Canon vs Nikkor: A 50mm Showdown
Introduction
Vintage lenses have a certain magic that modern glass often lacks. Each one tells its own story, with quirks, strengths, and character that can transform the way you see and capture the world. Today, I’m diving into a head-to-head comparison of two legends: the Canon LTM 50mm f/1.4 and the Nikkor SC 50mm f/1.4. The Canon, released in 1957 for their rangefinder lineup, has earned the nickname "Japanese Summilux" for its superb performance. The Nikkor, introduced earlier in 1948, was Nikon’s contribution to the rangefinder era and came in both S mount and LTM mount. For this comparison, I’m using the S mount version, adapted to Leica M with an Amedeo adapter. Let’s see how these classics stack up!
All comparison shots are taken on my Leica M-P240.
Size and Handling
Canon: The Canon lens measures approximately 58mm in length and weighs 240g. It’s significantly larger than the Nikkor, but its size doesn’t block the viewfinder when mounted on a Leica M body, which is a plus. One notable feature is the infinity lock, which was originally standard on this lens. While the previous owner of my copy removed it, this can be a divisive feature for users—some find it restrictive, while others appreciate its functionality. Thankfully, the lock can be easily removed if desired. The lens accepts 48mm filters, which is a somewhat unusual size, so finding compatible filters may require a bit of extra effort.
Nikkor: The Nikkor lens is more compact, measuring 41mm in length and weighing just 185g, making it significantly lighter and easier to carry. However, using the lens with an adapter introduces a few quirks. Because the entire lens barrel rotates when focusing, the aperture ring doesn’t stay in place and often requires two hands to adjust. The same issue applies to any lens hood attached via the 43mm filter threads, which also rotates with the barrel. While these quirks can take some getting used to, the lens’s small size and lightweight design make it an excellent choice for portability.
Bokeh (Out-of-Focus Rendering)
Canon: The Canon lens excels at creating smooth, creamy bokeh, offering a pleasing aesthetic at wide apertures.
At f/1.4: The bokeh is soft and rounded, with minimal edge outlining. While subtle cat-eye shapes appear near the corners, the transitions between in-focus and out-of-focus areas are gentle and visually appealing.
At f/2: The background blur becomes more refined, maintaining a neutral and smooth character that doesn’t distract from the subject.
At f/2.8: Though the bokeh starts to take on a slightly more geometric shape due to the influence of the aperture blades, it remains soft and unobtrusive, perfect for general-purpose photography.
Nikkor: The Nikkor lens has a more dramatic approach to bokeh, showcasing a swirly bokeh rendering due to its Sonnar design.
At f/1.4: The highlights in the bokeh exhibit pronounced edge outlining, giving a “swirly” effect that adds character to the image. This effect, while less neutral than the Canon’s, is undeniably artistic and works beautifully for portraits and creative compositions.
At f/2: The swirl effect is slightly reduced, but the bokeh retains its textured, vintage quality that stands apart from modern lenses.
At f/2.8: The background blur becomes less busy and more subdued, but the lens still retains its unique charm, with hints of the swirling effect visible in highlights near the edges.
Winner: The Canon delivers smooth, neutral bokeh ideal for versatility. The Nikkor offers artistic, vintage charm that’s perfect for creative shots.
Sharpness and Microcontrast
Canon: The Canon lens demonstrates impressive sharpness and microcontrast, leaning heavily into its technical strengths.
At f/1.4: Center sharpness is excellent, delivering crisp detail with softer edges. The lens’s strong microcontrast enhances overall clarity, making images appear clean and well-defined.
At f/2: Sharpness extends toward the edges, with the entire frame benefiting from a noticeable improvement. This makes the Canon a great choice for detail-oriented compositions.
At f/2.8: The Canon reaches razor-sharp performance across the frame, rendering fine details beautifully. This level of sharpness makes it an ideal choice for landscapes, architecture, or any shot requiring precision.
