S2 needs a lens

[D. Saul]

Hello,

New to the forum and glad to find it!

I'm looking to replace the Zeiss Jena currently on my S2 and am torn between getting a 1.4 5cm Nikkor or the Voitlander 50mm from Stephen Gandy. Anyone have experience with the Voitlander? I shoot only b/w with this setup, so color fidelity has no role.

Appreciate your responses.

Dan

 

[FrankS]

Welcome! Can't help you with the lens you're looking for, but was wondering why you are looking to replace the one you have.

 

[ch1]

Hello,

New to the forum and glad to find it!

I'm looking to replace the Zeiss Jena currently on my S2 and am torn between getting a 1.4 5cm Nikkor or the Voitlander 50mm from Stephen Gandy. Anyone have experience with the Voitlander? I shoot only b/w with this setup, so color fidelity has no role.

Appreciate your responses.

Dan

1.4 5 Nikkor is "legendary"" so grab it you can find one with good glass. They're not too expensive relative to the other focal lengths.

Every well-dressed S2 should wear a Nikkor 5cm! 😀

 

[D. Saul]

Welcome! Can't help you with the lens you're looking for, but was wondering why you are looking to replace the one you have.

Apparently, the way this lens and body interact causes the lens to focus beyond infinity.

 

[FrankS]

That's far out, man. 🙂

I can understand the desire to have a lens matching the body.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Zeiss lens is made to 52.3mm. The Nikon expects a 51.6mm lens.

Many forum members here use the CV Nokton on Leica's, it is the same, fine glass and uses the external mount. If you want modern/sharp go with it. If you want the classic look, go with the Nikkor. The Nikkor should also run less, ~$200 or so.

Which Zeiss Sonnar do you have, the F1.5 or the F2?

Lots of example shots with the Nikkor F1.4 on this thread:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9602

 

[D. Saul]

Brian,

I found a sweet Nikkor but it's $300 and Gandy's new is about $65 more, so there's the dilema. Do I understand you correctly that the Voigtlander 50/1.5 S Nokton Aspherical in Nikon mount is the same glass/design as what fits Leica? If so, what I found on the web sure praises that lens (in Leica references).

Dan

 

[D. Saul]

Oops! Forgot...mine is the 1.5

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The DOF at F1.5 is not enough to cover the focus error. I modified an S2 by adding 0.5mm of shim to back out the focus helical to work with my Zeiss-Opton 5cm F1.5 Sonnar.

The Nokton is the same glass as the Leica mount version. It is a fine lens.

$300 is high for the Nikkor, I have seen them closer to the $200 mark.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Dan

I am sure that you can recover part of the cost of whatever new lens you get buy offering your Sonnar 50/1.5 Contax for sale here. There are quite a few Contax users on this forum. Just a thought. I can't say anything about the CV lens but I like my 50/1.4 Nikkor on my S2.

Bob

 

[D. Saul]

Bob,

I'd like to sell the lens here when I make a decision. In fact, I'm in the process of downsizing my photo gear and need to sell some other stuff, too.

Dan

 

[D. Saul]

Brian,

PM sent.

 

[ZivcoPhoto]

S2 needs a lens

You can find a Nikkor 50mm F1.4 for quite a reasonable cost nowadays...probably in the neighborhood of $150-$200. Don't be afraid of ones that say faint cleaning marks....they are probably not going to effect your photos one bit. Nikkor lenses from the 50's have very hard coatings. These lenses are true classics and there are PLENTY around. They are probably the finest 50mm glass of that era and sometimes I think that either of the ones I have are as nice as my latest Leica Summicron 50mm.

I have tried several different C/V (new) lenses. Yes they are modern with the latest technology including coatings...but I have yet to find one modern C/V lens that has a better, smoother, more pleasing out of focus than either 50mm Nikkor from the 50's (F2 or F1.4), 50mm Zeiss Sonnar, 50mm Canon of the same vintage or 50mm Leica the same. The old lenses just have a signature that makes them special and in my opinion the Nikkors are the best. So get a used Nikkor for your S2.

 

[D. Saul]

Zivco,

Yes, I know the Nikor is regarded as a classic lens and have looked around somewhat for one, but the nicest I found (from a reputable dealer) was 3 benjamins. Brian Sweeney, on this forum, is helping me to correctly align my Sonnar to my S2 and I really should be content with the tools I have...right?