? instead of 50mm f/1.4?

[wud]

Which lens could replace the 50mm 1.4? What I like about the 50mm are the possibility for f/1.4 but I also like it on apertures around 3.5-4, its very smooth and creamy.

I am just not really feeling the focal length somehow.
Problem is, I have no idea if I should go up or down in focal lenght?


Do you have a f/1.4 lens? Which one and what do you use it for? How fast and sharp is it?
I would love to see pictures.


I am leaning towards 85mm, as I guess I will be using it mostly for people. But I am really not sure. I love my 35mm but this is very sharp and I think the 50mm has this spectacular softness, sort of the same as in the 70-200mm.


Am in no hurry at all, just thinking if it someday should be replaced.

 

[Marcel]

If you could get your hands on a 55 1.2 AIS, you'd just love it. But the 85 1.8 is worth more than what they sell it for.
​

 

[ShootRaw]

85mm 1.8g is a great lens...No need for the 1.4 if you like to stop down..

 

[wud]

If you could get your hands on a 55 1.2 AIS, you'd just love it. But the 85 1.8 is worth more than what they sell it for.
​

Wont the 55mm feel like almost the same?
Ahhh yes, didn't really consider the prices lol.

85mm 1.8g is a great lens...No need for the 1.4 if you like to stop down..

But the 1.4 are so awesome.. Its the only reason I am hanging on to this 50mm. Actually. But maybe its a combination, the aperture and this specific lens.

 

[Marcel]

Wont the 55mm feel like almost the same?
Ahhh yes, didn't really consider the prices lol.



But the 1.4 are so awesome.. Its the only reason I am hanging on to this 50mm. Actually. But maybe its a combination, the aperture and this specific lens.

The 55 1.2 is a special kind of lens. It can't be bought new so you've got to find a nice used one. At 1.2, it glows. I've not seen other lenses do what this one does. It might not be as long as you'd like for close portraits, but it has something that I think you'd like. If only you could find someone in your area that has one, then you could try it on your D3.

 

[gqtuazon]

Do you have a f/1.4 lens? Which one and what do you use it for? How fast and sharp is it?
I would love to see pictures.

I've had the Nikon 50mm f1.4D but it was a little soft for me wide open. I have the Sigma 85mm f1.4 HSM. It's one of my lenses that I wouldn't part with. I'll look for some images. I used it in one of my recent paid work inside our church during a Catholic Confirmation with the bishop. I'll dig some pictures for you later on. It is one of those "cream" machine lenses.

GQTUAZON PHOTOGRAPHY | Confirmation 2013 | Confirmation2013 138

 

[wud]

The 55 1.2 is a special kind of lens. It can't be bought new so you've got to find a nice used one. At 1.2, it glows. I've not seen other lenses do what this one does. It might not be as long as you'd like for close portraits, but it has something that I think you'd like. If only you could find someone in your area that has one, then you could try it on your D3.

Now you got me all interested I found this image: Ð*учнаÑ� оптика: клаÑ�Ñ�ика и Ñ�овременноÑ�Ñ‚ÑŒ - Бокешечка Nikkor S*C 55/1.2 mod2Ai + D700 - thats a .. wow.
I am in a Nikon buy and sell group, maybe someone there have it, and would let me try it.

I've had the Nikon 50mm f1.4D but it was a little soft for me wide open. I have the Sigma 85mm f1.4 HSM. It's one of my lenses that I wouldn't part with. I'll look for some images. I used it in one of my recent paid work inside our church during a Catholic Confirmation with the bishop. I'll dig some pictures for you later on. It is one of those "cream" machine lenses.

GQTUAZON PHOTOGRAPHY | Confirmation 2013 | Confirmation2013 138

It definitely looks overall sharper than my 50mm, but I cannot see which aperture you used. Would love to see more, thanks

 

[Marcel]

Have a look at this site for full size pics done with the 55 1.2

Advanced Search

 

[gqtuazon]

It definitely looks overall sharper than my 50mm, but I cannot see which aperture you used. Would love to see more, thanks

When it comes to the 50mm and 85mm f1.4, I would suggest getting the Sigma HSM lens. Nice 9 blade diaphram and it provides a more pleasing bokeh. A little heavier but that doesn't really matter once you start viewing the final image.

@f2

SRF Bon Odori 072 by gqtuazon, on Flickr

@ f2.2


Tokyo Disneyland 2013 by gqtuazon, on Flickr

@f5


D7K Sigma 85mm by gqtuazon, on Flickr

Sample at f8


D800E Sigma 85mm f1.4 Yellow Hibiscus (Gumamela) by gqtuazon, on Flickr

Cropped center image (see the small bug?)


