Nikon 50mm 1.2

AliMoore

AliMoore

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Alastair
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Do you think that Nikon will even release a 1.2 lens like canons 50 and 85 mm. Think this would be a great marketing opportunity and along wit full frame would allow you to shoot in rear darkness, cutting out the use of flash at ceremony, especially bride and father walking down the isle in some churches.
 
I believe there is an older 1.2 version. Did I also read somewhere that nikon's mount design makes 1.2 very tricky? This may have been referencing an 85mm though.
 
I thinks Graham's hit the nail on the head. The Nikon mount is a slightly smaller diameter and this puts strain on current lens design criteria to the point where the solution would be prohibitively expensive.....certainly at 85mm.

The 1 stop advantage of Canon's 85mm really only exists as far as the optical properties (DoF etc) are concerned. The actual f-stop for exposure purposes is almost f/1.4 (around 1/3 stop below) as the sensor's micro-lenses can't quite grab all the light.....film wasn't constrained this way being a flat medium. The new 1Dx sensor has improved on this but it's still not truly f/1.2 in exposure terms.

In short, you're not losing as much as you think.

Bob
 
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gad-westy said:
I believe there is an older 1.2 version. Did I also read somewhere that nikon's mount design makes 1.2 very tricky? This may have been referencing an 85mm though.
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Yes and its still on sale as well. MF only though. I don't know about the mount question though
 
I have a 50mm f1.2 AIS and looking at the back of the lens, the problem is that the rear element is so large that there is no where to put the electrical contacts. :'(

The rear element is only a couple of millimeters smaller than the bayonet mount.
 
is there not twice as much light going in to the camera between a 1.2 and 1.4?
 
Ah one is the next full stop
But more light is always better
 
Nikon made f/0.95 lenses for rangefinders in the 60s, and that was long before they started making lenses for the electronics industry that are used for designing microchips ;-)

So, it's evidently got nothing to do with technology, but they probably just think it's not worth them making one.

Canon had a 50mm f/1 did they not? And I don't think they make it anymore...
 
mike todd said:
Canon had a 50mm f/1 did they not? And I don't think they make it anymore...
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It crops up on ebay now and then, but weighs about a kilo.

Nikon has several f1.2 versions in F-mount. 50, 55 and 58mm, various coatings. The latest is the AIS 50mm f1.2.

I use the 55mm f1.2 SC-auto every now and then. When you hit the focus, it is quite a sharp lens.
 
mike todd said:
Nikon made f/0.95 lenses for rangefinders in the 60s, and that was long before they started making lenses for the electronics industry that are used for designing microchips ;-)

So, it's evidently got nothing to do with technology, but they probably just think it's not worth them making one.

Canon had a 50mm f/1 did they not? And I don't think they make it anymore...
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Cyclops said:
I have a 50mm f1.2 AIS and looking at the back of the lens, the problem is that the rear element is so large that there is no where to put the electrical contacts. :'(

The rear element is only a couple of millimeters smaller than the bayonet mount.
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May be that's why?
 
canon have a 50 0.95 from years ago, fd mount or something
but old and i would love a go with one
 
mike todd said:
Nikon made f/0.95 lenses for rangefinders in the 60s, and that was long before they started making lenses for the electronics industry that are used for designing microchips ;-)

So, it's evidently got nothing to do with technology, but they probably just think it's not worth them making one.
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And what was the registration distance on that rangefinder.....much shorter than the current f-mount, I'll bet.

Bob
 
The 58mm f1.2 Noct Nikkor gets some impressive write ups. Long out of production and very expensive now, but they're still around.

Has anyone here got any experience with this lens? I've only seen one, and didn't have an opportunity to use it. Can't see me ever being able to afford one, but I suppose you never know.............
 
Have used the canon and it is a really nice lens, chunky and looks really neat. The images are quite sharp and just look some what better then on my 50 1.4.
I think it would be the difference of using a flash in a church, in terms of the speed even if it is only 1/2 quicker especially father handing over the bride.
 
Siilver said:
canon have a 50 0.95 from years ago, fd mount or something
but old and i would love a go with one
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It was for the Canon 7, a rangefinder. Just for details sake, the FD mount was just the predecessor to the EF mount, so an SLR mount.

Many of the Canon 50mm f/0.95s have been converted into M-mount, where they are more likely to get use (and command higher prices).

Bear in mind that it is easier to design these sorts of lenses for rangefinders, and many of them were designed in an era where fast film was very difficult to use or tame (or get hold of).
 
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The old 1.4 Ais is an optically superb lens, try and find one on the bay if you can. They are very good.
 
freecom2 said:
It was for the Canon 7, a rangefinder. Just for details sake, the FD mount was just the predecessor to the EF mount, so an SLR mount.

Many of the Canon 50mm f/0.95s have been converted into M-mount, where they are more likely to get use (and command higher prices).

Bear in mind that it is easier to design these sorts of lenses for rangefinders, and many of them were designed in an era where fast film was very difficult to use or tame (or get hold of).
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thanks for the info, before my time lol
 
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