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Production
1977 – 1997
Country
Japan
Optical
7 elements in 6 groups with 1 hand-ground aspherical element
Updated
Jul 18, 2026
Nikon Noct-Nikkor 58mm f/1.2
Nikon F (AI/AI-S) · 58mm · f/1.2
Compiled from 5 real reviews · AI-assisted · accuracy-checked · Updated 18 Jul 2026
Overview
The Nikon Noct-Nikkor 58mm f/1.2 is Nikon's ultimate night lens — hand-ground aspherical elements designed specifically to eliminate coma and sagittal flare when shooting wide open at night. It was created for astrophotographers and low-light specialists who needed perfect point lights. The 'Noct' name comes from 'nocturnal,' and this lens was built to own the darkness.
Verdict: A technical marvel and collector's dream. The Noct-Nikkor is for photographers who specifically need coma-free f/1.2 performance — astrophotographers, night cityscape shooters, and collectors. For everyone else, the regular 50mm f/1.2 is the sensible choice. But nothing else does what the Noct does.
Optical Character
Bokeh
Buttery, smooth out-of-focus transitions with rounded, painterly highlights; non-busy bokeh that flatters skin and delivers excellent subject separation without aggressive onion-ringing.
Color
Neutral Nikon color with a characteristic 'shine' and pleasing warmth, not clinically sterile.
Sharpness wide open
Impeccably sharp in the center at f/1.2 with high contrast that doesn't degrade wide open; corners lag with softness and lower micro-contrast at f/1.2, improving when stopped down to f/2-f/5.6.
Flare resistance
Excellent sagittal coma flare control designed for shooting into lights; point lights render as points rather than smeared blobs, though perfect results are achieved around f/2.8.
Contrast
High global contrast and strong micro-contrast in the center at f/1.2, unusual for a vintage fast lens; doesn't get hazy or veiled wide open.
Vignetting
Present at f/1.2 but reasonable for the speed; better controlled than the standard 50mm f/1.2.
Community Insights
What people love
- No coma at f/1.2 — point lights stay points
- Hand-ground aspherical element (legendary craftsmanship)
- 58mm focal length is distinctive
- Night and astro photography excellence
- Collector status and investment value
- The only lens of its kind
What people dislike
- Astronomically expensive
- Only practical advantage is coma control
- Rare and hard to find
- 58mm requires different filters than standard 52mm
- f/1.2 DoF is challenging
Pro Tips
- Buy for astro/night photography, not general use
- The 50mm f/1.2 is better value for non-critical use
- Test against point lights before purchasing
- Collectible — condition is everything for value
Sources (5)
Curated heritage archive
A technical marvel and collector's dream. The Noct-Nikkor is for photographers who specifically need coma-free f/1.2 performance — astrophotographers, night cityscape shooters, and collectors. For everyone else, the regular 50mm f/1.2 is the sensible choice. But nothing else does what the Noct does.
Nikon official documentationCommunity consensus
Web research
Buy the Noct if you want a wide-open look that modern lenses don't deliver — impeccable center sharpness and contrast at f/1.2, buttery non-busy bokeh that flatters portraits, and coma-free point-light rendering for night photography. This is a lens you shoot wide open, where it performs the way other lenses only perform stopped down, delivering a 'shine' and character that clinical modern glass lacks. Don't buy it if you need corner-to-corner sharpness at f/1.2 for landscapes or architecture, if you shoot moving subjects that demand autofocus, or if the $3,000-$3,800 collector-driven price makes you wince — this is a special-purpose tool for photographers who prioritize beautiful wide-open rendering over evenness, and who have the technique to nail wafer-thin manual focus at f/1.2.
https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/58.htmhttps://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-nikon-58mm-1-2-ai-noct-nikkor/https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2019/08/20/the-nikon-noct-58-f-1-2-lens-review-the-most-beautiful-lens-in-the-world/https://www.photographyattic.com/blog/2025/10/nikon-noct-nikkor-58mm-f-1-2