I switched over from Nikon to Sony a few years back and have had the Nikon 58mm three separate times on two Sony bodies (A9 and A9II) with a Commlite adapter. I currently have the Sony 55mm and 50mm 1.2 GM. I've also had the Samyang 50mm 1.4II and Sigma 50mm F2. I don't think the 50mm 1.4 GM is going to give you the same look as the Nikon 58. The 1.4 GM is clinically sharp. The closest AF lens for Sony in my experience is the Samyang 50mm 1.4II. When I tested the Samyang and Nikon on the A9, the Samyang was noticeably sharper but the Nikon had nicer rendering with smoother transitions to my eyes. The Nikon also had less outlining in the out-of-focus specular highlights. The Samyang AF is fine until your subject starts moving too quickly. For portrait type subjects, it should be fine. The Nikon 58 was never known for is fast AF. I prefer the softer rendering of the 24mm and 85mm GMs in Sony's lineup over the sharper, more perfect rendering of the 35mm and 50mm 1.4.
I would look for a used Samyang and get the Commlite adapter for the Nikon and compare them.
Good luck.
vaptre wrote:
I'm switching from Nikon to Sony. And I've sold my 28/1.4 and 105/1.4.
Nikon owners will say that I'm out of my mind completely. But it's what it is. I really prefer Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM over Nikon's AF-S 28mm f/1.4E. And I've never used 105/1.4 as much as it deserves. But! The Nikon's 58mm f/1.4G is my holy grail! My most used and beloved lens. My main lens. My top of the top. I was completely blown away by lovely images it can produce.
So... Long story short. Now I have 24mm f/1.4GM which is outstanding. I have relatively compact A7CII which I like. And I'd love to stay as compact and light as I can. What does it mean compact? 450g of 24mm is okay... 350g of 58mm/1.4 + 250g of adapter = 600g of total is not okay. And I'm struggling that I've lost AF.
If only I could get something similar to my beloved 58mm f/1.4 with modern AF I would be more than happy and be able to sell this lens to someone who will adore it as much as I did.
I'm searching for information about Sony's 50mm f/1.4 GM but I can't get how it compares to 58mm. I've realized that 50mm f/1.2 is too big for me. And I've got that 55mm f/1.8 is too clinical and sharp. More or less appropriate is Samyang 50mm f/1.4 II but it has issues with AF.
cameraman72 wrote:
I switched over from Nikon to Sony a few years back and have had the Nikon 58mm three separate times on two Sony bodies (A9 and A9II) with a Commlite adapter. I currently have the Sony 55mm and 50mm 1.2 GM. I've also had the Samyang 50mm 1.4II and Sigma 50mm F2. I don't think the 50mm 1.4 GM is going to give you the same look as the Nikon 58. The 1.4 GM is clinically sharp. The closest AF lens for Sony in my experience is the Samyang 50mm 1.4II. When I tested the Samyang and Nikon on the A9, the Samyang was noticeably sharper but the Nikon had nicer rendering with smoother transitions to my eyes. The Nikon also had less outlining in the out-of-focus specular highlights. The Samyang AF is fine until your subject starts moving too quickly. For portrait type subjects, it should be fine. The Nikon 58 was never known for is fast AF. I prefer the softer rendering of the 24mm and 85mm GMs in Sony's lineup over the sharper, more perfect rendering of the 35mm and 50mm 1.4.
I would look for a used Samyang and get the Commlite adapter for the Nikon and compare them.
Wow! Thank you so much! I have the same feeling. I love 24/1.4 because it renders pretty nice. And I can't get why so many folks adore 35/1.4 so much. I've tested it and it's sharp but there is no magic at all. No character. Not my lens! I suspected something similar about the 50/1.4. And this suspicion stopped me from buying it.
I will try Samyang 50mm and hope it can be comparable! Thank you for you advice!
