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nikon35mm 1.4 soft

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michael L

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hey guys,

I own a set of nikon primes for my RED. I prefer the older manual focus lenses for obvious reasons. So the 35mm 1.4 and 50mm 1.2 lenses are especially soft compared to the others (especially the 85MM1.4 :)

Can someone make a recommendation from experience on a replacement for those 2 lenses. I'm hoping I don't have to switch to the newer plastic housings

I would definitely say the 35mm is worse than the 50mm in terms of softness - almost unusable totally wide open

thanks!
Michael
 
is the 50mm 1.4 AIS (old-school version) a significant improvement over the 50mm 1.2 AIS (old-school manual focus)??

OR
is the 50mm 1.4D (newer plastic style) an improvement

I'm wondering about sharpness, esp. at the wide open setting.

thanks
 
and is the 35mm f2 Nikon (newer plastic "D" version) a noticeable improvement over the oldstyle 35mm 1.4?

(I need to stop responding to my own thread :)

thanks!!
 
My 50 SC hacked AI f1.4 is sharp.. I just did a shootout between the new Nikon mount Zeiss glass and my vintage Nikkors and was surprised to find that the sharpness held it's own and the Nikon's contrast was superior to that of the Zeiss.

Here's a grab as I was testing and fiddling with white balance, Redspace and Redcine.
1236607780.jpg
 
I also have a 50mm f/1.2 AI-s and it is quite sharp, and matches the 85mm f/1.4 quite well. My 35mm f/1.4 AI-s has flare wide open (which makes it appear soft), but cleans up beautifully by f/4, and is quite sharp there. You might have your lenses checked out and compared with other Nikons of similar focal length on a projector. And yes, the 28mm f/1.4D is quite good even wide open.

I find that the use of a matte box with 4 doors helps with flare by keeping all stray light out of the lens.
 
My 35 1.4 also seems quite soft wide open, but maybe it's flare as rotorhead says. When I switch from it to my 17-55 DX the image goes super sharp. I think that the DX Nikon lenses just might be optimized for digital sensors.
 
mrand said:
hey guys,

I own a set of nikon primes for my RED. I prefer the older manual focus lenses for obvious reasons.
Click to expand...

I've been trolling craigslist looking for a set of these, but I'm a bit confused... so quick question for everyone -- how can you tell the older manual focus ones from the newer? I have looked for AF-S, AF-D, and AIS models, as all of these seem recommended on these forums, but what lets me know that a len will have the manual focus controls that I will need (versus a newer one that might not)?

Thanks in advance, sorry for the newbie question...

JT Coleman
REDaustin.com
 
Not to detract from the legitimate point being made, however, I really like the Nikons a bit softer wide open.

The Nikon 50mm 1.2 AIS is one of my all time favourite lenses. You can take wonderful portrait shots with it wide open (particularly in bright sunlight).
 
jtcoleman said:
I've been trolling craigslist looking for a set of these, but I'm a bit confused... so quick question for everyone -- how can you tell the older manual focus ones from the newer? I have looked for AF-S, AF-D, and AIS models, as all of these seem recommended on these forums, but what lets me know that a len will have the manual focus controls that I will need (versus a newer one that might not)?

Thanks in advance, sorry for the newbie question...

JT Coleman
REDaustin.com
Click to expand...

There's a lot of Nikkor Nikon lens history on line.. in general

Metal - older
Plastic/rubber - newer

Non AI os older than AI

The focus ring as well - older models have large scalloped focus rings the newer are rubber.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/
 
anybody compared the plastic 35mm f2 to the metal 35mm 1.4ais?
 
I found the Nikon 50mm f1.2 unusably soft wide open, unlike the f1.4, which we use wide open all the time. I sold that lens as fast as I could.

The 35mm f1.4 is a truly awful lens. I hated that lens, as it ruined just about every shot.

We have since purchased the 30mm Sigma (its a G-lens, so you'll need Mr. Underdahl's special Nikon mount) and just love it wide open.

Stephen
 
thanks stephen. yea I find it incredibly ironic that I can't find a fast nikon ais that is useable wide open. you would think there would be a lens for me at that common focal range

michael
 
I have the 50mm AIS 1.4, and its awesome - nice and sharp at f2 and just as good (if not better) than the 85mm 1.4 at f2.8. Wide open, its better than the 50mm 1.2 at 1.4.
 
Hi Michael. . .

I think you misunderstood my post. I LOVE the AIS 50mm f1.4 wide open. We used it that way all the time on our film. I also UTTERLY LOVE the AIS 85mm f1.4, as it was, by far, our favorite lens. My current favorite Nikon is the f2 105 DC, which has those amazing curved iris blades. That lens has a bokeh that is out of this world.

So, yes, there are Nikons that can used wide open. Just not the AIS 50mm f1.2 or the 35mm f1.4.

I just wish I had that 28mm f1.4 that everyone raves about. But, for now, the Sigma 30mm 1.4 will be good enough. We used it again two nights ago doing car shots at night. . . it's an amazing lens. . . absolutely worth the money. . . and it looks great wide open!

Stephen
 
hey stephen

sorry I was vague. I was referring to the fact that it is ironic that there is not a 35mm prime that is fast (1.2,1.4) that is sharp wide open. I love ALL my other nikon primes
 
thanks guys.
I just bought a 50mm 1.4. Anybody want to buy my 1.2? :)

now I just have to figure out the 35mm situation. I wonder how far the 35mm1.4 will go if I hit it with a baseball bat

I guess I'm stuck with a plastic 35mm 2....unless anyone has any better thoughts

thanks for the help....still wishing my 35mm was as sharp as my 50mm1.4 or my 85mm 1.4 ais
 
Get the Sigma 30mm. . . it's a great lens. But, like I said, you'll need the Underdahl Nikon mount for G lenses.

But there are a lot of great G-lenses out there. The 10.5mm fisheye is a killer.

Stephen
 
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