On Tue, 24 Sep 2002 03:56:46 GMT, "Rick Castro"
wrote:

>Any info on whether the Nikkor 50mm f 1.2 is just as sharp and high quality
>as the 50mm f1.4? I want the brightness, but I don't want to give up any
>sharpness for it.

The Nikkor 50mm f1.2, 1.4, and f1.8 lenses are
"equal but different", and depending on your needs,
one may serve better than another. The 1.2 is
sharp at f1.2 at normal medium-close distances
but is poor at wide stops near infinity-focus;
the f1.4 is very sharp short the corners from f2
at medium close distances and infinity (neither
lens is good for "macro" work, though...); the
f1.8 has very low linear distortion and good
center-to-corner sharpness uniformity, but less
"snap" at f2 than the others (at optimum focus
distances, and also at f2). So, choose the f1.2
for room interiors, the 1.4 or 1.8 for general
use, the 1.8 for copy work or architecture.
All improve with stopping down to mid apertures,
of course... For more, see:
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/slemn.html