I've also found that 50/1.2 has a very nice and smooth bokeh and rendering. But It's weight! Oh my gosh! 50/1.2 renders more pleasant than 50/1.4 on my taste.
Get a Monster Adapter Nikon F to Sony E adapter. I would buy a new one or buy one that is less than 2 years old as their build quality improved over time (I have 2). I don't have the 58mm G, but I have been happy using it with lenses like the 85mm G on slow moving subjects. Don't expect native Sony E lens performance but it's definitely usable, and not just on stationary subjects like other Nikon F to Sony E adapters I have used.
I've always been floored by the 58G images, it looks like an autofocusing Voigtlander Nokton lens. I agree about the Sony ZA 50/1.4 being the closest in terms of image quality, but its too big. The Sony ZA 55/1.8 doesn't have the same smooth OOF as the 58G IMO. Samyang 50/1.4 vII is probably the closest comp in terms of image quality and size, and thats selling the 58G short. So, I don't think there is a comparable E mount option to the 58G. At least with the Nikon 28/1.4 and 105/1.4, there are comparable options (24 GM, Sigma 105, Sony 85 GM).
Other alternatives that are worth considering if you are okay with some flexibility of focal length and aperture:
- Sigma 65 f2
- Batis 40 f2
- Sigma 45 f2.8
- Voigtlander 50 f1.2 M Mount + Techart AF adapter
DWOfPaul wrote:
Get a Monster Adapter Nikon F to Sony E adapter. I would buy a new one or buy one that is less than 2 years old as their build quality improved over time (I have 2). I don't have the 58mm G, but I have been happy using it with lenses like the 85mm G on slow moving subjects. Don't expect native Sony E lens performance but it's definitely usable, and not just on stationary subjects like other Nikon F to Sony E adapters I have used.
I've heard about Monster. The only option in Spain to get this adapter is a 3rd party seller on Amazon with zero reviews ) I'm slightly confused with mixed opinions about this adapter over the web and the lack of options to get money back if something goes wrong. So now I'm using K&F manual F(G) to E adapter. But definitely I'd love to have AF back.
vaptre wrote:
I've heard about Monster. The only option in Spain to get this adapter is a 3rd party seller on Amazon with zero reviews ) I'm slightly confused with mixed opinions about this adapter over the web and the lack of options to get money back if something goes wrong. So now I'm using K&F manual F(G) to E adapter. But definitely I'd love to have AF back.
A third party seller with no reviews definitely makes it more questionable to order. My gut is some of the bad reviews are due to people having unrealistic expectations when adapting lenses, such as native AF performance, or didn't read the limitations such as the adapter AF not working in video mode.
Their website does have Spain listed as a country on checkout you might want to consider ordering directly: https://www.monsteradapter.com
B&H I believe also ships internationally, but IDK if that affects their return policy.
The 50 1.2 to me is a mix between the 24/85 and 35/50 1.4 GMs. I really like the rendering of the lens but it's just bulkier and heavier than I want in a 50mm and my main lens pairing is the 35mm and 85mm so I don't use the 50 nearly as much. I have a nicely centered, sharp copy of the 1.2 so I really don't want to sell it but it's hard to justify keeping it for the amount of use it gets. I'm always going back and forth between selling it and picking up another 58mm for family get togethers.
vaptre wrote:
I've also found that 50/1.2 has a very nice and smooth bokeh and rendering. But It's weight! Oh my gosh! 50/1.2 renders more pleasant than 50/1.4 on my taste.
