On Sun, 28 Jun 1998 15:56:48 +0100, Tim Hague wrote:

>I've been using one on loan for a couple of weeks now, and on the slides
>that I've made, this lens seems to be VERY VERY soft!
>
>It doesn't look out of focus, but on contrasty images the bright areas
>bleed into the dark areas.
>
>This happens worst at f/1.4, less so at f/2-2.8 and ALMOST gone by f/4.
>For such an expensive lens (compared to 50mm f/1.8 non-D), I find this
>unacceptable, but I don't know if it's a bad lens (faulty manufacture)
>or a bad design. I mean, what's the point in making a f/1.4 lens if it
>doesn't work at this aperture????
>
>BTW, this lens is made in China (please don't start another Made in
>China thread) - I just want to know if made in Japan is better, and if
>they are still made in Japan...

Place the lens (diaphragm open) near the bulb of a desk lamp
and look into the lens from a foot or so away, and out of the
beam of light. Reverse the lens and do it again. This will show
up whatever problems may exist on element surfaces.
Don't worry about a moderate amount of dust, but a fingerprint
or hazed surface (or mold - but this is unlikely in this new a
lens unless it has been stored in very poor conditions) would
cause this kind of problem. Normally the 50mm f1.4 Nikkor is
snappy and sharp over most of the frame by f2 - and the effects
you describe are unlikely to be caused by sample variation
(I suspect the lens has a finger print on it...).