Noctilux f0.95 experience...

[Nliusvia]

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Hi Guys,

 

I'm a happy man, after few months of coveting for nocti f0.95, I finally got it

For the love and for the money, it was a hard lense to come by.

Before purchasing it, since I already have a 50 lux asph, it took me awhile to decide if I'd want one...

 

After reading various blogs and forums, I decided to give it a shot...worst case I could always sell it...

After shooting with it for few days...I'm sold...

Yes, the size and min focus are not ideal in comparison to 50 lux...but the magical effect of this lense far outweigh the "cons"

 

You can see my test shots at Mysafari

 

I'm pretty fortunate to have one...if you have the opportunity, I'd highly recommend it...

It's one of those things you need to try before you die

 

I'm a proud owner of 35 Summilux ASPH II, 50 Summilux ASPH and 50 Noctilux ASPH. So if you want a "non technical" feedback from using these lenses, feel free to drop me a note in my blog. I'm more than happy to share my daily experience with these lenses.

Edited June 5, 2011 by Nliusvia

[shard]

It is really not that rare a lens, the new 35 lux and current 50 lux are ALOT harder to find.

 

The Noctilux's price keeps it off most store shelves unless you place an order for it. Not something you can walk in and hope to find unless you are go to a Leica boutique. I know this dealer in Shanghai with about 8 pieces sitting on a shelf though.

 

Having said that, it is an amazing piece of glass and the pictures are to die for.

 

If you can afford one, buy it because how much monetary value can you attribute to capturing a moment in time with a lens like this.

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[Nliusvia]

Well said shard.

 

I'm now hunting for the nd filter for the nocti..

If you know where to find one, let me know.

[shard]

Well said shard.

 

I'm now hunting for the nd filter for the nocti..

If you know where to find one, let me know.

 

Must it be a Leica filter? Does Leica even make 60mm ND filters?

 

You can always try B+W filters, they are very good and readily available from most good shops.

[Nliusvia]

I'm fine with B+W filters, but unfortunately it's out of stock in most places..bhphoto, amazon..

 

I'm looking for the 8x ND filters..

[epand56]

Nliusvia, while I can see the the personal satisfaction of owing a 10,000 $ lens I must say that so far I saw no more than very few pictures that made me think the Nocti is a surprising lens, and a great part of these few were from terrific Pros.

Looking at your pictures made with the 0.95, that miss in focus, in depth and often in color, I can't see the point when you say that you love this lens. Keep in mind that this is not a critique of your photographic skills, I would never take the liberty of doing that, but looking at them is for me the proof that the 0.95 is a highly professional lens that would become less than an old glass in the hands of an amateur photographer like me.

Having used in the past a 1.2 lens I know how much difficult is nailing the focus wide open with this kind of lenses and how easy is to line up a series of pictures that could've been better with a 500 $ lens. This said I can see the charm of this glass (very expensive object often have some) but I'm sure it wouldn't give any improvement to my pictures.

[Nliusvia]

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None taken Enrico.

It's not an easy lense to use, some of the shots are oof as a result..

when you get it right, it gives the "3D" feel of the subject.

Practice make perfect, so do check out my blog regularly

 

also, just like the M9, the nocti makes you want to take a better picture....

[epand56]

also, just like the M9, the nocti makes you want to take a better picture....

 

This is for sure

[SJP]

I agree with Enrico but I can see the fun (and frustration) the experience gives. I have a hard enough time with a 50 summilux to get things right at f/1.4. It severely adds to the complexity of the framing/focus/exposure problem as there is also the 3D and artistic use of bokeh problem to deal with. With the summilux at f/1.4 my 'hit rate' is clearly lower than with any other lens I have but if it works as intended it is very satisfying.

[57andrew]

The Noctilux is a demanding lens but also a rewarding one. This was taken with the Noctilux wide open:

 

Uphill struggle | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

I don't know whether others like the shot but I don't think I could get this with any of my Canon lenses.

 

I love it's low light capability and I find the major problem is using the lens at the minimum focussing distance. My hit rate is not good then but at a slightly longer distance it's pretty good. It is hard to say my lens is worth over $10k but for those of us lucky enough to own one it deserves hard work, perseverance and a good eye. I can do 2 out of 3.

 

Enjoy the lens.

[epand56]

I agree with Enrico but I can see the fun (and frustration) the experience gives. I have a hard enough time with a 50 summilux to get things right at f/1.4. It severely adds to the complexity of the framing/focus/exposure problem as there is also the 3D and artistic use of bokeh problem to deal with. With the summilux at f/1.4 my 'hit rate' is clearly lower than with any other lens I have but if it works as intended it is very satisfying.

 

Of course it is fun and frustration but I would never go back to auto-focus. My problems to nail focus on the Lux 50 are growing as the light get dimmer (and maybe age...). Fast lenses have this issue and I can imagine how hard nailing focus in very dimm light must be shooting at 0.95 with a lens that weights a ton. Maybe I'm redundant, but I've seen very few Noctilux pictures that couldn't be made with the Lux.

