Comparison test

with Carl Zeiss Sonnar 1.5/50 mm. and Nikkor 1.4/5 cm.

Nikon Corporation proudly announced in early 1950 that it had 'the first lens for 35 mm. photography faster than f/1.5'. This statement was in fact a teasing remark to Carl Zeiss' Sonnar 1.5/5 cm. which was already introduced in 1932 ! In 1949 Nikon introduced the Nikkor 1.5/5 cm. but after less than 800 lenses it was taken from the marked as the Nikkor 1.4/5 cm. was ready to be launched. As in those years these lenses were produced to serve photographers that had to work in low light circumstances, the lenses should deliver an acceptable performance wide open.

The feeling of Nikon's superiority, embodied in the statement mentioned before is a nice starting point for a comparison test. Both lenses pictured above were produced in 1952 and put on a Contax IIIa. Several pictures were taken at full open aperture and one and two stops closed. At infinity, at 7 meters (20 feet) and at the closest possible distance in low light. All pictures were taken with a 100 ASA Fuji positive (slide) film, exposure metering was done with a perfect working and calibrated Gossen Sixtino exposure meter. All slides were scanned with a Nikon Coolscan IV-ED at highest possible resolution and in 12-bit colour. Each slide - projected with a Nikkormat GC-2 slide projector (fitted with a Pro-Nikkor) - and all scans were examined by two professional photographers.

The images shown below are just an indication of the performance of both lenses as all images shown here had to be compressed.

Images will follow asap!