marcusperkins Posted September 28, 2009 Share #1 Posted September 28, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi All, Anybody out there who has both versions (1 & 0.95), or has replaced the old with the new. I'm curious to know if there is any noticeable visual depth of field difference at max aperture on FF. The depth of field difference between Leica's F1 and Canon's F1.2 is huge, which equates to the F1 being about 65% faster. However, the new Noctilux is 'only' about 10% faster than the older Noctilux, but does it show? Also is there any distinct difference in sharpness at maximum aperture between the two? I'm really looking for comments by those who have used the old Noctilux extensively, and also have experienced with the new lens. Finally, Is there anybody in London with the new Noct who'd be willing to meet up to compare the two? (I have the old one) Many thanks, Marcus Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 28, 2009 Posted September 28, 2009 Hi marcusperkins, Take a look here New and Old Noctilux. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Bob Andersson Posted September 28, 2009 Share #2 Posted September 28, 2009 Hi Marcus, Can't help you with a hands-on test I'm afraid but one of the few resources I've found which can deal with such extreme f-numbers can be found here. Just put in 0.95 1.0 in the "List of F stops" field, type in your desired focal length and circle of confusion size and click "Plot". Not a huge difference, it would appear. If the graphical presentation doesn't suit then the site also provides the equations here. Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenerrolrd Posted September 28, 2009 Share #3 Posted September 28, 2009 I have the original version and have taken a few images with the new lens. Not a thorough work out of the new but the differences seem obvious. The original version has the extremely smooth bokeh and glow that has been a popular look from the Noctilux. IMHO a beautiful rendering. The lens seems to breathe light into the image . The downside is that its not sharp wide open ...stop down to say 2.8 and it quite acceptable . This lens has personality and provides a somewhat unique signature. The new Noctilux by contrast is a modern Leica optic. They are striving for perfect and this lens best compares to the 50 summilux or the new 21 summilux . Wide open I was only limited by DOF . The bokeh is excellent but it has lost the look . The logical decision is the 50/1.4 asph a superb optic and a small form. I have always been surprised by the IQ of that lens. Generally I use the Noctilux for the signature look as much as the extra speed. This may change with the M9 as you can see everything in the larger files and a better corrected optic maybe desired. As always it depends on the type of photography you enjoy and type of light you typically encounter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overgaard Posted September 28, 2009 Share #4 Posted September 28, 2009 What about the Red Dot Cameras or the Leica London shop? They have the new Noctilux I would thing and I guess you could take a walk to do shots to compare. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcusperkins Posted September 28, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted September 28, 2009 (edited) Thanks All. Bob: very useful link indeed. Many thanks Roger: I agree with you regarding the old Noct - I'm sure as time goes on the old Noct will become a highly sought after lens for precisely the qualities you mentioned. Mine's definitely not for sale even if I get the 0.95. Overgaardcom: Great idea - I normally see Len at R.G Lewis, but he doesn't have one at the moment. I'll try the others when I have some spare time. I'm guessing the new one is noticeably sharper, which may give as much of a boost in perceived separation, or 'non depth of field', as the marginally larger aperture. The look of the old Noct, with the sharpness of the new would be perfect, but I understand the old Noct's unique smooth rendering comes from the aberrations of the old design along with the use of spherical glass only. I guess we can't have everything. However, the new Noct 0.95 on film could be interesting... Edited September 28, 2009 by marcusperkins Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted September 28, 2009 Share #6 Posted September 28, 2009 The new Noctilux by contrast is a modern Leica optic. They are striving for perfect and this lens best compares to the 50 summilux or the new 21 summilux . Wide open I was only limited by DOF . The bokeh is excellent but it has lost the look.I remember posting a lack of interest in the new Noct when it was announced because I thought it might be a faster 50 Summilux ASPH, which I already use. I think I'll keep my f1 Noct too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerimager Posted September 28, 2009 Share #7 Posted September 28, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) It's clear that the noctilux will share with the 35 lux and 50 lux, the same reasons to love both the pre-aspherical and aspherical versions. Near optical perfection in the asphericals with critical sharpness wide open, and a dreamier emotionally compelling "look" in the pre-asphericals shot opened up. Whereas I can, almost, justify having both pre and aspherical 50 lux lenses, I'll be content to keep my pre-aspherical noctilux and just enjoy what others do with the new one. best...Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olsen Posted September 28, 2009 Share #8 Posted September 28, 2009 M9 & Noctilux 0,95. Some excellent postings by this guy here: Noctilux 1:0.95/50 ASPH. - a set on Flickr M9 version of The city of jasmine... on Flickr - Photo Sharing! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andreas_thomsen Posted September 28, 2009 Share #9 Posted September 28, 2009 i love my nocti - breathtaking lens. the new one is technically a great lens but has no spirit at all. cheers andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andreas_thomsen Posted September 28, 2009 Share #10 Posted September 28, 2009 ...........it's a magic lens for people shots in b/w cheers andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthury Posted September 28, 2009 Share #11 Posted September 28, 2009 I have owned and used the previous generation f/1.0 Noctilux and I know, for sure, that the images cannot come close to the resolution which the new ASPH version can yield. Check it out for yourself ... Flickr: Search Leica M9 Rangefinder Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olsen Posted September 28, 2009 Share #12 Posted September 28, 2009 I have owned and used the previous generation f/1.0 Noctilux and I know, for sure, that the images cannot come close to the resolution which the new ASPH version can yield. Check it out for yourself ... Flickr: Search Leica M9 Rangefinder Sorry, but I can't see the big difference. What is the difference between the old, say, with the built in sunshade, and the new ASPH version? