Partly with the idea of working out what to sell and what to keep, last weekend I did a comparison of the four following Nikon S-mount lenses.
Voigtlander Nokton 50/1.5
Millenium Nikkor-S 50/1.4
Nikkor-S 5cm f1.4
Nikkor-H 5cm f2
I didn't work out what to sell but the results were interesting
As expected the Millenium Nikkor-S was the all-round best performer. It really is one fine piece of glass. The Nokton is also a fine performer, and has the flatest field of these lenses (the Millenium is very close), but it never quite catches the Millenium in sharpness. The Nikkor-S has very good central sharpness even wide open (plus a nice halo effect), but field curvature and the old design show and its pretty soft in the corners even at f5.6 and beyond. The Nikkor-H has a flatter field than the Nikkor-S and is pretty decent wide open and sharpens up nicely by f5.6 to f8.
Here's an animated gif comparison of the field curvature difference between the Millenium 50/1.4 and the Nikkor-S 5cm f1.4. Both these shots were taken at f5.6. The shot that is sharp into the corners (look at the trees) was taken with the Millenium 50. The impact is lost somewhat with the small size, but the difference is huge when viewed at full monitor size.
Here's a full frame shot taken with the Millenium 50/1.4 at f8. Crops to follow.
Voigtlander Nokton 50/1.5
Millenium Nikkor-S 50/1.4
Nikkor-S 5cm f1.4
Nikkor-H 5cm f2
I didn't work out what to sell but the results were interesting
As expected the Millenium Nikkor-S was the all-round best performer. It really is one fine piece of glass. The Nokton is also a fine performer, and has the flatest field of these lenses (the Millenium is very close), but it never quite catches the Millenium in sharpness. The Nikkor-S has very good central sharpness even wide open (plus a nice halo effect), but field curvature and the old design show and its pretty soft in the corners even at f5.6 and beyond. The Nikkor-H has a flatter field than the Nikkor-S and is pretty decent wide open and sharpens up nicely by f5.6 to f8.
Here's an animated gif comparison of the field curvature difference between the Millenium 50/1.4 and the Nikkor-S 5cm f1.4. Both these shots were taken at f5.6. The shot that is sharp into the corners (look at the trees) was taken with the Millenium 50. The impact is lost somewhat with the small size, but the difference is huge when viewed at full monitor size.
Here's a full frame shot taken with the Millenium 50/1.4 at f8. Crops to follow.
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NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku
What I want to know is how you managed to have the slide show?
Kiu
Keep 'em pictures coming.
Kiu
Keep 'em pictures coming.
Infinity Focus
Infinity Focus
100% crops from the centre of the full frame shown in my first post. All shots taken on a tripod, at infinity focus, using a cable release.
Wide open
f2.8
f8
Infinity Focus
100% crops from the centre of the full frame shown in my first post. All shots taken on a tripod, at infinity focus, using a cable release.
Wide open
f2.8
f8
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MikeL
Go Fish
Thanks for the comparison Jon, and I like how you presented everything. It's always interesting to see how little these lenses differ, especially if you look at the image as a whole or without comparison.
dreamsandart
Well-known
Hi Jon,
Great test. Before I got my 50 millennium I was trying to decide on a 50mm for my SP and thought about all the lenses you have here. I ended up getting a Carl Zeiss Tessar 3.5/50 because it has the reputation of being the best optics of the classic 50s. I haven't done a side by side with the millennium yet but with the few exposures I've made with it can say its a very nice lens, single coated but good flare control, good in the close-up range, smooth bokeh and very sharp even if its not so fast, and its heavy brass but small, a nice alternative with something different to the Nikkor new lens.
Great test. Before I got my 50 millennium I was trying to decide on a 50mm for my SP and thought about all the lenses you have here. I ended up getting a Carl Zeiss Tessar 3.5/50 because it has the reputation of being the best optics of the classic 50s. I haven't done a side by side with the millennium yet but with the few exposures I've made with it can say its a very nice lens, single coated but good flare control, good in the close-up range, smooth bokeh and very sharp even if its not so fast, and its heavy brass but small, a nice alternative with something different to the Nikkor new lens.
VinceC
Veteran
I think you should keep them all!
Thanks for posting the info.
Thanks for posting the info.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
I am surprised at how poor the Nikkor S did in your tests Jon.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
and how well the Nokton did.
sbug
Acceptably Sharp
Great comparison. This reinforces what I've seen from the Millenium and what I see from my vintage Nikkor 5cm, 1.4. I'd be interested in a similar test with a subject much closer to the lens. That seems to be the type of shot where I like my old lens the best.
sbug said:
I posted one set of minimum focus shots above. Must have been uploading when you posted
After doing these tests I can see that I won't be reaching for the vintage Nikkor-S 5cm f1.4 to shoot landscapes, but it still does a good job up close and wide open or close to wide open. Definitely a low light up close and intimate type of lens.
Brian Sweeney said:
I'll probably sell the Nokton, and keep the three Nikkors
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NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku
The Old 5cm f1.4 Nikkor-S may not compete as well with color film under close scrutiny but in my eyes, it's certainly got a "glow". pretty good for a 50 year old lens, eh?
Kiu
Kiu
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dreamsandart said:
Another lens I'd like to try out
Is it S-mount, or do you use it with an Orion type adapter?
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
a Contax mount 5cm Tessar would be a direct fit on a Nikon rangefinder camera.
the f3.5 max aperture might be deep enough to hide any focus incompatability between Contax and Nikon.
the f3.5 max aperture might be deep enough to hide any focus incompatability between Contax and Nikon.
dreamsandart
Well-known
The person I bought the Tessar from was using it on an S2 and didn't have any focusing issues. I have to do some test shots myself but I feel with the 3.5 it should be fine with Nikon RF cameras. Size, flat field, and more of a 'vintage' look are reasons I would keep it as an alternative to the Millennium Nikkor.
VinceC
Veteran
With the Tessar, check focus at 3-geet/0.9 meter and wide open f/3.5. If you're lucky, it will be borderline acceptible.
V
varjag
Guest
Jon, from your infinity focus comparision I see that Voigltander isn't quite focused on infinity, but on the branch. Could it be collimation issue? It'd explain some of the difference in performance.