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Nippon Kogaku Nikkor-S f=5.8cm f1.4


frederick_lau2

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Recently I read a book by Roger Hicks & Frances Schultz which

discusses about quality in photographs.

They mentioned that there are some lenses which can produce 'magical'

quality photographs (of course with the understanding that the

photographer is doing the right thing). I guess what they

mean 'magical' is that these lenses produces pleasing appeal unlike

other lenses to most of the viewers.

They asserted that it may be due to their optimum balance of

aberrations, resolutions, contrast, flare performance, etc. in their

fields of applications.

 

We all know that optics flaws is a way of life - they cannot be

eliminated and we have to accept this fact. Generally speaking, what

makes a great lens is the 'right' or 'optimum' balance of these

optical flaws with reference to the photographic subjects.

 

Their good news is that some of them are many old designs. One of

the older lenses they quoted (and said they regretted selling it) is

Nippon Kogaku Nikkor-S f=5.8cm f1.4, among the first lenses to sell

for Nikon F. By the way, they have used Leica, Contax and Nikons.

 

Would anyone share his/her experience with this Nippon Kogaku Nikkor-

S f=5.8cm f1.4 ? It will be nice if there are some example photos.

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The Nippon Kogaku Nikkor-S f=5.8cm f1.4 was brought out for the Nikon F. The 5cm F1.4 LTM design did not have enought "back focus" relief; to clear the Nokon F's instant return mirror. This is why the focal length was increased by 5.8/5.0 = 16%. Later; the 50mm F1.4 for the Nikon F came out; which is a tad different than the 50mm F1.4 LTM/Nikon S rangefinder lens.<BR><BR>Many "normal" 35mm SLR lenses in the late 1950's and early 1960's were in the 55 to 58mm region; to give relief for the mirror.
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This reminds me of the 58mm Canon FL f/1.2 lens that I started out with. I always thought that I couldn't fathom the mystery of exposure correctly (always overexposing) until I found out that the diaphragm on the lens wasn't working! Being forced to shoot wide open, all my photos had a sort of dreamy ethereal soft-focus quality. Often, they were just plain out of focus, as the depth of field on an f/1.2 lens is VERY shallow. A distinctive look certainly!
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Okay: Here it goes.<p>

 

The original Nikkor 5cm F1.4 was a Sonnar formula lens. (lens group I)<p>

 

Nikon Reformulated it for the 1964 Olympics. Note that it is the same formula as the Canon 50mm F0.95!!!! (Lens group T)<p>

 

The 5.8cm F1.4 is a variation of the Xenon design, like the Summulix. (66.3, and note my hand written correction) <p>

 

Lots of "Blah Blah Blah" and a silly picture I shot close-up, wide-open just to capture the out-of-focus highlights.<p>

 

<img src="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/brianvsweeney/lens_formulas_65a.JPG"><p>

 

<img src="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/brianvsweeney/lens_formulas_73a.JPG"><p>

 

<img src="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/brianvsweeney/nikkor58a.JPG"><p>

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Hmmm. Maybe I went overboard. I work in an Optics Division at a big research lab. Sorry. Still find it amazing that the Canon 50mm F0.95 and Olympic 50mm RF lens are the same formula; but I am very boring and easily amused.

 

The 5.8cm F1.4: It is a nice lens. I keep mine on a Nikon F Photomic; it is at home on that body. It is a fairly rare lens, as it was quickly replaced by the 50mm F1.4, and amazing lens for the day.

 

I think there is more "mystique" surrounding this lens because it is "rare"; not for optical superiority.

 

Hint of how to get this lens and the 5cm F2 Nikkor-S (before the Nikkor-h) fairly inexpensively on EBay: Look for the Nikkorex F! They often accompany that camera, which usually goes inexpensively. My early Nikkor-S 5cm f2 was on a Nikkorex F that I picked up cheap. Also an interesting formula that did not last long.<div>007X5m-16804184.jpg.374cd09a6f9e250b4b6829bd8cb884e6.jpg</div>

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  • 10 months later...

I do have a Nippon Kogaku 5.8cm 1.4, I use it with a 1972 Nikkormat EL, which it was sold

with fairly cheaply too - it is a beautiful lens that does display an unusual and dreamy out

of focus abberation or patterning when used wide open. The soft highlights and shapes

tend to form a circular pattern centered on the middle of the frame and more pronounced

nearer the edges. I guess it is some kind of optical 'flaw' as the lens is not displaying

uniformly across the field or view but it sure looks nice. I doubt i would ever sell this lens

because of this unique quality.

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  • 8 years later...

<p>I have two of these, they do some magic, dreamy wide open, luminous low contrast closed down, easy to get an old photo look.</p>

<p><a title="nikon nikkor 5.8 cm 1.4 Nik Kodachrome Vista gas and steam D800 Titan IH tractor by Rafael CA, on Flickr" href=" nikon nikkor 5.8 cm 1.4 Nik Kodachrome Vista gas and steam D800 Titan IH tractor src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7363/9120453753_8c9a641d77_c.jpg" alt="nikon nikkor 5.8 cm 1.4 Nik Kodachrome Vista gas and steam D800 Titan IH tractor" width="800" height="534" /></a> <a title="nikon nikkor 5.8 cm 1.4 Nik Kodachrome Vista gas and steam D800 case steam tractor by Rafael CA, on Flickr" href=" nikon nikkor 5.8 cm 1.4 Nik Kodachrome Vista gas and steam D800 case steam tractor src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5492/9120449435_1354aa3559_c.jpg" alt="nikon nikkor 5.8 cm 1.4 Nik Kodachrome Vista gas and steam D800 case steam tractor" width="800" height="534" /></a> <a title="nikon nikkor 5.8 cm 1.4 D800 at 1.4 CASE Steam tractors 3 by Rafael CA, on Flickr" href=" nikon nikkor 5.8 cm 1.4 D800 at 1.4 CASE Steam tractors 3 src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2855/9139246155_c20ed1a435_c.jpg" alt="nikon nikkor 5.8 cm 1.4 D800 at 1.4 CASE Steam tractors 3" width="800" height="534" /></a></p>

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