Nikon

Sparkle.

Inspiration, Nikon, Nikon D810, Portrait, Q&A, Sigma 35mm f/1.4 ART, Teaching point

There’s something about the way the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 ART renders… photos from it just sparkle, for lack of a better word.

At this point, I think I may even prefer it over the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART, but I haven’t shot enough with either to draw any definite conclusions (though the fact that I might be favouring a 35 over a 50 is saying something, given I’ve traditionally been a 50 shooter).

Either way, both of these Sigma ART lenses are phenomenal.  I can’t wait until springtime to get outside in good light and really play with them.

—Peter.

Sparkle

The Nikon Df sensor.

Inspiration, Nikon, Nikon Df, Q&A, Teaching point, Voigtländer 40mm f/2 SL-II

After about a week of photographing with the Nikon Df, I am pleased to say that its CMOS sensor appears to come the closest to behaving like the CCD sensor I’ve long respected in the Leica M9.

I can actually pull more shadow detail out of the files (which came as a complete surprise) and the highlight recovery is also superior (not a surprise).

Of course, the Df is not a rangefinder (so if you’re like me, and like to manually focus, that makes things more difficult… also, I miss seeing the scene “outside of the frame” that a rangefinder offers) and the stable of lenses for the Nikon F-mount are larger and generally not as well corrected as the Leica equivalents (having said that, the Voigtländer 40mm f/2 SL-II I’m using is very competent and compact).

For micro-contrast and tonality, CCD wins every time.

On the other hand, the Df has rock-solid reliable electronic guts (with robust processing power), does not feel like a beta product, and has an external ISO dial (I love this).

More photos to follow…

—Peter.

 

 

 

Relaxed (Nikkor-NOCT meets M9).

Inspiration, Nikon, Nikon 58mm f/1.2 NOCT, Portrait, Q&A, Teaching point

I thought this might be a fun follow-up to yesterday’s post.

A few years ago, I attached the Nikkor-NOCT 58/1.2 to the Leica M9, via a Novoflex adapter, and took this image.

Focusing involved guessing, because of course the Nikkor-NOCT is not rangefinder coupled.

Relaxed

↑Leica M9 + Novoflex adapter + Nikkor-Noct 58/1.2 @ f/1.2.

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Here is another test shot:

M9 + Nikkor-NOCT↑Leica M9 + Novoflex adapter + Nikkor-Noct 58/1.2 @ f/1.2.

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As can be appreciated in the second image, one of the nice things about the Nikkor-NOCT is its near focus ability,

—Peter.

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.