Nikkor S.C. 5cm 1:1.4 Photos only [Archive]

xayraa33

10-05-2006, 07:53

I could never figure out how Nippon Kogaku thought their Sonnar type 1.4 was an improvement over the 1.5, whether made by NK, Zeiss, Canon or the FSU J-3 lens makers.
the Canon Sonnar type 50/1.5 and the J-3 are IMHO always more pleasing at full aperture esp. for portraits, than the Nikkor 50/1.4 Sonnar type.
I do not own an original Zeiss 50/1.5 Sonnar, but the example photos I have seen , that are taken by it, are in the Canon 50/1.5 category , if not even better.
Does anyone else feel that the Classic 1950s Nikkor 50/1.4 is not so pleasing at f1.4?
I know personal tastes are subjective.

VinceC

10-05-2006, 08:19

>>I could never figure out how Nippon Kogaku thought their Sonnar type 1.4 was an improvement over the 1.5, whether made by NK, Zeiss, Canon or the FSU J-3 lens makers.
the Canon Sonnar type 50/1.5 and the J-3 are IMHO always more pleasing at full aperture esp. for portraits, than the Nikkor 50/1.4 Sonnar type.<<

First of all, the Nikkor 1.4 came our two years before the Canon Serenar 1.5, autumn 1950 versus November 1952. The J-3 was not widely available and had quality-control problems. The Nikkor was intentionally faster than the Zeiss lens, using generally excellent coatings that have stood up well over time, resulting in better flare control than the 1.5 Sonnar. Zeiss also had quality-control problems connected to its postwar breakup -- lenses were being built on both sides of the iron curtain -- and in any event didn't sell lenses in the LTM mount. The Nikkor has click stops. Life magazine photographers, the discriminating 35mm photographers of their era, considered the Nikkor to be sharper than Zeiss or Leitz lenses. The Nikkor 50/1.4 set the bar for modern lenses. It certainly has "bokeh" problems and was reformulated about 12 years later to address those, but by then the SLR era was in full swing.

jja

10-05-2006, 08:28

The Nikkor is also really solid and well made, and extremely compact for its speed. Even though it has a 43mm filter thread, my Nikkor is more compact than my 50/2 Summicron (latest, w/ built-in hood).

I have just sent the Nikkor off to DAG for a routine CLA b/c I want to see how it compares to the Summicron w/ both lenses at the top of their form.

VinceC

10-05-2006, 08:56

>> can you tell us more about the Nikkor 50/1.5...?<<

My knowledge isn't authoritative. I'm simply an interested user. My understanding is that the experimental Canons of the 1930s used Nikkor lenses in the f/3.5 and f/2 range. An apparent f/1.5 Nikkor was also drawn up for the Canon line and may have been made in very limited numbers during World War II.

Japanese optical conglomerates were broken up after World War II, and Canon and Nikon went their separate ways. Nikon introduced a camera with an f/2 lens in the late 1940s, probably derivative of the f/2 Sonnar lens. Nikon (actually Nippon Kogaku ... Japanese Optical) also produced accessory lenses in the late 1940s: a 35/3.5, an 85/2 and a 135/4. These were also sold in the LTM mount.

The Nikkor 50mm f/1.5 was, I believe introduced very early in the year 1950 and was only produced for six or eight months before the improved f/1.4 lens was introduced. It was definitely produced by Nippon Kogaku, not by Canon, which was by then a competitor. It had no click stops and had a minimum aperture of f/11 instead of f/16. Filter threads for 40.5mm instead of the later 43mm.

David Douglas Duncan, one of the Life photographers who adopted Nikon lenses, shot the first months of the Korean War with the 50/1.5. By November/December 1950, he had switched to the f/1.4 version, as soon as it was introduced. His most famous work, of GIs retreating through frozen landscapes, was done with the f/1.4 lens. However, the earlier f/1.5 apparently also had similar optical properties. When Duncan shipping his first rolls back to Life magazine for printing, the darkroom workers (then among the best photo printers in the business) were very enthusiastic about the quality of the new lens. Most of this work was shot in sunlight at f/11, so the sharpness, not out-of-focus characteristics, was what they found compelling.

Only a few hundred of the f/1.5 lenses were made. So it is extremely rare and collectible. Duncan's work is the only group of photos I've seen taken by the 1.5 (the first two part of "This is War!" were shot with the 1.5, the third part with the 1.4). The book shows very little if any quality difference, though my copy is not all that well printed.

sbug

10-05-2006, 09:04

http://static.flickr.com/43/247568414_d4a5e8f8ce_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/86/247568418_b92108c1c1_o.jpg

venchka

10-05-2006, 09:10

Examples of color not content. :) Middle f-stop, 5.6 or 8.0. Kodak HD 200.

It is a solid chunk of lens to be sure. 10-12 blades in the iris as I recall. Mine was built late in the run. It's growing on me. Think I'll have to keep it.

Thanks for sharing, everyone. That's enough words for now. :cool:

jja

10-05-2006, 09:20

Wayne or Vince, a quick serial number question: What is the range for this lens? Mine has a 7-digit serial number, and most of the ones I've seen have 6.

sbug

10-05-2006, 09:21

12 blades. (I have mine in my camera bag here at work) :) Mine has a 6 digit serial number.

I've found the bokeh varies greatly based on aperture, focus distance and lighting. Here are three color examples I have handy. The first image is wide open and close. The others are stopped down a bit.

http://static.flickr.com/49/136439389_d4fc655204_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/81/221933158_4a73776f66_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/69/221933155_1cc3918582_o.jpg

chendayuan

10-05-2006, 09:40

Nikkor 50/1.4 LTM is soft wide open, has kind of veil flare problem for sure. f2.0 is usable.

VinceC

10-05-2006, 10:16

>>soft wide open ... veiling flare...<<

Depends a lot on the light, actually. Two more wide-open examples.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/2438/U2438I1123904182.SEQ.0.jpg

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/2438/U2438I1123903672.SEQ.0.jpg

NIKON KIU

10-05-2006, 11:21

Wayne or Vince, a quick serial number question: What is the range for this lens? Mine has a 7-digit serial number, and most of the ones I've seen have 6.
The main batch started from 316000 all the way to 41xxxx. Early ones in chrome and later ones in black/chrome
If you have one with 7 digit serial number then you must have the real early example, those started with 5005xxxx
most have 8 digit numbers and some have 7 digit numbers:
Here is an example:

what number is yours?
Kiu

jja

10-05-2006, 11:32

Mine is 5005xxx, 7 digits. Is the optical quality the same throughout the range?

VinceC

10-05-2006, 11:36

Optical quality should be nearly identical throughout the range.

VinceC

10-05-2006, 12:00

and another, probably around f/5.6 or f/8.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/2438/U2438I1160073090.SEQ.0.jpg

And an example with bad bokeh in all its unashamed glory. Doubled lines and weird halos.
This reportedly is a side-effect of creating the world's then-sharpest lens in a pre-computer era
when calculations were still done by hand (actually, by dozens of young women using abacuses).

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/data/6407/medium/Explorer_May05.jpg

sbug

10-05-2006, 12:06

Mine is # 375161, black & chrome.

Nice shots everyone!

jja

10-05-2006, 12:07

Thanks Kiu and Vince, here's one in b&w:

venchka

10-05-2006, 12:44

Wayne or Vince, a quick serial number question: What is the range for this lens? Mine has a 7-digit serial number, and most of the ones I've seen have 6.

I asked about mine in the Spring...

Nikkor-S.C 1 : 1.4 f = 5cm No. 3958xx
the Nikkor-S was produced in great numbers, probably around 80,000 to 90,000 lenses were produced including many in the screw-mount.
Last serial number recorded seems to be in the 417xxx range so makes yours pretty late production...The last ones didn't have the C after Nikkor-S
Kiu

When folks talk about the late "black & chrome" version: the only thing black is the narrow ring near the front with the aperture numbers on it. It isn't black and chrome like the Nikkor teles or the late Canon lenses.

MikeL

10-05-2006, 16:37

And an example with bad bokeh in all its unashamed glory. Doubled lines and weird halos.
This reportedly is a side-effect of creating the world's then-sharpest lens in a pre-computer era
when calculations were still done by hand (actually, by dozens of young women using abacuses).

