Nikkor S.C. 5cm 1:1.4 Photos only

Thanks Jon for the info!
I didn't know it was introduced so late!

Did you ever had the chance to compare a vintage Olympic Nikkor and a reissue Millennium Nikkor side by side and see any imaging differences - anything substantial?

I never have seen any such comparison but have seen quite some comparisons of the Millennium Nikkor and other modern 50mm lenses (I think some of those made by you).

@ Giulio - you definitely should take that Nikkor-S.C on a camera quickly and enjoy - those are truly wonderful lenses - especially the shift in character from very dreamy wide open (the ladies love this) to slightly stopped down is impressive.
A lens at it's time with such capabilities was surely something (close focus, fast and sharp and contrasty already at f2 - it gave the Xenon / Summitar a run for it's money).
 
This is with the last version of the "Sonnar" Nikkor-S 50mm f/1.4, no. 414866 at f/2.

Nikon S2, Nikkor-S 50mm f/1.4, Tmax400.

Erik.

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menos said:
Did you ever had the chance to compare a vintage Olympic Nikkor and a reissue Millennium Nikkor side by side and see any imaging differences - anything substantial?
Click to expand...

I've handled several copies of Olympic Nikkors at stores in Tokyo but have never owned one, so have never had the chance to do a comparison. I know that several members here own both lenses and a comparison of both lenses has been discussed in the past, but we've had no takers yet. I'd be interested to see how they compare too (any takers?).
 
I´m finally posting on one of my RFF fave thread!

I only had the chance to shoot a test roll, I hope to show you something better soon.

Leica M6, Nikkor 5cm S.C. 1:1.4 (390695), Amedeo adapter, t-max400, perceptol 1+1

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Giulio
 
Giulio, that's a really interesting ramp you've shown here, along with your adorable daughter I assume. Are those steps actually in reverse, like a sawtooth pattern?
Lovely photo too, as usual.
 
Nice Giulio, your lens looks like great copy and you surely will enjoy it!

Erik, you mention in your last photo here that the lens is of a later batch.

Did you see any differences between Nikkor 5cm Sonnar lenses between the different ages?
 
Thanks Peter.
Indeed reverse steps, I suppose to safely park a car outside the garage.

Dirk,
my copy seems to have very clean glasses and I sent it out for a CLA too.
There was oil on the blades and quite some internal dust.

For what I have seen so far @1.4 is much more usable than my lux 35 infinity lock (less flare and less glow)

This was shot around 2.8 / 2.0

Leica M6, Nikkor 5cm S.C. 1:1.4 (390695), amedeo adapter, t-max400, perceptol 1+1

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Giulio
 
menos said:
Erik, you mention in your last photo here that the lens is of a later batch.

Did you see any differences between Nikkor 5cm Sonnar lenses between the different ages?
Click to expand...

I only have two of them, 361184 and 414866, both Nikon S mount. I do not see much difference. From about f/2 they are great lenses, at full aperture it is acquired taste. I like full aperture for female portraits. I've heard however, I forgot when and were, that the lens during the production is recalculated for about 12 times.

When you want a dead sharp lens, the f/2 version is better, but you'll have to accept some distortion.

Erik.
 
Erik van Straten said:
I only have two of them, 361184 and 414866, both Nikon S mount. I do not see much difference. From about f/2 they are great lenses, at full aperture it is acquired taste. I like full aperture for female portraits. I've heard however, I forgot when and were, that the lens during the production is recalculated for about 12 times.

When you want a dead sharp lens, the f/2 version is better.

Erik.
Click to expand...

Yup, I am not too crazy about its veiling flare when the Nikkor 5cm f1.4 lens is used at f1.4
 
Erik van Straten said:
I only have two of them, 361184 and 414866, both Nikon S mount. I do not see much difference. From about f/2 they are great lenses, at full aperture it is acquired taste. I like full aperture for female portraits. I've heard however, I forgot when and were, that the lens during the production is recalculated for about 12 times.

When you want a dead sharp lens, the f/2 version is better.

Erik.
Click to expand...
Thanks Erik for that info bit - 12 times recompilation sounds indeed like a continuous evolution if only incremental should this indeed have happened.

I have two earlier samples starting around 31… if I remember correctly, one of them marked with Nippon Kogaku Tokyo, the other a later Japan version.

I like them all around and especially like that you have a sharp, nice compact lens from f2 on and a very special soft portrait lens wide open.

giulio stucchi said:
Thanks Peter.
Indeed reverse steps, I suppose to safely park a car outside the garage.

Dirk,
my copy seems to have very clean glasses and I sent it out for a CLA too.
There was oil on the blades and quite some internal dust.

For what I have seen so far @1.4 is much more usable than my lux 35 infinity lock (less flare and less glow)
…
Giulio
Click to expand...

Oil on Nikkor blades with lenses from the era is quite common - must have been something to do with the helicoid grease Nikon used on this generation.
The nice thing about old nikon RF lenses is that they do not tend to haze up and destroy themselves as frequently as certain Canon lenses or Leitz lenses of the time do.

I just got a 8.5 cm Nikon RF lens which looks as clear as crystal to my amazement and none of the other vintage Nikkors I got over the years had any of the bad haze as I have seen on many other lenses (particular Leitz from pre war into the late 50's).

The softness wide open should be about the same as a pre ASPH Summilux 35mm but with a different character.

I actually like this effect with the 5cm Nikkor - an old picture from my "Nippon Kogaku Japan" copy in LTM mount:

portrait - Nikkor-S.C 5cm f1.4 - contrast handling by Dirk Steffen, on Flickr
 
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