D800E Sigma 85mm f1.4 Y 100% crop by gqtuazon, on Flickr

 

[wud]

Have a look at this site for full size pics done with the 55 1.2

Advanced Search

Already been there




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wud]

When it comes to the 50mm and 85mm f1.4, I would suggest getting the Sigma HSM lens. Nice 9 blade diaphram and it provides a more pleasing bokeh. A little heavier but that doesn't really matter once you start viewing the final image.

@f2

SRF Bon Odori 072 by gqtuazon, on Flickr

@ f2.2


Tokyo Disneyland 2013 by gqtuazon, on Flickr

@f5


D7K Sigma 85mm by gqtuazon, on Flickr

Sample at f8


D800E Sigma 85mm f1.4 Yellow Hibiscus (Gumamela) by gqtuazon, on Flickr

Cropped center image (see the small bug?)


D800E Sigma 85mm f1.4 Y 100% crop by gqtuazon, on Flickr

Looks really good, lovely images. Something to think about.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Brian]

You state that it's the 50mm focal length that you don't care for, for that reason I would suggest the 85mm focal length.

BUT- before doing anything, would suggest that you spend more time with the 50/1.4 that you have to discover it's strengths. If none of those do it for you, keep it for a fast lens in reserve- worth it for that alone.

I have two 55/1.2 lenses, one in Ai and the other non-AI multicoated. Bought when AF lenses made manual focus lenses cheap, almost 20 years ago. The lens is center sharp, over the center 2/3rds of the image it was rated sharper than the Nikon 50/1.4 that was tested with it- in 1976. It is Nikon's fastest lens ever made in terms of light actually transmitted, ie a T-Stop of T1.25. The Ai version is on my new Df now, used for these to test out manual focus.

 

[gqtuazon]

You state that it's the 50mm focal length that you don't care for, for that reason I would suggest the 85mm focal length.
Edited

I have two 55/1.2 lenses, one in Ai and the other non-AI multicoated. Bought when AF lenses made manual focus lenses cheap, almost 20 years ago. The lens is center sharp, over the center 2/3rds of the image it was rated sharper than the Nikon 50/1.4 that was tested with it- in 1976. It is Nikon's fastest lens ever made in terms of light actually transmitted, ie a T-Stop of T1.25. The Ai version is on my new Df now, used for these to test out manual focus.

Thanks for sharing these images Brian. I've tried one of these legendary lenses in a store before and the sample that I used was not that sharp overall wide open but you are right about the center being sharp. Stop down to f2.8, then you can notice a significant amount of sharpness when mounted on a FX camera.


Sent from my iPhone.

 

[wud]

You state that it's the 50mm focal length that you don't care for, for that reason I would suggest the 85mm focal length.

BUT- before doing anything, would suggest that you spend more time with the 50/1.4 that you have to discover it's strengths. If none of those do it for you, keep it for a fast lens in reserve- worth it for that alone.

I have two 55/1.2 lenses, one in Ai and the other non-AI multicoated. Bought when AF lenses made manual focus lenses cheap, almost 20 years ago. The lens is center sharp, over the center 2/3rds of the image it was rated sharper than the Nikon 50/1.4 that was tested with it- in 1976. It is Nikon's fastest lens ever made in terms of light actually transmitted, ie a T-Stop of T1.25. The Ai version is on my new Df now, used for these to test out manual focus.

I have brought the 50mm with me but ... I don't know. I feel more happy when using all my other lenses. I'm more or less only using it when wanting a picture with f/1.4. I think it's a little expensive only for this?

Mine are not at all fast! My 35mm, wide and 70-200mm are much faster (and way sharper).


I think the 50mm are good for people portraits (head and shoulder) but this isn't what I do most. And I just thought another lens could maybe be just as good for this but useful in many other situations as well?


Sounds interesting with your experience with the 55mm and gorgeous pictures you posted, very smooth blur.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Brian]

The Sigma 85mm f1.4 will run about $900, a very good price for such capability. The Sigma 50/1.4 that you list is is ~$400 or so? Less than 10% of your camera, and is twice as fast as your 35/2. For the price, I would hold onto it- unless you simply do not like the rendering/results of the lens. Like my wife tells me, if you use it- keep it; if you like it- keep it; but if you don't like it and you don't use it- sell it. I've never lost money buying and selling 50mm lenses, and I've paid a healthy amount for some of them.

 

[wud]

The Sigma 85mm f1.4 will run about $900, a very good price for such capability. The Sigma 50/1.4 that you list is is ~$400 or so? Less than 10% of your camera, and is twice as fast as your 35/2. For the price, I would hold onto it- unless you simply do not like the rendering/results of the lens. Like my wide tells me, if you use it- keep it; if you like it- keep it; but if you don't like it and you don't use it- sell it. I've never lost money buying and selling 50mm lenses, and I've paid a healthy amount for some of them.

I really dont think mine are fast... And no where near as fast as my 35mm. Weird you have the opposite experience.