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/data/6407/medium/Explorer_May05.jpg

Hey Vince, do you see the slight circular pattern to the background? This is the pattern I occasionally see with certain backgrounds on my 35mm at 1.8. I've also seen it in posted photos from a 50mm noctilux. Points of light and sometimes leaves are stretched slightly into ovals, and they seem to be oriented in a circular pattern around the center. If it's fuzzy enough, depending on distance or focal length like on the noctilux, it can look fine. Occasionally on my 35mm it looks a bit trippy.

furcafe

10-05-2006, 19:27

IMHO, while the Life photographers were correct that the Nikkor is a fine lens, equal to the contemporary Western products, IMHO they were laying it on a little thick stating that the Nikkors were superior to the Zeiss Sonnars, except perhaps in build quality. True, build quality is not a trivial factor considering that sample variation between lenses was often greater back then--it's also my understanding that the Life guys got to choose the "best of the litter" from the Nippon Kogaku factory (something they couldn't easily do w/the German lenses @ the time)--but it doesn't mean that the Nikkor was categorically a superior lens, particularly when compared to the W. German Sonnars once they got Oberkochen up to speed around '51 or so (but those were never made in LTM) or even a good example of the E. German Sonnars (wide-open example: http://static.flickr.com/7/6935549_99ec6d03f6_o.jpg ). As to the Leitz products, let's just say even Leicaphiles will acknowledge that none of their f/1.5 lenses performed up to Zeiss or Nikkor standards @ the time. ;)

IME, which includes shooting good examples of both lenses in all of their various mounts, I haven't found the Nikkor to be superior to the post-WWII Sonnar, E. or W. German, in either flare control or sharpness, whatever the aperture, & f/1.4 on the Nikkor is only a teeny bit brighter than f/1.5 on the Sonnars (judging from TTL metering): I've found them to be pretty much equal in all respects, except for a bit more veiling flare & boke "swirliness" in the Nikkor wide-open, which I think is a direct result of the Nikkor's design (in my non-technical opinion, a "stretched" Sonnar). I've reached a similar conclusion re: the 85/2 Sonnars v. Nikkor-Ps. It was certainly a major achievement by Nippon Kogaku, indeed a major achievement for post-WWII Japanese industry, just to make a lens that was among the best in the world, & it helped cement the Nikon brand's well-deserved reputation for quality, but I think there was some hindsight mythologizing going on.

The Nikkor was intentionally faster than the Zeiss lens, using generally excellent coatings that have stood up well over time, resulting in better flare control than the 1.5 Sonnar. Zeiss also had quality-control problems connected to its postwar breakup -- lenses were being built on both sides of the iron curtain -- and in any event didn't sell lenses in the LTM mount. The Nikkor has click stops. Life magazine photographers, the discriminating 35mm photographers of their era, considered the Nikkor to be sharper than Zeiss or Leitz lenses. The Nikkor 50/1.4 set the bar for modern lenses. It certainly has "bokeh" problems and was reformulated about 12 years later to address those, but by then the SLR era was in full swing.

furcafe

10-05-2006, 19:36

That's the "swirly" boke I mentioned in my last post. My guess is that it's caused by coma &/or astigmatism that couldn't be corrected for given the Sonnar design & optical technology that was available @ the time, per Vince's post. I presume the Noctilux, though much more modern (computers v. abaci), suffers from a similar problem on account of the limits imposed by its f/1 max. aperture.

Hey Vince, do you see the slight circular pattern to the background? This is the pattern I occasionally see with certain backgrounds on my 35mm at 1.8. I've also seen it in posted photos from a 50mm noctilux. Points of light and sometimes leaves are stretched slightly into ovals, and they seem to be oriented in a circular pattern around the center. If it's fuzzy enough, depending on distance or focal length like on the noctilux, it can look fine. Occasionally on my 35mm it looks a bit trippy.

didjiman

10-05-2006, 22:33

serial #335xxx, LTM chrome
http://www.dragonsgate.net/pub/richard/PICS/091406/images/crop0018.jpg

VinceC

10-06-2006, 02:17

>>...but it doesn't mean that the Nikkor was categorically a superior lens, particularly when compared to the W. German Sonnars once they got Oberkochen up to speed around '51 or so...<<

I use the notes in Duncan's 1951 book as my primary source in the Nikon/Zeiss/Leica discussion. Quality control was the thing that impressed the Life photographers most. There was no sample variation (and I've never encountered it in the various Nikkors I've owned ... after I cracked the front element of a 50/1.4 while on assignment, I swapped in a new front element from a lens a couple of years older, and the lens -- used in my examples -- continues to perform very well. I've done a similar front-element swap with an 85/2 that I also cracked on assignment). When one of their Japanese photo assistants used a lens that stunned them (the Nikkor 85/2), they went to the factory to see if it was a fluke and were allowed to randomly pick lenses out of the inventory, which gives you an idea of the clout of Life photographers back then. They found no sample variation. All the lenses were of equal quality.

It's significant that Duncan and others were mainly using Leicas at a time when Zeiss had the reputation for better optics. Leitz's pursuit of the finest possible optics was largely a response to Japanese LTM lenses.

Also, history and dates are important, because they show cause and effect. Duncan (and many others who didn't write technical notes in the back of their books) discovered Nikon lenses in spring/summer of 1950, and the Korean War broke out in the summer. They didn't have time to wait for Oberkockhen to get its act together in 1951. Zeiss fixing its quality control was a direct response to Nikkors having outscored Zeiss on a lens test by a U.S. magazine, highlighted by a New York Times photo reviewer. Zeiss blamed sample variation due to an Eastern German manufacture and got a retest in which both lenses (the Sonnar and Nikkor) peformed equally.

In my opinion, the dispute over whose was marginally better quickly became secondary. The real story is that Japanese companies were matching German quality while also constantly innovating and tweaking. Within two and three years, Nikon and Canon were introducing lenses that were significantly wider and/or faster than their German competitors, and putting them in mounts that could be used by German cameras. Soviet designs remained static and were largely unavailable outside of the Soviet trading bloc.

sbug

10-06-2006, 05:34

This has become a very interesting thread. I'd say that most lenses, particularly as you get to f2 and faster, put their own distinctive signature on the image. Sometimes simply lower contrast or flare and sometimes more complex signatures such as swirl bokeh. Love it, hate it or somewhere in-between, as long as you know what to expect, I don't see a problem with any of them.

VinceC

10-06-2006, 05:56

MikeL,
I see your point about the circular background in my "bad bokeh" shot. This is partly due to composition. The whole shot is framed by branches receding from the camera, which lends to the circular pattern. I've never noticed the effect in my 35/1.8, but I nearly always use that lens for interiors. In my use, I've never run into "bad bokeh" problems with it.

For what it's worth, there are a few scenes in "The Wizard of Oz" that display this kind of bokeh. That was shot in 1938-39 using, I suppose, German lenses. Early Technicolor was a very slow emulsion, probably on par with early Kodachrome, so they were probably using a combination of extremely bright lights and fast lenses (shutter speed isn't a variable in movie photography).

furcafe

10-06-2006, 06:43

I agree. Of course, the Zeiss Foundation in W. Germany had a bit of a problem getting started up as they had lost their main lens works & many personnel @ Jena to the Eastern Bloc & the Contax factory to the USSR, & had to start from scratch in building both the lenses & the new IIa/IIIa cameras (most of their factories in W. Germany had been devoted to making medium & large format cameras). So Zeiss wasn't necessarily spurred to improve quality control by the Japanese challenge per se (though they should have been in hindsight), they were just trying to get back to what they had before WWII. I think Nippon Kogaku's factories weren't in quite as bad shape & they had more help from SCAP in rebuilding than the Allied forces in W. Germany were giving Zeiss (if any).

Also, although many Life photographers used Leicas, it is my understanding that their "house" camera system in the 1930s & 40s was the Contax (II & III). When Time-Life switched to the new IIa/IIIa models in the early '50s, they donated some of their old II's & III's to Edmund Hilary's Mt. Everest expedition (though he personally took a Retina to the summit).

Also, history and dates are important, because they show cause and effect. Duncan (and many others who didn't write technical notes in the back of their books) discovered Nikon lenses in spring/summer of 1950, and the Korean War broke out in the summer. They didn't have time to wait for Oberkockhen to get its act together in 1951. Zeiss fixing its quality control was a direct response to Nikkors having outscored Zeiss on a lens test by a U.S. magazine, highlighted by a New York Times photo reviewer. Zeiss blamed sample variation due to an Eastern German manufacture and got a retest in which both lenses (the Sonnar and Nikkor) peformed equally.

In my opinion, the dispute over whose was marginally better quickly became secondary. The real story is that Japanese companies were matching German quality while also constantly innovating and tweaking. Within two and three years, Nikon and Canon were introducing lenses that were significantly wider and/or faster than their German competitors, and putting them in mounts that could be used by German cameras. Soviet designs remained static and were largely unavailable outside of the Soviet trading bloc.

rogue_designer

10-06-2006, 06:49

Like Mike I have seen that circular pattern with other lenses as well.

because the individual OOF points are ellipsoidal, rather than circular, their orientation in relation to the image center becomes very apparent, lending the circular effect to the bokeh.

What makes them ellipsoidal in the first place tho, I have no idea.

VinceC

10-06-2006, 07:04

I've seen old pictures of Life photographers using both Contax and Leica. Usual kit seemed to be a 35mm plus a Rolliflex TLR.

I think the Japanese benefited from creating new camera systems from scratch, whereas the Germans were trying to rebuild pre-war camera systems.

Germany's immediate postwar history is more complicated than that of Japan because of the Russian/French/UK/US occupation. But German companies in the U.S. sector, and later bizonal economic unit, did receive considerable assistance from the Allies. The occupation powers were primarily involved in economic matters and reconstruction and making the German economy self-sustaining (U.S. and U.K. taxpayers didn't want to be supporting Germans any longer than necessary). Lucius Clay, the U.S. proconsul, was emphatic on rebuidling and assisting German industry and laid the groundwork for the Marshall Plan, in which Germany participated. I have a 1950 guide to the first FotoKina in Koeln, which says Allied contracts, including U.S. military exchange contracts, were extremely important in getting the German photo industry back on its feet.

Finally, the Leica M seems to have been a direct response to the new competition from the Japanese products.

