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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

a new Nikon Noct? 1.4 only. boo

I have a seven-blade iris version of the original Noct-Nikkor which I bought in before the used price went extreme golden. This lens does yield a sweet look for medium close-ups on an EPIC. The original lens was costly because the aspherical element was hand-ground and finished. There are apparently now some means of molding glass aspherical elements which might require less hand work than the original. I wonder if the reason for the widest aperture of f1.4 versus the older lens's f1.2 is related to the last half-stop on my specimen of the older lens beginning to look just a little flary. Whatever, the new lens should look good if the old lens is any indicator. I wonder if they will do something similar following their old 28mm f1.4.
 
The 28mm f1.4 is a legend of its time- and very expensive.
By today standards only slightly above average. Especially considering the Rokinons.
The new 24mmf1.4 Nikkor is amazing. The best FF wide angle in the world beating even the leica M that costs $10K.
Nikon knows the lens business better than anyone.
I fully expect this 58mm to go head to head the new manual 55mm $4000 Zeiss.
 
interesting.
I'm not by any means a lens expert, so if anyone would be willing to explain to me why they would release this 58mm 1.4 g lens considering there already is a 50mm 1.4 g lens (which I own and use all the time).
The difference in focal length is minimal, what does this release bring to the line up?
 
Karim.The Noct-Nikkor 58mm f1.2 and the Nikon 28mm f1.4 flattout wide open were at the time they were made wwere unique performers. They did not when wide open cause pinpoint intense highlights in the image towards the frame borders to appear "teadrop" or "comet" shaped. Detail and colour fidelity in the outer portions of the frame could be expected to be more consistent with the centre of frame as well.They were ahead of most other lenses when operated near to their maximum aperture. The 58mm f1.2 exhibits a slight barrel distortion.I am under non-disclosure for a recent project which was shot on the Epic and used the 58mm for most of the interior medium close-ups. If I was not, I would post a frame for you to see for yourself. It is okay for me to post this lower resolution screen grab from Resolve
 

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So the original models performance wide open was ahead of the current 50mm 1.4 especially in the corners...
Never paid attention to these teardrop or comet shaped highlights in the borders you mentioned.

very interesting thanks for the explanation
looking forward to reviews
 
The Noct-Nikkor 58mm f1.2 and Nikon 28mm f1.4 were top of their class at the time. There was a sort of contest between lens manufacturers for the fastest lenses at the time. I think Canon managed a f0.95 for full stills frame. Lens tech and quality control on the better lenses has advanced since then. The newer generation of f2 Nikon primes have been reported by some commenters as being as sharp at their fully wide as their older f1.4 ancestors at f2. I can't speak for that as I only have the older lenses. Of the 58mm Noct-Nikkors, the 9-blade iris version was said to be the best.
 
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Jacek Zakowicz said:
....
The new 24mmf1.4 Nikkor is amazing. The best FF wide angle in the world beating even the leica M that costs $10K.
Nikon knows the lens business better than anyone.
I fully expect this 58mm to go head to head the new manual 55mm $4000 Zeiss.
Click to expand...
I could totally see myself shooting a film with a set of these 24/58/85 mm f1.4 lenses. I do have the zeiss lenses, but the nikkor have a different character which i think fits stories in the 50's-70's. The mm spread is also real nice. These lenses are so small, and with a dragon for found lighting, would be a real practical way to shoot (pun intended).
 
PatrickFaith said:
I could totally see myself shooting a film with a set of these 24/58/85 mm f1.4 lenses. I do have the zeiss lenses, but the nikkor have a different character which i think fits stories in the 50's-70's. The mm spread is also real nice. These lenses are so small, and with a dragon for found lighting, would be a real practical way to shoot (pun intended).
Click to expand...


Really? I know the glass is lovely (I'm a Nikon shooter myself) but the focus rotation on new Nikon primes is horrendous for video work!
 
Mark K. said:
Really? I know the glass is lovely (I'm a Nikon shooter myself) but the focus rotation on new Nikon primes is horrendous for video work!
Click to expand...
I do all my focus under computer control (i.e. Frankenweenie was shot all with Nikon lenses). If I do have hand held shots I'm not doing any focusing since I need to do a 3d camera solve (changing focus makes doing the camera solve really hard in post). I btw just finished testing the new Kessler focus controller upgrade (Cinema Bracket Upgrade Kit which is an extra pulley that goes onto the gear motor to remove just about all gear play). The new gears give close to zero backlash and so far works great (i would recommend using this upgrade kit for anyone using cinema glass or needs real tight focus under computer control, the default motor controller had just a bit too much play for my application).
 
Karim_Nassar said:
interesting.
I'm not by any means a lens expert, so if anyone would be willing to explain to me why they would release this 58mm 1.4 g lens considering there already is a 50mm 1.4 g lens (which I own and use all the time).
The difference in focal length is minimal, what does this release bring to the line up?
Click to expand...

Well the difference between 50 and 58 is bigger than the difference between 50 and 45 (alredy in their lineup). Or the 20 and 24. 24 and 28. 28 and 35....
Would have been more interesting if it was 65 though... :)
 
This 58mm is going to blow the socks off people and represent a significant value over the 55mm Zeiss Otus, of course the mechanics of the Otis may still make it a better choice for cinema but we'll have to wait for a side by side. I'd also be curious to see these up against the 50mm Leica Summilux ASPH.
 
So the next question is if I own the 50/1.4g should I sell now to make room for the 58/1.4? I've thought both lenses will have their own character but considering I would only be shooting one Nikon lens at a time maybe better to move out of the 50 and spend the money on some other gear until reviews of the 58/1.4 come out and pre-orders clear up.
 
Evin Grant said:
This 58mm is going to blow the socks off people and represent a significant value over the 55mm Zeiss Otus, of course the mechanics of the Otis may still make it a better choice for cinema but we'll have to wait for a side by side. I'd also be curious to see these up against the 50mm Leica Summilux ASPH.
Click to expand...

Based on what? The MTF curves of the Otus are much, much better than any 50mm other than the Apo-Summicron. The MTF curves of the 58mm are not that much better than the 50mm G. The 58mm looks great with beautiful bokeh and a lack of coma, but... the Otus is in another league. Or so it seems.
 
For Cinema work Otus.
I don't like latest plastic lenses from Nikon,Canon...they are hard to work with...unless you rehouse them.
All they need (Nikon) now, is to make decent Japanese 50mm ;-)
I still keep my AIS set....nice
 
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