Acidnaut, yes I am living in Airdrie, working in Calgary. We should do some shooting together sometime. I have another friend in Edmonton that I have been meaning to come see, Perhaps in the near future.
Some truly horrible winter driving conditions to get to class this morning, I personally saw two cars skid off the highway and no less than half a dozen in the ditch. I am great full to be home safe and sound.
David, I respect your opinion even if I dont agree. However I do apprecaite you taking the time to comment and give your take on the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D.
First of all Nikon or Canon or even Leica for that matter has no 28 1.4 AF- lens to compare. So as I like to say, the the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D is only game in town.
Saying your would rather get the Nikkor 24 1.4 AFS is fair comment by someone who has already thrown the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D under the bus. Sorry to rub it in, but you kind of had that coming. Further more I'll keep banging the monkey on this one.. 24mm/28 mm are differnt focal length.
As far the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D and it not being up to digtial, Hmmm, I used the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D on my Canon 5D-2 and it held up just fine. Perhaps my standards are lower than yours.
I would love to see some shot with your Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D on film if you care to share.
I got some 50 asa Velvia in the camera and will have some of my own film shots with the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D soon.
And I have more than a couple of B+W rolls with images taken with the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D. Only so many hours in the day.
Anyways, I am surprised about your comments about digtial surpassing film.
When did that happen.
OMG, I better sell all film camera's right away I don't want to be left behind If it's true.. (tounge and cheek) .
I really don't want to get into a debate about what is better. I use both. Digtial is differnt than film. And the fact is lens like the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D are compatible with my Nikon F2/F3T/FM2 are bonus plus for me. And personally having made prints as large as 6X4 feet from film with lesser lenses than the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D , I am thinking film still holds the edge in some ways.
Perphaps another thread would be better for that discusssion.
Jrahadi,
Thanks for your input.
Your post reminds of a t.shirt I saw one day. It said "come and join the darkside , we got cookies..
As far as the rising price of the Nikkor 28 1.4 AFD I would "get one while the getting is good",
I think the price of the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D will continue to rise. The fact is for better or for worse hand ground Aspherical elements have a differnt look than the modern molded or machine ground lenses. Noty to mention aperture rings.
And after the tragic events in Japan the supply may be in short supply on the new glass.
I am thinking survivial and rebuliding there country will be the priority.
As far as hand ground aspherical elements , I saw a Documentary on telescopes and as it happens the irregular motion of human hand when they polish these elements , gives lenes like the Nikkor 28 1,4 And the 58 1.2 nocturnal a unique signature.
And in truth the fact that a human hand played a role in it's making works for me.
The new technology are fine but sometimes the old ways are best.
All images taken with the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D on Nikon D3
NikkorAIS wrote:
Anyways, I am surprised about your comments about digtial surpassing film.
When did that happen.
OMG, I better sell all film camera's right away I don't want to be left behind If it's true.. (tounge and cheek) .
I really don't want to get into a debate about what is better. I use both. Digtial is differnt than film. And the fact is lens like the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D are compatible with my Nikon F2/F3T/FM2 are bonus plus for me. And personally having made prints as large as 6X4 feet from film with lesser lenses than the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D , I am thinking film still holds the edge in some ways.
Perphaps another thread would be better for that discusssion.
Hooray. It seems like I am the only one in love with film and 28/1.4 Nikkor! In fact, I sold all my Nikon stuff but I could not bear to part with my 28/1.4 and 58/1.2. May be I will pick up old F2 and shoot Velvia 50 on it. These days, I just shoot with my film rangefinder. What a lovely experience.
jrahadi wrote:
S.P.E.E.C.H.L.E.S.S...
Amazing FOV and optics
35mm 1.4 FOV too narrow for my taste
I like 24mm 1.4 FOV, but bokeh is not as nice as 28mm 1.4
IMO 28mm 1.4 is the optimum wide FOV and bokeh
If only 28mm 1.4 price is not skyrocketed to stratosphere..
Threads like this is dangerous to my credit cards
This thread has already blown a hole in my wallet, and I don't think I'm the only one too. I blame Gregory!
Thanks you guys. I feel honered that my work has been able to inspire other's to spend there hard earned cash on the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D. I really look forward to seeing some other's work on this thread.
It's kind of sad that Nikon dosnt produce hand ground asph lenses anymore. I imagine the skill and time it takes to do this type of work is not trivial. In a age of mass production it would seem somewhat archaic to ask a company like Nikon to go back to doing it the hard way. And even if they wanted to, the highly skilled techniations that did this type of work are...?
I remember reading in Nikon history about the development of the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D. Perhaps someone with more computer skills than me, can provide a link to "the thousand and one nights" article dedicated to the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D.
With the recent tragic events in Japan, I wonder about the craftsmen than made these fine lenes, and I are hope they are safe.
Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D on Nikon D3
Nikkor 45 2.8 ED PC-E wit TC-14 C on Nikon D3 with SB-900
I doubt your standards are lower than mine, to be frank my photographic interests may be over specialised. I use fast wides for night landscapes and am perhaps over sensitive as to coma which can affect star images dramatically. Not a concern for most people I freely admit.