Zeiss's postwar problems are only clear in retrospect. At the time, it wasn't clear that Germany -- and hence the Zeiss corporation -- would be split into two distinct countries.

jja

10-06-2006, 13:44

My lens is out and I have no other pictures to show, but when it returns I'll post a W/NW titled "Nikkor 50/1.4 @ f1.4," and everyone better participate!

VinceC

10-06-2006, 16:02

Last Saturday morning was pretty rainy ... but they didn't cancel the soccer games.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/data/6407/medium/rainy-soccer-fan-sep06.jpg

venchka

10-07-2006, 06:56

We must be doing something right. This thread was linked in the Leica Users Group.

------------------------------

Message: 25
Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2006 22:45:28 -0400
From: "Dan Chang" <sdnk2001@hotmail.com>
Subject: [Leica] FS: Nikon LTM 50/1.4 $300
To: lug@leica-users.org
Message-ID: <BAY113-F11533E6A12539D202FA505DE100@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

SN# 32xxxx, KEH EX grade, with back and fron cap. the lens was CLAed about 3
year ago, so focus is smooth, aperture is clean and dry, lens is clean with
out fogging, no clean marks. I find this lens has veil flare when used at
f1.4 which I do not like very much and the bokeh some time kind of ugly. you
can see post here about pictures at 1.4

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=389750#post389750

See picture here
http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00IL92&tag=

------------------------------

Back to the photos.

jsuominen

12-22-2006, 22:46

Here is mine:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/137/318719170_fc77601e4d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/318719170/)
A classic Nikkor rangefinder lens suits quite well for taking
portraits of beautiful women as my lovely wife in this picture.

Shot with Voigtländer Bessa R2S + vintage (from 1955-56) Nikkor-S.C 5cm f/1.4
@ f/1.4, 1/60s. Ilford Delta 400 Pro film developed in a Dutch film developer
Amaloco AM74 and scanned with Nikon Coolscan 4000 ED.

jsuominen

12-22-2006, 23:14

Another one:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/141/325197481_67d0e39ba2.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/325197481/)
Neo-gothic style Central Pori church in Pori, Finland.

Shot with Voigtländer Bessa R2S + vintage (from 1955-1956) Nikkor-S.C 5cm f/1.4 @ f/1.4.
Fuji Neopan 400 film developed in Agfa Rodinal.

jsuominen

12-23-2006, 23:46

I apologize if I have scared other posters away, with my dull b&w shots... ;)
But here is one more and then I'll stop posting to this thread:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/331152624_eca5e9dd1e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/331152624/)

Porin Puuvilla - a former cotton mill, currently an office and university building
shot in 8:30 AM while on the way to the office.

Shot with Voigtländer Bessa R2S + vintage Nikkor-S.C 5cm f/1.4 @ f/1.4.
A coma effect is clearly seen on the right corner highlights.
Fomapan T200 Creative film developed in Amaloco AM74.

My other Nikkor-S.C 5cm/1.4 photos are here:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=nikkorsc&w=53094145%40N00

Merry X-mas and Happy New Year!

VinceC

12-24-2006, 09:45

I like your shots. Keep posting.

jsuominen

12-25-2006, 22:40

OK, two more.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/148/333073112_45beb14759.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/333073112/)

A flare test shot with Voigtländer Bessa R2S + vintage
Nikkor-S.C 5cm f/1.4 @ f/1.4, 1/60s. Rollei R3 400ASA film
developed in Amaloco AM74.
CV Nokton 50/1.5 version of the same photo here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/333072943.
---

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/165/333073481_9a1a7d1370.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/333073481/)

Aquarium store in Old Rauma, Finland shot with Voigtländer Bessa R2S + vintage
Nikkor-S.C 5cm f/1.4 @ f/1.4, 1/500s. Rollei R3 400ASA film developed in Amaloco
AM74.

This old lens has a special "glow", which makes photo look a bit different wide open
compared to modern CV Nokton version (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/333073293/).

jsuominen

12-28-2006, 04:34

Am I the only Nikkor 5cm/1.4 owner - besides Wayne and Roland - who actually shoots with this lens?
Or maybe all others are more busy at the end of the year? :)

Here is one more, if you are not bored with my b&w shots:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/157/336031898_714f3a6a27.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/336031898/)

Shot just after the sun has gone down - yesterday at 16:00 or 4:00 PM here in Rauma, Finland -
but before it came dark. Voigtländer Bessa R2S + vintage Nikkor-S.C 5cm f/1.4 @ f/1.4, 1/60s.
Fuji Neopan 1600 film developed in Fuji SPD.

Ronald M

12-28-2006, 05:01

I can`t get bored with shots like that.

jsuominen

12-28-2006, 06:27

Ok, thanks Ronald. Here is one more:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/166/336247639_4496d44c3b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/336247639/)

Dark ice shot with Voigtländer Bessa R2S + Nikkor-S.C 5cm f/1.4 @ f/2, 1/60s.
Fuji Neopan 1600 film developed in Fuji SPD.

sbug

12-28-2006, 06:42

Ok, thanks Ronald. Here is one more:

Dark ice shot with Voigtländer Bessa R2S + Nikkor-S.C 5cm f/1.4 @ f/2, 1/60s.
Fuji Neopan 1600 film developed in Fuji SPD.

Beautiful!

venchka

12-28-2006, 06:53

OI! I must take mine out more. Finland looks lovely! Neopan 1600 looks lovely.
Roland, use the M6 + Nikkor 5cm more. Knock the new off! :D :cool:

bobkonos

12-28-2006, 08:39

Wonderful photgraphs Wayne and Roland-thanks for sharing. I also use the 5 cm f1.4 rangefinder Nikkor on my R2S with wonderful results. I was going to get a C/V 5cm f1.5 Nokton for the R2S, but I saw no need since I had the older Nikkor already. Makes a great outfit for me, along with the C/V 85 f3.5 APO-Lanthar (tremendous lens) and the C/V 21 f4.

jsuominen

12-29-2006, 11:18

One series where I have tested Nikkor-S.C 5cm/1.4 lens at f/1.4 to f/4.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/165/337632168_34ed7bc138.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/337632168/)
Shot with Voigtländer Bessa R2S + Nikkor-S.C 5cm f/1.4 @ f/1.4, 1/500s.
Fuji Neopan 100SS film pushed to 200ASA and developed in Fuji SPD.

f/2 version:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/337632036/

f/2.8 version:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/337631898/

f/4 version:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/337631800/

trittium

01-07-2007, 09:47

I reciently decided to take my 50/1.4 Nikkor and Hexar RF on a hike around dusk. As the light faded, I opened up the lens more, and the results were beautiful. I had not really used this lens much with natural light and color film before, and the results supprised me. I was truely impressed at how it performed, and thought I would share it with you.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/141/348457213_48e03f079f_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/348456272_be11add9d7_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/166/348457463_b2f0d34692_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/136/348456444_2225b03479_o.jpg

venchka

01-07-2007, 10:22

Wonderful! Can you please move these to the Nikkor 50/1.4 Samples only thread in the Nikon Forum?

joe? administrator? somebody?

trittium

01-07-2007, 10:49

sorry about that! I didn't know this thread existed

jja

01-07-2007, 11:05

Matt, those are really good, esp. the third photo of the mossy rocks.

venchka

01-07-2007, 11:53

sorry about that! I didn't know this thread existed

No worries. There are two threads actually. You may use either one.

back alley

01-07-2007, 12:02

done!

joe

trittium

01-07-2007, 12:15

Matt, those are really good, esp. the third photo of the mossy rocks.

Thanks jja

venchka

01-07-2007, 12:37

Hold on, Matt. Don't you know you can't use any lenses besides the M-Hexanons on that Hexar RF body? They just won't work right! Grinning. It sure is a good thing that some of us can't read!

jsuominen

01-16-2007, 01:43

Another moody wide open b&w shot.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/358496270_9b1990309b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/358496270/)
Beach hut at the Moomin World (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moomin_World), Naantali, Finland.
Shot with Voigtländer Bessa R2S + Nikkor-S.C 5cm f/1.4 @ f/1.4.
Fomapan T200 Creative film developed in Agfa Rodinal.

Sonnar2

01-16-2007, 02:52

Looks very nice! How visible is the light-falloff with color film?

Frank

jsuominen

01-16-2007, 03:02

Looks very nice! How visible is the light-falloff with color film?

Thanks. I have owned the lens just about a month. So, I haven't shot any color with it, yet. I'm a b&w geek. ;) But I think that the light-fall-off at wide open is more visible with slide film than with b&w.

steamer

01-16-2007, 03:06

Here is one in color (hope it is attached)
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=43883&ppuser=4257

jsuominen

01-16-2007, 05:10

Here is one in color (hope it is attached)
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=43883&ppuser=4257

Nice photo. Did you shoot that photo wide open at f/1.4? I didn't see any light-fall-off at the corners.

Jari

steamer

01-16-2007, 05:45

Now that you mention it, I think it was shot at f/4

Sonnar2

01-16-2007, 22:38

It's a great portrait lens. Does the shade help much in backlight?

jsuominen

01-17-2007, 01:07

It's a great portrait lens. Does the shade help much in backlight?

I bought a cheap 43mm lens hood from eBay. It was also mentioned on this page http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34264&page=5 .

