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50mm Noctilux f/1 or 50mm Summilux ASPH both $3500, which one?


joecmlin

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if the price for a mint 50mm Noctilux f/1 is the same as a mint/new 50mm Summilux ASPH were the same, which one is your choice?

There is not much head on comparison or opinion on this. thanks for your input.

Edited by joecmlin
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Summilux is more compact and not that heavy. And with today's quality on high ISO what is the difference with that 0.4? It's not even a Stop.

 

How often do you take a picture at 1. Outsite you need fast times (you need the old M8 for it :D). Inside it's it's funny when everyone is flashing and you're not.

 

I think it's what you want to do with it. It's with all you buy ofcourse, but if you want to see everything in your viewfinder and want something light weight it's the Summi. If you don't mind the weight and volume and want to take pictures with bad light situations it's a Nocti.

 

I don't believe the natural light is always good enough. A little flash is sometimes very nice :D

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Joe I wouldn't expect the prices to actually be similar but as far as performance they are really quite different.

The Summilux is much better corrected but some owners of the Nocti prefer it precisely because it is not.

 

The aberrations and very thin DoF from that Nocti give it a distinctive look if you can manage the focus. The Summilux provides more accuracy, doesn't focus shift, has more contrast etc. It is my personal choice (and even if the price were the same).

A far as a technical comparison you may like to look at the website of Erwin Puts.

 

I'm sure that you will be able to find numerous web examples from each out there in internet land. Here's a couple from the Summilux to start you off

Fine Art Gallery, Sausalito photo - Geoff Hopkinson photos at pbase.com

Race Marshall Potsdam marathon photo - Geoff Hopkinson photos at pbase.com

Samsung Cameras now have auto smile detect photo - Geoff Hopkinson photos at pbase.com

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Buy both, resell the Noct and keep the Lux. The lux is much faster to work with due to the shorter focus throw, lighter, smaller, sharper and better corrected. The Lux is also much sharper stopped down too.

 

If you want to do special effects and have a large number of your images misfocus, buy the Noct, like most, use it for several weeks, get frustrated and then sell it....funny enough you'll probably want to re-buy it again later as you'll look back at the shots that did focus correctly, forgetting the majority that miseed and want it back. I bought and sold 3 versions, but have finally given up on it as I no longer shoot for effects, and shoot for content.

 

The Noct is designed to by a one stop shop at f/1 and while it's ok as an all rounder, it certainly can be cumbersome and frustrating to focus correctly at f/1. The Lux is a joy to use and is virtually faultless in every area....I've never heard complaints about the Lux's performance, where most Noct people will only talk about the great images they get in focus, and while the images are pretty to look at immediately due to the aberrations and vignetting wide open, they're just boring later on as there is no content to the image - it's all out of focus.

Edited by leicashot
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I'm lucky enough to use both and if I was forced to sell one it would be the Summilux. If you love the look of the f1.0 Noctilux there is simply no replacement.

 

However if the choice was a 0.95 Noctilux and the Summilux ASPH I'd choose the Summilux.

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The noct is nice but not as an often on, because its to heavy and rather difficult

to be sharpend.

The modern Lux is as good.

A used Noct is a risk I would only take with guarantee, mine was not good

(twice in solms but "broke" after all )

Then I changed it to the new Lux. ( got monye back:) )

Forget the Noct.:eek:

 

Kr

 

Matt

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Buy both, resell the Noct and keep the Lux. The lux is much faster to work with due to the shorter focus throw, lighter, smaller, sharper and better corrected. The Lux is also much sharper stopped down too.

 

If you want to do special effects and have a large number of your images misfocus, buy the Noct, like most, use it for several weeks, get frustrated and then sell it....funny enough you'll probably want to re-buy it again later as you'll look back at the shots that did focus correctly, forgetting the majority that miseed and want it back. I bought and sold 3 versions, but have finally given up on it as I no longer shoot for effects, and shoot for content.

 

The Noct is designed to by a one stop shop at f/1 and while it's ok as an all rounder, it certainly can be cumbersome and frustrating to focus correctly at f/1. The Lux is a joy to use and is virtually faultless in every area....I've never heard complaints about the Lux's performance, where most Noct people will only talk about the great images they get in focus, and while the images are pretty to look at immediately due to the aberrations and vignetting wide open, they're just boring later on as there is no content to the image - it's all out of focus.

Well put:rolleyes:..........Id also add that the noctilux blocks half the finder.

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I have tons of super sharp glass for my M9 and D3x but only one Noct f/1.

 

I use it mainly for portraits, where it is both unique and outstanding.

 

Frankly, I don't find it frustrating or especially difficult to shoot with, certainly no harder than my 85 f/1.4 on my D3x. During the day I generally use a ND filter.

 

Stopped down the Noct f/1 is plenty sharp for all but the most intensely pixel peeping uses.

 

BTW, many of my best shots with the Noct are of fast moving, young children. I can get as many keepers as I want. If I stop it down I can shoot as fast as the buffer will let me. If I shoot wide open I still get a very high percentage of keepers but I can't shoot nearly as often as I need to pick my moments with greater care.

