menos
Veteran
I found one of these finally and could not resist. Can't tell the madam what I did. I really need to find the right moment, to confess to her first ;-)
…and some after midnight shots in color:
"taxi break"
"a night at McDonalds"
"backyard sofa"
Actually, this lens is the first thing, that happened for some time, to indulge me for developing color photographs ;-)
…and some after midnight shots in color:
"taxi break"
"a night at McDonalds"
"backyard sofa"
Actually, this lens is the first thing, that happened for some time, to indulge me for developing color photographs ;-)
ironhorse
Joe DuPont
Do not confess. All you did was buy another Nikon 50mm....f1.8....1.4...1.2...1.2 Noct....what is the difference 
Beautiful photos and subject by the way.
Cheers,
Joe
Beautiful photos and subject by the way.
Cheers,
Joe
Gregoryniss
Well-known
Beautiful lens. In all honesty though, it reminds me more of a Nokton 50mm f1.1 than a noctilux. Not necessarily a bad thing though, it's all subjective anyways!
N.delaRua
Well-known
I don't care what lens it renders like, it does just what you wish it would do... Create magic by complete isolation.
How come I don't see more people shooting the old professionally made AIS lenes from Nikon on digital bodies? I don't even own a digital camera, but sometimes I think people forget that these lens were beyond sufficient in their heyday producing images that are just as powerful as today's "nano-crystals" "VR" "AF-S" monsters they produce today.
How come I don't see more people shooting the old professionally made AIS lenes from Nikon on digital bodies? I don't even own a digital camera, but sometimes I think people forget that these lens were beyond sufficient in their heyday producing images that are just as powerful as today's "nano-crystals" "VR" "AF-S" monsters they produce today.
tomalophicon
Well-known
That third picture is almost fetal. Excellent.
ishpop
tall person
Lovely look to it! I like the third short best myself.
I find that even the classic AIS 50mm f1.4 provides pretty extreme shallow DOF effetcs and super smooth bokeh. I have used it mostly on my old Olympus e1:
I find that even the classic AIS 50mm f1.4 provides pretty extreme shallow DOF effetcs and super smooth bokeh. I have used it mostly on my old Olympus e1:
menos
Veteran
Do not confess. All you did was buy another Nikon 50mm....f1.8....1.4...1.2...1.2 Noct....what is the difference
Beautiful photos and subject by the way.
Cheers,
Joe
Joe, thank you - she doesn't understand, how I can spend so much money for camera stuff (read: too much camera stuff), which is, why I feel sometimes bad, buying these.
It would just not be right though, trying, to get this under the radar, although, it would seem easy, as the misses had the lens reading in big bright white letters "Noct" already prominently placed in front of her - I think, she lost track some lenses ago.
Yes Gregory, it indeed has an entirely different character than the Noct f1.
It has more contrast wide open, a bit less light fall off (at least not as steep), it seems sharper on first sight, but I have to experience it more, to find a verdict.
It is just different. What it has in common clearly is the crazy curved field of focus. You just cant focus as careless, as with flat lenses. There is a steep learning curve to this (making the lens even more interesting to master
)I guess, there is a very easy answer: these "old timers" are not easy to barter these days! When a camera seller is marketing a DSLR to a new customer AF-S, VR, Nano crystal coating, ED, high impact material, integrated AF-MF switches, zoom rate are much more powerful than:
- impeccable traditional craftsmanship,
- lens character,
- silky smooth focussing (manually of course),
My first serious camera 3 years ago was a DSLR. My first lens for it was a superzoom - a all in one solution.
I didn't even knew, that there are such things as differences in rendering, that it is perfectly ok, to own 4, 5 or even more different lenses of the same focal length
Thank you ;-)
It gives a very, very intimate view on the person.
Thank you - the "half face" is indeed my favorite from this session ;-)
Interesting, you like the sleeping customer - I took it for myself as a "bokeh test" (gawd - did I just took this disgusting word in my mouth :bang
.I like the most so far the Noct's behavior, to spill light around bright light sources (see the "taxi break") - I L O V E this look, normally connected with film.
menos
Veteran
Lovely look to it! I like the third short best myself.
I find that even the classic AIS 50mm f1.4 provides pretty extreme shallow DOF effetcs and super smooth bokeh. I have used it mostly on my old Olympus e1:
Very nice! And yes - working so close, as these SLR lenses can be focussed makes for very, very thin dof!
The Noct can be focussed to 0.5 m (that is zero point five
) !Calzone
Gear Whore #1
In this particular case (58/1.2 NOCT-NIKKOR) the auto focus screens add a layer of difficulty in focusing at wider apertures. Old film bodies like a F2AS or F3 better serve this very fast lens.
Cal
Matus
Well-known
Some interesting shots. I would love to see some film samples too? Any chance? :angel:
Freakscene
Obscure member
It is just different. What it has in common clearly is the crazy curved field of focus. You just cant focus as careless, as with flat lenses. There is a steep learning curve to this (making the lens even more interesting to master
The nice thing is that with an SLR with a good focusing screen you can focus off centre, whatever the curve of the focus plane. The rangefinder focusing of M cameras makes this impossible with the Nocti. Each is better in different circumstances. I certainly think anyone who really likes very fast normal lenses should try the Noct-Nikkor.
Marty
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I acquired a 58/1.2 Noct-NIKKOR AIS yesterday to be used on my Nikon F3 non HP. I find the non HP prism displays higher contrast than the HP finder for easier critical focusing, especially under dim lighting conditions.
I also will be using a MD-4 on this rig as added ballast to steady the camera. I'm already in love...
Cal
menos
Veteran
I make due with the screen in the D3 - close up, it can be a bit hit and miss, as the DOF is very thin.
During night shots on the street though with normal focus distance, it is rather easy to focus.
However, I find it much, much harder to focus a SLR on moving targets, than a RF.
Cal, a F3 is still on my shopping list - I find the FM series bodies great for their small, light bodies, but I hate the tiny peephole finder.
I did some rolls, which are not developed yet.
Will have something later
For now, it is mostly digital.
This is certainly right Marty - the RF though is (to me) more precise, then trying to guess the sharpness difference, needed for f1.2 at close up.
kanzlr
Hexaneur
I used my D700 exclusively with fast high end AiS lenses.
The trick is to trow out that Nikon matte screen and get a Canon Ec-B from www.focusingscreen.com (they cut them to size for the D700 and the Canon matte is superb for MF) and a DK-17M magnifying eye piece.
Was the reason for getting the D700 in the first place.
glenerrolrd
Member
This is one fantastic lens. I am borrowing one from a close friend and have given it a good workout on a D3X. I have been looking for a lens for night street shooting and this one is one of the best. It has deep saturated color (closer to leica glass than other Nikkors). It very sharp wide open and is well corrected for aberrations(coma,CA).
Its not as hard to focus as I expected but great care is required to place the DOF exactly where you need it to make the photo work. At least with a D3X you can see the DOF of less than a foot shooting at 20ft ..for a lot of compositions thats not enough .
I have both Noctiluxes (1.0 and 0.95) . The Nikkor is sharper than the 1.0 but with a different character ..it performs much better at its widest aperture 1.2 . The 0.95 is as expected better all around but not by as much as I expected .
The next test is with the D3S where the higher ISO performance should open up some new possibilities.
I am looking for a clean copy of this lens as my friend wants his back!
Its not as hard to focus as I expected but great care is required to place the DOF exactly where you need it to make the photo work. At least with a D3X you can see the DOF of less than a foot shooting at 20ft ..for a lot of compositions thats not enough .
I have both Noctiluxes (1.0 and 0.95) . The Nikkor is sharper than the 1.0 but with a different character ..it performs much better at its widest aperture 1.2 . The 0.95 is as expected better all around but not by as much as I expected .
The next test is with the D3S where the higher ISO performance should open up some new possibilities.
I am looking for a clean copy of this lens as my friend wants his back!
menos
Veteran
This is most interesting! Are the D700 and D3 focussing screens and the mounting identical ?
Does the new screen influence metering and AF ?
Is it an easy procedure to change?
Will I see the focus brackets, when I want to use AF with other glass (I have the focus bracket illumination set to "off" for manual focus - much better view in my opinion, as the digital rangefinder is useless @ f1.2 anyway)?
menos
Veteran
I see it the same - the colors are fantastic! The only Nikon lens, I have used, that comes near these colors is the 300 VR.
I have to say though, that the Noct only appears to be sharper than the f1 Noctilux, as it does have more contrast at f1.2 already, than the Noctilux has either @ f1 or f1.2.
The Noct draws finer details in the center (eye lashes, hair etc are very nicely drawn, while the Noct is a bit rough here).
This indeed might as well be just my perception, as I shot the Noct only with the rather soft 12MP D3 and the Noctilux with the much more detailed Leica sensor.
I would be most interested, to see some Noct close ups with the D3x ;-)
I really think as you, that the Noct + D3… is THE IDEAL low light combo, although, the D3 feels quite bulky after using mostly Leica M for a longer time.
Anybody knows of a good repairshop, converting Nikon F lenses to M mount with RF coupling
?The Noct-Nikkor actually would fit great on a M body, being relatively small and light.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
F3's are unbelievably inexpensive. I bought a F3 non HP with a MD-4 for $185.00 from Adorama. It seems that F3 durability has created an abundant supply and cheap prices. I only own three. LOL. I changed the foam seals myself.
Nothing like 100% full frame in the VF.
Cal
menos
Veteran
Just three ? Have to try one myself sometime ;-)
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The F3P was a "Press" camera for the newspaper "Newsday." I bought it just after it received an overhaul, as it was utilized in Operation Desert Storm.
My second F3, a HP, is on permanant loan to me from my girlfriend; who bought the camera so she could go shooting with me.
The third F3 I bought so I wouldn't have to change lenses and because at $185.00 with a MD-4; it was not only in excelent condition, but also inexpensive.
I'm still thinking of getting a F2AS because of the great metering that is unbeatable for shooting at night. I had two, but I sold them because they both were in need of service. Oh-well.
Cal