If the backlight comes directly from behind the subject, shade doesn't help much as you can see in this photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/333073112/ . But that was an extreme example and I don't shoot normally that way, if I can move the subject or my own position...

VinceC

01-17-2007, 02:40

The lens gets into trouble when you're shooting backlit with the sun out of the frame. Then it can produce circles and internal lens reflections. In gentler backlighting, it produces wonderful results.

Here's a shot from last weekend.

Sonnar2

01-17-2007, 05:09

I like these portrait shots in this thread taken with the Nikkor-S. I guess its "stretched" design (for a Sonnar type) and age at least benefit from a tight hood in most light situations. (as with my RF Canon 1.5/50)

Let's see how the prices of the genuine hoods are, and then decide if the handling advantage is worth it.

VinceC

01-17-2007, 05:19

I have a Zeiss Sonnar 1.5, on which the Nikkor is based. It's much worse at handling backlight and sun-out-of-the-frame shots -- the coatings aren't as effective, so you get magnificent superimposed images of the aperture blades which, at some f/stops, are shaped like a circular saw.

jsuominen

01-17-2007, 09:14

Back to the photos again. Here is a portrait shot of my brother and his girlfriend.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/156/339689555_893c14ac36.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/339689555/)
Shot with Voigtländer Bessa R2S + Nikkor-S.C 5cm f/1.4 @ f/1.4, 1/60s.
Fuji Neopan 100SS film pushed to 200ASA and developed in Fuji SPD.

jsuominen

01-21-2007, 07:49

Another wide open portrait:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/144/364493081_ec3701e2e4.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/364493081/)
Shot with Voigtländer Bessa R2S + Nikkor-S.C 5cm f/1.4 @ f/1.4.
Fuji Neopan 100SS film pushed to 200ASA and developed in Fuji SPD.

b_en

01-21-2007, 09:13

That has an amazing glow to it, very nice.

jsuominen

01-21-2007, 09:33

Thanks. Someone has said that old Leica lenses have a special 'Leica-glow', but maybe old Nikkor lenses have their own glow, too. ;)

Jari

VinceC

01-21-2007, 10:35

Jari,
That's a beautiful photograph. Thanks for posting.

jsuominen

01-26-2007, 08:11

One more "Nikkor-glow" wide open shot:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/153/369974349_f60c251069.jpg
Shot with Nikon S2 + Nikkor-S.C 5cm f/1.4 @ f/1.4.
Fuji Neopan 100SS film pushed to 200ASA and developed in Fuji SPD.

venchka

01-26-2007, 09:27

If you avoid point light sources or bright points of daylight through foliage, this lens is marvelous wide open.

Jeffery Smith in New Orleans may have more old 50mm lenses Frank S. I know, hard to imagine. Anyway, Jeffery recently purchased a Nikkor 50/1.4 lens. His early reaction: "This may be the sharpest old 50mm lens".

Sonnar2

01-28-2007, 12:27

From my first roll with my newly acquired S2, with black 1.4/50. Undoubtly it has the (Sonnar) glow, and it's pretty good wide open at close distance...

cheers Frank

http://www.taunusreiter.de/cameras/Valeria_27Jan07_nikS2_34.jpg

trittium

01-28-2007, 12:51

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/126/370216455_5b42041bdd_o.jpg

Didier

01-28-2007, 13:00

OK, I'll start. A hasty "grab" shot. It's all uphill from here.
M5 : Nikkor 5cm 1:1.4 : Ilford XP2 Super : 1.4 @ 1/15 sec. (maybe 1/8 sec., it was DARK!

Dark? I see something light and sharp which would be much more fun to "grab" than a M5 with a nikkor :rolleyes:
Good shot Venchka.
Didier

NIKON KIU

01-28-2007, 19:56

Thanks. Someone has said that old Leica lenses have a special 'Leica-glow', but maybe old Nikkor lenses have their own glow, too. ;)

Jari

Look at the picture of the baby...the Nikkor DOES have it's own glow....The Sonnar-guy keeps referring to it as a "Sonnar-glow"...how about the "Nippon glow"?

Kiu:)

jsuominen

01-28-2007, 23:12

Look at the picture of the baby...the Nikkor DOES have it's own glow....The Sonnar-guy keeps referring to it as a "Sonnar-glow"...how about the "Nippon glow"?

Kiu:)

Yes, "Nippon glow" or "Nikkor glow" sounds better to me. :) Here are two partial crops from the original images, which I have posted earlier. The glow is there, too.

jsuominen

02-04-2007, 10:26

Here is a new b&w portrait with my vintage Nikon gear:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/379440639_194c5c4b97.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/379440639/)
Nikon S2 + Nikkor-S.C 5cm f/1.4 at f/2.8, 1/60s.
Fuji Neopan 400ASA film developed in Agfa Rodinal (1+50, 20C, 8½ min).
Scanned with Nikon Super CoolScan 4000 ED.
---
Edit: I also enclosed two small details from a 1840 x 2800 pixels original photo.
They show that my focusing was maybe a bit off, because my wife's eyes and
glasses are not 100% sharp, but her blouse fabric is.

venchka

02-09-2007, 09:34

...now here is the Bad and the Ugly. Strong light source out of the field of view. I thought far enough out of the field to avoid flare. Obviously not far enough. The same semicircle appears in both photos. :eek:

VinceC

02-09-2007, 11:31

Thanks, Wayne. You've really gotta watch out shooting into light with this lens. And constantly keeping a hood on helps. I use a small collapsible rubber one built into a B+W filter so that I only need to unfold it when shooting around difficult light.

trittium

02-17-2007, 20:58

This was not focused, but somehow it turned out well

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/393698577_de6b31c267_o.jpg

ray_g

02-24-2007, 14:13

Pretty good flare resistance for an old lens.

Nikon BD S2 + 50/1.4, TMax 400 in Rodinal

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/170/401236850_ce46e8579e_o.jpg

venchka

03-25-2007, 11:13

OK< my so called social life consists primarily of hanging around work on Saturday nights. On this particular Saturday night the guys in the yard were busting their humps to finish a rush job. I was making sure everything was fitting together correctly.

It just so happened that I finally had Bubba loaded and ready for action. First roll from my second M5. Our favorite 5.0cm/1.4 lens and a roll of Kodak BW400CN. Following the advice gathered here, the lens was stopped down halfway between 1.4 & 2.0 and I have acquired a B+W MRC UV filter.

You'll notice that light fall off in the corners is excessive. :eek: :D So what. I love this lens.

These also qualify in Back Alley joe's single light portraits. :D

Thanks for looking.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/d/78131-2/Helmet+Flames-1.jpg

http://gallery.leica-users.org/d/78134-2/Helmet+Flames-2.jpg

venchka

08-22-2008, 09:53

I wish I had some new ones. 4x5 is consuming all of my efforts at the moment.

Cale Arthur

08-22-2008, 10:17

bump for more pictures.At your service, Kiu! :)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3048/2726036015_1ecd3f8186.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3262/2722191429_f5807d0030.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3254/2726052151_e4cc9d938d.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3127/2726861776_77bb055d43.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2148/2419278183_06273293c5.jpg

--c--

Burlap Jacket

09-28-2008, 19:27

I just bought the Nikkor off this forum... a few shots from my first couple of rolls...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/2880901196_896205b4bb.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/burlapjacket/2880901196/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/2869378592_6c3da7e6f6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/burlapjacket/2869378592/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/2869145834_25b6bbbd0d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/burlapjacket/2869145834/)

LeicaTom

09-28-2008, 21:28

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/koolgirliestuff/AnnieNikkorLens00A.jpg?t=1222665717 (http://javascript<b></b>:void(0);)

Pretty much...."Raw" straight out of the camera, with little to no color adjusting......

A 1950 #500512xx Nikkor SC f1.4/50 in LTM on my trusty 87' Leica M6 on "Crossprocessed" color slide, shot "wide open" @ 500 sec - In mid afternoon Florida sun -
(not too bad for a $85 lens, that`s got minty glass, but a banged up filter ring, that flares without a hood, luckly I did get the original hood with this lens as I bought it)

I`m still trying to *find* a work area for my Nikkor f1.4`s, while they are very contrasty, compared to the Canon f1.5/50 -
while the Canon is a great "all around" shooting lens, I have still to find the niche for the Nikkor`s in my everyday use as "PinUp" photo lenses -

The colors in the crossprocessed work with the Nikkor seem to run very yellow and green and are somewhat "softer" than the same style of work shot on the Canon, (I like what the Nikkor does better) the Nikkor seems to be made for shooting these *strange* films, the coating has alot to do with it as well, the Nikkor`s Bluish/Purple hue enhances the crossprocessing, as where the Canon`s Brown/Goldish hue comes out flatter _ (just what I had noticed).............someone has suggested to me to shoot Black and White work, that`s slighty "underexposed" to compensate for the high contrast the lens has, that too might work rightly into my style of shooting?

Tom

PS: While I haven`t tried a comparsion yet with my two Nikkor`s, but I`ve been told that the "Tokyo" versions (the #5005 lenses) have a creamier bokeh than later "Japan" lenses, but you know how rumors start LOL! ;)

bernards

09-28-2008, 23:17

Greetings from Singapore. I am keen to share some of pictures from this Nikkor. It's the reason why I bought a M8.