Andrew picture here, for example ( Uphill struggle | Flickr - Photo Sharing! ) is a quite nice capture, but even the Lux is capable to deliver a very similar result. I do not see such a "different" bokeh in this picture.

[57andrew]

As I don't have a 50 lux I can't comment but I know people hold it in the highest esteem. Strangely I got used to the weight and viewfinder block quickly. I find it beautifully balanced. I do have a 50 cron which generally finds it's way onto the M3 whilst the nocti stays on the M9. I'd love to try the 35 lux but can't get one for love nor money. I tried both.

[earleygallery]

I agree with much of what Enrico has said.

 

The Noctilux is an interesting lens, no doubt, but the law of diminishing returns apply greatly. Unless one is using it wide open then what's the point? But then, how often do you want to shoot wide open? Used sparingly the effects of extremely limited DOF can be appealing, but it can easily become a gimmick, just like over-use of filter effects.

 

Also, it seems to me that the benefits in low light are offset by the difficulty in focussing in such conditions.

 

With tongue only half in cheek, I would say that you can acheive a 'Nocti effect' in photoshop with careful use of layers and blur tools.

 

It's a luxury lens really, used sparingly it can add interest to a portfolio or set of images.

[Nliusvia]

Nice shots Andrew...you really nailed that.

 

Enrico, most nocti owner didn't buy the lense because someone "said so"... it's almost like getting your first rangefinder..it gives you that inspiration and it takes times to master it.

Due to the price, one might argue the validity of the price.

There are two issues of LFI magazine that you should check out, the Feb 2011 issue by an Iranian photographer showcase the kinda shots that can only be taken freehand by nocti.

second issue is Apr 2011 which explained the reason behind the price for a nocti.

[hhanebeck]

Hi Nliusiva,

 

Congrats on your lens! It is fantastic by all means. I concur with the statements here and just want to throw in a review by Ashwin Rao on Steve Huff's site that I liked a lot: Photographing New York Wide Open by Ashwin Rao | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS. He recommends a B&W 560 filter in the review and supplies a link for it as well.

 

Cheers, Chris

 

P.S. This is not to suggest that anyone should go buy Leica glass based on reviews alone. However, I do find them highly useful in many ways.

[Jase]

I must be missing something here, the only thing that can be said about the test shots is that they all exhibit a very shallow depth of field and little else, the same could be said of all of the shots on that site. You can achieve the same sort of shot with a $400 CV lens, open it up, stand close to the subject, focus and shoot.

[Jamie Roberts]

{snipped}Maybe I'm redundant, but I've seen very few Noctilux pictures that couldn't be made with the Lux.

{snipped}

 

Enrico, that might be true with the .95 Nocti--all the shots I've seen so far are very reminiscent of the 50 Lux ASPH, except of course for the sheer isolation that .95 brings (and the extra stop of light, let's not forget that now, because that can sometimes be the difference between a good shot and a great one)...

 

But with the 1.0 Nocti the 50 Lux ASPH and Noctilux are really very different lenses. The overall contrast that the 50 Lux ASPH brings to the table is just not there in the Noctlux, not even stopped down (where it's certainly sharp enough).

 

I don't see this as much on film but with digital this remains a very important difference, at least so far. It's hard to take contrast away in post... much easier to add it back, in fact... so I find I really love the look of the 1.0 Noctilux over the 50 Lux.

 

However, the 50 Lux has no focus shift (the 1.0 does certainly), is easier to focus, costs less (if you can get one!) and is much, much smaller, so I certainly see why it's the lens of choice for a lot of people.

 

I've thought about selling both 50s and just getting the ,95, but I don't think the look of it is the same as the older version...

[Eastgreenlander]

What I find amazing is especially 5-10 meter distance shooting wide open. It really isolates the subject like a high powered dslr zoom lens look. The lux asph does not do that. Its a huge difference in use too. The lux is more difficult to use wide open IMO because or the short focus through but quicker in use. The noct asph has longer focus through and a little stiff which is ideal for more precise focus but slower to dial in at the subject.

[andrekeli]

Well said shard.

 

I'm now hunting for the nd filter for the nocti..

If you know where to find one, let me know.

 

I got my 60mm ND filter from BH Photo in USA (B&H Photo Video Digital Cameras, Photography, Camcorders). They have them in stock. I use the B+W ones. Very nice. Excellent service too by the store.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[Nliusvia]

andrekeli thanks. I've ordered them

Can't wait.

 

In the meantime, check out some of my shots with the 50 lux asph here

 

Before this, I also tried the pre-asph BP version. Honestly, in terms of build...I prefer the BP version. It makes the asph version feel a little plasticky. anyway...I needed my photos to have the same characteristics...so opt for the asph instead.