Nikkor 45mm f/2.8P

[KeithM]

Got this lens at the weekend, just in time for a trip to the Welsh coast.

The picture below is a bit of a cliche but I was looking for something to show the depth-of field.

Details are:

Camera settings: Std/Std/Soft, 3024 fine jpeg, auto white balance, iso 200

Exposure f/2.8 at 1/4000s ( I was determined to get a picture at fully-open :) )

Focused on the windows of the lighthouse keepers cottages.

Camera was rested on a fence post for support.

Processing: Milder than normal ( for me ) USM to compensate for anti-alias filter, resize down for display followed by a very mild USM to crispen up again.

In the orginal full size image, the construction of the chain link fence outside the cottages is clearly visible ( see next post ).

Keith.

[KeithM]

Extract from image above taken from full size image and shown at 100%

K.

[KeithM]

First, take a look at the image below. It's a *very* small lens. Bit of a contrast to my first lens ( Sigma 17-35 ). I could only get it in silver - the Nikon website lists it in black which would have been nicer but the main criteria to me were the size and ( hoped for ) image quality.

This lens is one of only three P-type, CPU equiped manual focus lenses in the Nikkor range. As such it supports all exposure modes and the little viewfinder 'focus-assist' dot works as normal.

The only omission is that distance information is not fed back to the camera ( not surprisingly ) so 3-D Matrix Metering doesn't work.

The angle-of-view is about 35 degrees making it equivalent to a 70mm lens in 135 format. A bit long for a 'normal' lens and probably a bit short for a portrait lens. Certainly a bit different. I grew up with a 58mm lens on my first SLR ( venerable Zenith TTL !! ) so I find it OK for normal use.

The aperture ring does not have a lock. As with any lens, you have to keep it at minimum aperture, otherwise you get the 'FEE' error message in the viewfinder and top LCD display. So far, I haven't accidently shifted it off f/22. The focus ring is very nice to use - back to a nicely damped smooth action with no backlash or graunchiness.

The lens is based on the classic Tessar design of 4 elements in 3 groups. This reduces the number of glass/air and glass/glass interfaces which is supposed to give improved contrast, more saturated colours and reduced flare. The next post has a picture shot straight into the sun. There is some flare but it did very well I thought !

Keith.

[KeithM]

Shooting info:
Camera - std/std/soft, 3024 fine jpeg, auto-WB, iso200
Exposure - f/8 at 1/500s
Processing - USM, resize, re-USM ( slightly overdone on this one ! ).

I cheated here a bit - the Sun is almost directly above the optical centre so any flare products are partially hdden by the reflections of the Sun. When the Sun is to one side, small flare artifacts appear to the opposite side of the optical centre. Exposure was a bit light - detail is discernable in the surfers so not a true silhouette.

Keith.

[KeithM]

( this may be a duplicate - network probs here )

A late afternoon, early evening picture with the sun casting a nice warm light.

Shooting info:
Camera - std/std/soft, 3024 fine jpeg, auto-WB, iso200
Exposure - f/8 at 1/250s
Processing - USM, resize, re-USM.

The partially hidden Morris Minor ( estate ) almost gives an aged look, except for the modern UHF TV aerial at far left :)

( again, another extract on following post... )

My final thoughts on this lens....

It's an experience carrying the S2 around with such a small lens
on board. It locks you into composing shots with it's field-of-view but then there is the easy control over depth-of-field - and the quality of the image at full wide ( f/2.8 ) makes it perfectly usable giving very shallow DoF. Focusing requires care of course and isn't as fast in use as an auto-focus lens although it's a very quiet process up to the cluck of shutter release. I used the focus-assist dot most of the time but the ground glass screen is very good as well.

I really like this lens. You get what you pay for with this one - a very simple lens but the quality really is worth the £300 I paid, although compared to a 50mm AF lens it is expensive. I'm enjoying using it.

Keith.

[KeithM]

Window cropped from full size image of picture above.

I forgot to mention bokeh... the diaphragm has leaves shaped to give a more circular aperture opening. They could be right ! :)

Keith.

[killians913]

This is an amazingly sharp lens. Thanks for sharing!:)

[Steve P]

Hi Keith,


Got to say they are beautiful shots. I am however a little confused with all these Lenses currently avaliable out there. Iv'e recently bought myself the Nikon 50m f1.8 and for £100.00 it's a cracker.

Would you be able to explain to me the difference between that and the one you've now got.


Kind Regards


Steve

[KeithM]

Steve,

I take it the lens you've got is the AF lens.

To be honest, when I first saw this lens, the voices started up - I was amazed by the size of it initially and then the other aspects started to make sense ( or more accurately, I justified the lens to myself !! :) )

To start with, it's small. I currently have two Sigma zooms, and the 17-35 is quite big. The idea of a small compact, albeit fixed focal length, lens appealed. Second, its a manual focus lens - somehow I always prefer manual focus and wanted to get back to a 'proper' focus ring. The focal length is quite nice - not 'standard' field-of-view but not too long. I found myself seeing things differently when composing shots. It delivers crisp, well saturated images with a nice bokeh.

The thing with lens is that it is a CPU lens and so all exposure modes and the focus dot work - the other manual focus lenses around that length are not CPU so you're left a bit high and dry..

At the end of the day, it's a really small, quality ( for the price it should be ! ) lens that allows me to carry the S2 with a lot less weight.

And it looks great ! :)

Keith.

Postscript: Steve, I assumed that you didn't have the MF 50mm f/1.8 lens - if that's the one you have, then the big difference is of course the CPU in the 45mm lens - although whether that is worth £200 is debatable - it is a lot to pay to have metering and a focus dot... K.

[ianmcc]

Can I ask what the min. focus is?... This is a sweet looking lens in every sense.

[Wichita Wayne]

It was made to be the companion normal lens for the Nikon FM3A and has the classic 4 elements in 3 groups design. The FM3A is a manual focus apature priority camera that is simple and compact. I have looked at these lenses with the FM3A and both are top quality products. For an old F2 user like me this camera would be a great addition to my bag. If they only came in a digital model.

[KeithM]

If I remember correctly, I think it's 0.45m ( closest focusing ) ...

It's certainly a great lens - small compact and great image quality.

Wayne - it works well on the S2 as it has a built in CPU - if you don't mind manually focussing - everything else works just the same.. it's really great and now lives almost permanently on my S2. Go for it ;)

Keith.
ps: there are a number of versions of this lens I suspect, of various ages - it's the latest one you need to go for...

[Wichita Wayne]

I believe its first incantation was in the spring of 2002 when the FM3a was introduced.

[KeithM]

Wayne,

That sounds about right - when I was researching this lens, the Nikon site press releases were round about that time. I got the impression there were older versions of the lens from general trawling on the Internet which confused me for a brief time :rolleyes: :)

I think it's marvellous that a venerable design lives on with the latest dSLR's !

-----------------------------------

And although I don't really need an excuse, thought I'd post another picture... ( btw, if you've ever seen that look in someones eyes that says "you die if you take a picture" then you'll empathise with me :( )

Settings: B&W/hard/hard, FineWeather-WB, iso1600, f/2.8 @ 1/45s, 3024 fine-jpeg.
Processing: cropped, resized, touch of levels to lift it a bit and slight USM.

If you don't hear from me again, I've been found out ( for posting the image ! ).

Keith.