The copy I bought from Tokyo is heavily flawed. Small scratches on all the elements, rub marks on the front and rear, dried out grease and oil on the blades. Basically a list of all the things you should avoid. But the pictures I am getting from it are amazing. It's a great combination of softness, abbreviation, sharpness, speed, bokeh. A little of everything in just the right amount.

After posting this. I have decided to get another copy from ebay. Cheers.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/2629855533_a6d2266c63.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardsia/2629855533/in/set-72157605930817286)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/2630675190_265a95cdf6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardsia/2630675190/in/set-72157605930817286)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/2806205840_51b923f5d5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardsia/2806205840/in/set-72157605930817286)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/2805341557_1e9da39cd1.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardsia/2805341557/in/set-72157605930817286)

migtex

10-11-2008, 13:07

Sebastiao Salgado signing is new book Africa
Nikon S+Nikkor 5cm SC 1.4 - 1/20@1.4 on Kodak Tri-X
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=54976&d=1201333629

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=54977&d=1201333660

ferider

11-10-2008, 12:34

Bump. Tokyo/5005 series on Fuji Reala:

http://ferider.smugmug.com/photos/399961505_sJAMt-XL.jpg

http://ferider.smugmug.com/photos/399961800_cRPoW-XL.jpg

P. Lynn Miller

11-10-2008, 22:42

I want a Nikkor 50 1.4 and 2.0 in LTM to add to my 50 collection. Great lenses for B&W portraits.

Thanks,

fefe

11-11-2008, 02:05

Random friends pictures with the 50 f1.4 SC in screw mount (all at f1.4). It makes great B&W portraits, definitely.
http://elfefe.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p202497677-4.jpg
http://elfefe.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p162527294-4.jpg

leicavidom

11-11-2008, 09:21

Yes,I did see those shots Jon;which version of the 35/1.4 lens are you using?
Really bold colors from Provia but without the edginess one used to see from old
Ektachrome films.
I have been in monochrome mode/mood for the last couple of weeks having just caught up with a six (yes 6 ) year back log of agfa scala,fp4,hp5,acros,delta 100/400..
Thats 40+ films and counting,so it's great to see some exciting street colour shots.
Best,Ivan.

phaedrus

11-12-2008, 17:43

Hi all!

This here newbie likes to introduced himself with a picture from his first Nikon rangefinder,
a Nikon S3 Limited Edition Black. So, this photo from a Japanese Garden in Bad Langensalza,
Thuringia, Germany, is shot with the modern variant Nikkor-S f/1.4 50 mm. Quite like the bokeh!

http://web.mac.com/chammann/iWeb/Mostly%20Black%26White/Photoblog/B0F93F2F-BF8A-4378-A71E-3F9F5B8609CC_files/S350_091108_1_21_BaLasaJapG.jpg

Best regards, Christoph

jonmanjiro

11-12-2008, 18:04

Welcome Christoph! Nice bokeh indeed :)

The Millennium Nikkor-S 50mm f1.4 that came on your Nikon S3 Limited Edition Black is probably the finest 50mm lens from Nikon ever. Lots of threads about it in this forum. I wouldn't part with my copy for anything.

Cheers,
Jon

infrequent

11-12-2008, 18:22

Can anyone explain the options available for someone wishing to use this lens with a M-mount camera? I suppose the old LTM version is the only option? Thanks!

jonmanjiro

11-12-2008, 18:26

5cm f1.4 version - available in S- mount and LTM

50mm f1.4 version (Olympic and Millennium) - only available in S-mount but can be used on LTM or M-mount cameras via an Orion type adapter. See this thread for more info (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49112).

infrequent

11-12-2008, 18:36

@jonmanjiro - is there any noticeable difference between the two? i imagine the latter has better coating, flare control etc. thanks for the pointer.

also are they both rare and hard to find?

jonmanjiro

11-12-2008, 18:50

The 5cm f1.4 is a Sonnar optical design and a lot more compact than the 50mm f1.4 which is a Gaussian optical design. The 5cm/1.4 has good central sharpness even wide open, but the later 50mm/1.4 is a better performer, especially out in the corners. The 5cm/1.4 can show flare fairly easily, but its almost impossible to make the Millennium 50mm/1.4 flare. I haven't succeeded yet. No doubt the modern multi-coating helps with that. See pics below:

Millennium 50mm f1.4 on the left, 5cm f1.4 is in the middle
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=45606&d=1180238308

Hacker

11-13-2008, 02:36

Jon, you are missing the 5cm f1.1. :)

jonmanjiro

11-13-2008, 03:18

Jon, you are missing the 5cm f1.1. :)

These days I'm preferring smaller and lighter lenses, but I probably wouldn't say no if a 5cm f1.1 came up for the right price. Definitely a lens I'd like to try shooting with just so I can say I have. That and the 8.5cm f1.5!

P. Lynn Miller

11-13-2008, 11:13

What is closest focusing distance of the various Nikkor 50mm incarnations?

ferider

11-13-2008, 11:32

What is closest focusing distance of the various Nikkor 50mm incarnations?

In LTM, for 50/2 and 50/1.4, normally down to 1m RF-coupled, and from there down to 16" un-coupled. It can be modified to couple down to .7m on an M-body though - I use mine like this; it's the only Sonnar that can do this. See also here:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56962

Best,

Roland.

Johann Espiritu

01-15-2009, 04:22

Here's a few:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/3176597828_ecdf032681.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3420/3175764103_846aa1b32b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/3175764829_062d11b177.jpg

VinceC

01-15-2009, 10:40

>>What is closest focusing distance of the various Nikkor 50mm incarnations?<<

For the S-mount lenses, close focus is limited by the camera itself ... 36 inches (0,9 m)and no closer.

wes loder

01-16-2009, 09:15

I took this picture of Laura McCallum a long time ago using the RF 50mm f1.4 wide open. I has always been a bit of a favorite with me.

Dave Wilkinson

01-16-2009, 10:03

It's one of my favourite lenses....must try to scan some negs - over the weekend, and post.........but Wayne I'm waiting to see some stuff from that 4x5!!? :)
Dave.

venchka

01-16-2009, 10:16

Dave,

They are coming. Waiting on the mailman to bring me a new scanner.

kdemas

01-24-2009, 07:02

Nikon SP, 50mm 1.4.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3393/3184142526_e2866184f3_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3358/3184142532_8d0e8a5822_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3463/3185943381_649b3f2521_o.jpg

VinceC

01-24-2009, 12:37

A couple of recent images with a Nikon Sp and 5cm 1.4.

First is about f/4
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=67068&stc=1&d=1232832778

In this one, the light was perfect but she only wanted me to take picturs of her tongue. Still, it shows the lens close up and wide open.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=67069&stc=1&d=1232832789

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=67070&stc=1&d=1232832916

Hacker

01-26-2009, 04:02

Today is the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, and its off to the cemetery to get the little boy to receive his "red packet" from his departed grandfather.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3493/3228703478_6aacc42a1b_o.jpg

santi-u

02-24-2009, 08:19

Some with my recent Nikkor 5cm 1.4 LTM, M6, Tri-X and a mistake in filling the tank. I don't know what i did but there was not enough quantity of developer.

I have to try it more but for the few shots i've taken with it i think i prefer this lens for b/w film to the current summicron i own too. It's really special.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3486/3306980984_2899cb86c6.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3585/3300690867_4800032ace.jpg

historicist

02-26-2009, 15:58

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2361/1923041144_8a9397b0e1_b_d.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2267/1858727127_9f478b140b_b_d.jpg

Jan Van Laethem

02-27-2009, 00:51

Great pictures, Historicist. I love the selective focus on both. Did you take these handheld?

kid_a

02-28-2009, 08:49

First roll ever through a rangefinder, Nikon S2 with 50/1,4

These are just scanned prints:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3317/3308006649_541146474e_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3410/3308788492_7032dde694_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3308788374_4a1120fa18_o.jpg

Sanjay Sen

03-15-2009, 17:16

Here are a couple of shots from my first roll through the Nikon S2, with Nikkor-S.C 5cm 1:1.4, on TMY.

Best Wishes,
Sanjay

Krosya

04-11-2009, 13:07

I thought i'd give this lens a try. Found one in LTM. Here are a few shots at about 2.0-2.8. It was too bright to try wide open. That will be next. For now this is what I got - nothing special, just a few test shots:
http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu192/krosya/nikkor%205cm%20lens%20ltm/nik5cm1.jpg
http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu192/krosya/nikkor%205cm%20lens%20ltm/nik5cm2.jpg
http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu192/krosya/nikkor%205cm%20lens%20ltm/nik5cm4.jpg

Krosya

04-12-2009, 05:24

And yet more "bokeh" tests:

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu192/krosya/nikkor%205cm%20lens%20ltm/nik5cm6.jpg

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu192/krosya/nikkor%205cm%20lens%20ltm/nik5cm3.jpg

Burlap Jacket

04-12-2009, 06:21

Some of my recent shots with the LTM version of the lens:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3582/3357113136_c275586845.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/burlapjacket/3357113136/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3614/3357869033_d4afc1f8d2.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/burlapjacket/3357869033/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/3283649100_86e1e414d2.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/burlapjacket/3283649100/)

historicist

04-12-2009, 10:10

Great pictures, Historicist. I love the selective focus on both. Did you take these handheld?

Sorry, a couple of months too late, but yes, they were taken handheld with the LTM version.

