Personal experiences with the Noctilux f/0.95?

[jayvernl]

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Hello everyone! After much research and contemplation I've finally decided to branch out of the DSLR realm and buy a Leica M set. I'm considering purchasing a digital Leica M body (unsure atm, what with the imminent M10) and a Noctilux 50mm f/0.95 ASPH. Recently I had the opportunity to test drive lenses in-store, and initial tests of the Nocti were..uninspiring to say the least. Focusing on faces and objects wide open and close-up was much harder than expected unless focus bracketing, purple fringing was very obvious, almost half of the viewfinder was blocked, and the heft, while definitely more manageable compared to a typical DSLR, made my wrist sore after holding it for a period of time. Contrary to popular consensus the focus throw was surprisingly manageable, however I do have a Canon FD 55mm f/1.2 S.S.C. Aspherical that has a focus throw spanning pretty much the entire circumference of the lens so this was a non-issue.

 

Thing is, I'm more than willing to overlook the physical issues of the lens if it provides stellar optical performance (especially befitting the price), but based on that session alone I couldn't find a compelling enough reason to buy it over say, a Summilux 50mm f/1.4 ASPH, which doesn't have many of the physical limitations of the Nocti. I'm curious about your personal experiences with the lens, e.g. has anybody found it a bit disappointing when testing it indoors, then gradually liking it after taking more shots in various conditions? I'm also aware that much of the results are due to the photographer's own skill, and it'll come with more frequent use of the rangefinder system (that was my first day using one).

 

Depending on what people say I'm also considering scrapping the Nocti altogether and getting the aforementioned Summilux with a 35mm or 28mm to complement it - would that versatility make it a better choice as well? I don't have a focal length preference, however I mainly shoot 50/55mm, and have often wished I had a wider lens while shooting. Value retention is also a consideration, albeit a small one.

 

Thanks!

[dpitt]

Welcome to the wonderful rangefinder world!

 

If you are like me you will find it will change the way you take pictures in a way like no other camera before ever did. And you will probably not want to go back except for some extremes like macro and wild life shots.

 

I think the Noctilux is probably the worst choice you could make as your one and only lens on your first rangefinder. For me much of the joy in using a digital M compared to a DSLR is the compactness of it all. Of course combined with a quality that is second to none in that price range.

The Noctilux is just not going to give you that real RF experience. It will probably be a frustrating experience and might even drive you back to the DSLR.

 

The 50mm Summilux or even better, the 35mm Summilux combined with a 50mm Summicron will give you more quality and a much more enjoyable experience. I especially reecommend trying at least one lens with a focussing tab. After using these typical RF lenses for a while, you can always decide to add a Noctilux.

Very few people will use the Noctilux as their only lens, and a lot will buy it and resell it afterwards. Not because it is a bad lens, it is just an extreme lens in every way, price, weight, size and difficulty to use.

Edited January 14, 2017 by dpitt

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[NB23]

Buy the thing

Use the thing

Die with the thing

[MarkP]

I agree that the Noctilux is a highly specialised lens and your initial comments suggest exactly why you should avoid it, at least at this stage ;-).

 

You clearly want a 50mm lens so the 1.4/50 Summilux ASPH would be a much better and lighter and cheaper option and would pair very nicely with a 28mm lens, probably the new 2.0/28 Summicron ASPH ( the 28 Summilux is lovely but a much bulkier lens and there's less requirement tor a WA faster than 28.

 

You could get a 35 Summilux but if you primarily use 50mm then going wider to 28mm may give you a more versatile combination. Then perhaps a 21 or 90 or...

 

Regards

Mark

[Peter Kilmister]

Don't buy one unless you are a weight lifter, spend your life in near darkness, enjoy having unbalanced equipment, and like to have your view blocked. The Noctilux costs more than the 50mm APO Summicron which is a far superior lens.

 

How do I know? I have owned both. I bought a Noctilux and sold it soon after. I never intend to sell my APO Summicron. It is small, light, balances well with the body, and quality of definition is amazing.

[phongph]

Hi!

My gear is Leica SL 601 with SL 24-90/ ASPH and M Apo 50 f2. My friend 's gear is SL 601 with M Lux 50 f1.4 and Nocti 50 f0.95. Three M Lens are quite easy to focus on SL 601, assisted by some function of this camera such as EVF, Magnification, peaking ...

 

Ps: I used to snail the DSRL Nikon with Leica len, but I sold all because of the focus issue!

Have a nice day!

Thanks!

