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12-27-2009, 05:38 AM   #1
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Pentax A 50mm f1.2 and Nikkor 50mm f1.2 AIS

Anybody has some first hand experience on how the Nikkor compares to our own?
General ideas on IQ, sharpness, contrast?
Not restricted to 1.2 - these lenses do come with an aperture ring

I think i read some remarks here on the forum but I can't find them again.

12-27-2009, 06:30 AM - 1 Like   #2
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QuoteOriginally posted by Bart Quote
Anybody has some first hand experience on how the Nikkor compares to our own?
General ideas on IQ, sharpness, contrast?
Not restricted to 1.2 - these lenses do come with an aperture ring

I think i read some remarks here on the forum but I can't find them again.
The Nikkor 50/1.2 was one of the reasons I switched to Pentax. My copy of the lens was soft to about f/8, and never did get really sharp. It was flare prone and eventually fell apart in my hands.
The Pentax 50/1.2 is by far the better lens.
12-27-2009, 02:06 PM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by Wheatfield Quote
The Nikkor 50/1.2 was one of the reasons I switched to Pentax. My copy of the lens was soft to about f/8, and never did get really sharp. It was flare prone and eventually fell apart in my hands.
The Pentax 50/1.2 is by far the better lens.
I'm glad I got a copy of the A rather than converting a Nikkor! However, I'm still on the lookout for a Pre-AI 85mm Nikkor.
12-27-2009, 05:33 PM - 1 Like   #4
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QuoteOriginally posted by Blue Quote
I'm glad I got a copy of the A rather than converting a Nikkor! However, I'm still on the lookout for a Pre-AI 85mm Nikkor.
You are going to hate me for this, but I have one.

12-27-2009, 09:54 PM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by Wheatfield Quote
You are going to hate me for this, but I have one.
Are you using it on a Nikon body?
12-28-2009, 01:34 AM   #6
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Thank, Wheatfield.

I seemed to remember some remarks where the Nikkor was compared unfavorably against the Pentax.
Your experience confirms this.
12-28-2009, 05:25 AM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by Blue Quote
Are you using it on a Nikon body?
On my old F2s. I decided a few years ago that I wanted to own the Nikon kit that I wanted when I was a teenager so I watched eBay carefully and found a nice F2s (a year newer than my original). Over the course of a year or so I managed to find pre AI lenses that were contemporaneous with my F2 and that hadn't been murdered. So I now have my F2s, and a 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and 105mm lenses.
They don't see much use these days.
The 85 is a very nice lens.

12-29-2009, 08:35 AM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by Blue Quote
I'm glad I got a copy of the A rather than converting a Nikkor! However, I'm still on the lookout for a Pre-AI 85mm Nikkor.
My Nikon Compendium lists the change from the sharp non-AI 85/1.8 to the softer 85/2 as being in 1977. It doesn't say if the 85/2 was first offered as an Ai-type Nikkor though. The S-mount 85mm rangefinder Nikkor was the lens that made Nikon's reputation so it is indeed an interesting lens to consider.

For a brief time I had the chance to use a C-type second generation non-AI 105/2.5 lens on a Nikkormat FT2 with Reala. That was an amazing combo.
12-29-2009, 10:40 AM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by B Grace Quote
My Nikon Compendium lists the change from the sharp non-AI 85/1.8 to the softer 85/2 as being in 1977. It doesn't say if the 85/2 was first offered as an Ai-type Nikkor though. The S-mount 85mm rangefinder Nikkor was the lens that made Nikon's reputation so it is indeed an interesting lens to consider.

For a brief time I had the chance to use a C-type second generation non-AI 105/2.5 lens on a Nikkormat FT2 with Reala. That was an amazing combo.
It was my understanding that the 85mm H lens was actually developed from scratch relative to the rangefinder lens.
12-29-2009, 12:53 PM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by Blue Quote
It was my understanding that the 85mm H lens was actually developed from scratch relative to the rangefinder lens.
Yes, that's my understanding as well from my Nikon guide books. It seems though the F-mount 85/1.8 carried on the excellent reputation of the rangefinder 85/2. That must have been a serious challenge even though the original F looks to be an S adapted for a mirror and viewfinder box. My rangefinder guide shows the S-mount 85/2-P as five elements in three groups, P for pente or five. My Compendium shows the A-type 85/1.8-H of 1959 as six elements, H for hex or six. And my Nikkor AF lens Pro-Guide lists the current AF and AF-D 85/1.8 as an improved version of the 85/1.8-H with six elements in six groups.

I wish I could find good lens diagrams for Pentax lenses.
12-29-2009, 02:55 PM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by B Grace Quote
Yes, that's my understanding as well from my Nikon guide books. It seems though the F-mount 85/1.8 carried on the excellent reputation of the rangefinder 85/2. That must have been a serious challenge even though the original F looks to be an S adapted for a mirror and viewfinder box. My rangefinder guide shows the S-mount 85/2-P as five elements in three groups, P for pente or five. My Compendium shows the A-type 85/1.8-H of 1959 as six elements, H for hex or six. And my Nikkor AF lens Pro-Guide lists the current AF and AF-D 85/1.8 as an improved version of the 85/1.8-H with six elements in six groups.

I wish I could find good lens diagrams for Pentax lenses.
Here is a good site on history of the Pentax 85mm lenses with comparison to other brands including Nikon.

Early Pentax Takumar Lenses
01-01-2010, 06:07 PM   #12
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Welcome to Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax K-Mount Page has lens diagrams for all Pentax K mount lenses.
01-31-2011, 08:01 PM   #13
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Holy necrorevive batman.
Just want to get back to the OP's question about the 50 f1.2. I have the nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AI. Never had a sharpness issue with it. One thing i didn't like was the bokeh (the reason you'd want a 1.2 lens right?): it was soft in the foreground and harsh in the background. Pretty backward. But it was sharp.

On the other hand, i've heard the pentax to be quite soft a lens. From this place: Stan's Pentax Photography
05-23-2017, 04:31 PM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by Wheatfield Quote
The Nikkor 50/1.2 was one of the reasons I switched to Pentax. My copy of the lens was soft to about f/8, and never did get really sharp. It was flare prone and eventually fell apart in my hands.
The Pentax 50/1.2 is by far the better lens.
Just purchased a Pentax SMC 50mm F/1.2. I already have the Pentax SMC 50mm F/1.4 version and would like to compare the 2 in a test. I also have a Olympus 50mm F/1.4 which I haven't tested yet. I had a Voigtlander 42.5mm F/0.95 lens and dropped on concrete when my bag zip failed.
05-23-2017, 04:47 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by TONY LOUIS Quote
Just purchased a Pentax SMC 50mm F/1.2. I already have the Pentax SMC 50mm F/1.4 version and would like to compare the 2 in a test. I also have a Olympus 50mm F/1.4 which I haven't tested yet. I had a Voigtlander 42.5mm F/0.95 lens and dropped on concrete when my bag zip failed.
The Oly 1.4 is soft all the way. It is a great portrait lens and a nice bokeh but it will never be sharp.I have one..
Your name is familiar..are you the nude videographer at Vimeo? GH2 with adapted lenses?
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