Krosya

04-18-2009, 10:52

Some more from my ltm 5cm/1.4 at 1.4:
http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu192/krosya/nikkor%205cm%20lens%20ltm/nik5cmbw1.jpg

Krosya

04-28-2009, 12:51

http://i647.photobucket.com/albums/uu192/krosya/nikkor%205cm%20lens%20ltm/n5cm4.jpg

kross

05-12-2009, 02:45

nikkor-sc ltm version, both taken wide open at f1.4

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3643/3510507408_6752bcd15b_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3547/3510508154_ed7ab2b520_o.jpg

VinceC

05-12-2009, 07:36

New eyeglasses. Blue instead of pink.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=69734&stc=1&d=1242142589

In the park:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=69748&stc=1&d=1242172191

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=69749&stc=1&d=1242186564

naruto

05-20-2009, 06:23

The amazing Nikkor 50/1.4 LTM. It has been shimmed for close focus at 0.7m.
APX 100 in XTol 1+3

@f1.4 minimum distance
http://dl-client.getdropbox.com/u/87957/M6_APX100_008.jpg

ferider

05-20-2009, 06:36

historicist

05-20-2009, 06:51

with the millenium version:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2457/3548732018_63d75a59d2.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3306/3548732022_26d516eb43.jpg

hiam

05-20-2009, 07:51

With S2...pan 100, Tmax 400 & Neopan 400...

bobkatz

05-20-2009, 08:38

naruto

05-20-2009, 14:24

Feels good to know that the lens found its match, Ashwin :)

As an aside I didn't change the shim, they come calibrated for close focus out of the box. I just enabled close RF coupling.

Hope to meet you soon in person.

I am wondering how the lens would feel going back home. :) confused whether to carry the M body only or take a MF along. I'll need some help getting some photography chemicals, any shop you recommend?

ferider

05-20-2009, 14:41

I am wondering how the lens would feel going back home. :) confused whether to carry the M body only or take a MF along. I'll need some help getting some photography chemicals, any shop you recommend?

Yeah, there are several. This one has probably the biggest choice: www.kspphoto.com.

Cheers,

Roland.

naruto

05-20-2009, 15:28

With S2...pan 100, Tmax 400 & Neopan 400...

the last one is beautiful.

Yeah, there are several. This one has probably the biggest choice: www.kspphoto.com.

Thanks Roland. I have dropped them an email with my queries. I need metol, sodium sulphite and kodalk + borax. :)

hans voralberg

05-20-2009, 23:49

My first and only portrait with this lens, need to shoot more

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2555189575_0e1e76eb7d.jpg

moonwalk

05-23-2009, 10:14

first time post pics here :)
my nikkor 5cm 1.4 LTM with IIIf
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3365/3553224515_2c3ba34851.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3316/3554030974_fe26a29abe.jpg

love the glowing

naruto

05-25-2009, 15:19

first time post pics here :)
my nikkor 5cm 1.4 LTM with IIIf
love the glowing

nice shot. And, it's 10 mins from where I live. :)

kross

06-07-2009, 05:26

all wide opened shots on fuji reala100.... softness due to handshake...:p

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/3602494745_bdef423fce_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3604/3602426955_d0b61db69c_o.jpg

kross

07-07-2009, 08:00

3D eh? :D

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/3698370076_3970c9142a_o.jpg

2old2randr

09-24-2009, 17:58

My first post ... here is one wide open 1/15 sec or so, Tri-X, Nikon SP in a bar in Tokyo.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sudhirshenoy/3936280808/sizes/l/

I bought the camera only recently and have 3 lenses --- 50/1.4, Nikkor 105/2.5 and Voigtlander 21/4.

jonmanjiro

09-24-2009, 18:10

Lots of Nikkor glow in that shot :)

Congrats on the SP kit!

Cale Arthur

11-01-2009, 12:41

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2673/4062099094_80151575db.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/4062101342_f26ed5421e.jpg

..still my favorite 50!

gohaj

11-02-2009, 08:20

http://www.flickr.com/photos/singaporepictures/4041856942/
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3481/4041856942_aabbe5f592_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/singaporepictures/tags/nikon50mmf14scltm/)

gzuiko

11-18-2009, 17:28

A few test shots from the Nikon S and the Tokyo 5cm f1.4 lens.

moonwalker

11-18-2009, 20:52

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/3714123812_fb5411f0d2.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2618/3765610429_fe273a589d.jpg
S.C 50 1.4 blackrim with IIIf

ljsegil

11-30-2009, 19:01

good for color landscape work also. Millennium version, cobbled onto the front of a Bessa R2S, Portra film.
Larry

akalai

12-01-2009, 03:40

Wow, some nice work... now if I can just find a good deal on a LTM version!

ZoomP

12-10-2009, 17:13

3D eh? :D

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/3698370076_3970c9142a_o.jpg

Ping pong in the middle of a mall???

meven

12-10-2009, 17:23

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2632/4088427897_48a23b9d83_o.jpg

ZoomP

12-17-2009, 15:59

Since it's Christmas and a time for love... Thought these two pics kinda appropriate.

Nikkor S.C. 50 f1.4 LTM on Leica M8

LOVE!!!
Finally, we have time for each other...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2551/4159645958_ed20d223a2.jpg

LONGING...
Why doesn't she ever turn around and look at me???
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2431/4159623987_7e5a18780b.jpg

maddoc

12-24-2009, 19:25

from my first roll using a Millennium Nikkor-S:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2736/4211530735_7e969cc516.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4212343684_817af8d3b5.jpg

Tri-X / HC-110 "B" (Amedeo adapter / M7)

Phantomas

12-30-2009, 06:12

I love this lesn. One of the best 50mm ones I've used.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2532/4137048128_1342725720.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2643/4136441249_d266823d5b.jpg

meven

12-30-2009, 19:47

Millenium Nikkor 50/1.4

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4223531337_8fefbff8ee_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2559/4223530569_4ae5695cd7_o.jpg

KHW

01-01-2010, 06:37

Took this morning using a early version of black 50/1.4.

Phantomas

01-16-2010, 04:27

On Neopan 1600 (Rodinal):

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4210891175_092dffcef3.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4210889487_dfbcec1451.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4210890337_c79ccfd634.jpg

enochRoot

01-18-2010, 11:46

millenium nikkor and kodachrome

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2589/3819630628_d2a0244fb7_o.jpg

Hacker

01-25-2010, 02:58

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4300463822_6a02020604_o.jpg

Ezzie

01-25-2010, 04:08

Feel free to not answer this question here. But I've seen other threads comparing the quality of different Nikkor-S versions of this lens and the Nokton 1.5 (S) version. The old Nikkor-S does not come out very favourably. I understand that the LTM version is not identical. Can I expect it to give better results than the older Nikkor-S version(s)?

Johann Espiritu

01-25-2010, 04:37

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/3390307451_769df1d8db_b.jpg

Yoga isn't for everyone. :-)

Nikon S2
Nikkor 5cm/1,4
Kodak Tri-X 400

wjlapier

02-25-2010, 10:56

http://webpages.charter.net/wjlapier/AbbyNathan.jpg

5cm/1.4 and MP using Amedeo's latest adapter. Tmax 100/D76

gzuiko

04-17-2010, 09:05

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4528106407_fd83d5c846_b.jpg

R.MacDonald

04-19-2010, 06:29

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4360655083_d5fa1751a4.jpg
Leica M3, Nikkor 50/1.4, Tri-X in Rodinal.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4367007698_89881caa19.jpg
Leica M3, Nikkor 50/1.4, Tri-X In Diafine.

gzuiko

05-01-2010, 13:16

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4568604573_0ca1f5b682_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4569244610_01c9372ef8_b.jpg

cliffpatte

05-04-2010, 03:44

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3334/4576274864_81829d9c56_o.jpg

S3 millennium (2003) 50/1.4, Fuji 400H

bilislove

05-05-2010, 19:42

mine
http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy89/aquapet/L1011677.jpg

gzuiko

05-11-2010, 13:01

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1147/4599714960_b5b3a304ac_b.jpg

gzuiko

07-09-2010, 22:36

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4775920210_f7e3bd0b88_b.jpg

gzuiko

07-11-2010, 16:37

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4784356719_c86cb9269b_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4784358399_de837d6f4e_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4784359919_6eae734d45_b.jpg

Mister E

07-19-2010, 02:23

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4808211560_86373be9d1_b_d.jpg

porktaco

07-28-2010, 06:38

..............

wow. that's tremendous.

porktaco

07-28-2010, 06:39

millenium nikkor and kodachrome

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2589/3819630628_d2a0244fb7_o.jpg

also, wow. that's tremendous.

Mister E

07-28-2010, 14:15

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4816134459_e621f75c99_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_wrath_of_khan/4816134459/)

enochRoot

07-28-2010, 14:44

another millennium nikkor and kodachrome

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3517/3819630316_6c99a20a4b_o.jpg

Mister E

07-28-2010, 14:46

Very nice, but just a little cool to my eyes, but that's Kodachrome in anything but direct sunlight from my limited experience.

maddoc

08-19-2010, 01:17

http://www.pbase.com/gsamj/image/127602831.jpg

Nikkor-S-C / 2TMY400

fbf

08-22-2010, 14:31

A few quick test snaps. Thanks to Roland, the lens is now focus down to 1.5 feet... All 3 pictures were taken at F1.4, the last two were slightly under .7m (a bit guessing work involved), very slight crop on all 3 pictures.
So far, i am loving it.

http://www.pbase.com/image/127715690.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/127715693.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/127715694.jpg

ferider

08-23-2010, 00:09

Very cool, Chris.

