Nick De Marco Posted April 14, 2014 Share #1 Posted April 14, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) NoctiLUST Today I visited the Leica shop in Vienna. They have a very good second hand store. I tried on a beautiful used but nearly mint v4 Noctilux f1 on my M - this is a photo of the shop assistant. I must admit I loved the lens, and it was not as big or heavy as I feared. I was tempted indeed, but decided to sleep on it. After all, it's so expensive. Is it worth it? Is anything? I have both the Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f1.5 and the Voigtlander Nokton 50/f.15 ASPH. I like them both wide open, but I still pick my 50mm Summicron as best all round 50mm. Is the Noctilux so much better than these? I only plated with it for a few minutes but it was lovely... Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/225225-noctilust/?do=findComment&comment=2568273'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 14, 2014 Posted April 14, 2014 Hi Nick De Marco, Take a look here NoctiLUST. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Ecar Posted April 14, 2014 Share #2 Posted April 14, 2014 It's only *better* if you want *that* look in your pictures... I have a few fast 50s (including those you mention) and they each have a different character - as well as their own quirks. It's a matter of picking one's poison 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWW Posted April 14, 2014 Share #3 Posted April 14, 2014 Once you have the Noctilust, there's only one cure and that's to buy one! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Albertson Posted April 14, 2014 Share #4 Posted April 14, 2014 Like Nike says, "Just Buy It". 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcraf Posted April 14, 2014 Share #5 Posted April 14, 2014 +1. Do it! It's not 'better' than the Summicron; that's too simple a take on things. It just paints in a unique way. I use my 50 Lux FLE way more than my f1, but I enjoy using it immensely when I do take it out. One of those lenses which all Leicaphiles should own, at least once, I think. And used f1 Noctiluxes don't lose much value, if any, if you choose wisely and buy on condition. Just my two cents. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbertnl Posted April 14, 2014 Share #6 Posted April 14, 2014 The main reason for this image being lovely is (1) the lens, (2) the subject? Answering this question first may safe you a couple of thousand euros. Just my € 0.02 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted April 14, 2014 Share #7 Posted April 14, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) The F1 has soul, you won't regret buying This might be worth a read http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m-lenses/252840-50mm-noctilux-f1-0-a.html 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted April 14, 2014 Share #8 Posted April 14, 2014 Nick, I have the 50/1.5 C-Sonnar and 50/1.5 Nokton too but neither comes close to the v4 Noctilux for sheer soul and x-factor. At the risk of poor form I'll repeat what I wrote in the thread IWC referred to because it's still true: "A part of the f/1 Noctilux magic for me is how it renders rich colours that I haven't seen from other lenses. Plenty of lenses will give bright colours but not the richness (I don't quite know how else to describe them) of colours from the Noctilux. ... For what it's worth, the lens that produces pictures that most resemble the Noctilux is, for me, the classic 80 f/1.4 Summilux-R that was also designed by Walter Mandler." I'll go further and say that it's the most flare-proof lens I've ever used, especially at night when there are many specular highlights in the frame. If I may be so bold, the example shot you've posted is the tiniest bit soft, which might be owing to minute camera shake since the shot was taken indoors or very fine rf tolerance owing to such a shallow depth of field wide open. Knowing that you're as much a fan of the Sonnar design as I am I'd expect that you'd love the Noctilux and it would sing in your expert hands. One thing I do is shoot it with a stop of underexposure to accentuate its wonderful rich colours, its characteristic vignette, and to give a little headroom for the highlights. YMMV. Pete. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick De Marco Posted April 14, 2014 Author Share #9 Posted April 14, 2014 Thanks Pete - and nice to hear from you And to everyone else I bet I am not the only forum member who engages in rather fanciful self deception concerning gear acquisition, but I have just about persuaded myself I can get this lens for FREE... on the basis that I am not buying it, I am just liquidating some cash into it such that if I decide in the future I need that cash again I can part with it for the same or more cash (so long as I on't throw it off a balcony or something daft), so that I am getting to use it for as long as I like for FREE As you might guess I think I am going to pick it up from the store tomorrow 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jager Posted April 14, 2014 Share #10 Posted April 14, 2014 Notwithstanding the whole panoply of extraordinary glass that Leica offers, the whole M system can be justified by the magic qualities of a single lens... the Noctilux. It is a gift. