No f/1.2 NIKON?

I just looked for the first time what lenses NIKON has to offer. I see a MF 1.2 50 but not AF? Is that true? How can that be?

Do you really think the 1/3 stop from f/1.4 to f/1.2 is a big deal? Nikon doesn't.

I tend to agree with them, I didn't buy the 50L (or the 85L when I had it) for the last 1/3 stop. I bought the 50L for ring USM and I had the 85L (at the time) because I did want faster than f/1.8.

If you put it that way, no. But still, 1.2 is 1.2 and it is very much usable and fantastic. I didn't buy the 50L for the 1.2 either but I do use it and love it.

pixel_junkie wrote in post #13946688
If you put it that way, no. But still, 1.2 is 1.2 and it is very much usable and fantastic. I didn't buy the 50L for the 1.2 either but I do use it and love it.

Sure, it is usable. But realistically the difference between a shot at f/1.2 and f/1.4 is.....well.....it's 1/3 stop which doesn't make a hell of a difference either way.

Take a shot at f/1.2 and then f/1.4. There ain't much difference.

Wanna excite me? Redesign the 50L to be a 50 1:1.4L USM with a floating element and sharper wide open. Price it the same and I'd ditch the extra 1/3rd stop no problem.

JeffreyG wrote in post #13946706
Sure, it is usable. But realistically the difference between a shot at f/1.2 and f/1.4 is.....well.....it's 1/3 stop which doesn't make a hell of a difference either way.

Take a shot at f/1.2 and then f/1.4. There ain't much difference.

Exactly, but my shutter breathes better at 1.2 sometimes (slightly)

I have the 85 L and rarely ever use 1.2. Who really wants to see one eye in focus?

1.2 can but used for more than just a close up portrait, no?

pixel_junkie wrote in post #13946725
1.2 can but used for more than just a close up portrait, no?

Sure. But I still say a third of a stop is just not much of a big deal, especially when we are talking about a lens this fast to start with.

Sometimes it works, like this first one. But really f/1.4 would be just fine.

And in the second one, even f/1.4 is too fast for more than a smallish print (or a web image) as the DOF is too thin at this aperture for a group even if the shot is loosely framed.

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I hear you. I still like having 1.2 and I use it plenty. I was just surprised to see that NIKON has not put together an answer to CANONs ultra fast challenge. How often it is useful is besides the point. I can imagine, the way "f/1.2" can sound to some. From marketing stand point, it has to be huge. And on top of that, it is not just a gimmick, it's usable in more than one situation.

pixel_junkie wrote in post #13946725
1.2 can but used for more than just a close up portrait, no?

What Jeffrey said.

When I had the 85L, I used it wide open 90% of the time. I loved it. But stopped down a fast lens just becomes insanely sharp. Another great benefit.

Generally, an f/1.2 lens stopped down to f/1.8 will be sharper then a lens starting at f/1.8. So that is an advantage.

Well, 1.2 is better than 1.4 if you can pull it off well enough. If Nikon could do it without compromising something else people would care about more, they'd be foolish not to. I guess Canon has found a way to strike that balance and Nikon has not.

if f1.2 is the same as f1.4 then f1.4 is the same as 1.8 and 1.2 is the same as 1.8.

At some point 1/3 stop makes a difference, but I guess perhaps a better question is how good are they all at f1.8? Is the fact that the 85 can go to 1.2 make it likely better at 1.8 than a lens whose max aperture is 1.4, becasue IMO 1.8 is certainly a useful portrait aperture.

But then if it's crap at f4 becasue it has to be good at f1.2, that's not much help either.

Why the hell did I even start writing this?

F/1.2 is for marketing purposes IMHO.
Do I have F/1.2 lenses? Yes I do.
Do I shoot at F/1.2? Yes I do.
Do I like F/1.2? Freakin' love it!

Can anyone comment on the quality of the 85L shot at f/1.4 vs. Nikon's 85mm at f/1.4?

I was wondering myself what lens would I buy if I made the switch.