Using the nikkor H.C 50mm f2.0

Made in Japan

I just received this lens for about 3 days already. Normally I would have lots of pictures taken. But literally I could not. I hurt both my shoulders and I find it even difficult to bring the viewfinder to my eyes. But I tried, using many things as support. 

Nikon Nikkor

First impressions: Very nice.

Besides being very affordable, its also very compact. Minimum focussing distance is less than 0.6m. The focussing ring stand out because, its of a bigger diameter than the rest of the lens, while everything else is where it should. Mine is from the older generations where I think its not even Ai-S. But that does not matter me as I used it on my xe2.

Handling, its ok. Normal for a normal 50mm lens. Sometimes I fiddle with the aperture ring because the butterfly catch may be a bit intrusive. 

Contrast.

Using a manual lens for manual focus, you need to rely on contrast to help you to nail that focus. The nikkor level of contrast is better than average. Thus providing images with better than adequate contrast, but not too much that will give a jarring difference between the highlights and the shadows. Thus, the images, from my eyes and my opinion as well, are very pleasant allowing lots of details to be seen even in normal jpegs.

Picture quality.

As for the famed sharpness of this lens, I really can’t tell and conclude that its the sharpest 50mm nikon ever created.I simply do not have the resources to compare it to all the 50mm Nikon has ever built. But is it sharp? Of course. Its a 50mm lens. Does it glow? No. Does it have character? All lenses have character of their own, even different lenses from the same make and brand and focal length. It produces very clean images. The out of focus areas are not distracting and it makes the subject stand out very well, even at f2.8. However, I don’t think the image can be said to be as organic as the ones from the Contax 50mm. Clinical and dependable would be those words I would use to describe the final images.

Did I regret getting this lens, of course not! For less than $100, I was excited. But I regret not knowing about it sooner. To summarise, if you love the type of images produced by a Nikon, get this cheap nifty fifty. On the xe2, it will give a 75mm-ish fov. My kind of focal length.

Pictures of the lens and camera are taken using the Em5 and the olympus 45mm 1.8

Some pictures.

Here are some pictures. Mostly SOOC after imported and exported from LR. Except the ones with the yellow stripes, I had to decrease the exposure and increase the blackness as mainly black road, came out grey. LOL.

Rear View Mirror

Dinner table.

After School

I am a washing machine

 Thank you for reading.

Stripes

As and when I use the lens to take pictures, I will post it up at my flickr account.

Pain in my left shoulder.

Been in pain for a good three or four days. Could not even lift up my left hand to take pictures with the camera. But I thought I gave it a try today and my 50mm f2.0 Nikkor hc arrives. Reviews said it's the sharpest 50mm ever build by Nikon. I don't know. As it is almost all 50mm lenses are sharp. Here are some pictures I took of Idris this afternoon.

At f2.

At 2.8

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Gifts from shah Alam.

Mother in law came back from visiting relatives in shah Alam and she brought gifts! Took these pictures of my son with the cap with the Carl Zeiss 85mm 1.4 planar. Xe2. Love the 3d-ness of the results.

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Zeiss planar.

As far as lenses go, Zeiss lenses are quite coveted. I for one an am Zeiss advocate and are now completing my Zeiss collection. There are so many.

As far as Zeiss goes, my vanilla plain 85mm 1.4 may not be as kick ass as the newer planar. Try googling for milvus etc..

No time? Here is a link... http://www.verybiglobo.com/zeiss-milvus-851-4-vs-zeiss-otus-851-4-vs-zeiss-planar-851-4-comparative-lens-review-2/

Anyway bought my planar for about $700. And that's in Singapore dollars. I won't believe touching the top range planars anytime soon.

So, from today I decided to stick one lens per week on my xe2. Hoping I would get now airtime for each and every one of them. I hope.

Mine is the Nikon mount, attached to my xe2 via a dumb adapter. Here are some pictures for today. Jpegs, sooc.

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Canon 50mm 1.4 ltm

I think I have found my almost perfect lens. Its sharp wide open and its a joy to use on my xe2. Almost... its because it juts out a little. Other than that focussing is smooth and the aperture ring is firm and clicks nicely. The aperture is in front of the focussing ring though and that takes some getting used to. Luckily I have experience in such lenses, such as the helios and the pentacons.

If you are into vintage lens and you really want to feel the vintage experience, than this is the lens to get. On my Fuji its about 75mm which is the focal length that I really like to work with. Here are some potraits shots using the lens. I'll post more of the wider shots soon I hope.

Having brunch.

Trying out a turban.

Saturday.

It's a depressing Saturday. I have to be on my liquid diet while the rest are enjoying Mac and cheese. Haizz.