$640 as I got it from a shop, I got my D3 used for a very good price. I did actually give the 50mm for a guy so he could test it out, and I felt really bad about it, lol. He couldn't use it (crop camera and he needed a wider one). But I thought it was the feeling of saying goodbye to f/1.4 which I cannot begin to explain how much I love.

Also, I made some shots a while ago where it looked fine on the camera screen, but at home I could see it got focus the wrong place (and I looked at the camera again but the red dot were showing where it should be). Since I've been a little scared of using it, I guess. Dont remember the aperture but think around 3,5-4.
I did test it several times since and haven't had the same bad result... so I dont really know what happened.

 

[Brian]

"Fast" is a relative term, F2 used to be considered "Fast" for a normal lens, and F2.8 is Fast for a Zoom. With High-ISO performance in modern digital cameras, it's a whole new game. The expression used to be "Shoot Black Bears in Caves at Midnight".

F1.4 takes some getting used to, and most "fast" lenses have "focus shift" when stopped down. With an F1.4 lens, focus typically shifts slightly towards infinity as you stop down. Somewhere around F2.8~F4 is the worst as depth of field is not quite enough to overcome the shift. It takes some practice, with a manual focus camera it was easy to "shift" the focus ever so slightly to compensate. Just be aware of it, and try a few practice shots on something like a fencepost, which is what I use when testing out lenses.

With the 50/1.4 lens- it's strong points are existing light photography and smooth out of focus areas when used close-up. It gives a natural perspective for close viewing ranges. "it's a normal lens". Sometimes that throws people as wide-angle, telephoto, and zoom lenses give a novel perspective, different from your "normal" one.

I haven't had the Df long enough to build up some samples, these are with a 50/1.5 Aspheric Nokton on "my other brand digital camera"...

 

[wud]

"Fast" is a relative term, F2 used to be considered "Fast" for a normal lens.."

I did not know that but I am talking about how fast it is in use, and its really not. I use auto-focus most of the time. Directly at the sun, I often have to use manual as it wont focus. I forgot that, thats also a little annoying, but okay, I get to work on my manual focussing abilities

F1.4 takes some getting used to, and most "fast" lenses have "focus shift" when stopped down. With an F1.4 lens, focus typically shifts slightly towards infinity as you stop down. Somewhere around F2.8~F4 is the worst as depth of field is not quite enough to overcome the shift. It takes some practice, with a manual focus camera it was easy to "shift" the focus ever so slightly to compensate. Just be aware of it, and try a few practice shots on something like a fencepost, which is what I use when testing out lenses.

Using the 1.4 I find easy, actually, (of course I have to pay attention to my focus point, but that you need for every shot and aperture).

But what is this about using f/2.8-4?? You think its due to that? F/3.5-4 are what I use most (besides 1.4 for this particular lens) - is this a problem specific with the 50mm or do you mean any lens? (I havent had any problems at all with any of my other lenses at these apertures).

Thank you for your answers, you are definitely encouraging me to hang on to it for a while, specially if its because I just haven't understood what the issues could be with it, and therefore not learned how to get around it!
When I got it, I was told to test if it had focus problems as some of this specific lens have, guess I wrote it of as a, maybe thats the reason.

I haven't had the Df long enough to build up some samples, these are with a 50/1.5 Aspheric Nokton on "my other brand digital camera"...

Very, very beautiful!

I dont often do images in that category, maybe thats also why Im not really getting along with the focal lenght. What else have you used it for? Portraits, night photography, other things?

 

[Brian]

"Fast" lens is also a term to describe large aperture lenses, used since the 1930s- they were called "fast" as they let you shoot a at a higher shutter speed and stop "fast" action. F1.5 lenses were called "Super-Speed" lenses. Most large aperture lenses suffer from focus shift, some more than others. There are optical techniques to reduce it, such as aspheric surfaces and using a long-drawn out optical path. I've read users complain that the Nikkor 50/1.4 "G" series lens suffers from focus shift. The 55/1.2 certainly does: at 3ft, the focus shift is greater than 1" when stopping down from f1.2 to F4.

The "Fabulous Fifties"... Most of my cameras have 50s on them, used for informal portraits, night photography, museum shots, most of my general photography. I need to upload more shots to the gallery here. Most taken with Digital will be Nikon RF lenses, now that I have the Df- will be shooting more with the SLR.

And 1 example shot- Informal existing Light Portrait at Night....of my daughter. This is with a 1934 Carl Zeiss Jena 5cm F1.5 Sonnar, I converted this lens to Leica mount. It's one of the oldest "Super-Speed" lenses ever made.

 

[DraganDL]

If you ever decide to buy an 85mm lens, I suggest you go for this one (you wont find better in it's price range): Nikon AF 85mm f/1.8D Review