Nikon 58MM F/1.4G: The Nikkor-NOCT, reloaded.

Inspiration, Nikon, Nikon 58mm f/1.2 NOCT, Teaching point

58mm Noct vs. 1.4 Prosophos

Well, not exactly, as this new AF-S NIKKOR 58mm lens has a maximum aperture of f/1.4 (vs. f/1.2), but Nikon promises:

“The AF-S NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G is a lens that makes the most of advanced optical design technologies… to achieve high reproduction capability of point light sources even at the maximum aperture, and natural depth of subjects utilizing smooth and beautiful bokeh characteristics. With shooting of distant night landscapes, the lens minimizes the sagittal coma flare…”

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Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?  These were the coveted attributes of the Nikkor-NOCT.

Those of you who have been following this blog already know that the legendary Nikkor-NOCT was my favourite NIkon lens, and may very well be my favourite lens of all time:

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The Pirate 2

The Pirate

Swing

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Will the new lens be as impressive?

I hope so, given all the advances in lens design and manufacturing over the last several decades.  However, one thing I know for sure is that the new lens won’t have that silky-smooth manual focusing with which the old Nikkors were bestowed.

Either way, these are exciting times in photography.

Check out the specifications of the new AF-S NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G here, and sample images here.

—Peter.

8 thoughts on “Nikon 58MM F/1.4G: The Nikkor-NOCT, reloaded.”

    1. Peter | Prosophos's avatar

      I used to use a Nikon D700/D3, D3S, and even little D40 with this lens (https://prosophos.com/2011/08/07/after-the-rain-and-some-respect-for-the-little-d40/). All my other Nikkor-NOCT shots can be viewed here: https://prosophos.com/category/nikon-nikkor-noct-58mm-f1-2/

      I even tried it with my M9, via an adapter, but of course no rangefinder focusing was possible, so I had to guess the focus @ f/1.2! There were a few keepers, but I never posted them here.

      —Peter.

  2. Struggling Muslim's avatar

    Ahh. Ok why used?. You are not using it anymore?. Now it make sense, the photo with your daughter on a swing, I always wonder how the heck did you get a perfect focus while she was swinging away like that with an M9. :). Now I know

      1. andygemmell's avatar

        Salim, don’t be surprised to see this lens sitting on A7r with Peter behind the wheel :-)….come on Peter, it’ll be too hard to keep the curisosity at bay otherwise…;-)!!

        1. Peter | Prosophos's avatar

          Now Andrew, how do you know me so well, when you’re half-way around the world?

          As a matter of fact, I’m not buying into the new Sony cams and I’m not buying into Nikon, Canon, Olympus, or that CanNikoLeica camera known as the M240. I’ve looked into all of these and I still prefer my M9 + 50/1.4 combo for 95% of my photography.

          I must be getting boring in my old(er) age.

          —Peter.

  3. Pingback: Relaxed (Nikkor-NOCT meets M9). | P r o s o p h o s

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