Nikon 85 f1.4 AiS Sonnar Double Gauss hybrid

[MarkWalberg]

The Nikon 85 mm f1.4 AiS lens is discussed at the Thousand and One Nights page at Nikon, entry No. 89.
Thousand and One Nights 85 1.4 story

It is interesting that the front group of this lens is similar to a Sonnar. However, the three elements cemented in one group in the Sonnar are in two groups in the Nikon lens, with an airspace between the first and second element of the group. The rear group is like a double Gauss design.

I’m not a lens designer, and I realize that there are probably many other lenses that use both Sonnar and double Gauss in combination. But it is interesting. This is a nice lens (I have one.) that is made for fairly close focus (e.g., portraits) where the Sonnars shine as well.

Any comments on this lens?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

What would be interesting: Knowing the focal length of the Front Group and the Focal Length of the rear group. A Sonnar: the front group is a Telephoto, with focal length "about" 2~3 times of the focal length of the combined lens. The rear section has a focal length of "about" the same as the combined lens. This gives the compact design, the groups are close together. It is "very" asymmetric. A double gauss- "more symmetric", front/real are closer in focal length.

 

[Freakscene]

This is one of my favourite lenses.


Rachel, North Adelaide, 2006. Nikon F3HP, Neopan 400, Xtol 1+3.

On an F3 with a DE-2 finder and an H2 screen this is about the nicest short tele you can find for a film camera.

My father was an optical engineer, and I know a lot about lens design. While there are aspects of Gauss and Sonnar type lenses in this design, it is really its own thing. The really critical performance enhancing component of the design is the close-range-correct / floating element, not the design.

Marty