Nikkor 55mm 1.2 AI lens

[Sean]

Looking for your expert opinions on this manual Nikon lens. Seems a lot cheaper than the Nikon Noct lenses (for shooting in really dark situations). But it's still f1.2.

 

[Evin Grant]

Not the same thing, the NOCT is a specialty lens optimised for night shooting at f1.2 all the other f1.2 Nikkors are fine stopped down to f2 but only the NOCT is super crisp with no vailing flare. The AI 50MM f1.2 is not bad though the 55 is early and might not be so crisp, good for portraits though

 

[PaulClements]

The Noct is 58mm only yes Evin?

 

[Evin Grant]

Correct, 58mm only. The AF 28mm f1.4 incorperates most of the same technology (Asphperics) as the NOCT and is a very good match for the NOCT in low light. On the Red in 4K the 28mm will have an equivelent FOV of a 48mm lens in 35mm still, the NOCT will be the equivelent of a 99mm.

 

[PaulClements]

It's such a shame Nikon haven't made a prime set using the Noct technology, though it'd probably cost the same as a Zeiss set!

 

[Evin Grant]

No they would still be cheaper, but honestly it's gonna happen. The quality of the next generation of primes is going to have to be superb given the increasing pixel density and resolution of the current and next generation of DSLRs. Still, it amazes me just how well some older designs do. I just picked up an AI 35mm f1.4 Nikkor from the early seventies, maybe even late sixties and it's beautiful! razor sharp wide open at 12MP. So not all is lost.
And the same technology that makes the NOCT such a gem is in all the current crop of f2.8 AFS zooms.

 

[Sean]

So...55mm 1.2...shite?

 

[Evin Grant]

Not shite, just don't expect NOCT sharpness at f1.2.

 

[Sean]

Okay. Thanks as always Evin. Good info.

We'll try it with Red to see if we can shoot by candlelight. ;-)