50mm - nokton 1.5 or canon 1.4?

M

morgan

Well-known
Local time
2:03 PM
Joined
Jun 12, 2006
Messages
711
I know there's a lot of 50mm talk these days, but I was wondering if people have compared these two lenses? I love how smooth my 35 1.2 is and I'm looking for something in a 50mm that's close to that. I have a J-8 (too contrasty) and a j-3 (which is ok). I wish I could stretch for a lux or even the sonnar, but that can't happen right now. I haven't seen many samples of the canon, and the stuff I've seen from the nokton reminds me of the ultron - a pretty nice modern lens, but nothing super special in the character dept. Thoughts?
 
Have you seen images taken with a Canon 50/1.5? People swear by it. The Sonnar look differs from what you would get with the [excellent] Canon 50/1.4. I was fortunate enough to compare about 20 50mm lenses, and it just showed me that what I already had was sufficient for the type of photos that I am taking. The canon 50/1.2 after being adjusted by DAG is now a superb lens. It also could be a nice complement to your 35mm/1.2 if you need/want a super fast set of lenses. If the 35/1.2 is "your fast lens", then maybe a 40mm/2.8 Rollei may do the job for superior quality performance.
 
I'm trying to stick around $300 or so for this purchase.

Thanks Raid for the info. What did you think about the canon 1.4? I mention this one because I may have the chance for one locally....
 
morgan said:
I'm trying to stick around $300 or so for this purchase.

Thanks Raid for the info. What did you think about the canon 1.4? I mention this one because I may have the chance for one locally....
Click to expand...

Morgan,
As with all vintage lenses, examples will differ from lens to lens with respect to "perfection". The Canon 50/1.4 that I tested was not up to par, which exited many Canon 50/1.4 owners who immediately made itclear that I had a bad example in my test. It seems that edge to edge sharpness is better for the Canon 50/1.4 than for the Canon 50/1.5,but some people prefer the Sonnar look where the center is tack sharp and the edges less sharp.

Try to buy the Canon 50/1.4 and test it quickly wide open and at different distances. See if you are allowed a one day testing.

Brain Sweeney or DAG could then reshimm the lens if needed.
 
It depends what you mean by character. Raid and Brian Sweeney have both run extensive tests of several different 50mm lenses. Take a look in the "optics and lenses" category and locate these threads. Plenty of photos here that may help you with your decision.

Jim B.
 
Thanks Steve. That's a good thread. Raid - I found your samples from the 50mm shoot off in that thread as well. It made me take out my J-3 again to give it a whirl. It's been a while since I've shot with it. I usually shoot with the 35, but I've been trying to mix it up...
 
This thread caused GAS; I just ordered a Canon 50mm/1.4 online!
This is all your fault, Morgan!
 
LOL!!! Seems to be a bit of GAS going around :D:D:D, and I might have succumbed to a Canon 50/1.4 too if I didn't already have a Nokton 50! :rolleyes:

Enjoy the lenses, guys, and post pics w/ them!
 
raid said:
This thread caused GAS; I just ordered a Canon 50mm/1.4 online!
Click to expand...

You'll like the Canon 50/1.4. Excellent sharpness with real nice smooth out-of-focus highlights. That, and my new Nikkor 50/2.0, are now my most used 50s'.

Jim B.
 
Hallo Morgan, I have the CV35/1.2, CV50/1.5 and Canon 50/1.4. For me, the 35 and 50 Noktons (not the 35/1.4 Nokteen) look very much alike. I've been looking through 18 rolls worth of slides taken last Autumn with Velvia 50/Provia 400F - colour, and the smoothness you mention seem the same to me, to such an extent that I couldn't tell which one a slide was taken with without having a think back.

I havn't used the Canon 50/1.4 enough to have an opinion on the intricate differences compared to the Nokton, but I have been suprised by it's lovely colours / contrast and lack of flare, I it expected to have a much more olden days character (/flaws). I bought this for my IIIa thinking it's smaller size would be better - but no, it's not all that smaller than the Nokton when you put a 48>>49mm stepup and filter on it. I also find myself preferring the short-throw focus of the 50 Nokton compared to the longer Canon throw.

So, the Canon isn't different enough from the Nokton, and is now for sale and I've got a 50/1.5 on the way to replace it.

If you want the look of your 35/1.2 in 50mm I would go for the 50mm Nokton, remember that these share the same 52mm filter size and you can exchange hoods too.
 
Did I hear "GAS attack"? Look out for a gorgeous as new Canon 50/1.4 with caps and 48>>49mm stepup in the classifieds next week.

Although your GAS is giving me GHS (Gear Hoarding Syndrome), I'm interested to hear why some hypothetical person might have a 50 Nokton _and_ the Canon :)
 
Hi Kully -- Congrats on getting the Canon 50/1.5! I predict you will love this lens -- it is v. different than the Nokton, particularly wide open. Nice to have BOTH of these lenses: old school Sonnar design v. new school sharp edge to edge wide open. Hypothetically speaking, that is.... ;)
 
morgan said:
Thanks Steve. That's a good thread. Raid - I found your samples from the 50mm shoot off in that thread as well. It made me take out my J-3 again to give it a whirl. It's been a while since I've shot with it. I usually shoot with the 35, but I've been trying to mix it up...
Click to expand...

Morgan,
I also have taken out the J-3 for more photo adventures than I have been doing in the past. My J-3 was "put together" by Brian Sweeney, and it is very sharp.
 
Bingley said:
Hi Kully -- Congrats on getting the Canon 50/1.5! I predict you will love this lens -- it is v. different than the Nokton, particularly wide open. Nice to have BOTH of these lenses: old school Sonnar design v. new school sharp edge to edge wide open. Hypothetically speaking, that is.... ;)
Click to expand...

I don't want to cause anger at my home, so the Canon 50/1.5 is on my next target list. The J-3 will have to do for right now as my 1.5 Sonnar lens.
 
Let me know how the 1.4 is Raid! I'm hoping to get to see the local one in a few days. You nabbed that one at KEH, didn't you? I was eyeing that one as well. :)
 
morgan said:
Let me know how the 1.4 is Raid! I'm hoping to get to see the local one in a few days. You nabbed that one at KEH, didn't you? I was eyeing that one as well. :)
Click to expand...

Morgan,

Yes, I bought the one at KEH, hoping that it turns out to be a good one. I saw it, and five minutes later I bought it.
 
I find the Canon 50/1.4 and the 50/1.5 Nokton to have a very similar signature. I've tried several Nokton's but always went back to the Canon, smaller, faster (almost half stop actually), and better built. The Canon has a very modern signature - sharp corner to corner. I have a hard time distinguishing it at f2 from a Summicron on an 8x10 print.

Roland.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom