Jennifer Posted April 25, 2015 Share #1 Posted April 25, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've been offered a very nice Noctilux f/0.95 and, intrigued by the results I've seen from this lens, I'm tempted. Since I bought the APO-Summicron 50 that tends to be my 50 of choice over my Summilux 50 which now only seems to come out when I feel I'll likely need the extra speed. So, I'm thinking, maybe I should sell the Summilux and get the Noctilux instead? I know they're very different lenses, but I ask myself if I get the Noctilux is there much point in keeping three 50's? OTOH, having done and regretted it in the past, I'm rather disinclined to sell Leica glass. There again, unless I fall head over heels in love with it, once the novelty has worn off maybe the size and weight of the Noctilux will relegate it's use to those few days when I'm in the mood for a weight training session? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 25, 2015 Posted April 25, 2015 Hi Jennifer, Take a look here Noctilux f/0.95 or Summilux 50 ASPH or both?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Jan1985 Posted April 25, 2015 Share #2 Posted April 25, 2015 Hi Jennifer. I am new to Leica. I come from working with Canon Cameras and Lenses. I had all 50's of Canon, at least the Canon 50mm 1.2. After that i bought a Zeiss Otus 55mm. This is called the best standard lens of the world. And technically it is just the best 50. But its size and weight is enormous. Now i have the Noctilux. Compared to the Otus the Noctilux is so smart, light and easy to handle. And for me this lens has more character than all other 50s i had before. I will never sell this lens. At 0.95 it has such a unique look. this is truly amazing. how it handles light and renders a screne is phenomenal. so i can give you the advice, buy it! you won't regret. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted April 25, 2015 Share #3 Posted April 25, 2015 But the 50 Summilux ASPH is also an mazin I've been offered a very nice Noctilux f/0.95 and, intrigued by the results I've seen from this lens, I'm tempted. Since I bought the APO-Summicron 50 that tends to be my 50 of choice over my Summilux 50 which now only seems to come out when I feel I'll likely need the extra speed. So, I'm thinking, maybe I should sell the Summilux and get the Noctilux instead? I know they're very different lenses, but I ask myself if I get the Noctilux is there much point in keeping three 50's? OTOH, having done and regretted it in the past, I'm rather disinclined to sell Leica glass. There again, unless I fall head over heels in love with it, once the novelty has worn off maybe the size and weight of the Noctilux will relegate it's use to those few days when I'm in the mood for a weight training session? Jennifer, can you hire one for a few weeks and see what you think. However I think you need to use it long enough for the f0.95 bokeh disorder to settle down and be more objective. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted April 25, 2015 Author Share #4 Posted April 25, 2015 But the 50 Summilux ASPH is also an mazin Jennifer, can you hire one for a few weeks and see what you think. However I think you need to use it long enough for the f0.95 bokeh disorder to settle down and be more objective. I think it'll be quite difficult to rent a Noctilux in London. Well, I've not heard of anyone who does. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nic Posted April 25, 2015 Share #5 Posted April 25, 2015 Buy the 0.95 and sell the 1.4 - you will not need more then the Nocti and the APO 50. The Summilux only would collecting dust ;-) The Summilux was my dream lens till the APO came in: "the best is the enemy of the good." With a Noctilux you have the best for low light and bokeh. With your APO50 you have the best allround and compact 50 mm lens. 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted April 25, 2015 Share #6 Posted April 25, 2015 (edited) I think you have answered your own question with past experience. If I was not 100+1% sure, I would only buy Nocti as an extra lens, and rationalise the purchase by telling myself I will sell Summilux if I do not use/miss it. How often will you use Nocti at 0.95, because at all other apertures it offers nothing over Summilux (IMHO). For all the great Noctilux shots how many have been bined because focus was not nailed- it is not an easy lens to use. Edited April 25, 2015 by pedaes 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
honcho Posted April 25, 2015 Share #7 Posted April 25, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I think it'll be quite difficult to rent a Noctilux in London. Well, I've not heard of anyone who does. Probably because people who buy Noctilux lenses fall into two generalised groups: a. Those who know they have a genuine use for the maximum aperture. b. Those who can afford to buy a Noctilux. Ask yourself where a Noctilux will have the most impact for you. Will it be on your bank balance, your ego or upon your creativity? That's probably the hardest question for the majority of people who want a Noctilux to answer truthfully. You aren't in group 'a', so if you can afford it, buy it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KM-25 Posted April 25, 2015 Share #8 Posted April 25, 2015 (edited) Does it come with an implant for amazing levels of raw talent? Because if one can not knock the photo viewing world off their feet with a single Leica 50 then honestly, what is the point? Nothing I have ever seen from the .95 speaks to me as a straight up great photograph, it's all been bokeh stroking of beer bottles and out of focus nightlife. Edited April 25, 2015 by KM-25 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrp Posted April 25, 2015 Share #9 Posted April 25, 2015 The Summilux is a remarkable lens, when there is not enough light for the Summicron, or when you want its more bokehish bokeh. Because the Noctilux vignettes much more than the Summilux, you don't get the speed advantage of the extra aperture that you might expect. It is also not as sharp as the Summilux, particularly outside the central zone, and does not focus as close (1m). But if you want even more soft bokehish bokeh, the Noctilux delivers. Not everyone likes bokeh. (See above.) A friend who has no specialist photographic knowledge thought that even the Summilux looks like 1970s soft porn. Your preferences may be different. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted April 25, 2015 Author Share #10 Posted April 25, 2015 Having reflected a bit, I think if I decide to get the Nocti I'd keep the Lux too and then run them together before making up my mind which to one to sell. Both are in mint condition so I doubt I'd loose a much on either and could perhaps even px the one in I decide not to keep for the new MM when it arrives in June Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMJ Posted April 25, 2015 Share #11 Posted April 25, 2015 Having reflected a bit, I think if I decide to get the Nocti I'd keep the Lux too and then run them together before making up my mind which to one to sell. Both are in mint condition so I doubt I'd loose a much on either and could perhaps even px the one in I decide not to keep for the new MM when it arrives in June Good choice if you can afford it. It's like having several cars, in that they all do the same job just in a different way. I have all 3 & the Zeiss Sonnar also & will keep all of them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenInTime Posted April 25, 2015 Share #12 Posted April 25, 2015 Having reflected a bit, I think if I decide to get the Nocti I'd keep the Lux too and then run them together before making up my mind which to one to sell. Keeping both is also a good long term choice - try to wait a couple of years before making the call to sell one: I find I can use the Noctilux almost non stop for 6 months then not use it for a similar period then start using it again. The same cyclic use also applies to other lenses, but i seems more noticeable with a special lens like the Nocitilux. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted April 25, 2015 Share #13 Posted April 25, 2015 Since you have the 50/2 APO, you could probably get by without the 50 Summilux - but you might also regret selling it. I would keep the 50 Summilux and the 50/2 APO and buy the 0.95 Noctilux , if doing so will not cause financial hardship. Keep all three lenses for at least six months, preferably a year. After that amount of time has passed, you will be in a much better position to determine whether you should keep or sell the 50 Summilux. Looking back after 6-12 months of having all three lenses in your camera bag will give you some facts about which lenses you use the most so that you are not selling the 50 Summilux based on guesswork. Guesswork can easily lead to regrets when it comes to selling or keeping an M lens. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nic Posted April 25, 2015 Share #14 Posted April 25, 2015 Until recently had 3 lenses with focal length 50 mm (0.95 Noctilux, 1.4 Lux Asph, 2.0 Apo). The Summilux was intensively used - if it works it's a dream / if it makes technical problems (precision of the focus and focus handling) it can be a long road of suffering. During the time of 8 years I had 2 Summilux-Lenses and both were after some time of use x times at Leica-CS: calibration (every time I changed the camera), new focusing mechanism, new grease ... The first lens I had about 6 years (thereof it was about 1 year in service), the second lens I had sind 2013 and it was in service for surely 4 month. 2 weeks ago I had finally had enough and have returned the lens for an other focal length. With the Nocti and the APO so far no such problems. Maybe I'm the only one with problems with the Summilux, but I will definitely not buy a third one. Maybe it's the intensity of use (50 mm is my main focal length), which is not compatible with the lens design. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted April 25, 2015 Author Share #15 Posted April 25, 2015 (edited) Well I bought and collected the Noctilux today and, as has been suggested, I've decided not to make any rapid decisions and am keeping all three 50's for the time being. Well at least until I get the new MM. Methinks it's playtime tomorrow Edited April 25, 2015 by Jennifer 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted April 25, 2015 Share #16 Posted April 25, 2015 Congratulations! Have fun and enjoy. With Marathon in Town you should have plenty of opportunities. Hope you got a ND filter for it? Good luck! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted April 25, 2015 Share #17 Posted April 25, 2015 I suppose it all helps make the world go round. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted April 25, 2015 Author Share #18 Posted April 25, 2015 (edited) Congratulations! Have fun and enjoy. With Marathon in Town you should have plenty of opportunities. Hope you got a ND filter for it? Good luck! Couldn't resist trying it out. Shot 20 or so frames. It works perfectly and is far easier to focus accurately than my Lux 75 but even from those few frames I can tell it's certainly a lens which will require quite some practice to master. No Marathon for me it's predicted to pour with rain tomorrow. I'm dedicated, but not that dedicated. Instead the plan is a gentle walk through the park with friends and our dogs to the pub for Sunday lunch. Edited April 25, 2015 by Jennifer 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kilmister Posted April 25, 2015 Share #19 Posted April 25, 2015 @Jennifer: I'd be really interested to hear how you get on with the lens as I may have one on the way next week. Weather should be OK in southern England tomorrow so please use it if you can. In fact taking it to the pub would be a good test of how well it works indoors. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fussgangerfoto Posted April 25, 2015 Share #20 Posted April 25, 2015 50mm is my preferred focal length, seconded by 35mm. So I've rationalized having 3 50's (Noct, Lux, Cron) and 2 35's (Lux, Cron) for a variety of reasons. If I could only have a single 50, it would be the Lux hands down, followed closely by the 'cron and only then the Noct. I love the special-purpose unique quality of the Noct, but it is a beast that requires two hands for every little thing. It rather reminds me of a joke about the best part of skiing is when you take your ski boots off. For me, the best part of the Noct is when I pick up my M with the 'cron mounted - light, crisp and fully capable of telling the story. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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