p.4 #1 · The Canon 50mm f/1.4 LTM - Abundant and Still a Bargain
rscheffler wrote:
You should try the Nikkor at various distances. IIRC it's optimized for near distances. I recently did infinity tests on various Canon mirrorless cameras with a bunch of my rangefinder lenses, including the Canon 50/1.4 LTM and the Nikkor. In those images, the Nikkor is distinctly soft with a ton of SA until f/2-ish. Even at nearer distances my Nikkor is a completely different lens wide open vs. f/2. Dreamy/glowy wide open with really wild bokeh. At f/2 it picks up a lot more contrast. The Canon is more 'normal' in its behavior.
Yes - I fully second this observation from my experience with the Nikkor lens. I didn't want to add more pics taken with it in my earlier post since this is off-topic regarding this Canon lens thread, but a few more examples here:
Nikkor SC 50/1.4 lens @ f/1.4 close focus distance
Nikkor SC 50/1.4 lens @ f/2.0 close focus distance
Nikkor SC 50/1.4 lens @ f/1.4 several feet away from focus point
p.4 #3 · The Canon 50mm f/1.4 LTM - Abundant and Still a Bargain
Yes, the Nikkor is a Sonnar design but while it has similarities to my Zeiss Opton Sonnar, it has more 'extreme' character wide open than the Zeiss. Canon also made a 50/1.5 Serenar that was a Sonnar design, but I have not tried one yet.
p.4 #5 · The Canon 50mm f/1.4 LTM - Abundant and Still a Bargain
I don't know why I waited so long to use this lens for concert photography, but I love it.
At one of the jazz clubs where I regularly take photos for performers, I like going outside and taking photos through the window at the players from behind. The glass reflects lights across the street, passing autos, etc., and the stage lights interact with all that, creating a light show. Add the flares from this lens and it just gets more fun.
p.4 #6 · The Canon 50mm f/1.4 LTM - Abundant and Still a Bargain
It's a great double gauss lens. Great resolution. Very predictable. Just wish the mechanics were better. I've though about prototyping a rehousing unit for them with a faster throw, proper zone markings and a focus tab.
p.4 #8 · The Canon 50mm f/1.4 LTM - Abundant and Still a Bargain
That's a good comparison to explain what "micro-contrast" means, or what is should really be called: fidelity. You really see it in the upper right hand quarter of the frame.
But that's where 70 years of optical development has brought us too. I still see modern lenses produce stuff way flatter looking though.
