Nikkor-S 55mm f/1.2 Experiences?

[Fraser]

I have the 55mm ai version, and maybe its just luck but my version is quite sharp wide open. Its not got any of that 'Leica glow wide open' a much more modern look.
15fbpicMartha1 by f4saregreat!, on Flickr

 

[dourbalistar]

I bought one recently, and I'm enjoying it a lot. I found a relative bargain at $200, and the serial number is not far off from ferider's lens in Post #17. Unfortunately, Nico van Djik's wonderful resource is slowly disappearing, including the page on all the different 55mm f/1.2 types and versions. However, the Internet Archive has a copy, and according to his website, mine is a Version 3 circa 1971-72. Apparently, Nikon made some optical formula changes to lenses of this era:

Important changes were introduced on all lenses with serial numbers over 220001 (produced from August 1971). The optical formula was altered to improve the performance at close focus. The new lenses now bear the inscription 'Nikon'. 'No.' before the serial number disappears. Last known serial number - confirmed by the factory - #240533. All lenses in the 220001-240533 range also received a rounded fork.

Mine received a factory AI conversion somewhere along the way, so I'm able to use it on my Nikon FM2n. Here's the very first image I made with the lens (also the first shot on the roll).

Nikon FM2n, Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.


2019.03.24 Roll #199-03432-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[dourbalistar]

Nikon FM2n, Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.


2019.04.06 Roll #201-03478-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr



2019.04.27 Roll #202-03534-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[richardHaw]

its a pretty good lens if you know how to use it
i did a review for that lens some time ago.

 

[dourbalistar]

Not sure if I "know how", but I'm going to use it anyway.

Nikon FM2n, Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.


2019.04.27 Roll #202-03511-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[dourbalistar]

Nikon FM2n, Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.


2019.04.06 Roll #201-03494-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr



2019.04.27 Roll #202-03522-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[dourbalistar]

Nikon FM2n, Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.


2019.04.27 Roll #202-03527-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[dourbalistar]

Yeah, it's a little soft and glowy wide open, but not in an unpleasant way IMHO. Maybe I should have used it to shoot a hazy IPA instead...

Nikon FM2n, Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.


2019.04.06 Roll #201-03502-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[dourbalistar]

Nikon FM2n, Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.


2019.04.27 Roll #202-03519-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[dourbalistar]

Nikon FM2n, Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.


2019.03.24 Roll #199-03441-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[dourbalistar]

Nikon FM2n, Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.


2019.04.27 Roll #202-03521-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[dourbalistar]

Nikon FM2n, Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.


2019.04.06 Roll #201-03483-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[maigo]

This might help with your decision:
http://www.nikkor.com/en/story/0049/

Link is now here:
https://imaging.nikon.com/history/story/0049/index.htm


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dourbalistar]

Link is now here:
https://imaging.nikon.com/history/story/0049/index.htm

Thanks, maigo! Yes, it seems Nikon moved a bunch of articles on their homepage at some point during the last few years, breaking some of the old "The Thousand and One Nights" article links.

Nikon FM2n, Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.


2019.04.06 Roll #201-03477-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[dourbalistar]

Nikon FM2n, Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.


2019.04.27 Roll #202-03526-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[dourbalistar]

Nikon FM2n, Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.


2019.04.27 Roll #202-03524-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[dourbalistar]

Nikon FM2n, Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.


2019.04.06 Roll #201-03486-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[dourbalistar]

Nikon FM2n, Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.


2019.04.27 Roll #202-03542-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[dourbalistar]

Nikon FM2n, Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.


2019.03.30 Roll #200-03367-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[dourbalistar]

Nikon FM2n, Nikkor-S Auto 55mm f/1.2, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.


2019.03.24 Roll #199-03442-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr



2019.04.27 Roll #202-03540-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr



2019.06.08 Roll #207--56.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr