A Normal Lens With A Special Character!

The Nikkor 58mm f/1.4 lens ₹1,29,950

- Ashok Kandimalla

 

Before you turn the page away looking at the price, please read the next few sentences that will give you an idea about the heritage of this lens. There are lenses and lenses but there are only a few that have a “cult” following. These lenses, long discontinued, command astronomical prices on the used market due to their unique features. One such lens is the legendary Nikkor 58mm f/1.2 Noct lens. Introduced in 1977, the Noct lens was one of the first to use as an aspherical element. It was designed for nocturnal use (hence the name). Consequently, aberrations like coma, which cause point light sources (like stars or distant lights, for example) to spread and appear like a comet, were virtually eliminated. This and other attributes make this lens very sought after even today. The subject of this review, the Nikkor 58mm f/1.4, employs the same design philosophy and even the focal length. However, the speed has been reduced by a little perhaps to keep the price down without compromising the character.

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