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rirakuma Posted April 14, 2014 Share #11 Posted April 14, 2014 I had the noctilust not too long ago and I've tried very hard to avoid it. In the end I gave in and bought one, realistically it has not been "worth it" for me because I have had very little use of it. The rendering is just beautiful and it fools me into thinking I have a good photo when it really is just the lens doing all the work. Nevertheless if I hadn't bought one I'd still be itching for it and I don't think it would ever go away. If you can get one for "free" indefinitely I would wholeheartedly recommend buying it to get rid of that itch. Also I apologize if I sound like I'm knocking the nocti, what I'm trying to say is that my level of skills isn't there yet to justify the nocti's rendering. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rirakuma Posted April 14, 2014 Share #12 Posted April 14, 2014 By the way if you want to see some incredible photos taken with the nocti I would recommend looking at Sean Sweeney's photostream. I think some of you may know him, his use of the nocti is incredible but he owns the much sharper 0.95 version. The v4 that I own has a much more classic and softer rendering compared to the modern nocti. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AB007 Posted April 15, 2014 Share #13 Posted April 15, 2014 I have the 0.95 and I love it. I have various 50s but the Nocti is my favorite 50. If you love it, why not? Get a ND as well Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ansel_Adams Posted April 15, 2014 Share #14 Posted April 15, 2014 (edited) NoctiLUSTToday I visited the Leica shop in Vienna. They have a very good second hand store. I tried on a beautiful used but nearly mint v4 Noctilux f1 on my M - this is a photo of the shop assistant. I must admit I loved the lens, and it was not as big or heavy as I feared. I was tempted indeed, but decided to sleep on it. After all, it's so expensive. Is it worth it? Is anything? I have both the Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f1.5 and the Voigtlander Nokton 50/f.15 ASPH. I like them both wide open, but I still pick my 50mm Summicron as best all round 50mm. Is the Noctilux so much better than these? I only plated with it for a few minutes but it was lovely... Dont mean to be negative but if you showed most folks this photo they would say it is not in focus and probably taken with a cheap lens/camera... stick with your summicron. There is nothing remarkable about the images taken with this lens other than very very thin depth of field when wide open. Spend a fraction of the money on a view camera and be prepared to be blown away. Edited April 15, 2014 by Ansel_Adams Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted April 15, 2014 Share #15 Posted April 15, 2014 There is nothing remarkable about the images taken with this lens other than very very thin depth of field when wide open. Spend a fraction of the money on a view camera and be prepared to be blown away. Curious then why you asked about servicing this rarer Noctilux. Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DES Posted April 15, 2014 Share #16 Posted April 15, 2014 Well Nick..... Did you get it?? Have you used it?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ansel_Adams Posted April 15, 2014 Share #17 Posted April 15, 2014 Curious then why you asked about servicing this rarer Noctilux. Jeff Perhaps because I wanted to know about service options? Not sure what the relevance is here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted April 15, 2014 Share #18 Posted April 15, 2014 (edited) So the Noctilux wasn't yours? Or you use it on your view camera? Jeff Edited April 15, 2014 by Jeff S Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted April 15, 2014 Share #19 Posted April 15, 2014 ... There is nothing remarkable about the images taken with this lens other than very very thin depth of field when wide open. .... Having owned and used my f/1 Noctilux for some time I can't agree with your assertion; it is so much more than just about shallow depth of field (0.023 mm) The 75 Summilux (0.010 mm), 80 Summilux-R (0.016 mm) and 90 Summicron (0.014 mm) all have shallower depth of field that the Noctilux but the pictures taken through them are very different. Pete. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted April 16, 2014 Share #20 Posted April 16, 2014 NOT taken with a view camera, and never will be! Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Actually, it was the f1 Noctilux. Like all fine tools, they are only as good as the hands that hold them! You don't expect your first Leica to work 'magic' until you really get familiar with it. Why do so many detractors expect the Noctilux to deliver immediate results? 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Actually, it was the f1 Noctilux. Like all fine tools, they are only as good as the hands that hold them! You don't expect your first Leica to work 'magic' until you really get familiar with it. Why do so many detractors expect the Noctilux to deliver immediate results? ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/225225-noctilust/?do=findComment&comment=2569209'>More sharing options...
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