Comparison of New Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Nikon Mount vs. Older Nikon Normal Lenses

When I read all the promotional material on the Carl Zeiss web site about
their introduction of a new line of lenses in Nikon mount, I could hardly
wait to get my hands on their upcoming lenses in the M42 Pentax Screwmount
(I still shoot in M42).
Well, after reading Ken Rockwell's comparisons, it appears that these
Cosina-Zeiss lenses aren't really so superior after all.
One look at his comparison pages on lens sharpness reveals that your choice
of aperture is, by far, more important than your choice of lens!
(http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/50-comparison/f-stops.htm) He used the
50mm f/1.4 AI as an example, and he showed images of the same object, shot
at various apertures. I had always known that lens performance varied based
on the selected aperture, but seeing these comparisons, rather than just
reading test results expressed in Lines-Per-Millimeter, really hit home!
The entire series of tests can be viewed starting at this link:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/50-comparison/index.htm
What I really liked about this particular series of tests is that he
actually shows you the images, side by side, so you can see the differences
with your own eyes, rather than just relying on his personal assessments.
It was amazing to see how decades-old Nikon normal lenses equaled or beat
out the new Zeiss normal lens. These tests may not represent the last word
on the subject, but seeing the photos certainly knocked the wind out of
Zeiss' sails, at least for me. I guess I won't be trading in my Pentax
normal lenses any time soon.

Jeremy

Re: Comparison of New Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Nikon Mount vs. Older Nikon Normal Lenses

DD,
Have you ever read this?
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-02-11-24.shtml and the top link "The
50mm Lens and Metaphysical Doubt" ?
If not, I think you should. And I think you're way off base in your reply here, here is why:
Mr. Rockwell posted genuine results of a comparison test made to an average, and basic
quality Japanese-made lens with a "great big fancy German name" on it, which you would
trust to be the BEST because of that "great big fancy German name" on it. Without
knowing the truth about it.
Compare that reality with what you say in your reply, if you can dice up the difference...
because it's obvious you didn't read it, Therefore you DON'T know the truth about it.
He gives a free help to the public with nothing forced on you. You COULD appreciate
that, in retrospect. Because there is no way I would trust you for the way you think.
--
}<)))*> Giant_Alex
cravdraa_at-yahoo_dot-com
not my site: http://www.e-sword.net/


AAvK

Re: Comparison of New Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Nikon Mount vs. Older Nikon Normal Lenses

[SNIP]
my
darkroom
buy
Well, I agree, though both the galleries and the rich people can be hard to
track down and even harder to cultivate. ;-(
Even then though, when I have LX bodies and Pentax K-mount lenses, there's
no advantage - to me - in using Spotmatics and Takumar screw-mount lenses.
If my main 35mm system was one that stuck me with lousy lenses, maybe using
the Takumars instead for fine-art work would make sense, but that isn't the
case for me. Still, most of my fine-art work is done on 6x9 up, not 35mm
anyway...
Peter


Bandicoot

Re: Comparison of New Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Nikon Mount vs. Older Nikon

He nailed it, is that a problem?
--
Floyd L. Davidson <http://www.apaflo.com/floyd_davidson>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) floyd@apaflo.com


Floyd@apaflo.com (Floyd L. Davidson)

Re: Comparison of New Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Nikon Mount vs. Older Nikon

Your record is skipping - maybe you should get a new needle...
;-)


Chris Loffredo

Re: Comparison of New Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Nikon Mount vs. Older Nikon Normal Lenses

And, can someone that makes his living from his equipment afford to be
playing around with "scratchy volume controls" getting in the way of his
taking photos? I don't think so.
That old stuff is fine for non-critical use, but it can't cut it for most
professional use.


Jeremy

Re: Comparison of New Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Nikon Mount vs. Older Nikon

Well, if you happen run into a surplus of 'em, share the wealth bro.
--
These are my views. If you've got a problem with it, you can blame it on
me, but this is what I think. I am not the official spokes-person for
any Government, Commercial or Educational institution.
John


No_name

Re: Comparison of New Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Nikon Mount vs. Older Nikon Normal Lenses

In article <eFDGg.12469$xp2.4268@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
The difference is that with a volume control dial on an amplifier you
can usually find a good spot that sort of gives the volume you like.
Parts of the lightmeter have to work correctly, or you can't rely on
the meter.
--
That was it. Done. The faulty Monk was turned out into the desert where it
could believe what it liked, including the idea that it had been hard done
by. It was allowed to keep its horse, since horses were so cheap to make.
-- Douglas Adams in Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency


Philip@ue.aioy.eu (Philip Homburg)

Re: Comparison of New Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Nikon Mount vs. Older Nikon Normal Lenses

"Philip Homburg" <philip@ue.aioy.eu> wrote
This can be the camera equivalent of the scratchy volume control* -
a bit of contact cleaner can sometimes make everything 'new'
again.
* The volume control analogy isn't quite right - 1/2 the problem
is usually leaky electrolytic caps: for low noise you can't have
DC current flowing through the potentiometer wiper. So if
contact cleaner didn't work on the old radio ...
--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Darkroom Automation
http://www.nolindan.com/da/fstop/


Nicholas O. Lindan

Re: Comparison of New Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Nikon Mount vs. Older Nikon Normal Lenses

In article <s2eke2lsild0k2div06dglnte8bnav8sc4@4ax.com>,
I have a small collection of Nikon cameras and in general they just work.
There are two series that sort of stop working. The first is the Nikkormat,
where the meter-coupling starts failing. This is a mechanical problem,
that doesn't prevent you from using the camera. You just lose the
light meter.
The second problem I have is with the F4. For some reason, the aperture
closing mechanism needs a CLA, otherwise it is too slow. This is a nasty
one because it looks like the camera works, except the all your images
will be overexposed.
I got rid of my FE when the ISO settings disc started failing. Like the
Nikkormat, the camera was still usable but the light meter became a problem.
Then there is the occasional MD-12 (motor drive) with dirty battery contacts.
I doubt that anything can be said in general about whether electronical or
mechanical failures are more likely. It all depends on the design. Robust
over designed electronics can live very long and can be quite reparable.
The same goes for mechanical parts.
If anything, you have to study the track record of the device you are
going to buy. Find out what the weak parts are and make sure that those
parts are available of can be repaired.
--
That was it. Done. The faulty Monk was turned out into the desert where it
could believe what it liked, including the idea that it had been hard done
by. It was allowed to keep its horse, since horses were so cheap to make.
-- Douglas Adams in Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency


Philip@ue.aioy.eu (Philip Homburg)

Re: Comparison of New Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Nikon Mount vs. Older Nikon Normal Lenses

I think there is good reason to keep and use such lenses and bodies, as is my interest,
for doing visual photographic art on a tripod... then the darkroom art. Saleable framed
art. Art for art galleries, so RICH can people can buy it!
--
}<)))*> Giant_Alex
cravdraa_at-yahoo_dot-com
not my site: http://www.e-sword.net/


AAvK

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