Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/05/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Steve: I used to have the close-focusing Nikkor. It's the same modified-Sonnar optical formula as the ones that don't close-focus. It has a mount that focuses down to about 1/2 meter. You feel a little "bump" as you turn the focusing ring closer than about one meter, at which point the lens has decoupled from the RF. Bring your tape measure. According to the usual Reliable Sources, the 50/1.4 Nikkor in LTM lens was the best 50/1.4 available until Walter Mandler came up with the 1962 formula for the Summilux. The Nikkor was quite usable at f/1.4, but had some flare issues, wasn't as good a landscape lens as its Zeiss parent, and never got really good in the corners. This was the trade-off for some improvements (to Japanese and US photojournalist eyes) over the contemporary Leitz and Zeiss lenses in the available light department. Modern lenses are sharper and contrastier. I sold mine after I got a V/C 50 Nokton. Here's a couple of wide-open shots with the 50/1.4 Nikkor. The room was lit only with Christmas lights: http://users.2alpha.com/~pklein/currentpics/claire_surreal.htm http://users.2alpha.com/~pklein/currentpics/paula_harpo.htm --Peter At 06:01 PM 5/11/2006 -0700, Steve Barbour wrote: >Anyone have knowledge of this lens? .... >Nikon, 5cm f1.4 Nikkor-S.C Close-Focus Version.............