As the 50/1.4 and 1.8 is not that expensive, I will not try anything
too old. My 50/1.4 with S/N 3xx,xxx was soft wide open for close
distance objects (~5-10 feet) even for 4x6 print, although it was only
a little poorer than other 50/1.4 at infinity, it became very sharp at
F2.8. My another 50/1.4 SC at 5xx,xxx range is much better at all
distance and result comparable to my 1,1xx,xxx MC. For all 50/1.4 I
have if you stop down to F2.8 or below, you will not see the different
with bare eyes for 4x6 prints. Even for enlargement you will only see
the different when you make side to side comparison.
You are right about the flare especially for the 50/3.5, I had a mint
one which performed very poor at backlight situation. On the other
hand I like my 50/1.4 with 5xx,xxx better then the one >1 million, the
later one has cooler balance and the print doesn't look very good to
my eyes.
C.H.Ling
"M. Lloyd" wrote:
>
> The best 50/1.4's are SN above 1 million, but that
> serial number is quite respecable. Below 500,000 or
> silvernosed it is a real hit and miss type of thing
> though many examples are terribly soft wide open and
> hard to focus for this. Sivernosed Zuikos in general
> are the earlies ones and many a single coated. In many
> cases the only difference you will see is that the
> Silvernosed ones might have more flare but some
> silvernosed like the 50/1.4, 28/3.5, and 50/3.5 are
> have 'peculiarities' about them that makes them less
> reliable than later black nosed Zuikos.
>
> Mark Lloyd
>
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