arthury Posted November 14, 2009 Share #1 Posted November 14, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) A short question: can the Noct/0.95 perform as well as the 50mm Summilux ASPH when both are at f/1.4 ? I am trying to determine if I should keep the Lux in the event that I get the Noct. Please share your thots. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 14, 2009 Posted November 14, 2009 Hi arthury, Take a look here Noct @ f/1.4 = Lux ASPH @ f/1.4. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Bo_Lorentzen Posted November 14, 2009 Share #2 Posted November 14, 2009 You mean aside from the weight.? . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthury Posted November 14, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted November 14, 2009 You mean aside from the weight.? . Nope, weight is not an issue. I am the kind who walks around with Nikon D3. I am more worried about the image quality. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWW Posted November 14, 2009 Share #4 Posted November 14, 2009 Recommend reading Erwin Puts review since he compares both lenses. NX095, part 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndReini Posted November 14, 2009 Share #5 Posted November 14, 2009 There is an issue that is much more difficult to overcome with the Noctilux than the weight: the travel of the focus. The Noctilux is "geared" for very precise focus at its shallow depth of field wide open. Therefore, to focus the Noctilux is extremely slow compared to the Summilux. People have suggested that the "steer" helps this shortcoming, but I still don't think that the Noctilux could replace the Summilux as a fast lens for reportage and street photography for me. I have the old version of the Noctilux and the Summilux. If the new Noctilux was indeed as sharp and clean throughout the range from 1.4 up, I would consider trading both. However, I find the Summilux to be an outstanding performare and probably the most important lens in my kit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted November 14, 2009 Share #6 Posted November 14, 2009 Bernd, I agree completely. I had the chance to use the Nocti yesterday, and its slow focusing was what impressed me most. It does even seem to accentuate the weight! The care needed in focusing at 2--3m wide open makes the thing even more unwieldy. This is not even a special purpose optic. It is a bragging lens. The old man from the Age of the Canon 0.95 (The World's Most Expensive Ashtray) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkor AIS Posted November 14, 2009 Share #7 Posted November 14, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Im totally impressed with the Noctilux performance wide open. Stopping down definitely makes the lens sharper but the unique qualities of the Noctilux wide open are lost to some degree. Im sure the newer .95 version is even better. However, I feel the new lens has lost the look of the original. Despite what lecia spin in the brochure's say. The .95 is to perfect:p. As far as the weight goes, it's nothing compared to the Canon 50 1.0 I had previously:o. I love the long throw of the focus of the 50 1.0 Noctilux on M3. Shooting wide open it's all about accuracy and I believe the folks at leica got it right the first time. Perhaps it's not the perfect lens for everyone , but it us the perfect lens for me. My only complaint is that I didn't get one 20 years sooner. Gregory Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted November 14, 2009 Share #8 Posted November 14, 2009 [ ... ] However, I feel the new lens has lost the look of the original. Despite what lecia spin in the brochure's say. The .95 is too perfect:p. You can always apply the classical remedy: Vaseline on the front lens. I love the long throw of the focus of the 50 1.0 Noctilux on M3. Shooting wide open it's all about accuracy and I believe the folks at leica got it right the first time. Perhaps it's not the perfect lens for everyone , but it us the perfect lens for me. My only complaint is that I didn't get one 20 years sooner. Gregory The fact is that the long throw of the Noctiluxes is actually detrimental to accuracy. The visual feedback is too slow, making you overshoot correct focus. Let's face it: Neither of the Noctis were practical lenses. They were all about the Leica Mystique. The old man from the Age of the Canon 0.95 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted November 14, 2009 Share #9 Posted November 14, 2009 Lars, Interesting point about the speed of focusing, as you know I picked up a nokton 50 1.1 and have been very pleased with it, it does 90% of my 50mm work, I have learned to live with the weight, but it also have a very short focus throw, making it a very quick lens to use. (though for wandering around the street in daylight the 50 cron is not a bad lens either) . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjphoto Posted November 14, 2009 Share #10 Posted November 14, 2009 The Noctilux is the reason i have suffered with leica cameras. Period. Tim Tim Jones Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwilliamsphotography Posted November 14, 2009 Share #11 Posted November 14, 2009 In practical applications, pretty close at f/1.4 and difficult to tell at f/2.8 on. After shooting them side by side on the job, I sold the 50/1.4 ASPH. Bragging rights aside, the extra stop has made the difference between getting a shot or not on the M9 in the conditions I shoot in. I always vote for getting the shot because you can't "brag" about the ones you didn't get ... LOL ! Focusing is not much an issue if you've got your rangefinder technique down pat. I'm shooting weddings with moving subjects all the time. Took to the new Nocti immediately. -Marc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkor AIS Posted November 14, 2009 Share #12 Posted November 14, 2009 I face nothing:p. If you ask me the speed of both Noctilux makes them infinitely practical. Just last night I was able to get some shots on 400 ISO at night at 1/30 at F 1.0. And since the fastest film I had was 400 ISO I was glad to have the extra speed. The Noctilux and the 28 1.4 D AF on my D3 makes for a deadly night time combo on the wide normal end. It's amazing to me that the Noctilux has such polarized opinions. People either love it or hate it. And that's fine. I already love mine. I was glad to pick up mine used at a nice price. Im really looking forward to using it on the M9 when/if I can ever find one. Until than Im very happy to use the M3 and the Noctilux as my primary go to low light combo. Gregory Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndReini Posted November 14, 2009 Share #13 Posted November 14, 2009 Don't get me wrong. I like the Noctilux. I own the older f1.0 version and it is a great lens for certain applications, but the 50mm summilux is my main lens on the M9. These samples were both taken with the lux wide open at 1/30s. The bus at ISO1000, the cityscape at ISO160. This lens is tack sharp wide open and the CA is beautifully controlled. You only see some purple fringing around the light source, which is many stops overexposed. In the crop, you can make out some falling raindrops back-lit by the street lamp (the wriggly lines due to the slow shutter speed). 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! 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/103689-noct-f14-lux-asph-f14/?do=findComment&comment=1116865'>More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted November 14, 2009 Share #14 Posted November 14, 2009 Wait - so slow shutter speed reveals that rain drops fall in wriggly lines.? Great shots btw... had I known you were out playing the other evening I would have been really frustrated being stuck at work. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndReini Posted November 14, 2009 Share #15 Posted November 14, 2009 Bo, I'm always out playing. At least three times a week. Here's one with the Noctilux on the M9, f1 version wide open. I think it's beautiful in a different way. 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! 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/103689-noct-f14-lux-asph-f14/?do=findComment&comment=1116902'>More sharing options...
marknorton Posted November 14, 2009 Share #16 Posted November 14, 2009 For me, the Noctilux (and I have both the f1 and f0.95 versions) are specialised lenses and are in no way suitable as everyday lenses for the M8 or the M9. The focus throw of the f0.95 version is much improved compared to the f1 version but both lenses are heavy -- and upset the balance of the camera - and they both block the finder. They have their place but they are not general purpose lenses and lenses such as the 50mm Summilux ASPH do a better job as a workaday lens, providing of course you can find one which Leica have bothered to set up correctly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug_m Posted November 14, 2009 Share #17 Posted November 14, 2009 I think the Nocti 0.95 is a fantastic lens and it may even be better than the 50 lux ASPH when stopped down to f4 to 8. However, I agree with Mark Norton in that it is a very specialized lens generally not suited for all around use by most of us. That said I'm sure that the exceptional photographer and maybe even the rest of us could get used to the Nocti's weight, large size blocking the viewfinder, and other quirks associated with so much glass if we used it enough as a sole lens. The Nocti 0.95 is really hard to take off the M8 or M9 because you have so many creative options starting with the very shallow DOF. I've never used the old Nocti but having the option to also go beyond 0.95 and still get great pics just may be worth the huge expense of the ASPH version. I doubt there is much difference between the 50 lux ASPH and Noct 0.95 at 1.4- except that the lux has much less flare. For those that can afford it, I'd recommend owning both lenses but it's a heck of a lot of spare change to spend on glass. Nonetheless, if you like 50mm and are not broke its pretty hard to beat the 50 lux ASPH as a must have lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mc_k Posted November 14, 2009 Share #18 Posted November 14, 2009 I have the 1.0 and the 1.4 asph. Image quality is same ballpark...the look of course is different. I think they are complementary because of the size and because of the different look. If the 0.95 has all the sharpness you want, I bet the 50 1.4 pre would be a nice complement (different size, different look). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mc_k Posted November 14, 2009 Share #19 Posted November 14, 2009 love the "save your life" photo (#1) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenerrolrd Posted November 15, 2009 Share #20 Posted November 15, 2009 I have both Noctiluxes and neither is a good all around lens ..primarily due to the handling issues already discussed. You can learn to use them but its not as easy as the summilux or summicron alternatives. Both Noctiluxes are exceptional optics and when you have a need can produce amazing images. I highly recommend either version to any serious M user. But not at the expense of the 50 lux asph which I consider one of the best all around lenses on the M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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