p.1 #1 · Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Ai versus Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai-S
I was told that a great many people were curious about the "fastest" affordable Nikkor lens. (The Noct-Nikkor 58mm f/1.2 Ai-S is out of the question for most.)
Especially regarding how it compares to the much more affordable 50mm f/1.4 version.
Well, how do they compare?
I did a pretty extensive comparison with these two lenses (although on a Canon DSLR, shame on me.) and presented my results in this Blog article: Nikkor-Shootout
The Ai and Ai-S versions are optically identical as far as I know. Nikon only did a little work on the lens mount.
Also, I still have to do a more "natural" comparison for the Bokeh and provide some real life imagery where both lenses are used under identical conditions, but so far the article offers some insight and may open some people's eyes.
If you have any questions, wishes, desires, criticism, suggestions, etc. feel free to share them with me.
ps: Yes, I need to find a way to provide an overview with direct links to my paragraphs, the article is far too long for mobile devices.
p.1 #2 · Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Ai versus Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai-S
In real life you'll find that the 50mm f1,2 is a champ at rendering double lines on OoF objects, much like the 85mm f1,8 AF-D lens does. I prefer the 50mm f1,4 here, or the 55mm f1,2
p.1 #4 · Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Ai versus Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai-S
I think both sets show the OoF behaviour of the lenses pretty well.
In the 2nd series the lower left corner shows the double lines I mentioned. Both lenses do that. It would be interesting to see how the 55mm f1,2 Ai does in such a scene, but both 50's render a horrible mess there.
The first shot in both series was with a 50mm f1,4
The 2nd shot shows a 50mm f1,2
p.1 #7 · Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Ai versus Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai-S
mbphoto_2.8 wrote:
But which image does look better?
I have to admit that I too don't really like the second set because of the busy bokeh.. I always believed that this was more common with asph lenses..
At 80cm you can't really get a lot in the frame for a headshot and perspective distortion already becomes an issue.
There are quite a few folks on the NMF thread that like the 55mm f1.2 SC better than either of these, simply because of the bokeh. Having said that, it's pretty much understood that when it comes to sharpness, the 50/1.2 beats the 55/1.2.
p.1 #8 · Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Ai versus Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai-S
The 55/1.2 is even more expensive than the 50/1.2..
And the latter already couldn't convince me with its subpar sharpness in border areas (I don't even look at corners..)
p.1 #9 · Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Ai versus Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai-S
I like the second shots for both and assume they are 1.2s. They give me the impression of slight crispness. I am also surprised that rendering styles are more similar than expected.
p.1 #10 · Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Ai versus Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai-S
I also leaned toward the 2nd shot in both, but I think I attribute to the brightness of the image. The 2nd seem a little more exposed than the 1st. I would be interested to see if you were to push the exposure of the 1st images a little in post if my preference would change.
Also, IMO the difference between 160° and 90° focus throw is huge in getting any sort of useful shot at all. I had no idea the 1.2 throw was so short.
p.1 #11 · Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Ai versus Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai-S
I had to focus using live view at 10x magnification (which made keeping the framing the same even harder..)
For one lens the AF confirm is perfectly calibrated but I didn't yet do it for the other one.
And yes, focusing with the Ai-s lens isn't fun much fun..
The images are merely 0.1 EV apart if at all, but one is generally softer which might add to the "brighter" appearance.
p.1 #13 · Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Ai versus Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai-S
The 55mm f1,2 is not as sharp as the 50mm f1,2 as soon as you look past the image center. Edges and corners are really soft.
I prefer the 55mm over the 50mm f1,2 though because of the OoF rendering. About 2 years ago the 50mm f1,2 was the more expensive lens. Funny how these things can change
When it comes to the test shown here I prefer the rendering of the $50 lens. Mine is back on the way to me after a one year absence. I then own a 50mm f1,4 Nikkor-S, 50mm f1,4 Nikkor-S.C, 50mm f1,4 K Nikkor (my girlfriends), 55mm f3,5 Ai Nikkor, 55mm f1,2 Nikkor-S.C and 50mm f1,8 AF-S (again my girlfriends). Would like to add a NKJ 5,8cm f1,4 Nikkor-S and NKJ 55mm f1,2 Nikkor-S to the ones we already own
p.1 #14 · Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Ai versus Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai-S
But the 50/1.2 is terribly soft in the border area.. It get's nowhere near the 50/1.4 and even that one is bad.. (i posted a comparison in my blog article)
p.1 #16 · Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Ai versus Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai-S
Okay then,
thank you all for your contributions
Let me clear this up then:
The first image was shot with the 50/1.2, as was the 4th image.
Both have larger bokeh balls, are less sharp and overall less contrasty.
The second and third shot were taken with the 50/1.4 and as many others seem to agree, look overall more pleasing.
For me the case is clear:
I will sell the 50/1.2 and keep the 50/1.4 for my Nikon F2.
The faster lens so far could not convince me in any of the tests I did, and compared to other fast fifties I tested it looks even worse.
