Manual focus lenses are seeing a resurgence, combining vintage aesthetics with modern optical designs. The Artra Lab NOCTY-NONIKKOR 50mm f/1.2 fits into this trend, delivering a fully manual experience while embracing the style and charm of classic lenses. With a fast f/1.2 aperture and all-metal build, it promises to appeal to those who value craftsmanship and creative control.
Coming to you from Matt Irwin Photography, this engaging video introduces the NOCTY-NONIKKOR 50mm f/1.2. Irwin highlights its aesthetic appeal, particularly when paired with Nikon’s retro-styled ZF camera body. The lens is a nod to Nikon’s historic Noct designs, reminiscent of the iconic 55mm f/1.2 from decades past. Unlike adapting older lenses, this native option offers seamless integration without the need for adapters, enhancing convenience for Nikon Z users.
The lens features a fully manual focus system with a long, smooth focus throw, which makes precise adjustments easier for stills and video work. It also includes a clickable aperture ring ranging from f/1.2 to f/16. The fast aperture and 11 rounded diaphragm blades promise creamy, dreamlike bokeh, making it particularly attractive for portraiture and low-light shooting. Irwin points out that while this lens isn’t chip-enabled to communicate with the camera, bodies can still be set up to recognize and optimize its performance.
Key Specs
- Maximum Aperture: f/1.2
- Lens Mount: Nikon Z, Fujifilm X, Sony E
- Focus Type: Manual Focus
- Minimum Focus Distance: 1.15' (0.35 m)
- Optical Design: 8 elements in 6 groups
- Diaphragm Blades: 11, rounded
- Weight: 1.2 lb (560 g)
Irwin notes that the lens pairs well with the Zf, where its retro design complements the camera’s old-school look and controls. On APS-C, the 50mm lens offers a 75mm equivalent field of view. The build quality is another standout feature, with an all-metal construction that adds durability and a premium feel, although its weight may be noticeable on smaller camera bodies.
The 50mm f/1.2 excels at delivering a vintage-inspired look with soft, creamy backgrounds and subtle sharpness. Modern coatings help minimize chromatic aberration, providing a balance between nostalgic character and usable optical quality. It’s priced at $400, offering a unique alternative for those who want a distinctive manual lens experience without breaking the bank. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Irwin.
Yes most all non film photographers will ever know of film lenses that are most all "Fast Glass" a reason is for hand holding with faster shutter speeds along with fast film. I come from the Film Age of the 70's with my "Auto" shooter (my call) Canon Ftb, reason for the Auto is it has a light meter built in having a needle for the amount of light and a round tip needle adjustable with aperture selection and placing over the light meter needle and inside is circuitry for the film ISO/ASO selection, just a sweet camera to operate. As far as Canon FD lenses of old there is a FD 50mm f/1.2 also out there maybe a little higher in price due to the resurgent of film cameras.
This lens like the old is not chipped so no lens info will be in metadata of images, meaning a log book of each images of when, where, how, of lens settings to add to the metadate. How many will ask, a app/ program called "LensTagger" allows you to add f/#, ISO, Lens serial number, and millimeter, you can also update multiple images BUT before you do each image will have different settings. A log book of sorts will help with the many many years after to look up those settings when in the digital age you may want to reedit an image but you can have the image saved with info in another file under the original file of images.
That is the long explanation of saving a non chipped lens info in the digital times.
My history is in 2014 I went Sony A7SM1, mainly due to it would do bracketed 5 at +/- 3EV, at the time Sony had few lenses BUT with an adapter $20 at the time I could use ALL my Canon FD and EF lenses but the need to use "LensTagger" to put capture info on images. Also at the time it was discovered that the A7SM1 was most useful at doing Astro Milky Ways so Rokinon came out with the FE 14mm f/2.8 unchipped lens and for a year plus no lens corrections and had a very bad mustache on the horizon and elongated stars in the corners. Ah! The mod 1's and 2's you could buy on camera apps, no longer available to buy and download, something to look for when buying used, an on camera app aloud for LC of unchipped lenses, YEA!
For info the FD 14mm f/2.8 has no mustache problem, also all my old FD lenses have no problems and need no LC's. The old lens were made for 35mm film and others so they should be good And there are low cost adapters for any lenses no matter the maker.
Cameras and lenses are forever and never CHEEP, all well built for their time, there is a way to defog old lenses also, just look for it when at a flea market or estate sell.
Next 2 images taken at Jekyll Island Fish store parking lot with about 15 parked cars with others watching and one other photographer.
image #2 taken with the Canon FD 100-300mm at ISO 100, 5s, 150mm on 10/08/2014 my first lunar eclipse.
Image #3 Captured with Sony A7S and Canon FD 80-200mm at 135mm with adapter f/4, 2s, ISO 100, this one was bracketed 3 at +/- 2EV.
Intrigued to see if Nikon accept their naming scheme as it pushes right upto Nikons Noct and Nikkor names... if it was Apple (bless their little black heart) they would be all over it. It had me wondering as well until i say the .hk domain name.
Where can I see samples of that ‘beautiful’ bokeh, please…?