I've had all those except for the Voigtlander 50 and currently have the Sigma 45mm and I think the all those lenses render quite differently from the 58mm. The 50mm ZA is considerably sharper and contrastier than the 58mm but does have nice OOF transitions and bokeh, although not as smooth as the 58mm. The ZA has a more contrasty cutout look to the images. The Sigma 65mm has a more clinical look to me, more towards APO type lenses. The Batis has that Zeiss pop with noticeably harsher transitions and bokeh than the 58mm. I think the Sigma 45mm is the closest in philosophy to the 58mm but a 45mm f2.8 lens is going to give you a much different look than a 58mm f1.4 lens. This is all my opinion, of course, so your mileage may vary.
akashyap wrote:
I've always been floored by the 58G images, it looks like an autofocusing Voigtlander Nokton lens. I agree about the Sony ZA 50/1.4 being the closest in terms of image quality, but its too big. The Sony ZA 55/1.8 doesn't have the same smooth OOF as the 58G IMO. Samyang 50/1.4 vII is probably the closest comp in terms of image quality and size, and thats selling the 58G short. So, I don't think there is a comparable E mount option to the 58G. At least with the Nikon 28/1.4 and 105/1.4, there are comparable options (24 GM, Sigma 105, Sony 85 GM).
Other alternatives that are worth considering if you are okay with some flexibility of focal length and aperture:
- Sigma 65 f2
- Batis 40 f2
- Sigma 45 f2.8
- Voigtlander 50 f1.2 M Mount + Techart AF adapter ...Show more →
I had lots of Planar variations from Zeiss and honestly... I've never been in love with it. Moreover Zeiss itself dismissed it in Milvus line in favor of Distagon. When I'm studying ZA photos I see this classic Planar look and... I'd rather get classic planar ZF/ZE. It's cheaper. Less sharper but cheaper.
It might sound strange but closer to 58/1.4 in my opinion is FE 85/1.8 assuming different focal length. Right! But it has some amount of LoCA, same out of focus transition, smooth bokeh. So this lens imperfections are very similar and they make what we've called "character". When I got this for the first time I was slightly... intrigued. Let's say. One of the cheapest Sony lens renders like expensive and unique Nikon. Maybe it's just mine delusion.
58mm 1.4g was also my bread and butter and I am still thinking about this lens.
But I don't see any similiarity with 85mm 1.8, only 85mm 1.4 GM Mark 1 and Sigma 45mm 2.8 have a similiar rendering style imo.
GoroMajima wrote:
58mm 1.4g was also my bread and butter and I am still thinking about this lens.
But I don't see any similiarity with 85mm 1.8, only 85mm 1.4 GM Mark 1 and Sigma 45mm 2.8 have a similiar rendering style imo.
I'm so happy to see you here! I was always exited when I saw your photos in 58/1.4G thread!
Agree! 85/1.8 is nowhere near 58/1.4. I'm still searching for the replacement. Most folks are advising me to get Voit 40/1.2. From what I saw it might be the one!
Unfortunately Sigma 45/2.8 is quite difficult to find for test in my place. Maybe one day I'll have my own opinion about the lens.
vaptre wrote:
I'm still searching for the replacement. Most folks are advising me to get Voit 40/1.2. From what I saw it might be the one!
I don't think 40mm as a replacement for 58mm is such a brilliant idea. I'd rather go for the 50mm version of the 1.2 Nokton.
phinix wrote:
Is 55mm f1.8 Zeiss a similar lens?
Is it still very popular and worth buying for a7cII?
IMHO, the Sony/Zeiss 55/1.8 is about as close as you can get in a modern AF lens. The Nikon 58/1.4 G was glorious, but it had notable CA and wasn’t very sharp centrally until f2 or a bit beyond anyway. The Sony 55 is sharper right from 1.8 and corners crisp up sooner, but it renders similarly focal length wise and has pretty equivalent (and nice) bokeh.
Jack Flesher wrote:
IMHO, the Sony/Zeiss 55/1.8 is about as close as you can get in a modern AF lens. The Nikon 58/1.4 G was glorious, but it had notable CA and wasn’t very sharp centrally until f2 or a bit beyond anyway. The Sony 55 is sharper right from 1.8 and corners crisp up sooner, but it renders similarly focal length wise and has pretty equivalent (and nice) bokeh.
50/1.2 renders more pleasant than 50/1.4 on my taste.