Nikkor 50mm f1.2 - focussing options with F4 camera

Thingy · Jun 22, 2011

I have been tempted by various posts on this forum to buy a Nikkor 50mm AIs f1.2 lens. Posters have indicated that because of limitations in the design of Nikon focussing screens, the lens cannot be accurately focussed (except at infinity).

I was wondering if it would be easier to focus below infinity were one to use the aperture stop down lever with the lens set at, say f4, or am clutching at proverbial straws?

BobD · Jun 22, 2011

Thingy said:
Posters have indicated that because of limitations in the design of Nikon focussing screens, the lens cannot be accurately focussed (except at infinity).

Huh? Where did this idea originate?

Ian C · Jun 22, 2011

The idea that a particular lens cant be focused on an SLR is illogical. The basic idea of an SLR iswhat you see on the focusing screen is what you get on film.

While the focusing screens of the F4 automatic focus camera is intended for the use of AF lenses, manual focusing is still possible.

You can install the K screen for the same type of screen as used on the F3. This gives you both a central split-image with microprism ring as focusing aids. This makes focusing manual focus lenses on the F4 easier.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/f4.htm

bblhed · Jun 22, 2011

Your F4 may not have a "split screen" type of focusing screen, but that should only make it a bit difficult to manually focus quickly when you first start doing it. I have used my manual focus 50mm f/1.4 on my F4 with no problems, but I am used to not always having a split for focus. Your actual mileage may differ, but that is a really nice lens, and if I didn't have the f/1.4 already I would be all over it.

Bob-D659 · Jun 22, 2011

Thingy has been reading way tooooo much about autofocus only type viewfinders on d--- image recording devices.

The worst problem with an f1.2 lens is it has effectively no depth of field when wide open. No, stopping down to f4 won't help, it will just look like it is in focus when it isn't.

Jesper · Jun 22, 2011

Never heard about this before, but I have a handful of F4's, 2x50/1.4, 2x50/1.2, 1x50/1,8 and 1x55/3,5 and I have never noticed anything of the sorts.

Bob-D659 · Jun 22, 2011

If you haven't seen this page, it lists all the F4 type screens that were made. http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf4/screens/index.htm

Thingy · Jun 27, 2011

Looks like I'll be OK then.

Many thanks for your posts.

Blighty · Jun 28, 2011

You will be OK - assuming you're not buying an old nail. I'm using an AIS f1.2 on my F5 and focussing is difficult only because of narrow DoF at f1.2. Get your focussing spot on and you won't be disappointed

Ralph Javins · Jun 28, 2011

Good morning, Thingy;

(Any relationship to James Arness?)

One nice thing about an f/1.2 lens is that very narrow DoF (Depth of Field). When you get it reasonably close, you know that it will be fine when the lens aperture stops down for the photograph. Helps a lot with eyes that are developing an excessive accumulation of years.

Like so many others, I also do not worry about any problems when focusing this kind of a lens with a "manually focusing camera."

brucemuir · Jun 28, 2011

I'll bet the OP is referring to a type screen that cannot show actual DOF for an f/1.2 lens

Some AF screens are not optimized for fast lenses below a certain aperture. (2.8? depending on screen)

damonff · Jul 25, 2011

I use the green dot rangefinder indicator for all of my manual focusing on the F4 and very rarely have an out of focus shot.

vpwphoto · Jul 25, 2011

50 1.2 focusing.

I didn't read every reply but I have been down this road.

F 1.2 lenses 50 or otherwise have no trouble being focused on an SLR that has its mirror in alignment/. Mirror alignment is most critical with any wide-aperture lens.

That being said, I think I have had mirror alignment issues with ONE of the some 25 Nikon bodies I have used.

The 50 f 1.2 is not very useful to my tastes used wide open. The 1.4 and 1.8 and early 2.0's are sharper wide open and don't suffer from coma and pincushion.

I am a pro... I haven't owned a "wide" 50mm for my Nikon kit for some 10 years.
The 55 micro AIS f.2.8 Nikor is the sharpest lens in my Nikon kit. I find it funny that I owned a 50 1.2 only to trade the heavy beast for a 50mm f1.4 Af... traded that because it just wasn't used much at all and now the 55 and 105.1.8 both AIS (NOT AF) are the most used lenses with my AF kit.

Take this to the bank from a full time professional.... if you chose the 1.2 have fun.. it's not all bad... just not to my "Zeiss' tastes. It's pretty soft used wide open and so damn heavy.

PS don't even think about using it without a hood... and please don't put a protective filter (skylight etc) over these highly corrected lenses...

dreamingartemis · Jul 25, 2011

I have a 50mm f/1.2 and used to own an F4s, never had any focusing problem with the combo during the times I used them. Though beware, at f/1.2 the focus plane at 1.2 is very much near non-existant on any camera and I've used it on fm2n, f3,f4,f6 and even on d700 so it's not the camera here.

Though on the F6 even though you opened it up all the way to f/1.2, the camera will only show it opened all the way to f/1.4 but rest assured the metering thinks otherwise and calculates in the exposure at f/1.2.

Thingy · Aug 1, 2011

Oooo Zeiss...... Must confess to being a Zeiss addict, though not for large format work where I'm a Schneider addict!

Pumalite · Aug 2, 2011

Jesper said:
Never heard about this before, but I have a handful of F4's, 2x50/1.4, 2x50/1.2, 1x50/1,8 and 1x55/3,5 and I have never noticed anything of the sorts.

Me neither

pentaxuser · Aug 2, 2011

vpwphoto said:
I am a pro... I haven't owned a "wide" 50mm for my Nikon kit for some 10 years.

PS don't even think about using it without a hood... and please don't put a protective filter (skylight etc) over these highly corrected lenses...

Isn't a 50mm on a 35mm camera very slightly telephoto, not wide or does wide in this context mean something else?

What is the issue with a protective filter exactly and does this apply to other filters such as yellow etc?

Thanks

pentaxuser

djacobox372 · Aug 3, 2011

Just make sure you buy a 9 bladed version of the 1.2, the 7 blade versions don't produce nearly as pleasing results.

vpwphoto · Aug 7, 2011

pentaxuser said:
Isn't a 50mm on a 35mm camera very slightly telephoto, not wide or does wide in this context mean something else?

What is the issue with a protective filter exactly and does this apply to other filters such as yellow etc?

Thanks

pentaxuser

I was speaking about the lens opening as in greater than f2

Nikkor 50mm f1.2 - focussing options with F4 camera

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency