Nikkor 55mm 1:1.2s

[Cold]

Hello all,

I have the opportunity to acquire this lens, but before I make any kind of a move on photography equipment, I like to research the heck out of it beforehand so I know exactly what I'm getting. Oddly, there's precious little information available out there for this lens, especially relating to its compatibility with modern bodies.

Specifically, I'd like to know what mount the 55mm f/1.2 is, and by extension if and how it would work on a D80. From what I've been able to gather, it's AI mount, and while it would work on my D80, it wouldn't meter. Since I've always had full use of metering on any camera I've ever used, I'm not sure how serious of a drawback this will be.

Any comments, suggestions, further questions, or advice on this matter is appreciated.

[Shokinen]

Nikon is apparently working on a new version of the 50mm f/1.2

It will most likely auto-focus on your D80 as it will probably be AF-S. The current version will also probably drop in price.

So you may want to wait a bit

[inkista]

I've used one on my Canon. But mine was pre-AI.

As I understand it, you want to avoid a pre-AI version, and try and find an AI one. A pre-AI lens can damage the minimum aperture detection switch.



Simply, if the two prongs on the side of the lens are solid, it's a pre-AI lens. If they have holes in them, it's AI. A pre-AI lens may have been converted to AI somewhere down the line, but it's unlikely.

Basically, you're looking for this:
not this: .

[inkista]

Originally Posted by Shokinen

Nikon is apparently working on a new version of the 50mm f/1.2...

Shokinen, the OP is talking about the precursor to the 50/1.2, the much older 55/1.2. You can typically find them for much less than the 50/1.2, and since the current 50/1.2 is manual focus anyway, going non-CPU isn't such a big deal. The "S" designation, iirc, means it's single-coated, but I could be wrong.

I got a pre-AI (scalloped) 55/1.2 for a little less than $200, but I got all health-OCD about the fact that I thought it probably had thorium (radioactive) glass in it. A lot of the '50s-'60s vintage stuff, particularly the really fast lenses, have thorium elements. For most lens collectors who are rational and understand that eating a banana gives you a higher dose of radiation than a lens does, the only concern this causes is that the lens can discolor with a brown/orange tint from the decay. Simply dosing the lens with enough UV (i.e., leaving it out in sunlight, taking care not to heat the lens (condensation, melting adhesive, etc.), or using an artificial UV source) to reverse the decay removes the tint.

[Cold]

Simply, if the two prongs on the side of the lens are solid, it's an AI lens. If they have holes in them, it's AI.

I'm assuming here, that in your mind, you were saying, "if the two prongs on the side of the lens are solid, it's a pre-AI lens", right?

With that extremely helpful breakdown, I'm guessing that this bad boy (or girl...not really sure what gender lenses are):



Is of the AI mount variety, and would therefore not interfere with the mechanical goosebumps on my D80. Correct?

If so, then according to the sometimes-amusing-but-usually-technically-accurate Mr. Rockwell, it'll work on a D80, but I'll lose metering. Is this a simple technicality, an added but manageable challenge, or does it make the lens a white elephant?

[vandergus]

You can also check the serial number here to be doubly sure of what you're getting. For reviews on older lenses I like Bjorn Rorslett's site. Looks like he's only got an entry for the pre-AI Nikkor-SC version, though.

Edit: Yeah, that look's like an AI lens. Regarding loss of metering, that's the easy part. The hard part is going to be figuring out what's in focus at f1.2 looking through the autofocus...uh...focused viewfinder of the D80.

[LoveDSLR]

AI lens with Aperture Direct Readout (ADR) scale and prong with cut-outs to illuminate ADR scale.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by Cold

I'm assuming here, that in your mind, you were saying, "if the two prongs on the side of the lens are solid, it's a pre-AI lens", right?

Correct. I've edited the post to avoid future confusion for the googlers. Thanks for catching that. Now you know why so many of my posts have been edited.

....then according to the sometimes-amusing-but-usually-technically-accurate Mr. Rockwell, it'll work on a D80, but I'll lose metering. Is this a simple technicality, an added but manageable challenge, or does it make the lens a white elephant?

Depends on you and what you shoot, really. But for most folks, I think it would be "an added but manageable challenge." Especially if you have the time to shoot, check and adjust, and retake a shot, thanks to little things like histograms. And let's face it, you weren't planning on doing run'n'gun with a manual focus lens anyway.

Of course, you could also swap for a Canon dSLR and an adapter ring, or a D200/D300 if you wanted to get metering back.

The bigger issue, as vandergus said, is going to be accurately placing your DoF if you plan to shoot with it wide open (and who doesn't get an f/1.2 lens to shoot with it wide open?) where the DoF may not only be millimeters thin, but could also be inaccurately rendered by your focus screen. On my XT with the stock matte focus screen, I felt like I was focusing by braille: a lot of hit'n'miss wiht my Olympus OM 50mm f/1.2. When I got the Katzeye split-circle focus screen for my 50D, it got simpler. And when I moved to my 5D Mark II, just swapping for the Canon EE-s ('super precision") focus screen made using the 50/1.2 wide open a positive joy.

[Almond.Butterscotch]

Originally Posted by inkista

I got all health-OCD about the fact that I thought it probably had thorium (radioactive) glass in it.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Brilliant!

Originally Posted by Cold

not really sure what gender lenses are)

Camera bodies are female, lenses male.

Originally Posted by vandergus

Regarding loss of metering, that's the easy part. The hard part is going to be figuring out what's in focus at f1.2

Regarding both metering and focussing, your D80 is digital. Chimp to see if you have exposure where it should be, and try your best to check focussing too. (Be sure to use your histogram as your LCD will lie to you.) Checking focussing won't be as easy, though. Still, it'll be nice being able to wash away everything but your subject's left-most eyelash with f/1.2.

[Cold]

Hey all,

Thanks so much for the awesome information, inkista especially showed up displaying some of her impressive knowledge. Unfortunately the seller was totally unwilling to separate the lens from the F3 body, so I won't be getting this particular lens after all. Still, with everything I've learned here, I feel much more comfortable navigating the internet in search of older glass now.

Camera bodies are female, lenses male.

I should have known. Thanks. :P

Inkista, I went to the katzeye website...what are those things and how do they work?

EDIT: Nevermind, finally found the installation instructions and it makes perfect sense now. What makes it easier to focus with that screen, though?