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Noctilux f/0.95 compared to Voigtlander 50/1.1 Nokton


Alnitak

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So, I was fortunate to find a new Noctilux in stock, and I jumped on it. Today I did a comparison of the two in my front yard. It's not a scientific test, but it is a controlled test. I was a little over a meter from the brick pillar in the shots. Note that the right side of the images is OOF at a distance; this was intentional to demonstrate differences in bokeh.

 

Here is a comparison image made of crops from both lenses. The best thing to do is select "All sizes" from above the image, then choose "Original" and look at the huge file in detail.

 

Fast 50mm Comparison on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

This is the set that has all of the original images in it.

 

M-Mount Fast 50mm Comparison - a set on Flickr

 

Rather than put any conclusions in this post, I will let you draw your own and then comment with my own thoughts.

 

Jeff

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Congrats on the Noctilux!

 

Both look sharp to me throughout the range - especially in the center. The edges don't lag that far behind on either lens, in my opinion.

 

The noctilux has much smoother bokeh, especially noticeable at large apertures. The Voigtlander's is busier for sure.

 

It appears to me that the advantage of the Noctilux f/.95 is the extra speed and smoother bokeh - not sharpness!

 

Would others disagree with this?

 

The fact that they both perform well sharpness wise at all apertures is fantastic.

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Thank you for these.

 

I like the out-of-focus as done by the Leica here, but I haven't looked at other sample pictures.

 

I would be interested if you do more tests; I think if you just tested wide open and half a stop down that would be enough.

 

 

(If the crop of the bricks is a resolution test I think you should bracket focus and take the best one.)

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Interesting comparison. As far as bokeh is concerned, the Nokton reminds me of my pre-asph 50 Summilux: Pauline. It doesn't take much pinpoint light contrast to create halos.

 

The Noctilux is much smoother and reminds me of the asph lenses, such as my 35 Summicron asph: Street Market. Considerable contrast is needed to create the halos.

 

Not a scientific or controlled comparison on my part, but reflects my observation on these and other photos. I guess one needs both lenses to have the best of both worlds.

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Thank you for your effort and sharing it.

 

I do not really see differences on my monitor when it comes to sharpness and contrast but I do like bokeh produced by 50Nocti better. I just cannot afford it... :(

 

Cheers

 

mashu

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Thank you for your effort and sharing it.

 

I do not really see differences on my monitor when it comes to sharpness and contrast but I do like bokeh produced by 50Nocti better. I just cannot afford it... :(

 

Cheers

 

mashu

 

Then the CV 1.1 seems like a good compromise, no? To me it was either get the CV and be able to shoot easier in lowlight conditions, or just ogle at the Noctilux and not shoot any pictures in those conditions at all. The choice seemed easy to me!

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I do not particularly love how the Noctilux renders, but, after looking at your test (that is simple and, as all the simple things, very clear), I wonder why one should drop 10,000 USD out of the window when with only 1000 can have almost the same result.

But I know that the human mind behave on inscrutable patterns of thought.

(Also know that all the pure Leicaists will want to hang me on the firs brench for blasphemy :D )

Edited by epand56
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Then the CV 1.1 seems like a good compromise, no? To me it was either get the CV and be able to shoot easier in lowlight conditions, or just ogle at the Noctilux and not shoot any pictures in those conditions at all. The choice seemed easy to me!

 

Yup, agreed. I am thinking about getting a Nokton soon.

 

Cheers

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I think wide open backgrounds from the Noctilux (or the 50 lux pre mentioned) are quite different. (This, after looking at a lot more samples from the Nokton.)

 

Would love to see more side-by-side comparisons, though.

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Yes, would be interesting to see the same photos, taken at the same apertures with both lenses. Would be interesting to see the differences in focus and bokeh, but on a full picture.

 

Doesn't his gallery show the entire pictures, as well as selected crops? This includes the same picture taken at all aperture intervals

 

M-Mount Fast 50mm Comparison - a set on Flickr

 

Or did you mean additional photos?

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Doesn't his gallery show the entire pictures, as well as selected crops? This includes the same picture taken at all aperture intervals

 

M-Mount Fast 50mm Comparison - a set on Flickr

 

Or did you mean additional photos?

 

It is not to shoot a brick wall I would buy one of those two lens for... :D

Yes, I ment to say two or three different situations, such like a portrait, a group of people and a close landscape, shot with the two maybe from a tripod just to be sure the picture is the same. Pictures in which one can see the difference in rendering of the two lenses.

 

But... without cheating... :cool:

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Enrico, I would agree. However, if you can drop the $10000 and that last little bit of sharpness and bokeh is important to you, then it might be worth it.

 

Really? Is that why the Ego drops $10,000.00 on such a lens??? When you think about it, the worse part about owning a lens like the new Nocti, and especially married to an M9, is lousy pictures at the end of the day. Of course, we can't blame the equipment for that -- but unless you are a gifted photographer, why? why? why?

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