Nikkor 5cm f1.4 VS CV 50mm f1.5 Aspherical

scorpius73

scorpius73

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I have the 5cm f1.4 Nikkor (black barrell). It is very soft wide open at longer distances. I plan to shoot here and there with the lens. Nothing too demanding or for pay. I do like the size of the Nikkor. Would you upgrade to the CV? Any using it? What do you think of it?
 
I had the original version of the CV in LTM & I found it to be an excellent lens. The only complaints I had about it were ergonomic, not optical: it was on the fat side, which made it a bit oversized for the old "Barnack" LTM bodies & the aperture ring on mine was a little looser than ideal (for me). I did like the fact that it was lightweight, considering its girth, & the size was fine on an M body.

I have no experience w/the Nikon RF version, which I understand was made to a higher standard, fit & finish-wise. Not sure how it compares to the standard 5cm/1.4 Nikkor-S size & weight-wise. As far as optics, I would definitely opt for the CV (or the revised "Olympic" Nikkor that came w/the S3 2000 or, for more $$, the CZ 50/1.5 Sonnar in S Mount) if you wanted something modern that can perform better under difficult lighting w/less flare, etc.

scorpius73 said:
I have the 5cm f1.4 Nikkor (black barrell). It is very soft wide open at longer distances. I plan to shoot here and there with the lens. Nothing too demanding or for pay. I do like the size of the Nikkor. Would you upgrade to the CV? Any using it? What do you think of it?
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I used to own the CV 50/1.5 in Nikon S-mount. Optically its an excellent lens. It's also one of the few Nikon RF lenses where the aperture ring doesn't rotate as you focus. The only thing not to like is that its MUCH larger than any of the other 50mm lenses for Nikon RF except the 50/1.1

If you're interested, I did a four way comparison between the CV 50/1.5, Millennium 50/1.4, vintage 5cm f1.4, and vintage 5cm f2 a few years ago (link below).

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41523

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It is very much a matter of taste. The VC 50f1.5 is the only aspherical 50mm lens made for a Nikon RF. The Millennium 50f1.4 is a very good lens - only competition is the Leica 50f1.4 asph. I am not particularly fond of the "shape" of the Millennium lens - the "neck" of the lens feels weird when you are holding the camera. This. of course, does not affect performance.
I do use both of these lenses and switch between them - really not enough difference in performance to worry about it. I don"t find the VC lens too big - at least on the S2 that it mostly is affixed to. With the long focus throw of the Nikon's - the larger diameter makes it faster to focus.
 
Thanks for the replies. I went to one of the museums in DC to do some testing with the lens. At close focus and wide open. I like it alot. When I took a couple of frames in a long hall with the lens wide open. The corners are really soft. I bought the lens from KEH. So, I'm just trying to figure out the pluses and minuses of keeping it. The CV 50mm f1.5 looks interesting, but just seems huge in comparison with the 52mm filter mount.
 
50 f1.4 softness

50 f1.4 softness

I find my 1.4 to be soft at distance at f8. I think I will try out the Voightlander 50/1.5 as I like my 21, 25, and 28 a lot. Maybe I just like the modern lens.

Warren
 
I did a bit of thinking. I have always bought some of my gear as a holdover till I got the something that I really wanted. This time, I will keep my vintage 5cm f1.4 and not buy the CV 50mm f1.5 till I can get my hands on what I really want. The Millenium Nikkor 50mm f1.4. I think that's a worthy objective. :D
 
I have both in LTM and they are just two different lenses to even compare. Nikkor is a Sonnar. Nokton is a much better "all-around" lens. Nikkor is a superb "specialty" lens. IMO - it's worth having both.
 
Krosya said:
I have both in LTM and they are just two different lenses to even compare. Nikkor is a Sonnar. Nokton is a much better "all-around" lens. Nikkor is a superb "specialty" lens. IMO - it's worth having both.
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I'm sure youre right. But, if I had the Nokton and a Millenium Nikkor was available. I'm sure I would sell the Nokton. So, I will keep my vintage Nikkor until I get the Millenium Nikkor. I will just learn the ins and outs of my vintage Nikkor 5cm f1.4.
 
I must admit that I am looking at Stephen's offering of the 50f1.5, the 50f2.5 and the 85f3.5 and am having serious GAS. This is weird as I already have these lenses!!!!
The 50f1.5 is the only aspherical production lens in Nikon Rf mount and the 85f3.5 is the only Apochromatic lens in Nikon RF mount! The 50f2.5 is a bit of an unknown - but it is a very good lens and if you dont need the f1.5 speed - it is really a nice lens. It is also compact with a cute/weird hood on it.
Of course, what will happen is that once these lenses are sold - they will become "hot" collectibles as this is the penultimate series of Nikon Rf lenses with modern coatings and glass.
At the moment one S2 has the 50f2.5 on it (trix in the camera) - it is compact enough that it will slide into the pocket of my jacket - without having to remove the hood. Only drawback with the hood. If you eat croissants and have the camera hanging on your chest - the crumbs get trapped inside the hood and you occasionally have to unscrew it and shake them out. Not a big deal and it keeps the small birds happy.
 
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Tom A said:
...Only drawback with the hood. If you eat croissants and have the camera hanging on your chest - the crumbs get trapped inside the hood and you occasionally have to unscrew it and shake them out. Not a big deal and it keeps the small birds happy.
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This cracked me up! Have to remember to empty the bird feeder once and a while!

Back on topic... I am thinking I need to send an order for some lenses to the head bartender since a S2 or SP is in my immediate future.
 
For the Nikkor, the contrast will dramatically improve at long focus distances if you just stop it down a little bit - less than half a stop. It won't be as good in the corners as the Nokton wide open, but very sharp in the center. Then again, the Nokton is not an f1.4 lens.

If the Nikkor is well collimated of course. It's a Sonnar clone, optimized for close focus performance wide open.

Roland.
 
I agree with Roland, if you stop down a 50f1.4 Nikkor just a fraction it will "snap' the edges in place. However, in doing so you are now using the 50f1.4 as a f1.8 - and you might just as well get the VC 50f1.5 as it is generally better than the early/mid range Nikkors overall. The Millennium 50f1.4 is probably the best of them all, but at a price. This said, my favorite is the Zeiss C Sonnar in SC mount as it gives me the smoothest black/whites of any Nikon mount Rf lens. Again, a bit pricey - but, hey- you only live once (at least that's what they are telling me).
 
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