Nikkor: The Nikkor lens takes a softer, more romantic approach to sharpness, favoring a vintage aesthetic over clinical precision.
At f/1.4: The lens is softer overall, with a dreamy, glowing quality that creates a unique atmosphere in images. Microcontrast is weaker, which contributes to its classic rendering style.
At f/2: Center sharpness improves significantly, but the edges still lag behind the Canon. The subdued microcontrast adds to its nostalgic, vintage appeal rather than prioritizing sharp detail.
At f/2.8: Sharpness improves across the frame, but the Nikkor never quite matches the Canon’s technical precision. However, the softer rendering continues to charm, especially for portraits and artistic work.
Winner: The Canon dominates in sharpness and microcontrast, delivering consistent, detail-rich results across all apertures. The Nikkor, while less sharp, brings a unique glow that some photographers may prefer for creative projects.
Flare Resistance and Ghosting
Canon: The Canon lens performs exceptionally well in backlit scenarios, maintaining clarity and contrast across all apertures.
Flare Control: The Canon exhibits excellent control over flare, even in challenging lighting conditions. Flare artifacts are minimal and never overpower the frame.
Ghosting: Ghosting is subtle, even when shooting wide open at f/1.4. This makes the Canon a reliable choice for backlit portraits or high-contrast scenes.
Contrast Retention: Strong contrast is maintained across all apertures, preserving image quality even in demanding lighting situations.
Nikkor: The Nikkor lens struggles more with flare and ghosting but still holds its own in smaller apertures.
Flare Control: Flare is more pronounced, especially wide open at f/1.4. Bright light sources can produce noticeable artifacts that may require careful composition to manage.
Ghosting: Ghosting is evident at wider apertures and tends to soften image quality in high-contrast backlit scenes.
Contrast Retention: Contrast loss is significant at f/1.4 to f/4, but performance improves as the aperture is stopped down. By f/8, the lens handles backlight much better, though it still doesn’t match the Canon.
Winner: The Canon LTM 50mm f/1.4 stands out with its superior handling of flare, ghosting, and contrast retention, making it the clear choice for backlit photography. The Nikkor, while capable at smaller apertures, lags behind in overall performance under these conditions.
Vignetting and Barrel Distortion
Canon: The Canon lens exhibits excellent control over both vignetting and distortion, making it a reliable choice for technical precision.
Vignetting: At f/1.4, moderate vignetting is present, but it clears up significantly by f/5.6. At smaller apertures, the frame achieves even brightness with minimal edge darkening.
Barrel Distortion: The Canon handles distortion impressively well, keeping lines straight and accurate even at wide open apertures. This makes it suitable for architecture or any composition requiring geometric fidelity.
Nikkor: The Nikkor lens struggles more with both vignetting and distortion, particularly at wider apertures.
Vignetting: More pronounced at f/1.4, with noticeable darkening in the corners. Improvement begins by f/4, and edge brightness becomes uniform around f/8.
Barrel Distortion: The Nikkor lens shows visible barrel distortion at wide apertures, creating a slight curvature in straight lines. While this effect diminishes as the aperture narrows, it never completely matches the Canon’s performance.
Winner: The Canon LTM 50mm f/1.4 dominates in both vignetting and barrel distortion control, offering consistent technical precision across all apertures. The Nikkor, while charming in its rendering, is less ideal for scenarios requiring strict optical accuracy.
🎉 Final Verdict
So, which lens comes out on top? It depends on what you’re looking for:
Go with the Canon LTM 50mm f/1.4 if you prioritize sharpness, contrast retention, and technical precision. It’s the clear winner for detail-oriented photography.
Choose the Nikkor SC 50mm f/1.4 if you love the artistic flair of vintage rendering. Its unique character makes it perfect for portraits and creative projects.
Both lenses are fantastic in their own right, and their strengths cater to different styles. Whether you’re chasing technical excellence or vintage charm, these classics won’t disappoint.
