Just picked up a mint Nikon 85/1.4 AIS with declicked aperture ring. Here is one of my first test shots (sorry about the crappy flowers - it's fall now and I'm dealing with what's available until spring.)

My 600D can't do this lens justice. I'm looking to get a NEX-5N very soon.

sebboh wrote:
Peire wrote:
Today:

Mint Auto-Rokkor PF 58/1.4 with old school 55mm chrome B@W filter (what a lens!) very similar rendering style to the MC Rokkor PG 50/1.4.


i did a comparison of the two a while ago, the PF is definitely funkier in bokeh with lower micro and macro contrast:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/982966/50#10070041

i took a bunch of other comparison shots too, not sure where they are though.

Thank you.My short bokeh test of PF 58/1.4,MC PG 50/1.4 and MD 50/1.4 (55mm filter thread) at f1.4 done today confirms your conclusions.PF 58/1.4 has the funkiest bokeh,lowest microcontrast and sharpness of all.MC PG 50/1.4 is the best overall - the sharpest lens with the smoothest bokeh with only slightly worse microcontrast compared to MD 50/1.4.The MD 50/1.4 is very close to MC PG 50/1.4.

From f2.8-4 all that differences are flattening up,thoug for me MC PG Rokkor 50/1.4 is still a clear winner,followed closely by MD 50/1.4 with PF 58/1.4 being the last but not far behind.It is a very nice,solid and classy lens - a joy to use with the NEX.

BTW - my cheap MD 50/2 Rokkor with 55mm filter thread is as good as MD 50/1.4 Rokkor from 2.8 up.

Peire wrote:
BTW - my cheap MD 50/2 Rokkor with 55mm filter thread is as good as MD 50/1.4 Rokkor from 2.8 up.


i got that lens with my xd-11 a while ago. someday i'll have to play around with it.

RZ 140/4.5 Macro and 65/4 floating element versions..

Canon FL 55mm 1.2 & FL 135 2.5

Voigtlander Nokton 35/1.4, to go with an M8 that I received today...

Leica Summilux 35mm ASPH FLE

I have a Leica 280mm F4 Apo Telyt coming.

Rich

Just received a Black Contax G90 2.8 and a Silver Contax G28 2.8.
Now I just need a Metabones adapter

Nikon 1000mm f/11 Reflex

^ that looks ridiculously awesome

And a nice dual mount.

Wow! How does it perform actually?

If anyone isn't aware, the dual mount is necessary because its very long focal length greatly magnifies vibrations which its extremely light weight does little to dampen. This, combined with slowness (f/11 fixed aperture) mean they are NOT easy to shoot with.

However, with a proper rig and patience, it can be quite impressive. No competition for a 5-figure supertelephoto like 800 f/5.6's or 600 f/4's, but it cost ~$1000 and is lighter than a 70-200 f/2.8, so...

I'll list the gear on the dual mount in case anyone is curious (and because it's interesting that it cost more than the lens, although I didn't buy it solely for this lens but rather during my experiments with video rigs).

The D700 is on a Really Right Stuff B2 LS II clamp screwed onto a Redrock Micro RRS-to-15mm-rods adapter (microRRS, I believe it's called). The lens is supported by a Zacuto Q Mount 15mm. The tripod head is a Really Right Stuff BH55, with a Really Right Stuff B2 AS II clamp, holding a Really Right Stuff B35 plate, screwed into a Cinevate cheese plate & 15mm rod clamp. The rods are Redrock Micro 6" Carbon Fiber.

May's "super moon." This is about a 40% crop (800x800 pixels that were originally 2048x2048). Poor atmospheric conditions prevented the lens from doing its best here.

One last post and I'll stop hogging the thread (sorry, I'm just excited that you guys are excited as me about this thing!)

Here's a pic that shows the great felt-lined leather cap as well as a better view of the built-in filter wheel.

Have you ever owned a Gitzo carbon tripod? If so, how do you find the RRS in comparison?

Lee Saxon wrote:
One last post and I'll stock hogging the thread (sorry, I'm just excited that you guys are excited as me about this thing!)

No worries Lee, only gear heads in here anyways, and it's an uncommon lens, so feel free to post some more shots.

Canon FD 24mm f/2.8

Repurchase, as mine was stolen, of Minolta Rokkor 28/2.

carstenw wrote:
Have you ever owned a Gitzo carbon tripod? If so, how do you find the RRS in comparison?

Carsten,

I just recently purchased a RRS TVC-24L Carbon Fiber tripod. I sold 2 older Gitzo Carbon Fiber tripods here on Fred Miranda to help to pay for this. I purchased the tripod with the leveling base. I also kept 2 Gitzo Carbon Fiber Tripods as smaller units for some purposes.

As to the new RRS TVC-24L tripod with the leveling base that I also purchased, I took this with my Markins M20 Ball head when I photographed in Washington State and when I took a workshop with Art Wolf this past October. I have to say, no question, this is the best and most enjoyable tripod that I have ever used. It is more refined and even better constructed than any of my Gitzo tripods. I also believe it is lighter for equal support than my or other Gitzo Tripods. Obviously in my case the leveling base has added weight. But, for me and coming from shooting both small format (as well as medium format) and Large Format (4" X 5" cameras) I have found that it is worth having for those occasions when I need the set-up to be level. One of the first rules of course with large format is to set everything to neutral and to level everything. Also for panoramic shooting the leveling base is very useful whether used for flat stitching or rotation.

Rich