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthury Posted September 28, 2009 Share #13 Posted September 28, 2009 Sorry, but I can't see the big difference. What is the difference between the old, say, with the built in sunshade, and the new ASPH version? I have not seen the older version achieving this kind of resolution (M9): http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/3955364668_527a042250_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2486/3954615745_0d23147e4c_b.jpg In general, the older generation Nocts tend to behave like a broad painting brush, which is fine in dim light as long as your expectations are kept under control in terms of resolution. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackal Posted September 28, 2009 Share #14 Posted September 28, 2009 I have not seen the older version achieving this kind of resolution (M9): http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/3955364668_527a042250_b.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2486/3954615745_0d23147e4c_b.jpg I have just perform a quick smart sharpen in photoshop.. takes about 16 seconds ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AgXlove Posted September 28, 2009 Share #15 Posted September 28, 2009 (edited) I have the original version and have taken a few images with the new lens. Not a thorough work out of the new but the differences seem obvious. The original version has the extremely smooth bokeh and glow that has been a popular look from the Noctilux. IMHO a beautiful rendering. The lens seems to breathe light into the image . The downside is that its not sharp wide open ...stop down to say 2.8 and it quite acceptable . This lens has personality and provides a somewhat unique signature. The new Noctilux by contrast is a modern Leica optic. They are striving for perfect and this lens best compares to the 50 summilux or the new 21 summilux . Wide open I was only limited by DOF . The bokeh is excellent but it has lost the look . The logical decision is the 50/1.4 asph a superb optic and a small form. I have always been surprised by the IQ of that lens. Generally I use the Noctilux for the signature look as much as the extra speed. This may change with the M9 as you can see everything in the larger files and a better corrected optic maybe desired. As always it depends on the type of photography you enjoy and type of light you typically encounter. I like the fingerprint of the Noctilux f/1.0 much better than that of the Noctilux f/0.95 ASPH; the new and improved version is more technically advanced, more optically "correct" - but in the quest for perfection, the Noctilux has lost its fingerprint. Some would go as far as to say the Noctilux has lost more than its fingerprint; it has lost its soul. True, the Noctilux ASPH has lost the exposure vignetting of its predecessor (which the M9 will correct for when using the Noctilux f/1.0, BTW). This is a significant step forward, particularly for film based M photographers - but it comes at an awfully high price. For the price of a Noctilux ASPH (and an additional $600 U.S.), one could have an M9 and a 50/1.4 ASPH; that would seem to be the logical decision. Of course, logic - partically fiscal logic - is one of the first things to go out the window when it comes to Leica cameras and lenses. As Nenad Bojic so aptly observed, "Photography is about photography, not money" (LFI 2/2008, p.28). Edited September 28, 2009 by AgXlove Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AgXlove Posted September 28, 2009 Share #16 Posted September 28, 2009 i love my nocti - breathtaking lens.the new one is technically a great lens but has no spirit at all. cheers andy Agreed. The Noctilux has been "perfected," but at an awfully high price. JMHO... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug_m Posted September 28, 2009 Share #17 Posted September 28, 2009 I have never used the old Nocti but the new Nocti ASPH is an exceptionally great lens- in fact I think it is probably better than the 50 lux ASPH when stopped down. I wonder if those that are saying the Nocti ASPH has no spirit have ever owned one. Yes, the price is absurd and for $10,000 it should be exceptional; however, I think Leica has very much succeeded with it. The Nocti ASPH really is amazing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthury Posted September 28, 2009 Share #18 Posted September 28, 2009 [...] Some would go as far as to say the Noctilux has lost more than its fingerprint; it has lost its soul. [...] No malice intended but could one of you explain a little more about this losing of soul that you are seeing? What's missing in the new Noct compared to the old one besides these: the resolution difference even less flare the price, of course ??? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted September 28, 2009 Share #19 Posted September 28, 2009 I think what is perhaps missing is a painterly rendition of images and what many call "nauseating bokeh". The new lens is undoubtedly an optical marvel but Leica did state that the "characteristics" of the old lens would be retained. Some doubted that because the new lens is highly corrected and the old one was not, and it was those aberrations in the old lens that produced the unique rendering. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
swamiji Posted September 28, 2009 Share #20 Posted September 28, 2009 (edited) No malice intended but could one of you explain a little more about this losing of soul that you are seeing? What's missing in the new Noct compared to the old one besides these: the resolution difference even less flare the price, of course ??? How do you explain a soul? It either has one or it doesn't. It's the way it draws... it's unique. It's are imperfections that make us special. Edited September 28, 2009 by swamiji 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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