Certainly I wasn't getting precisely circular star images at f1.4 using the 28mm even in the centre on my 21 megapixel 5D2, but recognise that this is a narrow way to judge any lens! On (pushed) film however I never had any difficulties (as pushed film records alot less detail than digital), and remember the Nikkor 28 with great affection. However, as the new Nikkor 24mm is so much newer, with all the technical advantages that should entail, I would expect it to surpass the older 28mm. Could be wrong of course, and I take on board the comments about the 28mm having better bokey, something that my own photographic style doesn't really rely on.
Only a few short years ago, as someone who loves fast wides, we were in the position that Nikon had discontinued the 28mm f1.4, had no replacement Nikkor, and the only reasonable alternative was a Canon 24L Mk1 which IMHO had unpleasant chromatic aberration issues. I remember having the concern that if I dropped or lost my Nikkor 28 I wouldn't really be able to replace it with anything new. Now we have excellent new 24mm f1.4 lenses from both Canon and Nikon which is a great relief whichever system we use.
Heck of a shot Don. Perfect timing and compositon. The B+W conversion is just perfect.
Thanks Brad that is just ther link I was looking for.
David,
thanks for sharing your work work with film and the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D. . Just fantastic.
Are we talking high speed 400/800/1600 Ektachrome pushed?
I am still confused of your decison to get rid of the the Nikkor 28 1.4 AFD especailly considering the Nocturnal type of work that you do.
I am not seeing coma in your sample images and the stars look round to me.
Really inspiring work.
I have been thinking about doing some of my own night time landscapes and your images have inspired me to do some of my own with the Nikkkor 28 1.4 AF-D and my 58 1.2 Nocturnal which I am getting back in my bag in the near future. I have done some of these over the years but none with this lens so far.
I woud apprecaite any tips you would be willing to share on this type of work and by all means post some more images. Especially those shot with the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D and film.
NikkorAIS wrote:
I remember reading in Nikon history about the development of the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D. Perhaps someone with more computer skills than me, can provide a link to "the thousand and one nights" article dedicated to the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D.
My 28/1.4 just came in today! Here is a test shot at f/1.4 of something beautiful... I notice the Chromatic Aberration is more severe than what I'm used to from my f/2.8 lenses. But hey, I'm shooting at f/1.4!
Thanks for the kind words about my province. Next time you pass by around these parts, give me a shout and Ill buy you a beer.
Now to the other part of your comment about the bleak, decaying , rust-laden images. What can I say Take this this last set the house in on the edge of town , the worst condition house in whole provice, I am sure.
The other thing is in many ways it's a question of access. These types of places are for the most part open and accessible . Yesterday I saw a great shot of a dog through a open gate in house. And for me it's always a judgement about going into someones back yard to take a picture.
Even though it was pit bull I could tell the dog wanted me to come up see him/her (animal thing)
I have but in truth I just didnt feel like being confronted by the occupents of the house.
"What are you doing in my yard"
Last year, I was photographing a house, a pourch specifailly. And I happen to be lying on the side walk with a pretty young lady my girl friend at the time standing beside watching me as I got a few sot of some interesting wind chimes . Well a neibor came by, I saw him with my peripiahl vision. And walked up to me and asked what the fuc*K I thought I was doing. So finished taking my shot and calmly said photgraphing the porch.
What the hell are you doing that for. i thought .(here we go).
Still keeping my cool, I said "look It's interesting to me", thats it, thats all. I got up and looked down at him.
He wouldnt let it go now demanding that I tell the real reason I was taking this picture and demanded to know my name and see my ID.
At this point I kind of became somwhat cheeky and said. Look I know it might be weird to you but I am street photographer practicing my craft. he butted in than saying I want allowed to take this picture of this house and in fact I more than likely a theif casing the joint..
I than turned to his very pretrty wife and said mam, you will noitce I am carrying two Nikon D3 a bag full of Nikkor glass and two Leica one with a lens worth more than your husband shittty truck .
I am not theif, I am a photographer. Please ask your husband to tone it down a bit. Than I smiled . And she smiled. At this point he lost it. Now I am laughing saying, "dude it's a free country I photograph anything I want dam near. It dont like it go fu*k yourself.
Now he is vibrating, growling in low gutter sounds, you can't shoot houses. I was like . I was lying on the side walk"
OMG so I started to leave. And went on my way.
And sure enough through the window of my girlfriends window we saw the cops circleing around for about an hour. Good grief.
And than there is the thing about being able to watch things degrade and photograph them over time. Which is why I often go back to certain locations more than once.
As strange as it seems some of those places and things that are there, become very specail to me and when they disaappear it make me sad. And when that happens I am really glad that i took the time effort to document them
this is one that comes to mind
Now this whole area has been bulldozed and ever last inch of earthn and tree and blad e of grass has been scarped off and scopped up and hauled away.
I spent many hours there. Shooting the tree's this bug car(my kids call it that) and knew many of the flowers and hawks that lived in this little patch of tree's and grass and building that had fallen to the ground.