It's the afternoon already. And I am so bored. It's humid and hot.

Getting old and grumpy easily nowadays. The liquid diet is keeping me full. But hey, who does not like Mac and cheese.

Been two days since I have started to play with those dumbells. Might as well.

Old is gold they say, but I say older is better. Pictures are from my Canon 50mm 1.4 ltm. I finally found my m to Fuji adapter and the lens has been on my xe2 since this morning. Quite easy to focus as the contrast level is fantastic even from the LCD screen. Of course some sample shots from my ever willing model, my 5yo. It is sharp wide open but with almost lenses, vintage or not, one or two clicks to stop it down would be good for the final picture.

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At the oval.

The oval is a cluster of old black and white bungalows. They were used to housed foreign troops pre-independece Singapore. Now its a cluster of restaurants and a big airport themed playground. I usually bring Idris here to burn off some steam, more like a morning exercise routine. All of these photos taken using the SMC Takumar 55mm 1.8 and the Xe2. Honestly, I would recommend people to come here. For the fun.

Idris and Wan.

Trying out a different position.

Came down the slide.

Sticking his tongue out.

Wan feeling giddy.

Su.

Having fun.

Missing the fun.

Heard on the radio about controlling children's usage of their mobile devices. I think the discussion was a bit off centered. I think its not the children who need to be taught on controlling the usage of their mobile devices, its EVERYBODY!

I took this on my xe2 and the smc takumar 55mm 1.8 Focus was off and I had to crop this picture. But clearly, they would have more fun without the mobile phone.

Missing the fun.

Colonoscopy

Had one just now. Together with endoscopy. This is in preparation of the bariatic sleeve surgery that I am scheduled for on 30th July 2018.

I was awake for both procedures and it was interesting, painful at times.

Still on liquid diet. Some cheating took place  when my sister and her family came to dinner with us at the hospital. Mostly dinner there for me is just a cup of black kopi. Kosong.

Su drove me back. I wished I had taken some pictures because it was a lovely experience. And the sound system in my car rocks!

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More pictures from the takumar.

Pictures of Idris. And the out of focus background. Enjoy.

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This is sharp.

Without a doubt this lens is sharp. But most other 50mm lenses are sharp too. What makes it special is the total package it possesses. The out of focus background for example and how it makes the picture nicer. How the sharpness of the lenses does not necessarily means it has to be at the center.

All in all, it's what the lenses can produce that endear it to you.

But this takumar 55mm is sharp.

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Takumar 55mm 1.8

After seeing what the contax 1.7 can do, I decided to try out my Tak 55mm 1.8. I can help feeling that I am missing something. Maybe I was not looking at the right place or direction.

Picture of the camera set was provided by the em5 and the Olympus 45mm 1.8.

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Went to KKH

Sent Idris to KKH today for follow up. It seems he now has eczema on his skin. Due to the drying action of the medicine for his itchiness.

This is Idris before making our way to KKH. Taken using the Contax 50 1.7.
I am loving this lens more and more everyday. Its compact and feel simple enough to use. It is simple to use. Feels like the time I was using my Nikon FM2 and the nikkor lenses. Its shorter than the 50mm 1.4 by about a centimetre thus making it more compact than the 1.4.

Now I am wondering about the rokkors and the other 50mm 1.7 lenses that I am missing out because I want the widest apertures...
Got it for USD$110. I think that that is a good buy.

A smile for the day.

Another one.

My son's chair in his room. Beautifully rendered.

CY 50mm 1.7. xe2

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Pictures from the contax 50mm 1.7 planar c/y

One of the first pictures that I took using my xe2. I have to say the focussing is much nicer than the 1.4

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Ktph

It's was a gloomy morning today when I went there to see the dietician. I hope it's not a bad omen, as though I believe in them.

Part of khoo tech phuat hospital.

Redmi.

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Contax 50mm 1.7.

Just took delivery of this lens. Hope it will lives up to the hype.

Here is another picture of it.

7 artisans 25mm 1.8

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Contax 50mm 1.7 c/y mount

Just took delivery of this lens. Can't wait to try it out.

Redmi

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Optifast

It has begun. My first meal supplement. Objective is to shrink my liver. Makes it easier to reach the stomach. Taste like biscuits in strawberry milk.

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Hard meal

The last hard and proper meal I had before going for my soft diet. Getting ready to go for my bariatic surgery at the end of the July.

Redmi

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Children

The girls are my wife's cousin daughters. I don't know what they are to me but they are ever so sweet.

Pictures taken when they came over just now. My two sons really enjoyed their company.