Vincent.G

09-21-2010, 01:46

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5008512650_77fe43c2f4_z.jpg

Millennium Nikkor-S

ferider

09-26-2010, 18:43

That NKT is one magic lens :)

Face painting:

http://ferider.smugmug.com/Picture-a-Week/PAW-2010/0910-D/50c/1022965671_vpBiM-XL.jpg

http://ferider.smugmug.com/Picture-a-Week/PAW-2010/0910-D/50d/1022965718_bUUX3-XL.jpg

eieio

10-15-2010, 10:54

Leica M3 + Nikkor S.C. 5cm/1.4 LTM @1.4 (for "Nikkor GLOW";))

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/5096711223_52365b6125_b.jpg

Nick De Marco

10-26-2010, 05:23

82233

Took this a few years back, first time I used the lens. It's wide open and the focussing is a bit soft, but I love the 3D feel and colours. Im going to buy an S mount to LTM adapter so I can put it on my brand new Zeiss Ikon ZM, when it arrives

jonmanjiro

10-27-2010, 19:44

Taken with a Millennium Nikkor:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1432/5121871871_3cd1d6e532_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/5121871871/)
Synchronised reading (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/5121871871/) by jonmanjiro (http://www.flickr.com/people/jonmanjiro/), on Flickr

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1125/5110710548_28bbc3cd6a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/5110710548/)
Shadow (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/5110710548/) by jonmanjiro (http://www.flickr.com/people/jonmanjiro/), on Flickr

f16sunshine

10-27-2010, 20:22

On Neopan SS 100
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5121994151_066de09455_b.jpg

Vincent.G

11-18-2010, 22:01

Millennium Nikkor 50/1.4

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/5040672203_ded0e338a2_b.jpg

filmtwit

11-22-2010, 16:34

Just arrived via Fedex

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/5200237112_2b027680b0_z.jpg

rsolti

12-09-2010, 12:15

Anybody know...is the Amedeo adapter the only one to allow for mount on an M body?

Brian Sweeney

12-09-2010, 12:19

The Amedeo adapter is the best of the modern adapters. There are others, made from Kiev bodies.

Your best bet would be to find a Nikkor in Leica Thread Mount and use an LTM to M adapter. Price of the lens would not be much more than the adapter.

LeicaTom

12-09-2010, 12:34

RanceEric

02-18-2011, 09:29

This was taken in the fll of'10, wide open at 1/500th wih the S2

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5045/5285570381_2cbe6c4cbe.jpg

venchka

02-18-2011, 09:55

Anybody know...is the Amedeo adapter the only one to allow for mount on an M body?

HUH? Both of my LTM Nikkors, 5.0cm & 8.5cm, have Leitz LTM-M adapters. They attach to my M5 just like my M mount lenses. Piece of cake. They also attach to my Canon VI-T like they were made for the camera. Which they were. :) :cool:

I have other LTM lenses as well. They all get used on both LTM and M mount cameras with the correct Leitz adapter. I have all 3 now: 35-135, 50 and 28-90.

venchka

02-18-2011, 10:06

Nikkor 5.0cm/1.4. Late black aperture ring Japan model.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/d/256021-2/Marlon-1.jpg

RanceEric

04-13-2011, 07:31

Nikon S3:

Lancaster, Pennsylvania
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5102/5605153868_8bf52a768a_z.jpg

The Pyramid, Ocean City, Maryland
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5267/5604315779_8d07db7792.jpg

Fuchs

04-30-2011, 09:47

Nikon S3 Millenium, Lucky 200, @ ca. F/2 or 2.8

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5184/5667948850_8f7e18155d_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eduardo_albesi/5667948850/)
F1200004 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eduardo_albesi/5667948850/) by Eduardo Albesi (http://www.flickr.com/people/eduardo_albesi/), on Flickr

csbtimothy

05-06-2011, 20:43

Share some recent 5cm f/1.4 photos

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5102/5640566833_13a9624908.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/csbtimothy/5640566833/)
Flickr 上 csbtimothy (http://www.flickr.com/people/csbtimothy/) 的 Genuine smile (http://www.flickr.com/photos/csbtimothy/5640566833/)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5150/5684015040_bb70fd0f5a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/csbtimothy/5684015040/)
Flickr 上 csbtimothy (http://www.flickr.com/people/csbtimothy/) 的 Haircut at the corner (http://www.flickr.com/photos/csbtimothy/5684015040/)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5147/5692575431_553453a910.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/csbtimothy/5692575431/)
Flickr 上 csbtimothy (http://www.flickr.com/people/csbtimothy/) 的 Happy Moment (http://www.flickr.com/photos/csbtimothy/5692575431/)

menos

05-22-2011, 08:40

I have been offered a sample with slightly loose mount (definitely a case for a CLA as of oily blades and dusty too).

For how much do these Nikkors go these days?

Edit: bought it and turns out, the play in the mount was caused by a slightly loose retaining ring around the rear element - fixed within seconds and now on my camera for a test ride over the next days ;-)

I am happy!

kermaier

05-24-2011, 05:57

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/koolgirliestuff/Leica%20M8%20Photos/TheMajorsCamera.jpg?t=1291315141

Here's a "close up" shot done with a Nikkor S.C. f1.4/50 #5005 "Tokyo" (rare early rigid version of the S.C. in LTM) used here on my M8 ~ open all the way and backed off slightly (f1.5) ~ my subject is the "Major's" camera a US Army Signal Corps Leica IIIC K Grey paint camera issued late May 1945 with an original "wartime" issued 1943 Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar T f1.5/50 mm lens........

Enjoy!

Tom

Tom, it looks like you were using the close-focus range of the Nikkor (i.e., distance to subject < 1m). How did you go about setting focus? It seems to me that peak focus is on the major's oak leaf insignia -- was that intentional?

::Ari

menos

05-29-2011, 23:42

http://www.teknopunk.com/images/2011-05-30%20lolli%20pop/L1042686-Edit-lolli%20pop.jpg
"lolli pop"

haempe

05-30-2011, 00:51

"lolli pop"

Yes, thats the OOF-Rendering I wanna see from a Sonnar-type lens.
I think, I need one too... :(

menos

05-30-2011, 06:39

Yes, thats the OOF-Rendering I wanna see from a Sonnar-type lens.
I think, I need one too... :(

Doesn't anyone need one ;-) ?

Now, that I tried one, I fully understand the saying around RFF, that one never should sell a Nikkor-S.C 5cm 1.4 … never!

jonmanjiro

06-11-2011, 19:02

Both shots taken with a Millennium Nikkor-S 50mm f/1.4:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5194/5823242202_d322b6c0a2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/5823242202/)
水かけ地蔵 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/5823242202/) by jonmanjiro (http://www.flickr.com/people/jonmanjiro/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5150/5819511973_f8772f956a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/5819511973/)
Sushicam (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/5819511973/) by jonmanjiro (http://www.flickr.com/people/jonmanjiro/), on Flickr

jonmanjiro

06-27-2011, 05:20

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5231/5876476677_81ca669ae1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/5876476677/)
Fire/sparks of any kind prohibited in the shrine grounds - Nikkor-S 5cm 1:1.4 @ f1.4 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/5876476677/) by jonmanjiro (http://www.flickr.com/people/jonmanjiro/), on Flickr

menos

06-27-2011, 13:04

Thanks Jon for sharing this - I just love the look of this lens.
… wish, this thread would be more alive, the Nikkor-S deserves it!

Mine is still on the bench, waiting for adjustment and aperture clean, as I am slow with these things, as of tooooo many other stuff to do ;-)

One question for the mechanics around with a Nikkor-S in LTM mount:

The focussing mount gears into the optical unit with a single small screw, fitting into a groove, which leads to an ever so slightly play, when fine focussing the lens, as the screw doesn't fit tight enough to the slightly wider groove.