Edited January 14, 2017 by phongph

[wattsy]

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initial tests of the Nocti were..uninspiring to say the least. Focusing on faces and objects wide open and close-up was much harder than expected unless focus bracketing, purple fringing was very obvious, almost half of the viewfinder was blocked, and the heft, while definitely more manageable compared to a typical DSLR, made my wrist sore after holding it for a period of time

 

 

I've personally never found the Noctilux a difficult lens to focus, the 1m minimum focus (a potential limitation) spares you the range where it would be tricky (e.g. try the 75mm Summicron at 0.7m). Yes, it does have purple fringing in abundance and it blocks the viewfinder but these are minor details in the context of what the lens can do. I rather like the size and heft of the lens. It's not a lens that I'd ever stick on the camera and carry it around hoping to take a photo of something interesting. Instead, it's a serious feeling lens that is ideal for when you are taking 'serious' photos. Incidentally, I don't care at all for the F0.95 look unless that aperture is dictated by genuine low light, IMO this lens really shines around F2-F2.8 (preferably used with black and white film).

[DMJ]

A rangefinder camera is about the experience & satisfaction of getting the shot. Want it easy then buy Nikon or Canon; lovely pictures but nil else. The Noctilux is difficult to master compared to other manual focus lenses. Again it is about the experience & satisfaction. Want it easy then shoot a slower lens. Stopped down the Noctilux is little different to slower Leica lenses but they can't open so wide.

[Paul J]

You will never get the full picture trying anything out in a shop.

 

Personally, I took the risk and jumped in on purchase. When I first got it I freaked out, for the reasons you have also listed. At that point I thought I was mad buying it. If I'm honest, if I had of done this in a shop I may not have bought it because there was too many things like you've mentioned. But that would have been a dire shame.

 

I loved what i'd seen from it, elsehwhere, and I persisted. Before long it became second nature using it and now you would have to prize it from my cold dead hands to get it from me. You even forget the cost of it eventually and just concentrate on the pictures. I don't think about using it now I would say it has become effortless.

 

You learn when to use what aperture in what light and with what background and you end up with what is a very rare occurrence these days - a truly unique look from a truly unique combination.

 

You even learn how to remove the purple fringing and its not hard to do. If you are concerned about finder blockage then get an M with the EVF. But to be frank - well that disappears too, I use mine in my M9 with nary an issue.

 

I have found it to be probably one of the best and most rewarding lenses and experiences ever. It does everything - wide open it's incredible but stopped down, and I use it a lot stopped down, it's a very high performing lens, which for me makes it the most versatile in the entire line up and if I was to have only one lens this would be it.

 

The cost of entry is stupidly high and the risk is you may of course not bond with it, but if you love the look of it and you manage to persist through the learning curve, IMO, I think you will love it and be rewarded with some truly incredible rendering.

Edited January 14, 2017 by Paul J

[jayvernl]

Thanks everyone, these are very helpful 

 

Right now I'm leaning towards the Summilux, but it's always a nagging feeling that I'm buying a very similar lens that I've already been using for many years (Canon EF 50mm f1.4), and that if I had to buy Leica glass I would want to go all the way. Does it perform exactly like the Noctilux at the same f-stop, or are there any optical aspects that are superior/not as good? That'll make the choice a lot easier. I've heard that the Lux is essentially an APO corrected lens without the name, haven't read the same for the Nocti though.

 

Another possibility is biting the bullet and getting a 2 lens setup with the Noctilux for 'those' kinds of photos, and a much smaller (and cheaper, relatively!) lens like the Elmarit 28 for the 'full' rangefinder experience. Then again there's always the danger of using one 90% of the time......

 

the 35mm Summilux combined with a 50mm Summicron will give you more quality and a much more enjoyable experience.

This is also very tempting.

[relms]

The Noctilux 0.95: buy it now, or buy it later.  If you get one, you will love it, and you will hate it; you will sell it, and you will repurchase it, and ultimately you will come to realize that the good outweighs the bad, and that there is nothing else that satisfies the yearning for the character this lens produces.  

[Belle123]

Most people will say not practical to start out with this lens. I have the Noctilux F1 v1, a little lighter and less beefy than the current version. It 'could' be my only lens. I have found it useful even in bright days with density filters. Love to use it except it's so heavy!!!

 

Ps. You will find it easier to focus with visoflex attachment/EVF.

Edited January 14, 2017 by billinghambaglady

[Paul J]

Thanks everyone, these are very helpful 

 

Right now I'm leaning towards the Summilux, but it's always a nagging feeling that I'm buying a very similar lens that I've already been using for many years (Canon EF 50mm f1.4), and that if I had to buy Leica glass I would want to go all the way. Does it perform exactly like the Noctilux at the same f-stop, or are there any optical aspects that are superior/not as good? That'll make the choice a lot easier. I've heard that the Lux is essentially an APO corrected lens without the name, haven't read the same for the Nocti though.

