[Leica] Nikkor 50/1.4 LTM

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Thanks Peter, Phil, Len, Jeffery. This seems to answer
many questions. Knowing what I know now, perhaps I
coulda shoulda picked up the Canon 50/1.5 LTM when I
had the chance, but I had (and still have) no idea
what a fair value is. It wasn't in primo shape, but
not bad either. There's always the next swap meet --
but perhaps not Ebay roulette (for me).

Peter.
SF, CA


--- Peter Klein <pklein@2alpha.net> wrote:

> Peter and Luis:  Both the Nikkor and Canon are
> Sonnar derivatives.  AFAIK, 
> the f/1.5 versions are closer to the original Sonnar
> design.  Especially 
> the Canon.  Some people think that the 50/1.5 Canon
> is a better Sonnar than 
> the Sonnar, due to coatings and chrome/brass
> construction.
> 
> The f/1.4 versions show the stamp of some new design
> considerations by the 
> Japanese companies.  The Canon is optimized for the
> traditional middle 
> distance, middle aperture.  It's higher contrast
> than the Nikkor.  What's 
> new is the optimizing for contrast of the details
> you can see, perhaps at 
> the expense of the really fine stuff--what we came
> to know as the Japanese 
> way, contra Leica.  Now the Nikkor is higher
> resolution, and optimized for 
> close-in and wide open.  Optimized for
> photojournalism.  The price you pay 
> is that the corners are always a little unsharp. 
> Again, contra Leica of 
> that time, but in a different way.
> 
> Those Who Supposedly Know Such Things say that the
> 50/1.4 Nikkor was the 
> best 50/1.4 lens available until the second version
> Summilux surpassed it 
> in the early 60s.
> 
> See Dante Stellas article on the two companies'
> Sonnar derivatives for details.
> http://www.dantestella.com/technical/nikoleic.html
> 
> There is also an old "Viewfinder" article on the
> Nikkor, which you can read 
> on the LHSA DVD: "Legendary Leica Lenses, the 50mm
> f/1.4 Nikkor," by Dick 
> Gelcreast.  I have a paper copy, but it doesn't have
> any mention of the 
> issue date.
> 
> Several Luggers have used these lenses.  I know Kyle
> Cassidy used to use a 
> fast Canon 50, I believe the f/1.4, perhaps he can
> chime in.  Bill Clough 
> has posted many shots with the 50/1.4 Nikkor.
> 
> I happily used a 50/1.4 Nikkor for years.  I sold it
> a few years ago for 
> about $350.  The reason I sold it was that the VC
> 50/1.5 Nokton I acquired 
> was much better wide open.
> 
> Here are a few of my shots with the 50/1.4 Nikkor.
> The first 3 (B&W) are 
> wide open or nearly so:
>
http://users.2alpha.com/~pklein/currentpics/claire_surreal.htm
>
http://users.2alpha.com/~pklein/currentpics/paula_harpo.htm
> http://users.2alpha.com/~pklein/temp/marianne.jpg
>
http://users.2alpha.com/~pklein/oldpics/bluebeach.htm
> (probably the Nikkor, 
> not 100% sure)
> 
> --Peter
> 
> At 07:39 PM 1/15/2007 -0800, Peter, SF, CA wrote:
> >Returning to the question, is the Nikon LTM also a
> >Sonnar derivative?  Any reason to prefer the Canon
> or
> >the Nikon, scarcity factor aside?
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for
> more information
> 



 
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