ZM Sonnar 50/1.5 and Nikkor 50/1.4

[Tim Gray]

I hear the Nikkor 50/1.4 is a Sonnar design, as is, obviously, the ZM 50/1.5. I like the Nikkor and it's a great lens for the price. But I'm sometimes a little put off by its tendency to flare and its ergonomics. The ZM lenses are great with flare and I like the way the work. So the ZM Sonnar would obviously solve those two problems.

I'd be interested in picking up the ZM, but for two issues. One is the price, haha. The second is the whole focus shift business.

So, my real question is this: Does the Nikkor have focus shift? I could test it, but if it does, and I've not noticed, I would imagine its not really important. If it does, is it similar to the ZM's shift? Is the Nikkor more like the f/2.8 optimized or the f/1.5 optimized ZM?

Thanks!

 

[mfogiel]

I am not sure which Nikkor you are referring to : it does not look to me like the Millenium Nikkor is a Sonnar design, however I don't have the Nikkor - you should ask Jsuominen who has these lenses, and AFAIK he is fond of both.

 

[Tim Gray]

The old 50's/60's LTM. Nikkor 50/1.4 S.C. I think is the one.

As detailed on this page:
http://www.dantestella.com/technical/nikoleic.html

 

[gohaj]

there are nikkor 50/1.4 as well as old zeiss 50/1.5 (in ltm or contax rf). u may consider old zeiss 50/1.5 if price is a concern

 

[xayraa33]

Focus shift is inherent in certain lens designs but I have not noticed focus shift with my Nikkor 5cm f1.4 in S mount or LTM mount, this lens excels at f1.4 and close up, although it is getting on in years now.
My Canon sonnar, the 50mm f1.5 has some focus shift at full bore.
Even my Zeiss Opton f1.5 Sonnar has very little focus shift at close ranges at full aperture.
The new Zeiss C Sonnar seems to have very noticeable focus shift due to it being a very modern made lens that is made from up to date optical glass and very modern first class lens coatings and a slight formula change by use of better glass than in the old days.
The older Sonnar designs hid their focus shift well if they had any, more through not being as up to date as the new Zeiss C Sonnar masterpiece.

 

[ferider]

Just a comment on the flare of the classic LTM Nikkor: try to close the aperture just a little (less than half a stop) and most of the (veiling) flare (and vignetting) you observe wide open will disappear, and the lens will then have nice contrast, too. After all the ZM and other comparable Sonnars are f1.5, too 🙂 😉

I am not sure about focus shift on the Nikkor. I have two and they are dead on wide open (even at .7m, unthinkable for any other Sonnar 🙂 ), and very sharp at f5.6 or so.

Best,

Roland.

 

[jmkelly]

I thought that the Nikkor should have the same focus shift as other Sonnar designs. But, like Roland, I have not seen focus shift with my example of this lens. My older Sonnars have been shimmed by Brian Sweeney, and don't show any shift at f1.5. My ZM does show shift - like xayraa I suspect the shift shows up more on this lens due to the modern glass and coatings.

 

[infrequent]

where does one get the LTM nikkor? ebay draws a blank. any other places or its a rare beast?

 

[venchka]

The LTM Nikkor 50/1.4 comes up for sale here at RFF. I have seen a couple in recent memory-like the last 2-3 months.

Roland is dead on about stopping down just a bit. Like maybe 1/3 of the distance between 1.4 and 2.0. The lens is transformed!

I did exactly that after reading about it here at RFF. As you can see in the examples, no flare.

All in all, a very desireable lens. I have owned mine since the mid-70s. Way before I knew it was a coveted lens. I could cash in big time. But I really would miss it.

 

[xayraa33]

where does one get the LTM nikkor? ebay draws a blank. any other places or its a rare beast?

It is not a rare beast.
It was sold as an option on Nicca/Tower cameras and individually later on to North American Leica owners when the word got out on the quality and speed they offered.
They do come up for sale on our classifieds on occasion.
If you are not willing to wait Kevin Li usually has them at his usual primo prices.

 

[venchka]

You might also try KEH. Send them an email and they will contact you when they get one.

I quit ebay and have found anything I want or need from individuals through forums like this. I won't do ebay ever again.

 

[infrequent]

@xayray33 - how does one contact kevin li?

@venchka - the one thing ebay has over keh is the photos. but if you have been burned on ebay, it does leave a bad taste in the mouth.

thanks!

 

[venchka]

Good equipment from good people who actually use the equipment beats pictures everytime. Ever see a photo of a light leak on ebay? I saw them. In the pictures I took. Not the photos on ebay.

The folks at KEH will pull an item for you and describe it in minute detail over the phone. Then they will give you a 15 day return policy. They didn't get to be the biggest used photo gear store on earth by hosing their customers.

ebay has NOTHING over KEH. They didn't even pull a stolen lens after the seller and the buyer both contacted ebay to tell them that the lens was stolen enroute to the buyer. Yes, the pictures helped. They showed the serial number. Really clever crook, hey?

 

[xayraa33]

@xayray33 - how does one contact kevin li?

@venchka - the one thing ebay has over keh is the photos. but if you have been burned on ebay, it does leave a bad taste in the mouth.

thanks!

http://www.kevincameras.com/

 

[venchka]

OK, so I lost a bit of cool earlier. Sorry if I offended anyone.

 

[infrequent]

@venchka - no worries mate. to me photos are an assurance but i would trust the folks here more than on ebay. detailed descriptions are one thing but surely a picture is worth a 1000 words! ; )

ebay definitely has the scam artists but there are plenty of legitimate sellers and good ppl as well. let's not judge them for a few bad apples.

@xayraa - thx for the link!

 

[willie_901]

Do you often photograph subjects that are closer than 6 feet? If not, then you can ignore the focus shift issue. Also I believe there is anecdotal evidence the focus cam position is also important. This would explain why some people have a frustrating experience with this lens, and others do not. I don't have focus problems but it's clear that some people do.

 

[venchka]

Right on!

Right on!

@venchka - no worries mate. to me photos are an assurance but i would trust the folks here more than on ebay. detailed descriptions are one thing but surely a picture is worth a 1000 words! ; )

ebay definitely has the scam artists but there are plenty of legitimate sellers and good ppl as well. let's not judge them for a few bad apples.

@xayraa - thx for the link!

Agreed. No bad apples here I'm glad to say.

Now, back to the lens!

 

[Sanders McNew]

I am liquidating equipment.
I have a near-flawless Nikkor
50/1.4 that I adore, but will
sell for what I paid for it.
Here is a link to a photo I
took with it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandersnyc/2322669911/

Write to me at sanders@mcnew.net
if you are interested in it.

 

[Tim Gray]

Yeah I do sometimes take photos closer than 6 feet. I hadn't noticed any focus shift with my Nikkor, but I was wondering if that was because it wasn't there or if it's something that you don't notice in normal use. Looking at mfogiel's (I think) tests of the ZM and shift, I think I would have noticed that...

I bought mine here in the classifieds for what I think is a good price. I'll try stopping down a hair. It's damn good stopped down a lot. I was getting flare like this with it:



The light is right off to the right of the sofa.