Nikon 50mm 1.4 or 50mm 2.0 for macro photography

Is the 50mm 2.0 manual focus Nikkor better than the manual focus 50mm 1.4 for macro photography?
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[@justnoted2995]

Thanks Jules. You've got nice background and good lighting going as well 👍

[@kyleparks4528]

Thanks for the wonderful comprehensive response! For someone like me, getting into macro photography and photography in general on a budget, there's a real dearth of specific information and recommendations about extension tubes and reversed lenses. I came across the video from last August because I was shopping for a manual aperture 50mm for this purpose and my ears perked up when you mentioned the f/1.4 vs f/2 thing. My initial thought was an f/1.4 lens would let more light in, and light is the major limiting factor when you're at higher magnification (coming from the microscope world), so I was really glad I stumbled on your video. Thanks again for the answer.

[@lumenlarry6197]

Thanks, great info as usual!! Love these vintage lenses...

[@ryanbeer5262]

Helicoid adapter + 50 f2 for general walk around photos is a nice compact set-up, sometimes I'll also carry a close-up filter just in case. For dedicated macro the 55 3.5 is incredible.

[@julesvuottosphotofocus4696]

The 55 3.5 is very sharp, so is the 55 2.8.

[@davyboyo]

Thanks for this little pearl of wisdom. I've owned all the nikkor (and series e) 50mm manual focus lenses at some point, for whatever reason the nikkor h 50mm f2 is the only one that I hung on to. I think it's underrated by the masses, I love the results and the lens itself has personality.
Downside is the occasional flare but that's old coatings for you. I use it with a hood but apparently I have a bit of a habit of shooting into the sun 🤣
50mm is my primary focal length but the other nikkor in my bag is a k series 85mm 1.8 and I really feel like this is an underrated lens too. It came to me on my first F, virtually as a body-cap. I tested it out on my digital Nikon and I was genuinely blown away by the sharpness wide open. I knew the lens had a reputation for nice character and softness so wasn't expecting too much, now I look for any opportunity to mount it on my F2!
.. Maybe I just got a really good copy. Though it wasn't particularly well cared for.
All the best Jules.

[@tomallen6073]

I’ve had great results with my f2 also, I believe mine is ai/ais, not sure if the optical formula Is the same as the non-ai lenses. Like you say underrated, found the same is true of the 20mm f3.5ai/ais. People dismiss the slower lenses, some are great performers, even in comparison with more modern lenses.

[@davyboyo]

@@tomallen6073 it would seem to be the case that often the cheaper, slower lenses exhibit less optical defects. I don't mind optical defects too much though, and the extra brightness of fast lenses is nice in the viewfinder. I don't think you can go too far wrong with the bigger brands' optics (be it vintage or modern) and I don't think lens performance is truly 'night and day' between new and old lenses. (that reality doesn't sit so well with companies trying to sell us new stuff to replace the 'defective' items we own. Although who can blame them for trying to make a living)
The only significant 'improvement' I see with modern lens design is better coating and edge sharpness (particularly wide open).
I'm sure that stuff matters for certain types of photography but for myself I enjoy a bit of edge softness to isolate a subject even more when shooting wide open.
I think pushing beyond the psychological need to use the 'very best' gives us the freedom to try affordable and potentially more interesting gear.
It's great to have options, I just wish I had a bit more free time for this hobby 😅

[@davyboyo]

@@tomallen6073 also, I think the optical formula stayed constant for the 50mmf2 through its entire production. I wouldn't mind picking up an Ai version for the meter compatibility.

[@highlander200107]

Wonderful video, I use one of the 50/2 Nikkor-H on my PB4 bellows with slide copier to use as my 35mm scanner and the results are spectacular. My Nikkor-S 50/1.4 is relegated to portrait work.

[@julesvuottosphotofocus4696]

Thank you John

[@fotosfcamacho]

Interesante video!!! Muchas gracias!!! Saludos