frederick_lau2 Posted February 25, 2004 Share Posted February 25, 2004 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly_flanigan1 Posted February 25, 2004 Share Posted February 25, 2004 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert_Lai Posted February 25, 2004 Share Posted February 25, 2004 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian1664876441 Posted February 26, 2004 Share Posted February 26, 2004 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> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian1664876441 Posted February 26, 2004 Share Posted February 26, 2004 To all, the lens formulas are from 40 year old book in our technical library, "Photographic Lenses" by Neblette. Editions 1964 and 1973. They really are great books, long out of print. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian1664876441 Posted February 26, 2004 Share Posted February 26, 2004 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></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toby_oliver Posted December 30, 2004 Share Posted December 30, 2004 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafa batlle Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 <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=" 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=" 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=" 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> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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