortunately, I'm on a (self-imposed) very strict no-new-lenses diet...

[egidio]

is Nikon 50mm 1.4 D much cheaper that planar? I'd go for that one. Planar has (MHO) more ca but also better contrast.