Should I trade my Nikkor 55mm f/1.2?

[FalseDigital]

I've been thinking of trading my Nikkor 55mm f/1.2 lens lately. Maybe for something like a fast 35mm LTM. What do you guys think? I'm so on the fence!

If I did get a 35mm LTM lens what do you guys think would be a fair trade for it? Any recommendations? Or what about a 28mm LTM? I just don't knowwwwww.

 

[Roger Hicks]

It's one of the few lenses I´ve sold and wish I still had. Very nice bottle. What are you going get that is better or more fun?

Cheers,

R.

 

[FalseDigital]

I dunno, I've just been shooting so much with my Bessa lately staring at the 35mm framelines switch that I don't have any lens to shoot that with. Don't get me wrong, I've been having a lot of fun with the CV 15mm. But sometimes I wish I had a fast 35. Grrrr

 

[Roger Hicks]

So wait until there's something you REALLY WANT. How fast a 35 do you want? What do 35/2.5 Color Skopars go for? I'd swap ya...

(So would anyone...)

Cheers,

R.

 

[Jamie123]

I got one of these as a gift from a friend (together with a Ftn and a couple of other lenses). I've been using it a bit on my Canon 5DII with an adapter but can't seem to get anything sharp at f1.2. Is it better on film?

 

[johannielscom]

Depends on what you want, FD!

A Color-Skopar is sharp and modern in contrast, a vintage Canon lens is sharp and vintage in contrast.

There's old 35/3.2 and 35/2.8 Canon lenses, and the slightly newer 35/2.0. A 35/1.8 is considered the Japanese Summicron and might be pricey nowadays because of that.

If you're not shooting the 55/1.2 I'd trade it, for an older Canon 35 LTM. If you are shooting it I'd say keep it, 'cause nothing else gets close to it unless you dish out.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Check my PM message to you. 🙂

 

[FalseDigital]

I want a 35mm at least f/2. I think it's this guy's fault:


Shinjuku Golden Gai Secrets by Jon Siegel, on Flickr

He always takes amazing photos with his fast 35s. Even though they're Nikons also I've been shooting with my Bessa more than anything lately. Thus the reason why I'm considering a LTM instead of another nikon.

 

[FalseDigital]

I got one of these as a gift from a friend (together with a Ftn and a couple of other lenses). I've been using it a bit on my Canon 5DII with an adapter but can't seem to get anything sharp at f1.2. Is it better on film?

Sounds like just your lens. Mine is pretty sharp.
Or maybe you're not focusing it correctly? It can be tricky with such a shallow DOF.

This is mine at f/1.2

ISO 100 - D700

Also f/1.2 - ISO 400 - D700 (EDIT: Ah sorry, this one has been sharpened in photoshop, but still...)

Here it is at f/2 - ISO 100 - D700

 

[johannielscom]

Why not get a 35/2.0 Nikkor to use on your D700? Lots cheaper, just as good. and you get to keep the 55/1.2.

The guy whose work you admire also shoots a 35 Nikkor!

 

[FalseDigital]

Yes yes, I mentioned that.
But as I said before I've been shooting almost exclusively with my Bessa-R lately. I still use the D700 for work. But I find it rather nice to shoot street with the Bessa-R. So I think having a fast 35 on a rangefinder would suit my intended use better.

Why not get a 35/2.0 Nikkor to use on your D700? Lots cheaper, just as good. and you get to keep the 55/1.2.

The guy whose work you admire also shoots a 35 Nikkor!

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The 55/1.2 Nikkor is sharp over the center 2/3rds of the image, loses out at far-corner sharpness to the 50/1.4 Nikkor. It is a 5 element in 7 groups and was measured as a T1.25 lens in the Pop Photo 1976 test. The Olympus 50/1.2 was close to T1.42.

On a Nikon Digital camera with 1.5x crop, you get the sweet spot of the lens.

Trading one for a 35FL lens for an RF, up to the individual. The 35/1.2 Nokton is amazing. The 35/1.7 Ultron would be nice.

We have a free "For trade" section here.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showcat.php/cat/8

The discussion about deciding to trade the lens is fine here. Next step is to take out an ad in the want to trade section.

 

[Jamie123]

Sounds like just your lens. Mine is pretty sharp.
Or maybe you're not focusing it correctly? It can be tricky with such a shallow DOF.


Yeah, focusing is definitely a problem as my 5DII doesn't have the screen that's good for manual focusing. I actually just checked a few of the out of focus files again and it seems like I just misfocussed in most of the shots and as the DoF is so shallow it's hard to make out the one point that's in focus.

Pretty nice lens, though. I'd like to use it on a Nikon film body but unfortunately the meter of the Ftn I got seems to shut down when it get's too much light (i.e. keeping the lens cap off) and only works again when I wind on to the next frame. No idea what's wrong with it.

 

[FalseDigital]

Hello again Brian :]
I've actually traded there a couple times in the past.
But yes, I just might do that. Just thinking if I'd miss this lens enough to actually pull the trigger and offer it up.

I WISH I could trade it for a f/1.2 Nokton but sadly I'm sure my Nikkor isn't worth enough for an even swap. I am kind of hoping for a user condition ultron.

Is there any other 35mm lenses around f/2 in LTM that are worth an even swap (or roughly) Any other recommendations besides CV lenses?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Canon 35/2 and CV Ultron 35/1.7 would be my target for an even trade.

But I'm not up for trading Either of my Nikkor 55/1.2's...

 

[FalseDigital]

That is a bummer.
Did you check the battery on it? Sometimes when light meters have a battery with an incorrect voltage they act funny. Especially the ones that took mercury batteries before they were banned. (not sure what the FTN takes)

Maybe use an external light meter?
Also, If you have an iphone you can download the light meter app. It's free and surprisingly accurate in most common lighting situations.

Sounds like just your lens. Mine is pretty sharp.
Or maybe you're not focusing it correctly? It can be tricky with such a shallow DOF.


Yeah, focusing is definitely a problem as my 5DII doesn't have the screen that's good for manual focusing. I actually just checked a few of the out of focus files again and it seems like I just misfocussed in most of the shots and as the DoF is so shallow it's hard to make out the one point that's in focus.

Pretty nice lens, though. I'd like to use it on a Nikon film body but unfortunately the meter of the Ftn I got seems to shut down when it get's too much light (i.e. keeping the lens cap off) and only works again when I wind on to the next frame. No idea what's wrong with it.

 

[FalseDigital]

Anywho, I'm going to bed now. I'll decide tomorrow 😛

 

[djonesii]

me too ...... but

me too ...... but

I have one too.

Every time I think of trading it, I just can't bring myself to do it. When I use it just right on the D300, it's magical.

But ever so hard to focus.

It is part of my fast mf set

28 F2 AIS
55 F1.2 AI'd
85 1.4 AIS ....


As near as I know, you can get faster, but it takes mega-bucks.

As for the crop factors, a FF body may or may not be in my future.

When I had the D80, a catz-eye helped quite a bit.

Never have got one for the D300.

Dave

 

[Livesteamer]

I would say keep good glass if at all possible. It just seems to keep going up in value. Good Luck. Joe

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I keep one on an F2AS and the other on the F2SB. My most used Nikons.