tom0511 Posted February 23, 2007 Share #1 Â Posted February 23, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Specially with the announced orice increase: Who of you guys prefer the Noctilux to Summilux asph and why? I just got my 50 Summilux asph back from service, it focuses perfect now and I wonder if there is really a need for my Noctilux. I know the Noctilux has a special drawing, but I also do find the bokeh of the 50/1.4asph smooth, and the 50/1.4aspg far from renereing harsh (like maybe some other asph lenses). And its smaller size and weight makes it less obstrusive and one probably brings the lens more often. Plus there is the focus plane shift of the Noctilux with f-stops. So probably no Noctilux wich focuses spot on at f1.0 AND at f2.0. On the othere side there is something special, I think its the contrast the Noctilux draws out of low light situations. (For those of you who wonder why I own both lenses: About 1 year ago I just got the Noctilux for such a good price, that there was no way to resist) Any opinions, images etc. regrding these 2 wonderful lenses? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterlenz Posted February 23, 2007 Share #2 Â Posted February 23, 2007 Specially with the announced orice increase: Who of you guys prefer the Noctilux to Summilux asph and why?I just got my 50 Summilux asph back from service, it focuses perfect now and I wonder if there is really a need for my Noctilux. I know the Noctilux has a special drawing, but I also do find the bokeh of the 50/1.4asph smooth, and the 50/1.4aspg far from renereing harsh (like maybe some other asph lenses). And its smaller size and weight makes it less obstrusive and one probably brings the lens more often. Plus there is the focus plane shift of the Noctilux with f-stops. So probably no Noctilux wich focuses spot on at f1.0 AND at f2.0. On the othere side there is something special, I think its the contrast the Noctilux draws out of low light situations. (For those of you who wonder why I own both lenses: About 1 year ago I just got the Noctilux for such a good price, that there was no way to resist) Any opinions, images etc. regrding these 2 wonderful lenses? Â I think you nailed it! The ASPH is probably a better general purpose lens, whereas the Noctilux is very special! The ASPH is a 50mm lens I am aspiring to since I have a couple Summicrons, an Elmar, as well a Noct! However, I am using the 35 Summilux ASPH more than the 50 FL with the M8 right now. Tom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
macusque Posted February 23, 2007 Share #3 Â Posted February 23, 2007 IMO the Noctilux on the M8 lacks some of the "magic" it gives on film (full frame). Its look in the outer zones of the image is unique and the cropping doesn't do it justice. Giving the 50 asph is great even at f/1.4, if you don't absolutely need f/1 I'd say to simply keep the smaller, lighter, sharper and cheaper Summilux. Â P.S. I need to test more but one thing I noticed with the Summilux asph is that while it's bokeh behind the subject is very nice, the out-of-focus in the foreground is not so pleasing. Anyone find the same ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
j. borger Posted February 23, 2007 Share #4 Â Posted February 23, 2007 Hang on to the Noctliux untill you are absolutely sure you do not WANT it in the long run! I also have a Nocti and a 50 lux asph ................. i used the nocti for months as my only lens .... now i am back to my other lenses and am using the 50 lux asph much more, in fact my Noctilux rests on the shelf for a couple of months already. For me the Noctilux only makes sens when i want to go out to shoot the world at f1.0: shoot typical noctilux pictures. At the moment i am not in the f1.0 mood and want to take other type of pictures ..... but i am convinced the f1.0 fever will hit again sometime in the near future. Buying.... selling and .....buying again is a very expensive strategy i know from experience ... so i keep the Noctilux! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosuna Posted February 23, 2007 Share #5 Â Posted February 23, 2007 A question. How good is the Noctilux at smaller apertures (from f2 to f5.6) compared to the Summilux? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
macusque Posted February 23, 2007 Share #6 Â Posted February 23, 2007 The Noctilux I had was excellent from f/2 to f/5.6, I'd say on par with the Summilux asph, though I didn't compare them side by side. Beautiful colors also. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 23, 2007 Share #7 Â Posted February 23, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I hardly dare say it, but as great as the Noctilux is, the Summilux 75 is a similar narrow DOF lens, ful of character and with a 3-D like rendering. And heavy too:D. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom0511 Posted February 23, 2007 Author Share #8 Â Posted February 23, 2007 A question. How good is the Noctilux at smaller apertures (from f2 to f5.6) compared to the Summilux? Â Summilux at f4:(rd1) Â Noctilux f4:(rd1) Â at other f-stops in higher resolution: 50mm_leica_m_lenses Photo Gallery by TOM at pbase.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosuna Posted February 23, 2007 Share #9 Â Posted February 23, 2007 Many thanks Tom!!