Noctilux Type 3 (E58) vs Type 4 (E60)

[Tony C.]

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OK guys, you were all so helpful in response to my previous question, I'd like to refine my approach to buying a Noctilux. The research that I've done suggests that the previous (E58) version may be preferable given the detachable lens hood. Do you consider this to be the case?

 

Is the lens hood on the newest version a big problem? Is it worth paying a premium for a used E58, and going without warranty protection?

 

And setting the lens hood issue aside, are there any real qualitative differences between the various versions?

 

Thanks again!

 

Tony C.

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[Guest guy_mancuso]

Like to know this myself. This lens to me needs no hood

[Dan States]

There is no difference optically. I owned the hooded version and found the plastic slidey hood to be a pain in the rear. It was never out when you thought it was, slides back and forth too easily and looks tattered quickly. Some have actually had the hood removed. I don't think you would pay a PREMIUM for the older version.

 

This must be the most lusted after Leica lens, but beware, owning one is not always as good as wanting one. They are large, heavy and most imporantly, very slow to focus. The throw is very long and it takes more effort to crank the barrel than most other Leica lenses. The performance of the lens is good from F1.4, but at f1.0 it looks pretty funky. Web shots taken at f1 can look good, but actual prints tend to look softish and have a kind of whispy flare in the highlights that doesn't look good in daylight shots.

 

I found the lens to be suited primarly for night photography because it had none of the coma and point flare that dogged my V2 Summilux. This is where the Noct really stands out. The inherently high contrast of night photography balances out the optical issues at F1.

 

These days I can't imagine why we would choose the Noct over the new Summilux. The performance differences are huge, and with digital capture the extra stop just isnt worth what it was in the 70's when the lens was designed.

 

All that said, I don't want to talk anyone out of the lens. They are a hoot at night, and as man-jewelry they are unsurpassed. I used mine for more than a year and sold it for what I paid for it...

[Tony C.]

Dan-

 

Thanks for the comments. I am only interested in the Noctilux as a tool for night photography, and expect to (mainly) use other lenses for daytime.

 

Tony C.

[j. borger]

The hood of my Noctilux 58mm never came out of the box .. because it is not needed .. not for flare control, not for protection... because the glass sits quite deep in the barel.

THe main difference with the newest version with built in hood is that the newest Noctilux blocks more of the viewfinder, especially due to that hood.

Optical there should be no differences between all f 1.0 versions.

 

I use a 50 lux ASPH and a Noctilux. I do not think one is a substitute for the other.

I use the Noctilux almost exclusively at f1.0 (also in broad daylight, sometimes by using ND filters) ............ is has wonderful tonality in B&W and i consider the lesser contrast compared to modern lensdesigns often a pre.

 

For me the Noctilux is NOT a lens for low-light photography but more of a portrait lens........... even use it to isolate subjects in the crowds for streetshooting ... like in the samples below.

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[Tony C.]

J.–

 

While I do plan to use the Noctilux for night shooting, I also appreciate the shallow depth of field (which your examples show so well). I particularly like the image of the girl.

 

Thanks for your input.

 

Best regards,

 

Tony C.

[m_opel]

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Noctilux' with detachable lens hood are available both in 58 and 60 mm filter thread diameter, the 58 mm version was the first one. It was around 1980 replaced by the 60 mm version because with a 58 mm filter on it it's prone to vigneting (and it was then able to use the same lens hood as the 1.4/75 which was introduced in 1980).

When you buy an E60 Noctilux and a lens hood separately please note that there are two types of lens hood mountings, the first one was a bayonet type with two pins on the lens barrel (like the E58 Noctilux), the later a clip-on type with pushbuttons and a groove on the lens barrel.

Try to find one with the original front cap, these are no longer available (and very hard to find!), the currently deliverable clip-on types are larger than the lens barrel and are therefore likely to fall off when accidentally touched... and as they are black they're hard to find in the dark. ;-)

[Guest Olof]

 

Can you post a pic taken with the Nocti at 1.0 and another taken with the Lux at 1.4 , from the same situation ? Really would see ig the Lux wont have a simmilar effect.

[j. borger]

I might add that for the E58 version vignetting with filters might be the case with film= full frame but is not an issue with M8 or R-d1 ... which i regret because i often add it in processing (like in the pigeon-shot) ......... vignetting is part of the character of the Noctilux to me.. but you loose it with the cameras with a cropfactor!

[sdai]

.... vignetting is part of the character of the Noctilux to me.. but you loose it with the cameras with a cropfactor!

 

I absolutely agree, Han ... that's why I don't like it for B+W due to the gloomy atmosphere added by this feature - and some people apparently don't agree.