Could anybody on their lens eliminate this issue? Are there new screws around, which provide a better (tighter) fit?

jonmanjiro

07-01-2011, 08:35

Here's one taken with a Millennium Nikkor-S 50/1.4:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6050/5890815823_865b0b8354_b.jpg
N+N+N+N (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/5890815823/)

yossarian123

08-05-2011, 17:19

First scan from my S2 & 5cm 1.4 combo:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6132/6013308478_26049c0ae2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelozanofam/6013308478/)
First Nikon S2 5cm f/1.4 S.C scan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelozanofam/6013308478/) by SL_Photos (http://www.flickr.com/people/thelozanofam/), on Flickr

Letien

08-05-2011, 23:54

Sweet bokeh. LTM nikkor. SC
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/3145951677_fbec786551_b.jpg

akiralx

08-06-2011, 00:57

With M8:

http://alexandjustine.smugmug.com/Australia/Melbourne/i-CsKMw6r/0/L/L1004864-L.jpg

csbtimothy

08-21-2011, 04:00

Nikon S2, Nikor-S.C 5cm f/1.4 Black

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6200/6061237487_2bfe78857c_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/csbtimothy/6061237487/)
Flickr 上 csbtimothy (http://www.flickr.com/people/csbtimothy/) 的 28980028 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/csbtimothy/6061237487/)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6191/6061779372_89563931fc_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/csbtimothy/6061779372/)
Flickr 上 csbtimothy (http://www.flickr.com/people/csbtimothy/) 的 28970004 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/csbtimothy/6061779372/)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6066/6061769532_3ca3d8052f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/csbtimothy/6061769532/)
Flickr 上 csbtimothy (http://www.flickr.com/people/csbtimothy/) 的 28980030 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/csbtimothy/6061769532/)

jonmanjiro

09-17-2011, 17:24

Some recent shots taken with a Millennium Nikkor-S 50mm 1:1.4

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6199/6152041492_ef2a2cdc24_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6196/6112460262_b137cbb122_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6185/6111915003_38b70a3bff_b.jpg

jonmanjiro

09-18-2011, 05:19

Another recent one taken with a Millennium Nikkor-S 50/1.4.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6188/6158853620_6821e63f4a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/6158853620/)
Apparition (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/6158853620/) by jonmanjiro (http://www.flickr.com/people/jonmanjiro/), on Flickr

jonmanjiro

09-18-2011, 14:48

And another one from the Millennium Nikkor-S 50/1.4.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6061/6160130577_8598fdb0e2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/6160130577/)
Silhouette (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/6160130577/) by jonmanjiro (http://www.flickr.com/people/jonmanjiro/), on Flickr

jonmanjiro

09-19-2011, 03:30

Another one from the Millennium 50/1.4

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6166/6162500272_5eee51eba8_b.jpg
Eat x 4

RanceEric

09-19-2011, 05:00

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5134/5538050769_8a5ec784a1_z.jpg
Store Window (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ranceeric/5538050769/in/set-72157626380078864)

jonmanjiro

09-21-2011, 09:04

A couple more taken with a Millennium 50/1.4.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6166/6169890104_117117d705_b.jpg
Just like the lighting in this one...

menos

09-21-2011, 21:52

Great photos, you guys share with the Nikkor!

I like especially Jon's photo in post 183 - that is haunting!

I am on a trip at the moment and opted, to take the 50/1 with me, but I regret it so far - wish, I took the Nikkor-S.C!

Here is an older one:

http://www.teknopunk.com/images/2011-08-26%20fairy%20tale%20Nikkor-S.C/L1043533-fairy%20tale.jpg
"a fairy tale" on teknopunk.com (http://www.teknopunk.com/en/Blog/Entries/2011/8/27_a_fairy_tale.html) and on flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/teknopunk/6084467258/in/photostream)

leicashot

09-21-2011, 22:12

Some recent shots taken with a Millennium Nikkor-S 50mm 1:1.4

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6199/6152041492_ef2a2cdc24_b.jpg

Fantastic!

leicashot

09-21-2011, 22:13

jonmanjiro

09-22-2011, 17:37

Milllennium Nikkor 50/1.4s pop up in the classifieds here every now and then. The going rate is around $700 for a lightly used one with hood and front cap to $900or so for an unused one with hood and front cap.

Nikon rangefinders have a focus helicoid for 50mm lenses built into the body which is limited to a min. focus of 0.90m. The lens itself is just an optical unit, so its possible to focus closer if the adapter is made to focus closer. My Amedeo Nikon S to Leica M adapter focused down to about 0.82m, so I can get a bit closer with the Millennium 50/1.4 on an M body than I can with it on a Nikon body.

Pikapig

09-25-2011, 07:48

I love how the Nikkor 5cm!! It has a character of its own!
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6164/6181608966_ace0c86f05_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6166/6181529214_ceeece1e78_z.jpg

jonmanjiro

09-26-2011, 06:43

I love how the Nikkor 5cm!! It has a character of its own!

Lovely intimate moments captured. Looks like the S2 is working out well, Jackson :)

jonmanjiro

09-26-2011, 06:47

A few more taken on Velvia 50 with a Millennium Nikkor-S 50/1.4

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6173/6184866229_9fde1886d3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/6184866229/)
Tourists @ Berlin Wall
(never had flare like this before. time to dump the UV filter and return to a hood methinks)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6154/6184866009_92b4a12af4_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/6184866009/)
British lads on bucks tour @ Berlin

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6151/6184865675_70561576ac_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/6184865675/)
Cigar man @ main square, České Budějovice

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6152/6185387868_ba35a45f94_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/6185387868/)
Late afternoon @ Dresden

leicashot

09-26-2011, 07:10

A few more taken on Velvia 50 with a Millennium Nikkor-S 50/1.4
Late afternoon @ Dresden

Perfect, lovely image all round!

Pikapig

09-27-2011, 05:36

Lovely intimate moments captured. Looks like the S2 is working out well, Jackson :)

Hi Jon,

Yes, all u need is abit of time to understand the camera and it works wonder! :)

This nikkor lens has a character of its own!

NIKON KIU

09-27-2011, 13:58

This nikkor lens has a character of its own!

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6164/6181608966_ace0c86f05_z.jpg
Ahhhhhhh, The Nikkor glow.

Pikapig

10-06-2011, 01:25

thanks nikon kiu...

here's another in color. im beginning to like this lens alot:)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6180/6214204841_3b3447b4c4_z.jpg

Steevo

10-13-2011, 10:03

RFF'ers,

Just got this lens with a bargain Nikon S rangefinder camera......I really like the lens and its clarity. I had to do a quick repair on the shutter fabric of the camera to cover some pin-holes, but it works great. The lens is very crisp.

SW

Koni Kowa

10-16-2011, 09:18

Some recent shots taken with a Millennium Nikkor-S 50mm 1:1.4

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6199/6152041492_ef2a2cdc24_b.jpg

And another one from the Millennium Nikkor-S 50/1.4.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6061/6160130577_8598fdb0e2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/6160130577/)
Silhouette (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/6160130577/) by jonmanjiro (http://www.flickr.com/people/jonmanjiro/), on Flickr

Two superb shots, Jon. :cool:

A few more taken on Velvia 50 with a Millennium Nikkor-S 50/1.4
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6152/6185387868_ba35a45f94_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/6185387868/)
Late afternoon @ Dresden

I meant three. :D

jonmanjiro

10-17-2011, 06:00

Two superb shots, Jon. :cool:

I meant three. :D

Thanks Nicolas :D

Here's another shot taken with my Millennium Nikkor 50/1.4. The aperture was f/2.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6118/6253485137_eabc88fe9e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/6253485137/)
Red light

Koni Kowa

10-17-2011, 06:03

Really good balance between sharpness and bokeh. And the colors are great, of course.

jonmanjiro

10-18-2011, 06:58

Another one from the Millennium Nikkor-S 50/1.4 @ f/2

獅子ボケ
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6154/6257700520_53e6c57e7c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmanjiro/6257700520/)

RanceEric

10-25-2011, 10:10

Nikon SP
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6237/6278682474_642463e845_z.jpg
A Philadelphia Kitchen (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ranceeric/6278682474/in/photostream/) on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ranceeric/)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6035/6278853388_a134dc4ed7_z.jpg
By the River (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ranceeric/6278853388/in/photostream/) on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ranceeric/)

lam

01-21-2012, 10:01

Non millenium :)

http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/lamlux/16234991144/1/tumblr_ly5tp44XJ01qbsbr9

http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/lamlux/16390453118/1/tumblr_lyaadkG7pF1qbsbr9

ferider

01-30-2012, 05:51

Late LTM on IIIc, Rollei Retro 100, Rodinal 1:100, Red Filter:

http://ferider.smugmug.com/Picture-a-Week/2012/0112-C/i-WsmBWMJ/0/XL/Scan-120130-0008-XL.jpg

http://ferider.smugmug.com/Picture-a-Week/2012/0112-C/i-GL7MwQK/0/XL/Scan-120130-0005-XL.jpg

filmtwit

02-05-2012, 20:06

Are you folks seeing much of a difference between all the version and variations of the Nikkor 50mm f1.4 rf?

a few from the ltm version/variation

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6820476217_711bbd45e8_z.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6820227869_0f00c8fba6_z.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7034/6820502043_88518c52fa_z.jpg

Erik van Straten

03-17-2012, 15:57

Nikon S2, Nikkor-S.C 50mm f/1.4 #361184 @ f/2, Tmax100.

Erik.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6093/7025292921_76008f1983_b.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/68912093@N08/7025292921/)

jonmanjiro

03-17-2012, 19:57

Are you folks seeing much of a difference between all the version and variations of the Nikkor 50mm f1.4 rf?

Sonnar optical formula lenses -> marked in cm
(LTM version and vintage S-mount version)

Gaussian optical formula lenses -> marked in mm
Olympic Nikkor and Millennium Nikkor

There's supposedly a subtle difference in the bokeh (slightly smoother wide open) of the "Tokyo" marked 5cm f/1.4s/early "Japan" marked 5cm f/1.4s compared to the later "Japan" marked 5cm f/1.4s.

The Millennium Nikkor-S 50mm f/1.4 has a completely different optical formula (gaussian) from the vintage 5cm f/1.4 (sonnar). Compared to the vintage 5cm f/1.4, the Millennium has a flatter plane of focus, is much sharper across the entire field, and doesn't have veiling flare wide open. Performance-wise, the Millennium is often compared to the Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH.