Comparison of MS-MODE-S Dual Mount 50/1.3 and Millennium 50/1.4

Jon, Can we expect a similar comparison with the Sonnar S when it arrives? You dont have a Heliar S handy as well? ;)
 
Captain said:
Jon, Can we expect a similar comparison with the Sonnar S when it arrives? You dont have a Heliar S handy as well? ;)
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Yes. I'm looking forward to comparing the Sonnar S with the Millennium, as well as learning how to shoot it. It should go on sale in a month or so. I don't have a Heliar S, but if there is a kind sole out there who can loan me one (wink, wink) just let me know!
 
jonmanjiro said:
The same shots taken at f2.8 and f5.6 show almost no difference in sharpness at the centre.
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A lot of fine contrast for the Millenium Nikkor here, less contrast but quite the same sharpness for the MS-MODE-S. Warmer color, more pleasent look for my feeling. Smoother background for the MS-MODE-S (again, typical for a less corrected lens).

Many, if not most excellent lenses showing great sharpness in the center wide open. It's the edge sharpness, and contrast which enhances when stopped-down.

Maybe the MS-MODE-S is the fastest portait lens available in the world. But I wouldn't sell my Nikkor-S 50/1.4 either, even if it failed your tests at infinity (the MS-MODE-S probably will fail even worse here). It wasn't just calculated for that. It was a "special" lens whereas the Nikkor-H 50/2 was for "allround" usage. The designer of the 50/1.4 kept in mind Capa's "IIf your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough”...
 
Actually, as I mentioned in post#17 the MS-MODE-S performed significantly better at infinity (including in the corners) than the vintage Nikkor-S I tested. I don't think that my vintage Nikkor-S was a particularly good sample though.
 
Sonnar2 said:
Many, if not most excellent lenses showing great sharpness in the center wide open. It's the edge sharpness, and contrast which enhances when stopped-down.
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The last set of pictures (reposted for awilder) show CA with the Nikkor in the center?
 
jonmanjiro said:
According to literature I've read about the MS-MODE-S 50/1.3, it was designed to be its sharpest at 3 metres, while sacrificing a little sharpness at minimum focus. The next series of shots show the centre and edge sharpness at 3 metres.
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Must have missed this. At minimum distance, it is soft, but not terribly soft.

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Lovely photo, Stephen! Looks like the MS-MODE-S is plenty sharp enough wide open for portraits. And focus with the LTM mount looks accurate as well.

I wonder if the front focus I saw with the MS-MODE-S was due to the S-mount adapter??? Have you tried shooting with the S-mount adapter too?
 
jonmanjiro said:
Lovely photo, Stephen! Looks like the MS-MODE-S is plenty sharp enough wide open for portraits. And focus with the LTM mount looks accurate as well.

I wonder if the front focus I saw with the MS-MODE-S was due to the S-mount adapter??? Have you tried shooting with the S-mount adapter too?
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I did not try the S-mount adapter as I have tightened the adapter and MS adapter pretty tighly. I do not have a Nikon RF, so I have to make do with the LTM one for now.

I noticed that the rendering of the OOF is extremely pleasant, and the contrast is medium, without being overly pastel. This lens feels like a Sonnar on steroids.
 
Some more samples:

#1: f1.3 at minimum focusing distance of about 1m
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#2: f5.6
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#3: f1.3 at minimum focusing distance of about 1m
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The images from the Nikkor seems to be better. Still, it's nice to own a piece of rare glass I suppose.

Cheers,
 
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