johnbuckley Posted November 14, 2009 Share #1 Posted November 14, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I owned a Noctilux but traded it in, along with another lens and a player to be named later, for the 21mm Summilux earlier this year. Then I stumbled upon some Nokton 50 f/1.1 photos taken by Kurt Kamka and Bo Lorentzen and Big Louis and others, and took the plunge. As it turns out, I'd taken my M8 and the Noctilux a few blocks from my home to the National Cathedral in Washington in September 2007. It was similar weather this morning, so I took my M9 and the Nokton to the same place. I've posted a gallery with some comparisons here: Zenfolio | John Buckley | Nokton 50 1.1 (M9) vs. Noctilux 50 1.0 (M8) Just to give you a sense of the way the Nokton compares to the Noctilux, here are two pictures. I know it's not apples to apples since the M8 and M9 render the lenses at different focal lengths. And the gate was in a different position this morning, so the Nokton shot has less of a, I dunno, mysterious element to it. But from my perspective, if you have been wondering whether the Nokton compares favorable to the f/1.0 Noctilux, in my opinion, it does. Here's the M9 and Nokton: 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/103758-noctiluxm8-vs-nokton-50-f11m9/?do=findComment&comment=1116900'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 14, 2009 Posted November 14, 2009 Hi johnbuckley, Take a look here Noctilux/M8 vs. Nokton 50 f1.1/M9. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
johnbuckley Posted November 14, 2009 Author Share #2 Posted November 14, 2009 And the M8 with Noctilux: 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/103758-noctiluxm8-vs-nokton-50-f11m9/?do=findComment&comment=1116903'>More sharing options...
k_g_wolf ✝ Posted November 14, 2009 Share #3 Posted November 14, 2009 Thx for this ! Have been waiting for such photos ... The NOKTON seems to deliver a better sharpness, but the background appears more pleasing with the NOCTLUX. best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted November 14, 2009 Author Share #4 Posted November 14, 2009 I think that's fair. I must say, having just spent an hour or so with the Nokton, I am very impressed. Can't say I don't miss that Nocti bokeh, though... ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k_g_wolf ✝ Posted November 14, 2009 Share #5 Posted November 14, 2009 >>> John I also enjoyed your comparisons in >>Zenfolio<<. Great photos, they give a good impression about what the lenses can do wide open. In the hands of a good photographer that is ... Thx again. Best GEORG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissah Posted November 14, 2009 Share #6 Posted November 14, 2009 thank you for this john! for me hands down the nocti. why? because the out of focus area is so fine. the roses w the nocti are so perfectly beautiful i dont even like flower pics except to take them. same thing with ducks! i think the nokton is fine or nice just (for me) not special. btw ive been trying to find a reason to sell my nocti as id like the fast 50mm but no way! sigh best, melissa Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted November 14, 2009 Share #7 Posted November 14, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) John, Wow, what a difference in the de-focus on the building... the clean contrast in the building really show the difference. Though for the difference in price, I think I can live with this. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k_g_wolf ✝ Posted November 14, 2009 Share #8 Posted November 14, 2009 >> John here are two Photos take on a recent >>Photoshow<<. M8, but ufortunately no IR-filter. I prefer your setup, there was no time to do more. Best GEORG _____________________________ The first one: a NOCTILUX taken with a NOKTON 1.1 the second: vice versa (hopefully not mixed up) 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/103758-noctiluxm8-vs-nokton-50-f11m9/?do=findComment&comment=1116929'>More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted November 14, 2009 Author Share #9 Posted November 14, 2009 Georg - thanks, and also for the apples-to-apples comparison shot. I think Bo's hit it: the Nocti's de-focused area is really special, but for the money, we can live with the Nokton. And Melissa: probably best to hang on to the Nocti, since you've already paid for it ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adli Posted November 14, 2009 Share #10 Posted November 14, 2009 I also note that when you take pictures with the M9 things appear to look brand new, while the same thing taken with the M8 looks rusty and with an old patina :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerimager Posted November 14, 2009 Share #11 Posted November 14, 2009 John- Off your main topic, but.... how are you liking that 21/1.4? thanks....Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted November 14, 2009 Author Share #12 Posted November 14, 2009 Peter - it's a really great lens. Loved it with the M8, and of course it's better on the M9... I have a bunch of images from the 21 in the M9 gallery on Zenfolio (link below.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerimager Posted November 14, 2009 Share #13 Posted November 14, 2009 Thanks John, some very lovely images there! I think I can guess many of the ones done with the 21/1.4, and they are really impressive. It's really something to get selective focus to this degree on a 21mm lens, opens up a lot of possibilities. best...Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidigital Posted November 14, 2009 Share #14 Posted November 14, 2009 Hi John, Very good comparison. In using the Nokton, I'm been amazed at the sharpness of the lens. If a person really prefers a more clinical look in their images, my opinion is that they'd really like the Nokton. It's quite good ... especially when you consider the price. There is also less unpredictability with the background. The Noctilux throws some pretty funky backgrounds at you at times. The two things that I miss with the Nokton, however, when I compare my experience to the Noctilux I had before selling it 18 months ago, are 1) the out-of-focus rendering of the background and 2) the greater micro contrast I was able to get with the Noctilux. My images with the Nokton look a bit flatter (less 3D). But, for those who prefer the less-contrast look of Voigtlander lenses, that might not be a big deal. Kurt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjans Posted November 15, 2009 Share #15 Posted November 15, 2009 Thanks for the information. I'm considering buying the Nokton in the future (it is only +/- 12 % of the Noctilux 0.95 price). I wonder when we could expect Sean's review of both lenses, or even together with the Noctilux 1.0. Best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheewai_m6 Posted November 15, 2009 Share #16 Posted November 15, 2009 interesting to see such a big difference in opinion. i prefer the nokton in this case to be honest. it could just be these two shots, but i like the way the bokeh is on the nokton. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted November 17, 2009 Author Share #17 Posted November 17, 2009 I've updated the Zenfolio site with new images taken with the M9 and the Nokton. I've come to the conclusion that a) this is a really fun lens, every bit as impractical as the Noctilux. That is, I took some photographs in a neighborhood tonight where it was way too soft for anything other than a still life (in the evening light.) Having said that, other than a Noctilux, I don't know a lens that can do this: 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/103758-noctiluxm8-vs-nokton-50-f11m9/?do=findComment&comment=1119590'>More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted November 17, 2009 Share #18 Posted November 17, 2009 Thus far everything I've seen with the Nokton on the M9 is a winner. It's a great combination. Thanks for sharing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Ash Posted November 17, 2009 Share #19 Posted November 17, 2009 What happened to the stone on top of the wall (behind the word "gates")? Seems as you have taken the shot at different days and lighting conditions. Regards Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zlatkob Posted November 17, 2009 Share #20 Posted November 17, 2009 What happened to the stone on top of the wall (behind the word "gates")? Seems as you have taken the shot at different days and lighting conditions. I gather from post # 1 above that the shots are 2 years apart. (First shot is in 2009, second shot is in 2007.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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