I already have the 25/2.8 & 35/2 ZF.2's, and I have just snared a 105/2.5 AiS. It had been my intention to add a 50mm MF to my line up, and up until last week I had painstakingly narrowed it down to the 50/1.4 ZF2.
Whilst tracking down the 105 AiS I have seen that for around the same cost as the 50/1.4 ZF2 I could get hold of the 50/1.2 AiS.
I am not too concerned about loads of wide open shooting, these are going to be used stopped down, I am more interested in seeing the whole picture these days, rather than loads of out of focus blur, (anyway I have plenty of other lenses for that).
I have scoured flickr for images but wondered had anybody used both and would care to offer their observations.
The Nikkor's performance peaks probably at f/5.6 or wider so if you're shooting stopped down, save your money. You might consider the smaller and cheaper 50/1.8 AIS (early version) that is reputed to be one of the sharpest 50's Nikon ever made and performs very well stopped down to f/16. The fast Zeiss is controversial with numerous faults (or endearing character quirks, depending upon your perspective) and you may get more utility from the 50 MP.
j.liam wrote:
The Nikkor's performance peaks probably at f/5.6 or wider so if you're shooting stopped down, save your money. You might consider the smaller and cheaper 50/1.8 AIS (early version) that is reputed to be one of the sharpest 50's Nikon ever made and performs well stopped down to f/16. The fast Zeiss is controversial with numerous faults (or character quirks, depending upon your perspective) and you may get more utility from the 50 MP.
I actually prefer the look of the images from the 50/1.4 Zeiss to the 50/2, I have done this comparison to destruction, although if I got the 50/1.4P I would as likely end up getting the 50/2MP some time down the road, but I have settled in my own mind the strengths of each of these.
Good point regarding the 50/1.8 AiS, I shall take a look at that.
I have both ZF.2 35/2 and AI-S 50/1.8 (early type). The latter is a fine (& cheap) lens, however its drawing capabilities do not match Zeiss lenses.
To fill the gap between 35 and 105, I would pick a 58/1.2 Noct. Very expensive though so I use a AFD 60/2.8
If you aren't planning on shooting wide open I don't really see any benefit, optically speaking, to get the Nikkor 50 1.2 AIS. Sure it performs well stopped down but it doesn't really out perform other 50's. For example, I also have the 50 1.8 AIS early or 'long nose' version that is just as sharp as the 50 1.2 AIS beyond f2.8. Both are very well built and a joy to use but the 1.2 has significantly more heft over the 1.8.
Other than the Nikkor 50 1.2's rather crazy wide open boke there isn't much of a 'unique' rendering when stopped down. The Nikkors are plenty sharp and resolve well but they will likely be missing the Zeiss microcontrast.
plubbry wrote:
If you aren't planning on shooting wide open I don't really see any benefit, optically speaking, to get the Nikkor 50 1.2 AIS. Sure it performs well stopped down but it doesn't really out perform other 50's. For example, I also have the 50 1.8 AIS early or 'long nose' version that is just as sharp as the 50 1.2 AIS beyond f2.8. Both are very well built and a joy to use but the 1.2 has significantly more heft over the 1.8.
Other than the Nikkor 50 1.2's rather crazy wide open boke there isn't much of a 'unique' rendering when stopped down. The Nikkors are plenty sharp and resolve well but they will likely be missing the Zeiss microcontrast....Show more →
I think that your last sentence is going to sum up my findings.
martyn. wrote:
Grays were never the cheapest ... but an absolute Aladdin's Cave of Nikkor lenses from past to present.
I know
I have been in touch with them (actually, my AIS 50/1.8 comes from Grays ...).
martyn. wrote:
I think that your last sentence is going to sum up my findings.
Really? I have both lens. And Nikon 50mm 1.2 is very good performer at f1.2. I like it better wide open performance than ZF50, which is my favorite lens. Whenever, i need low light, I will pick Nikkor over Zeiss, all day. Its Bokeh is kind more exciting than Ultra smooth one, so is Zeiss.
At day light, after f2.8, Zeisss is just beautiful. Nikkor might just as good in terms of sharpness and even Contrast, but I want a matched color/process cross my image. I slightly prefer the Zeiss treat backlight condition. Thus, I pick Zeiss most of the time. But it really hard to me to complain Nikkor's performance, a extremely sharp lens stop down and pretty sharp wide open.
I seldom do Landscape shot. but in that case, Both are extraordinary lens. and I would give slightly edge to Zeiss for its coating. (Just a illusion I have ) But if you consider use it ocasionally as portrait or low light lens plus excellent stop down lens, I recommend Nikkor over Zeiss.
zhangyue wrote:
Really? I have both lens. And Nikon 50mm 1.2 is very good performer at f1.2. I like it better wide open performance than ZF50, which is my favorite lens. Whenever, i need low light, I will pick Nikkor over Zeiss, all day. Its Bokeh is kind more exciting than Ultra smooth one, so is Zeiss.
At day light, after f2.8, Zeisss is just beautiful. Nikkor might just as good in terms of sharpness and even Contrast, but I want a matched color/process cross my image. I slightly prefer the Zeiss treat backlight condition. Thus, I pick Zeiss most of the time. But it really hard to me to complain Nikkor's performance, a extremely sharp lens stop down and pretty sharp wide open.
I seldom do Landscape shot. but in that case, Both are extraordinary lens. and I would give slightly edge to Zeiss for its coating. (Just a illusion I have ) But if you consider use it ocasionally as portrait or low light lens plus excellent stop down lens, I recommend Nikkor over Zeiss.
Show some love of Nikkor501.2. Portrait of my daughter. Both wide open
Thank you for that, I had seen those images on flickr.
I have no doubt of the ability of the 50/1.2, however I doubt I would be using it wide open very often, I do like the look as in your images above however.
Thanks for your comment, Looks like I failed to persuade you about Nikon
That will be my recommendation if you don't have to think about consistence cross your lens collection.
You will be the winner buy either of these two, both exceptional lens.
zhangyue wrote:
Thanks for your comment, Looks like I failed to persuade you about Nikon
That will be my recommendation if you don't have to think about consistence cross your lens collection.
You will be the winner buy either of these two, both exceptional lens.
No you have not failed, I do like the look from it, but I am not sure it is what I want from the next lens that I buy ... the one after that possibly, especially if I find one at a nice price
so I use a AFD 60/2.8 
) But if you consider use it ocasionally as portrait or low light lens plus excellent stop down lens, I recommend Nikkor over Zeiss.