Horrible ghosting with Nikkor 50 mm 1:1.4D on Sony NEX-7

[Dynszis]

Hello, all.

This is essentially a request for purchase advice. My problem is that I like city streets at night, and when I take pictures thereof with a Nikkor 50 mm 1:1.4D on a Sony NEX-7, it looks horrible: for seemingly every light source, there's a blue blob elsewhere in the picture.

I'd be willing to throw money at the problem, if that would help. Would it? I was looking at M-mount lenses via adapter (e.g. Voigtländer, Zeiss) but of course I might be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.

Has anyone had any experience with this, that is: Advice which lenses might work well in these circumstances?

[HarperPhotos]

Hello,

I experienced on occasion with my Nikon 50mm F1.4D blue flare marks appearing especially when doing interiors. The way I fixed it was simple I sold it and bought a Nikon 50mm F1.4G lens. Problem solved.

Cheers

Simon

[Dynszis]

Nikon 50mm F1.4G lens. Problem solved.

Thanks, this confirms my theory that a simple lens swap can solve the problem, in principle.

However, this particular lens -- your 50mm F1.4G -- has no aperture ring. I wouldn't know how to use such a lens on a NEX, and I suspect it can't be done. Or can it?

[JohnBrew]

I understand there is an adapter available now which has an electronic interface to allow G lenses. Check with B&H. The two 50's I use on the NEX-7 are a Leica 50 Summarit and Zeiss ZF 50 Makro. I have yet to see an anomoly such as yours.

[kirktuck]

I suggest finding a Sony 50mm 1.4. I've been using one on a Nex7 with the LAEA-1 adapter and it gives full control of the aperture, just don't depend on it for fast AF.....

[NashvilleMike]

Without seeing a sample, this sounds suspiciously like a known issue with 3 older AFD Nikon lenses where if you shoot around F/11 or beyond, you'll get (depending on the scene) a circular bluish/whitish ghost like artifact caused by the reflection of the apeture blades in the sensor. It has occurred on the Nikon 50/1.8 AFD, 50/1.4 AFD and 85/1.8 AFD lenses; I believe those were the primary three that had this issue (I've experienced it on both the 1.8AFD lenses mentioned myself, which is why I sold them quite some time ago).

Nikon changed the lens design on the 50 and 85 "G" lenses so this doesn't occur any longer. I'm not sure of the viability of using a more modern G lens on your Sony, so you might want to consider something else brand wise at the 50mm focal length.

-m

[Dynszis]

Thanks to all for the feedback.

@JohnBrew: I'm not sure about the adapter you referenced -- I didn't find any on B&H that fit your description -- but a Zeiss may be a viable option.

@kirktuck: What do you mean, "just don't depend on it for fast AF"? Does AF work at all with the SAL50F14, or isn't that the glass you recommended? I read this lens has an old-fashioned screw-drive AF, and I wasn't aware that the LAEA1 can accomodate this.

@NashvilleMike: You write "without seeing a sample". Can you not see the one I attached?

[NashvilleMike]

Okay - I see your sample now. Not sure what happened earlier...

Anyway, the problem you've having is NOT the artifact I describe (the artifact I describe is located dead center and is circular and more of a whitish light blue). I gotta be honest - I'm at a loss to what this is. Sorry!

-m