I’ve a idea that almost all photographers undergo phases of their work. It may very well be that this entails altering what you need to shoot, switching between the greatest mirrorless cameras available on the market to discover a totally different digicam system that fits your workflow higher, or altering lenses, both kind or focal size.
I’ve additionally been by means of these phases in my skilled images profession, and whereas I’ve now switched from being knowledgeable sports activities photographer to somebody who’s looking for magnificence within the mundane by means of road and documentary-style images I’ve seen my gear change from a number of cameras and lenses to only one digicam and one lens more often than not: a 50mm now being my focal size of selection.
Taken with the Nikon D800 and the Nikon Nikkor-H Auto f/2 at 1/500, f/5.6, ISO400 (Picture credit score: Future / Sebastian Oakley)
Whereas I like my 50mm on my Leica M-E for digital work, my Leica M2 continues to be in its 6-month turnaround to be mounted so my trusty Nikon F5 is conserving my analog images going with a Nikon Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.8D, and I do not like the best way that lens renders something, on movie or digital through my Nikon D800.
So I did one thing drastic and picked up a Nineteen Sixties gem, the NikonNikkor-H Auto 50mm f/2, and that gave me ‘the look’ my fashionable glass couldn’t obtain. Plus it’s by far the sharpest lens I’ve ever used each on movie and in my digital work!
The 50mm Nikkor-H Auto was made between 1960 and 1972 for the well-known Nikon F digicam and this unbelievable lens stole the hearts of many photographer on the time for its easy-to-focus nature, in addition to being very sharp.
Taken with the Nikon D800 & Nikon Nikkor-H Auto f/2 taken at 1/400, f/4, ISO 400 (Picture credit score: Future / Sebastian Oakley)
Tremendous crop of the picture above showcasing sharpness at f/4! (Picture credit score: Future / Sebastian Oakley)
One factor all you hawk-eye Nikonians will know is that this lens is what they name a ‘Non-AI’ lens – that means it doesn’t supply ‘Auto Indexing’. It is a fancy method of claiming a lot of the greatest DSLRs from Nikon will not have the ability to learn what aperture you’re on, and neither will superior movie cameras just like the Nikon F5.
‘Grasp on, he simply stated he makes use of it on a Nikon F5 and D800?’ you is likely to be saying at this level. That is as a result of, with a bit DIY, I made this glorious lens – that almost all assume is now ineffective – useable on my Nikon cameras. That could be a story for an additional time, I am afraid, however the outcomes are unbelievable – however they actually should not be in the event you learn the specs on paper.
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The ‘H’ in Nikkor-H stands for Hex, that means this little gem solely options 6 components and is coated, however not multi-coated, so the lens has a slight blue-ish tone to it once you maintain it to the sunshine.
Taken on a Nikon D800 with the Nikon Nikkor-H Auto f/2 at f2! (Picture credit score: Future / Sebastian Oakley)
Taken with the Nikon D800 & Nikon Nikkor-H Auto f/2 at 1/500 (Picture credit score: Future / Sebastian Oakley)
All the pieces would make you consider that by at the moment’s requirements, this lens would fall by the wayside, even when in comparison with my ‘newer’ f/1.8D lens, however that is so removed from the reality. This 50mm f/2 lens from the Nineteen Sixties is the BEST and SHARPEST lens I’ve ever used (capital letters absolutely meant), and its focus tab is likely one of the smoothest and best on any Nikon lens I’ve used. It provides off, dare I say it, a ‘classic’ look to my pictures that I have been lacking, teamed up with its unbelievable sharpness wide-open. I used to be so satisfied it made me listing my Nikon AF 50mm f/1.8D on eBay inside report time of having the ability to use this lens on my cameras.
I assume the time-honoured adage “previous is gold” is true on this case, and I couldn’t be happier to have the ability to use this outstanding lens that I picked up for a mere $51 / £40. That worth included the unique lens hood, which, if misplaced, could be the identical worth because the lens itself!
It simply goes to point out if it was ok to be capturing world occasions as they occur within the arms of a few of the greatest documentary photographers of its period, it is definitely ok for me – and it seems unbelievable too!
