How good is your 50mm f1.4 Ai Nikkor?

R

Range Loser

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I recently sold my 50mm f1.4 Ai Nikkor. When used wide open on my D700 it was quite soft and hazy, highlights glowed like ghosts! I've toyed with the idea of an f1.2 version, but imagine it may not be much better. I have a 35mm f2 which seems much better wide open. Any others' experiences would be interesting.
 
yes keep it at f2. With the D700's superior low light performance it should be find. Or better yet get an AIS 50/1.8. Smaller, cheaper and sharper.
 
I've had the AF 50mm f/1.8D, 50mm f/1.4 AI-S, 50mm f/1.2 AI-S, and now I have the Sigma 50/1.4. The Sigma is much better than all of them. The 1.2 was pretty soft wide open as well, by the time you were at 1.4 I'd say it was a bit better than my 50mm f/1.4 AI-S wide-open. If you're looking for sharpness, get either the Sigma 50/1.4 or the latest Nikon (AF-S) model. If you need something that works on mechanical cameras, maybe try the Zeiss 50/1.4. I've heard it isn't entirely sharp wide-open either, but it's a lot better than the old-school Nikkors. Hope that helps.
 
thanks keytarjunkie, I've been considering the Sigma for a while, might have to take the plunge. Or maybe the new Nikon 50mm G. I tried the 24mm f1.4 recently, now that's a nice lens, if only I had a spare £1700.
 
Two things to consider with that lens. 1. It was produced over a long period of time. And, into the Ai-S version of which there were six. Supposedly (I have read this.) the 6th version of the Ai-S is the best. When I use this lens on my F3 there is not problem. 2. I have not experienced this but have read that not all lenses function equally as well from film to digital camera.
 
i've had or used pretty much every Nikon F mount 50mm.
5.8cm f1.4 NKJ -great lens, but can be finicky
5cm f2.0 -awesome
5cm f1.4 -tons of character, great look
50mm f1.2 -AI, AIS- good lens, but overpriced. not worth it vs the 1.4's
50mm f1.4 -AIS- overall my favorite "value" nikon 50.
50mm f1.8 E/AI/AIS -good lenses, sometimes low contrast. some varieties are very small
50mm f2.0 H AI -one of Nikon's best ever in my opinion
 
I have a fairly recent 1.4 Ai and its excellent on my F and Fm3a, however I tried it on my D90 and it was a disappointment wide open. I didn't give it much thought as I generally use AF lenses on my D90 anyway.
 
Range Loser said:
thanks keytarjunkie, I've been considering the Sigma for a while, might have to take the plunge. Or maybe the new Nikon 50mm G. I tried the 24mm f1.4 recently, now that's a nice lens, if only I had a spare £1700.
Click to expand...

Hah that's my dream lens :p I don't use my d300 enough to justify something like that though...

The G seems pretty slow to focus. I would get it if IQ were a huge concern, although in my opinion the Sigma is just as good, faster to focus, and has much better looking "bokeh"

Edit: Here are some of my better photos from the 50/1.2 AI-S (9 blades):
4998707613_029409d62f_z.jpg


4998708995_dcc184610e_z.jpg


These results are great, but they took a lot of effort. And they're still a little out of focus/soft. Focusing is really a pain unless you install a better screen (I'd imagine it's easier on a FX camera, too).

I actually don't have a lot of good photos from the Sigma to show, because I got it recently and I really dislike using 50mm on a cropped sensor these days. Next time I'm having a proper photoshoot I'll pull it out, but IMO it's a lot better.
 
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IMHO:
The overall best 50mm Nikkor is currently the 24-70mm f/2.8 set to 50mm.
50mm f1.2 -AI, AIS The most interesting addition if you have the 24-70.
Sharp from f/2. Usable for catching the mood from f/1.4
And even wilder moods at f/1.2. Nice bokeh.
50mm f1.4 D. autofocus. OK, but really sharp only from f/4.
50mm f1.8 D autofocus, Sharp and "neutral" "just another lens.
50mm f1.4 G autofocus. Disappointing at wide apertures.
OK from f/4, Sharp at f/7.1
50mm f1.4 Single Coat, manual. Interesting 1960-look in the pictures.
IMHO.
 
The 1.2 is pointless on a digital body. Because of the angle of incidence to the sensor, you don't actually get the full 1.2. ~1.5 is the best you are going to get on a d700. The camera actually boosts the ISO without letting you know to simulate a 1.2. I'll edit this with a source when I find one.
 
arpinum said:
The 1.2 is pointless on a digital body. Because of the angle of incidence to the sensor, you don't actually get the full 1.2. ~1.5 is the best you are going to get on a d700. The camera actually boosts the ISO without letting you know to simulate a 1.2. I'll edit this with a source when I find one.
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This is the first time I have read/heard this claim. I would love a source when you get a chance.
 
I have a Nippon Kogaku 50/1.4 SC that was AI'd decades ago. I really like the retro way this this lens draws. It does have veiling flare wide open and the bokeh is choppy too.

I also have the 50/1.8 AF. This lens works well on the D200/300 and 700. It performs well wide open.

I used the 50/1.4 G for a wedding. It is a nice lens but it's not worth the money. I found the longitudinal CA to be way to high for a lens at that price.

I plan to buy the Sigma 50/1.4 sometime this year.
 
after getting the longnose 1.8 i gave my 1.4 away. it lacked character and definition rather painfully, at all apertures (compared to 1.8, of course; there was nothing wrong with it on its own). and yes, it veiled wide open
 
filmfan said:
This is the first time I have read/heard this claim. I would love a source when you get a chance.
Click to expand...

There was an article on that a few months ago in a French magazine. Reponses Photos I think. That was basically the claim and there was some science behind it.
 
It would be interesting to try the 55/1.2 with the D700. Slightly longer focal length, as is the 5.8cm F1.4. The latter is single-coated, and soft to begin with. Fantastic portrait lens.
 
I owned a Nikkor 50/1.4 AI-S for awhile a few months ago, serial number 54xxxx IIRC. I didn't like it at the time due to the purple fringing that showed up in every picture I took with it. I did like the dreamy look that it gave and wish that I had kept it now that my PP ability has improved. I ended up selling it for a few bucks more than I paid for it and have settled with my 50/1.8D AF version for now. Manually focusing at f/1.4 on a D90 was a pain anyway.

If I ever get to shoot more film or get a D700, I might try and pick one back up.
 
If you shoot at f1.4 a lot, the sigma is currently the best 50mm for SLRs out there bar the canon 1.2L - which you can't use anyway :)
 
Vilk or Brian--or any Nikon expert--:)
What is a "longnose 1.8?"
What serial number range would they be in?
Thanks!
PaulB
 
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