Xe2 with 7 artisans 25mm 1.8

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Minolta 40mm f2 m.

http://vintage-camera-lenses.com/leica-summicron-c-40mm-2-minolta-m-rokkor-40mm-2/

URL to refer to one of my most missed lens. Bought it twice and sold it twice. Missing it so much.

Price has gone up. If I ever get another one that will be the last lens that I will ever buy.

Idris. A few weeks old.

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Breakfast.

Today, the plan was to wake up early and then go for breakfast at our favourite breakfast haunt. Its at bedok corner. We have been going there even before we were married. And the food, although I can bet some would say not the best in the world, is friendly. Friendly people that sells you food that results in the food being twice as nice.

We woke up quite later than expected. We had brunch instead of breakfast and from there we went to KTPH to deliver my urine sample. 

I had prata for brunch.

Prata for me.

Bedok Corner Food Center

Enjoying our brunch.

Taken with the 7 artisand 25mm 1.8 and the xe2.

7 artisans 25mm 1.8

Shot on my Fuji xe2.

From the longer lenses, I have chosen the 7 artisans to be my xe2 partner. I had this lens for quite some time already and I really like it. Maybe I was lucky but I think I got a good copy. Many on the net gives disparaging remarks on it's corner sharpness etc etc. I think it's performing admirably.

My son, going to school on a Monday.

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Pic of the incoming.

This is a screen shot of the incoming nikkor 50mm f2.0

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Nikon 50mm f2

One of the cheapest lens that I found on eBay. Read up on some reviews and decided to jump in and get one for myself.

I know I told myself to concentrate on the Carl Zeiss collection but for $60. It's a Nikon and I already have 4 of their lenses.

1. The 85mm f2

2. The 35mm f2

3. The 35mm f2.8

4. And the Carl Zeiss 85mm 1.4 planar Nikon mount.

Should be here soon. From Japan.

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Bibik Siti

This is my Bibik. Another one of my aunties. From my father's side she is the second eldest of my father's siblings. I was told that she had helped my family in times of needs in the past. Because of those reasons, my late mom willed it that we will help her however we can. 

Just like her husband, she is never without a smile on her face.She had to go through cancer treatment and Alhamdulilah, she came out on top. The gentlest Aunty, she loved to bake and when I was younger, her pineapple tarts are the bomb! Delicious.

Pentacon  135mm 2.8

Uncle Mat

This is Uncle Mat. Short for Selamat. Selamat, in my language means safe. Picture is a bit soft because of a lack of focussing skills. Not because of the lens.

Uncle Mat is married to my Aunty or Bibik Siti. A loving couple and have 3 kids of their own they still are ever so loving. Their youngest is about to be married to somebody who I am sure would be fun to be with.

I remembered when I was younger, much younger, I would sleep over their place even though their place is ever so small. From them I learned that space is what you make it out to be and I would always feel warm and loved whenever I was there. That place used to be in Toa Payoh.

What I remembered most about their place was their unique fridge. It had a digital clock on the door and four small buttons on it. I really don't know what those buttons are for but I would not stop pressing them everytime I am there. 

Uncle Mat used to be a drummer in a band. Serious. Now he walks with a cane with a smile ever present on his face.

Pentacon 135mm 2.8

Cherry filled donut.

Took this using the Pentagon 135mm. If not for the fact that this is my very first 135mm lens, I would say this lens is very under priced. I got this for $80. Amazing. There are others which are more expensive but I think this is a good starter kit. It has a built in lens hood and its built is amazing. It is metal and glass. No plastics and yet its not that heavy. It is heavier than the Super Takumar 105mm but that a different focal length altogether.

There is another version, made by Pentagon too, also 135mm. This other one has 16 aperture blades and can be had quite affordable too. I wished I had known then about this other 135mm, but now after getting the 6 blades version, I wished I did not.

My niece.

Between f2.8 and f4. I think it's acceptable..

Pentacon 135mm 2.8

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Pentacon sample images.

Lots of reviews on the net states that's it's soft wide open. I found the pictures from mine are quite acceptable.

Anyway shot mainly in black and white today. A picture of aunty sunah.  Sooc. Xe2. 6 blades pentacon 135mm.

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Pics from my pentacon

Might be bringing this lens out for the kenduri later although my first choice will be the em5 with the 17mm and the 45mm. You definitely cannot cock up with that set up.

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Could not sleep

Did not sleep well yesterday night. Right ankle had this throbbing pain. Too tramadol this morning and predinosolone. Seems to be working.

To delivery of my pentacon 135mm 2.8 yesterday.

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Alone.

First time being left alone while I am on the wheel chair. I think I can manage it. Usually I will be on the bed.

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