If you drove by the place you would never know that it these things where. it's easy to miss the things are not there anymore.
This was aother show of this place taken with the Nikkor 8mm 2.8 AIS at the end of last summer. I rember that day well. It was raining and hands where freazing. But I was blown away by the beaty of the flowers in the mist of the decay.
If the is a theme in this work it's a feeling of being disgarded. I can see see how it might get a little tied for some. Strangly for me it makes me feel better. For instance yesterday I was supposed to see my kids and well it got pushed to tonight so instead of going out and drinking and went out shooting.
Photography is wonderfull stress releif and means of self expression.
Iv heard it said that what we photograph is in some way a reflection of what is going on the inside. Or we photography how we feel/think.
Thank you very much. Your young fella is strapping young man, nice shot.
In the photo with the red light, I was dropping the kids to there mom , when my I saw my little man become lit up with the brake light of her car. I didn't have much time and I just dropped the ISO down and went on aperture priority and didnt even notice I was at f 1.8 . You can see the irregular lights in the back ground which is interesting as I have never stopped this down at night before.
My good friend, student and brother at arms delivered my Tanto to me yesterday night.
This particaulr blade was forged by Howard Clark and my pal did all the fittings in and finshing of the blade. Out standing work. And I couldnt be happier. You can see more of his work at hibiscus forge.
And as it happens it came just in time for a Tanto Jutsu Seminar I am hosting this weekend in Calgary at the Tao of Peace on Saturday morning.
This week end I am going busy teaching, but I hope to be able to do at least some photography.
My good pal David is doing the stills, his work is outstanding. And perhaps he post some of the shots from the seminar on the Fm Forum and the Nikon Cafe..
He works way to much at some silly Oil and gas job , but his real passion is photography, especially with my Niikkor 200 2.0 IF-ED AIS but when gets time to shoot his photography and post processing are mind blowing good. The fact that I got his Nikkor 35 1.4 takes the sting out but I still think we are not quite even.
I have so many talented and awsome friends, I hope you guys don't mind me giving tem some love.
So last night I was being intervied by a writer who is covering my event for a Martial Arts magaizine. At one point he crossed over and I started to see hints of Hunter S Thomson and Gonzo Journalism. Very cool.
There is a professional photographer and Video person covering this event but to be sure I will get behind the scenes images and post them when I can.
Tonight the writer is going to riding shotgun and coming out with my good pal Paul Rogalski ( almost same last name, no relation) who I havent seen in several years. Paul owns/runs a very high end resterant in Calgary called "Rouge".
In a syncronicrity my editor Cat, used to work for Paul and actually she was the one who is reponsible for re-uniting us. Very cool. Thanks Cat.
If you guys get a chance check out Cats work on the Nikon Cafe. She has a thread called Wide Lux envey , and one on the 12 months project that is killla. She has a hell of and eye. And I have it on very good authority that she is getting a Nikon F2 and a couple Nikkor AIS in the mail in the very near future. She is a little bit intimaded in steeping up to shoot film. But Like In told her , we must keep moving forward or we die
In really think Catherines work is outstanding. She is still learning the basic, but I really feel once she gets up to speed she is going to rock the world with her photography. Her work inspires me to no end. It's just so good.
Hopefully she will also sign up to theFm forum as I know she is lurking from time to time.
Sign up Cat, Meow
Getting back to Paul, Check out his web site for some really cool photography, And of course feel free( but bring you wallet stuffed with cash) and go eat a meal at " Rouge" I have heard nothing but great things about the food. In fact I rember hearing it was voted one of the top 60 resterants in the world, And like I said we are old friends.
Image one day I shooting garbage and the next I will be soon posting shots of high end french cusiune,
Will wonders ever cease.
And it's funny, on the phone talking to Paul he was like " I remember you in high school and you always had a Nikon". Yes I did Pual , yes I did.
And than he shared that when his grandfather passed away he inherited his Nikkomat and had been a Nikon guy ever since.
So when he told me he had a Nikon D3, I than interupted him. And said let me guess , You got 14-24 2.8 AFS, 24-70 2.8 AFS, and Nikkor 70-200 2.8 AFS.
In my crystal ball , I see some Nikkor AIS glass in Pauls future.
I hope Paul will become a member of this forum in the near future.
I havent been to the resterant yet but I will be bringing the Nikkor 28 1.4 AF-D and some Leica gear out (Leica M3 and the 50 1.0 Noctilux) tonight, and I am sure I will get some interesting shots.I would love to get some P.J shots in the kitchen where they cook,
. Sorry to rub it in, but you kind of had that coming. Further more I'll keep banging the monkey on this one.. 24mm/28 mm are differnt focal length. 
. (tounge and cheek) .
, when my I saw my little man become lit up with the brake light of her car. I didn't have much time and I just dropped the ISO down and went on aperture priority and didnt even notice I was at f 1.8 . You can see the irregular lights in the back ground which is interesting as I have never stopped this down at night before.