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jager Posted February 23, 2007 Share #10 Â Posted February 23, 2007 Despite already owning a Noctilux and a Summicron 50, I placed an order a couple days ago for a Summilux 50 ASPH. I simply think the Lux will be a more versatile, all-around lens. The Noct has that magical f1 - and for that reason I don't expect to ever part with it. I'm guessing that the Lux will be my choice 70% of the time when I want a 50; the Noct 25% or so; and the Cron the odd time or two when I want to wax nostalgic (the Cron was my first M lens and was my nearly constant companion during the first year I shot with Leica). Â Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerimager Posted February 23, 2007 Share #11 Â Posted February 23, 2007 Jeff- funny, that's exactly what I'm doing. I love the Noct for it's special character wide open. While it's excellent at f2-5.6 as well, it's slow focus is a drawback for general use. I have a 1950's rigid summicron which is excellent even at F2. But the 1.4 ASPH renders, to my eye, the sharpest 1.4 image of any lens I have ever seen, and also is a very different look than either of the other 50's, more intense, finer detail. I also want to see whether I end up preferring the 50mm FOV or the 35mm. Currently my 35 ASPH is my regular lens, but I do like a long view, the 50 1.4 may become my standard. So, I'm using my discount for this lens rather than the 90 APO I had in mind. The only question...black or silver. With my chrome M8, I think silver! best.....Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddp Posted February 23, 2007 Share #12 Â Posted February 23, 2007 The closer (and smoother) focusing attributes of the Summilux are nice as well. I love the Noct, but there are times when I need a 50 that has close focuing and "normal" attributes. I won't be getting an Asph though... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted February 23, 2007 Share #13  Posted February 23, 2007 It happens that last evening, I decided to test my new 50 Summilux against the Noctilux. Admittedly, these aren't identical shots, and I didn't use a tripod. But here is a comparison that shows, I think, the advantages and disadvantages of each. Both were shot at ISO 160 wide open.  Noctilux first: 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/16990-noctilux-vs-summilux-asph/?do=findComment&comment=180499'>More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted February 23, 2007 Share #14  Posted February 23, 2007 Now the Summilux: 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/16990-noctilux-vs-summilux-asph/?do=findComment&comment=180500'>More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted February 23, 2007 Share #15 Â Posted February 23, 2007 The Summilux is focused better, and that's meaningful. It is focused better both because it is easier to focus, and because it is sharper. Â For me, I love the Noctilux, and like others have said, there will be times when I will want to shoot it exclusively. Â For travel, however, I am very happy taking the Summilux, because the bokeh is better than sufficient, and it is, I believe, as great a lens as my 75 Summicron, and better than the 35 Summilux. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Sievers Posted February 23, 2007 Share #16 Â Posted February 23, 2007 I would never let go of my Noctilux: Â http://www.flickr.com/photos/captainvideo/336300571/ Â But I couild be tempted to get a 50 Lux ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted February 23, 2007 Share #17 Â Posted February 23, 2007 I hardly dare say it, but as great as the Noctilux is, the Summilux 75 is a similar narrow DOF lens, ful of character and with a 3-D like rendering. And heavy too:D. Â Â This is the direction I took also ,love the 75mm focal length for this type of shooting and the Lux is very very good wide open. It is a charactor lens and having one in the bag for me is a must Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Sprow Posted February 23, 2007 Share #18 Â Posted February 23, 2007 I have both and, on the M8, pretty much always use the Summilux (asph) rather than the Noctilux. I find the resolution and quality of the Summilux as good or superior, it's easier by far to focus in poor light, and considering the vignetting of the Noctilux I find that -- averaged over the entire frame -- the 1.4 Summilux puts at least as much light on the sensor than the 1.0 of the Noctilux. Â For nightclub shoots, I now use the Summilux wide open at ASA 1250 - converting to B&W. Sure still have my M7 in the bag, too! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightpainter Posted February 24, 2007 Share #19  Posted February 24, 2007 interesting how many people own both a Noctilux and a Summilux; so do I, and I love both of them for their special situations: my Summilux asph is the max in sharpness, contrast and accuracy, but my Noctilux sometimes really "paints", a quality that I would never want to go without ; I have shown this photograph in its own thread, but I gladly show it here, too, as proof of the Noctilux' special quality, in this case on my M8 with a B+W infrared filtre at f 1.0, 640 ASA 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/16990-noctilux-vs-summilux-asph/?do=findComment&comment=181271'>More sharing options...
innerimager Posted February 24, 2007 Share #20 Â Posted February 24, 2007 Absolutely beautiful, Heiner. best....Peter Oh well, here's an available darkness shot from tonight. F1, 1/15, Iso 640 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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