 

Another possibility is biting the bullet and getting a 2 lens setup with the Noctilux for 'those' kinds of photos, and a much smaller (and cheaper, relatively!) lens like the Elmarit 28 for the 'full' rangefinder experience. Then again there's always the danger of using one 90% of the time......

 

This is also very tempting.

 

 

If you've considered the Leica because of the Noctilux you are always going to wish you had it. Well that is personally speaking anyway. The Noctilux performs as a Summilux at 1.4. That is the official word from Leica and I don't think it's far off. Some say the Summilux is a whisker sharper at 1.4 but really not by much at all, ad to be honest I've not really seen it. Stopping down further the Noctilux is sharper at 2.8 and they play a neck and neck game all the way to stopped down. Sometimes one is sharper than the other but it's so close not to be a much of a difference. IMO, the Noctilux is everything the Summilux is and more. Size too, but I don't even notice that anymore.

 

The Summilux is apo corrected but not to the same extent as the apo-summicron. if you want that, I would take the Apo-summicron option. It is much sharper. I own the Apo-summicron too and while I love both I would take the Noctilux if I had to choose. But apo-summicron and noctilux complement each other very well.

 

If you have the finds available, I personally think you should take the opportunity. For most it's a rare moment in time you have that sort of opportunity and one that you may not have a gain. You can always sell it and get the summilux later and lose very little on it.

Edited January 14, 2017 by Paul J

[DickieT]

Hi - I have come from the same (D)SLR path as you and also started my Leica journey with a 240 and, amongst others, an older f1.0 Noctilux (11821). I found a mint specimen, which somehow I liked much more than a brand new one, given the history of the lens. I (still) own a 85/1.2 Canon and found the M/Nocti combo much lighter than the 85 fitted on my 1D. Although a comparison is hard, but to be honest, the rendering of the Noctilux if amazing if you like that style. I like it better than the Canon.

 

To solve your sore wrist, simply buy a Leica M grip. That helps a lot, not just with the Noctilux. Then buy an electronic viewfinder (EVF2) to focus some lenses. As much as I like the VF with my 35/1.4, I always use the EVF with the Noctilux or my 75 Summilux. The EVF allows for magnification and focus peaking which gives me a 8 or 9/10 hit rate when it comes to spot on focus. I agree with your statement that the long throw is not an issue.

 

As others have mentioned, the Noctilux (no matter what version) is a lens with many faces. It has a number of downsides but once you get the hang of it, it can render beautiful and unique images. For sure, I will never sell mine! If only to avoid buying one back later Is it my "every day lens"? No and it never will be - for me one of the key benefits of a RF system is size and weight. But I use every excuse to bring it along and use it, and it puts a big smile on my face every time

[hossegor]

 I had it, liked it at the beginning, after a while got tired of the Noctilux look, sold it, never looked back.

[lpeeples]

Ditto here, the Nocti is my favorite lens. It's not a everyday lens that you would pop on and go out every day, but when I do use it, I remember why I love it so much.  Get the 28, 35 50 crons or luxes. Those are what you will love as well to take out every day, but adding the Nocti at some point is a must (try it with the SL, focusing is so easy).

[michaelwj]

I've never used a Noctilux, I'm not a big fan of 50s, and don't have the cash anyway

 

Assuming the money is not the issue, my advice is to buy it from somewhere that you can walk into a build a rapport with. In the coming months you will either love it or not, at which point you can keep it, or sell it and move on. But I get the feeling that you will always have the "what if" thoughts of you don't.

 

As for getting a 28 elmarit or 35 summicron, why not? They're small, relatively cheap, and excellent lenses. Of course you will use one lens most of time, but which one? It might not be the noctilux but that's okay.

 

Most importantly enjoy, and don't forget the previous models, unlike Canon, the older models are not inferior, they're just different. There's no way to improve the focus speed for instance

[cirke]

I kept the Noctilux 0.95 1 year and I sold it for 50 APO 

[TRIago]

Start with 35mm. Get the 35 cron asph. The only problem w/ this lens is that you might not need to buy any other.

 

 

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Hallo,

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[douglas fry]

I tested my Nocti at F2 vs my Summilux at f2, slightly disappointed in the Nocti to be honest..

 

Here's the full image at F2

 

 

 

 

 

and here is the RHS at F2 enlarged

 

 

and here is the summilux RHS same aperture

 

 

 

I use the Nocti a lot at 0.95 for corporate work or wedding receptions etc, but I think I will stick to the Summilux for say group photos..