 

Best,

 

Bill

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... most Noct people will only talk about the great images they get in focus, and while the images are pretty to look at immediately due to the aberrations and vignetting wide open, they're just boring later on as there is no content to the image - it's all out of focus.

 

Not necessarily true. It depends on subject to camera distance. For example, these are real wedding shots, all taken at f1, and with a pleasant mix of content and bokeh. The effective DOF increases with distance, and beyond five feet there's very little of the swirly stuff, and the noctilux becomes a substantial tool for storytelling.

 

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 4

 

I'd also add that I think a technical comparison between summilux and noctilux rather misses the point. If you use a noctilux it's not about what it brings (or doesn't) in terms of technical performance. It's about what it adds to the image by way of flavour and emotional content -- something that very few other lenses can do. The summilux bears strong comparison to pretty much every 50 1.4 that's been made by anyone. The noctilux stands apart because it's unique.

Edited by ndjambrose
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Not necessarily true. It depends on subject to camera distance. For example, these are real wedding shots, all taken at f1, and with a pleasant mix of content and bokeh. The effective DOF increases with distance, and beyond five feet there's very little of the swirly stuff, and the noctilux becomes a substantial tool for storytelling.

 

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 4

 

I'd also add that I think a technical comparison between summilux and noctilux rather misses the point. If you use a noctilux it's not about what it brings (or doesn't) in terms of technical performance. It's about what it adds to the image by way of flavour and emotional content -- something that very few other lenses can do. The summilux bears strong comparison to pretty much every 50 1.4 that's been made by anyone. The noctilux stands apart because it's unique.

 

I agree with you, but I was generalizing. A majority of people cannot focus the lens accurately which is why it's the most traded specialist lens on the market. For those that 'can' master it's use they will be rewarded by the wonderful image.....but many over use it's purpose and images are left lifeless with no content as it's all been erased in a blur.

 

May I quote the great John Mayer (from his blog): Talking about the HCB exhibition

 

"The one thing that struck me after seeing hundreds of his photos is that not a single one of them features a shallow depth of field. With faster lenses being made, it’s easier than ever to feature the subject of the shot in focus while leaving everything behind it a blur, and while it’s immediately satisfying to look at, it definitely lacks impact from a storytelling perspective. I’m guilty of taking pictures that way, and I think I’m going to try moving away from it."

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I'd also add that I think a technical comparison between summilux and noctilux rather misses the point. If you use a noctilux it's not about what it brings (or doesn't) in terms of technical performance. It's about what it adds to the image by way of flavour and emotional content -- something that very few other lenses can do. The summilux bears strong comparison to pretty much every 50 1.4 that's been made by anyone. The noctilux stands apart because it's unique.
Well put Neil. And your example images 1, 2 and 4 back-up your sentiment.

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I thank you guys for the inputs. Personally, I was hunting for a 50m summilux asph. But because of the short supply it is proven very difficult at this point. So I settled for a mint Noctilux at $3500, E60 with retractable hood. It is in deed a great deal :o) I have enjoyed every bit of it for the last 4 weeks. However, my wife is already tired of looking at the "blur background". Still looking for that lux.

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Guest jarski

already mentioned here, but this is a bit like recent thread of comparing new Nokton 1.1 to pre-asph Lux. comparing specialist lens and gen purpose lens is like comparing apples and oranges. I own both: -80's version of Nocti and pre-asph Lux. cannot decide which one to sell, so I dont :p

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May I quote the great John Mayer (from his blog): Talking about the HCB exhibition

 

"The one thing that struck me after seeing hundreds of his photos is that not a single one of them features a shallow depth of field. With faster lenses being made, it’s easier than ever to feature the subject of the shot in focus while leaving everything behind it a blur, and while it’s immediately satisfying to look at, it definitely lacks impact from a storytelling perspective. I’m guilty of taking pictures that way, and I think I’m going to try moving away from it."

That is an interesting quote amd I agree. Most Nocti pictures I have seen could be titled "guy walking in the street" and rely almost 100% on the blur and signature of the lens.

Yet, I do believe you can do story telling with these lenses and wrap them in the great atmosphere created wide open. My nocti is the 60mm Hexanon 1.2, because wide open it behaves like a mix of Nocti and 75 Lux (and is much smaller) and at F1.4 it is as sharp and contrasty then the 50mm Lux asph. So my answer to the OP, get an Hexanon ;)

 

columbo 403 404 girl LR.jpg

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May I quote the great John Mayer (from his blog): Talking about the HCB exhibition

 

"The one thing that struck me after seeing hundreds of his photos is that not a single one of them features a shallow depth of field....

 

True. But don't overlook the fact that anyone photographing 50 years ago worked with fewer choices. If people had 1/8000 as a top shutter speed, rather than 1/1000, or in some cases 1/500, I wonder whether their styles might have explored the potential of wider apertures?

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