Out w/ the old, In w/ the new: The Perfect 35mm 1.4 Nikon mount

Logan LeBlanc

Logan LeBlanc

Well-known member
So after a stressful weekend of scouring footage, posting clips, pictures and responses, and wallowing in denial, I've come to conclusion that I need a
newer Nikon lens that'll do the trick.

I had a Nikkor 35mm 1.4 Ai and am just tired of the chromal abberation issue that it has wide open.

So the criteria are:

A) Shoots well with the AF100 @ 1.4
B) Nikon mount

Any suggestions? I've seen the Rokinon 35mm/1.4. Crap? Great? Meh?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/769577-REG/Rokinon_RK35MAF_N_35mm_f_1_4_Wide_Angle_US.html

Thanks guys, you help me seem way smarter around my peers.

LL
 
mcbob said:
good: Samyang 35/1.4
better: Zeiss ZF 35/1.4
betterer: Leica Summilux-R 35 with a Leitax adapter
Click to expand...

I agree. A late Summilux R is significantly better wide open. Spendy, but still less than a PL mount super-speed prime. The Samyang/Rokinon is great for the money. I actually think that the Pan/Leica m43 25mm f1.4 is a viable alternative.
 
just came in the mail, it's definitely less blooming at 1.4, there's still some of course but not as much as the old lenses. The focus ring is great very smooth, the only thing I can be picky about it's a little large for a prime. With the exception of my 70-200 this 35mm is my heaviest and largest lens. No biggie if you use rails, but sometimes i like to switch lenses fast and like the smaller lighter nikons. I'll do some tests tomorrow and post
 
does it have to be a nikon mount and have to be 35mm? I have the following Panasonic Leica and it is VERY good with CA, distortion, and flare:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/768816-REG/Panasonic_H_X025_Leica_DG_Summilux_25.html

it's light, plus it interfaces directly with the AF100- so you have auto/remote focusing and auto iris (if or when you need those features). It's roughly the same price as the Rokkinon 35mm but I think you get more for your money.
 
Hey Ed, I'd rather stick w/Nikon and I already have a 14-42 and a 28 so I really wanted to replace the one I have. If I sell the AF100 I'd like to have only one mount format to deal with.

Not to mention, I'm much more a manual aperture kinda guy. It's the control freak in me, I'm sure : )
 
Joe748 said:
just came in the mail, it's definitely less blooming at 1.4, there's still some of course but not as much as the old lenses. The focus ring is great very smooth, the only thing I can be picky about it's a little large for a prime. With the exception of my 70-200 this 35mm is my heaviest and largest lens. No biggie if you use rails, but sometimes i like to switch lenses fast and like the smaller lighter nikons. I'll do some tests tomorrow and post
Click to expand...

Hey Joe, any footage or stills of it at 1.4?

LL
 
Hi I just brought a Nikon AF-D 35mm f2 in mint condition for $270. While a f1.4 sounds appealing when I looked on various lens test reviews the f2 seemed to be just as sharp but at a fraction of the cost of the Nikon AF-S 35 f1.4G for around $1800. The AF-D f2 auto focus works well on stills and is reasonable as a manual focus on the AF100 and still has a manual aperture ring (unlike the more expensive f1.4G). i'm sure the Zeiss 35 f2 or f1.4 would be great lenses but I worry that my eyes aren't sharp enough to critically focus when shooting stills on the D800E. I also like have a small lightweight lens, best of luck in your search.
 
zeiss vivtar.jpgvivitar 1.4 copy.jpg


One of the photos is carl zeiss zf2 and samyang at f/2

The bottom picture is the samyang at 1.4
 
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