Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 – Legacy 50mm. Which one is the best? Part 10

I am coming slowly to more expensive lenses. Being rather busy at the moment, I will make following few posts as a rolling reviews, till I don’t find time to make formal tests as in a previous posts.Today I made few shots from the local pub with Nikon Nikkor 50 f1.2, one of those lenses that has a flavor of the legend. Considering the fact that Nikon still produce this MF lens, there must be something about it.

I don’t think that sharpness is the most important figure when comparing lenses. There is more about it, and I like to use the phrase – it is all about lens character.
Of course, once you have a specific task where sharpness is requested, you will look for the sharpest lens, and this Nikkor could be high on your list. Softer wide open, it is very sharp between f2-f5.6. Probably the sharpest Nikkor 50mm lens at f2.
If you also want to get a kind of character that somehow evoke those film days in digital era, Nikon Nikkor 50 f1.2 definitely worth serious consideration.

You might find few posts on the web, talking about this lens as a King of the Bokeh. I think this is exaggerated, as if there is any lens in this focal length that probably deserves that title, it would be Leica Noctilux 50 f0.95. Lens that I would adore to mount on camera. Unfortunately that won’t happen soon, if ever 🙁
Combination of very good contrast rendition and smooth out of focus areas of Nikon 50 f1.2 are however  very pleasing and specific.

Following images all taken with NEX 5n and Nikon Nikkor 50 f1.2, wide open, in the local pub, might better illustrate my point.

It will be interesting to see how does it compare with Canon FD 50 f1.2 (much cheaper) and Canon EF 50 f1.2L (more expensive). Stay tuned…