Opinion about two Nikkor lenses

G

giellaleafapmu

Well-known
Local time
11:47 AM
Joined
Apr 15, 2005
Messages
888
Dear Folks,

any opinions on the following two lenses:

Nikkor 55mm f1.2 S Pre-Ai and
Nikkor 25-50 Zoom lens f4 Ais.

I usually regard all my gear just for what it is...stuff to take pictures but for the Nikon F camera I have a soft spot so part of the reason to buy the first lens is that it is the first f1.2 reflex series, still I would also like to use it so if it is really bad I would pass, if it is reasonable I would get even of not great. The second lens I would take only for the "usual reason"...to take pictures.

GLF
 
As would be expected - the 55-f1.2 is a little soft wide-open, improving considerably as stopped down a little, but IMO not as good as my f1.4, and nowhere near as good as my Nikkor H 50mm f2, I have no experience of zooms.
Dave.
 
Dave Wilkinson said:
As would be expected - the 55-f1.2 is a little soft wide-open, improving considerably as stopped down a little, but IMO not as good as my f1.4, and nowhere near as good as my Nikkor H 50mm f2, I have no experience of zooms.
Dave.
Click to expand...

"Little soft" sounds good what it does not sound ok is the "not as good as the f1.4" if it is the pre-Ai you are speaking about! I have the Nikkor H 50mm f2 pre-Ai and the new f2 and they are both great and I have the f1.4 pre-Ai and Ais and the pre-Ai f1.4 is very very soft, not ugly but very soft nevertheless, is this even softer or you were comparing with the Ais? The Ais is indeed sharp, so no wonder if the 1.2 is softer.

GLF
 
first hand experience with the 4/25-50mm: Nice resolution but noticeably lower contrast than any prime in the same range of fl. Left me unimpressed.
 
giellaleafapmu said:
"Little soft" sounds good what it does not sound ok is the "not as good as the f1.4" if it is the pre-Ai you are speaking about! I have the Nikkor H 50mm f2 pre-Ai and the new f2 and they are both great and I have the f1.4 pre-Ai and Ais and the pre-Ai f1.4 is very very soft, not ugly but very soft nevertheless, is this even softer or you were comparing with the Ais? The Ais is indeed sharp, so no wonder if the 1.2 is softer.

GLF
Click to expand...
no - I was talking about my preAI f1.4 which I would not describe as 'very,very soft', maybe your example has issues - haze etc.? in fact I like to use it on my D40 as a 'fast 75' with great results :)
Dave.
 
The pre-ai 55 1.2 is very soft. Back in the 1980's, before the cult of the fast lens took hold, you couldn't give them away. Now, understand, we weren't obsessed with no DOF photos like folks are today. :)
 
peter_n said:
When it comes to Nikkor lenses I refer to Bjørn Rørslett. He seems to like the zoom:

http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_zoom_01.html#MF25-50
Click to expand...

I have seen this, he seems to say there is no colour aberration but not too much more...
Also I am never sure when I read his page whether he really like a lens "per se" or he likes it mounted on a modified camera for UV pictures or something crasy like that... :D

GLF
 
Dave Wilkinson said:
no - I was talking about my preAI f1.4 which I would not describe as 'very,very soft', maybe your example has issues - haze etc.? in fact I like to use it on my D40 as a 'fast 75' with great results :)
Dave.
Click to expand...

I don't think my lens has anything wrong...also because I have three of them and they all permorm similarly, maybe I just don't like the look...

GLF
 
Pickett Wilson said:
The pre-ai 55 1.2 is very soft. Back in the 1980's, before the cult of the fast lens took hold, you couldn't give them away. Now, understand, we weren't obsessed with no DOF photos like folks are today. :)
Click to expand...

Ok, maybe I am having some communication problems (or maybe taste problems): do you think it compares to teh 55mm f1.2 Zuiko. That's considered a "dog" and a "soft lens" but I like it, it is soft but beautifully so...

GLF
 
Pickett Wilson said:
Well, it's a matter of personal taste, of course, but I always thought the Nikkor 55 1.2 was useless wide open.
Click to expand...

Ok, that's seems to rule out this one at the price it is then (just for the record they wanted almost 250US$ which is a lot for a lens which doesn't go on the digital cameras and is just for collection if it is useless), I shall wait to find something around 100US$ or so for this. I shall consider the 25-50 if I can lower a bit the price (they want the same price as Keh but that sounds high to me...

GLF
 
The center 2/3rds of the image from the 55/1.2 did slightly better than the center 2/3rds of the image from the Nikkor 50/1.4 in the Pop Photo 1976 lens tests. The edges drop off. That is also my experience. I have the 55/1.2 Nikkor SC pre-AI, all metal, multicoated and a 55/1.2 AI series lens. Both have perfect glass and are near mint. One is on an F2AS, the other on an F2SB. I have a lot of F-Mount F1.4 lenses, starting with the 5.8cm F1.4 and going though the AF-Nikkor-D.

Nikkor 55/1.2 AI wide-open on the F2AS. Point of focus: eyes.

2175931119_bcfa400c1b_o.jpg


On this one, point of focus is the dolls foot in Nikki's hand, outer edge of image.

2175931125_93d202fbc8_o.jpg


I had the older Nikkor-S 55/1.2, and traded it for a 50/1.5 Sonnar. You could not tell the difference between it and these. Nikon started multicoating the rear optics of the 55/1.2 Nikkor-S before bringing back the "SC" designation. If you buy one of these, get a return privilege. The front optic is big, and sometimes get knocked off center.

1581506355_d4e9fb597d_o.jpg

My two Favorite Nikons.
 
Last edited:
Sorry for the late reply. I like what I see... The out of focus is smooth and the sharp part is reasonably sharp... Ok, I have to make up my mind then...

GLF
 
I have both of those. The 55/3.5 Micro-Nikkor is very sharp, probably the sharpest of the Non-AI lenses. I used one for years, sold it, and then replaced it for $25 off of Ebay. I keep a 50/1.4 Nikkor-SC factory AI converted on my F3HP, and have many others. A non-AI 50/1.4 will run ~$50. The 55/1.2 Non-AI used to go for $125 and the AI lens was ~$200.
 
The Bokeh on the 55/1.2 is better than the 50/1.4. How's that for justification? I might have 10 or so 50/1.4's in F-Mount. And another 10 or so in S-Mount, but those are Sonnars. It's been a while since I counted. They used to run $50 each, so anytime I picked up a body I bought a 50/1.4 to go with it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom