Please help me to not go crazy with my NAS... At least not before to purchase Nikon 24mm f1.4 that's on my wish list for a while.
In general I have almost all glass I need to be happy between 10 and 300mm on DX and between 14 and 300mm on FX, in general fast glass since I shoot a lot in available light and I like very much to explore lenses wide open or close to wide open.
The problem is that someone offered me an EX+ copy of Nikon 58mm f/1.2 Noct-Nikkor, quite a rare piece of glass that has a very good reputation, for 'only' 1600 bucks.
I never used this lens but I'm very happy with 50mm f1.2 - one of my prefered lenses - and I've heard that the 58/1.2 is even a better performer.
I need money for 24/1.4 - I have nothing in this league in the wide area... while I already have and like Sigma 50/1.4; Nikon 50/1.2 and CV 58/1.4 to not include here the 'slower' zoom Nikon 24-70/2.8
Is this a really good opportunity or I may be happy with what I have already? Honestly, 40-60 is my most used range and I still have some lust 'under control' for Zeiss 50/1.4 and I will not feel guilty for a second 50 or 58mm if that will bring a real gain to me in low light.
What do you consider? Please give a balanced opinion: I don't want to spend money but I hate to loose a good opportunity that I may never get again.
I haven't personally used this lens but that is a fantastic price for one. I just checked the completed Ebay auctions and the only one that sold in the last week sold for $2,900 for an EX+ copy. Generally they seem to hover around the $3,000 range. Personally if you have the money I wouldn't pass it up. Worse case scenario if you feel any remorse or aren't happy with the results you could always sell it and even after any fees you would still bring in enough to cover the price of the 24mm.
I'm bad about sitting on the fence too long and a deal slips by. But for a Noct for $1600, I would buy it without thinking twice. That price isn't going to come around again.
It really depends, there was a comparison on the NOCT and the SIgma and the Sigma wasn't really that far behind, at least not $1600 behind. I would get the 24 ƒ1.4 if I were you. Or buy the NOCT and then sell it for a profit.
The rumor mill says Nikon will release a new AF 50 f1.2 in the next year or two. If they do, it could hurt the resale of the Noct a little bit - though it wont kill it like the 24 f1.4 AFS did to the 28 f1.4.
After a couple of very busy days with traveling a lot, I have a chance to bring a little update regarding my last trophy
The lens I've got is really in an excellent condition. According the serial number (very close to 187000) it is an AI-S version with 9 blades, probably produced around 1985-1986. Apart of my copy were produced only 8,950 copies of this AI-S version and 2,462 of the previous AI version (7 blades) so I have serious reason to be proud!
The lens came with very little signs of usage, with no any sign of fungus, no significant dust, the glass is in a perfect shape with no scratches and probably with the original front cap but not the original rear cap. No lens hood, no box, no anything else.
The focus ring is going very smooth but when I tried to focus on D300 I had a hard time to get in focus at f1.2 and even at f2, in comparison with my 50mm f1.2 AI-S that gets in focus much easier on D300. Coming home from my trip I tried the lens on D700 and it seems that I get the focus in a much comfortable manner even wide open. I still consider very tricky to focus it comparing with any other MF lens I have... I need more practice... and I welcome any suggestion...
According Bjorn R. the front element is hand-polished to give its aspherical shape and this inflates the price of this lens. I wonder how big was the selling cost of this lens back in 1998 when Nikon stopped its production...
I had no chance yet to give it a serious test, just a few snapshots with D300 and then one or two with D700. I try to insert here some of them SOOC, nothing special, just to see how it behaves. I'm very sure that it will show it's power in really low light photography. I personally am very pleased by now and happy because I added it to my bag...
I'm impatient to have your opinions... don't hesitate to provide your input please!
This is my lens at it's first stop at a Stabucks shop, right after I bought it:
@ ExtendedPuppet
Yes, I am lucky! The b/g seems to be very smooth and this is something I like very much at this lens. I'm sure that 24/1.4 is a great lens too but as someone said I have time to save for it... so it was a very good deal for me to get the Nocton now.
@Oasisbill
Well, we drink a broad range of beers overhere, Stout, Lager, Pilsener and even Dark Ale... including but not only: Guiness, Murphy's, Corona, Heineken, Stella Artois, Tuborg, Coopers, Fosters, Becks, Leffe, etc... Actually we produce Tuborg in Romania, under licence... We live in a global village :-) Paradoxally, even Romania was accepted to join EU only three years ago, we have a wonderful Nikon dealer here. If I place online an order today (before 3pm) tommorow morning I have the package at my door - and I live 200 miles away... Of course, apart of this we still deal with the consequences of 50 yrs of communist regime... It's not easy to undo that... but at least we hope...
I'll pay all the fees 