Sometimes I think about selling my Noctilux 0.95

[bpalme]

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I'm not a rich person. To keep a all my lenses is too much so I will have to get rid of something. I do have the 50 cron and the 50 Summilux ASPH and prefer the rendering of the Summilux and Noctilux. Of course I prefer a lighter lens but when I do take out the Noctilux I am reminded how much I love this lens. I haven't done any real side by side testing to see if the Summilux is close enough. I guess another option is the SLR magic lens but it's even bigger. About the only time it really bothers me is if I want to change lenses and the Noctilux is kind of a pain at that moment because I don't usually carry a bag around. Anyway I'm really just rambling because I'm so indecisive but really really wanted to give a little praise for this lens that many seem to regard as an overpriced snob lens.

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[Gerard]

What a lovely problem to have.

 

My problem is that I have to run between my 28 and 75. Any one 50 would make me happy.

[IWC Doppel]

If I didn't need the cash I'd put on the shelf and not use it for a while, shoot lots with the lux and then strap it on as your only lens and see.

 

I keep drooling about a Noctilix f1 or a 75 lux for their rendering magic, to my eyes the f0.95 is not too modern in its rendering and has a bit more classic to its imaging than the lux, but thats only amateur observations

 

If I could afford a 0.95 I'd keep it

[billib]

Your photos are stunning. They look three dimensional.

Thats not easy to achieve on two dimensional media. I

would like to shoot photos like yours but had no luck

with finding a Nocti for anything near retail price. So I've

ordered the SLR Magic (what a name).

 

I know what you mean about weight. I have severe

arthritis in my hands (and body) so weights an issue

for me as well. However, if you want three dimensional

images you must endure because images like yours

are harder to get with other (smaller) lenses.

 

If I were you the Nocti would be the LAST lens I would sell.

More than a few photographers end up selling off all of their

lenses except for the Noctilux. I think you know why.

[bpalme]

Thanks Billib. I got lucky with Popflash I got it in only 5 weeks (last fall).I was the only one on their wait list. Also prices are coming down a bit. I saw one go for 10500 on eBay last week. If buying today I think I would probably go for the SLR magic first too.

[Jamie Roberts]

Honestly, with digital especially, I think I'd let the 50 1.4 ASPH go and stick with the Cron and Nocti .95.

 

If I could only have one of the above, I suppose it would be the 50 1.4...because overall it's a great lens with good speed, and it's particularly nice on film too.

 

But with 2, I'd definitely keep the Nocti .95

[bpalme]

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Here's some more from that day:

Renaissance Festival M9/Noctilux: Leica Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

[billib]

The colors are magical. I would not be considering

getting rid of that lens. Like I've said, If you must, keep

the best and sell all of the rest.

[jaapv]

Actually I think you could have shot all of these with the Summilux asph and you would not have been able to see the difference. As always, it is the indian, not the arrow...

[Jager]

I'm not going to be any help, Brian. But I can empathize.

 

Like you, I'm not rich. Enjoying Leica products says a whole lot more about how important photography is in my life - the priority I've chosen to give it - than anything about net worth or luxury or having something because of the cachet it holds. When I walk away from my pickup truck, M9 in hand, I often shake my head in wonder and worry at the value of the couple of other lenses I might leave behind in the bag.

 

Also like you, I have the 50 Summicron and 50 Summilux/ASPH and the Noctilux (albeit mine is the f1 version). I'd venture the observation that they're like children, each special in their own way. Each has its own unique signature.

 

Someday I'll own the f0.95 Noct.

 

"Why in the world would any sane person need - or want - four fifty's?" is a reasonable question. I don't yet have the eleven grand needed for the lens. But I do have the answer to the question.

 

With the old Noct you trade all sorts of aberrations in return for the extra stop and the unique signature. I love mine. Wouldn't trade it for the world. But I honestly only ever shoot it at f1. Otherwise, if I want f4 or f8 I'll just mount my Cron or Lux and be happier for it. The raison d'etre of the old Noct lives at f1 and only at f1.

 

The f.095 Noct, on the other hand, is something of a Summilux 50/ASPH - considered by many of us the finest 50 ever, by any manufacturer - on steroids. You can happily shoot it at every stop. The breathtaking speed. The special signature. The marvelous utility. And all you lose is a bit of inconvenience in terms of weight and handling.

 

Or, said differently, a photographer can never have too many fifty's...

 

I hope you can find a way to keep your current trio. Like Gerard says, it's a lovely problem to have.

[Jamie Roberts]

Actually I think you could have shot all of these with the Summilux asph and you would not have been able to see the difference. As always, it is the indian, not the arrow...

 

I'm going to disagree here Jaap... as much as I love the 50 1.4 ASPH I do think there is a slight difference in contrast (a little less wide open to f2) from what I'm seeing with the 0.95 Nocti.

 

Whether that's an overly significant difference is another question entirely; for many people it probably isn't OTH, I like what I see from the wide-open 0.95... and t I always--pretty much--also welcome an extra stop, too!

[jaapv]

Of course one would see a difference wide open; however, most of these appear, by the notes with them, to be shot stopped down a bit.

[-ph-]

My guess would be that Brian used ND filters which fooled the aperture calculation and those shots were taken wide open...

 

Peter

[k-hawinkler]

He would know.

[jaapv]

And for many shots he put the aperture in the caption.

[insomnia]

And for many shots he put the aperture in the caption.

 

So you're telling me you can't tell the difference between f/4 and f/0.95? There was obviously an ND filter involved, he also wrote the aperture in the frame of the first images above. The exif data at dpreview was extracted from the files, I guess.

[jaapv]

I believe the poster. I did not even look at the EXIF data.

[wda]

Your photos are stunning. They look three dimensional.

Thats not easy to achieve on two dimensional media. I

would like to shoot photos like yours but had no luck

with finding a Nocti for anything near retail price. So I've

ordered the SLR Magic (what a name).

 

I know what you mean about weight. I have severe

arthritis in my hands (and body) so weights an issue

for me as well. However, if you want three dimensional

images you must endure because images like yours

are harder to get with other (smaller) lenses.

 

If I were you the Nocti would be the LAST lens I would sell.

More than a few photographers end up selling off all of their

lenses except for the Noctilux. I think you know why.

Forgive this being slightly off-topic, but there was no version MATE as listed in your inventory footnote. This was discussed extensively only recently.

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Hallo,

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[thighslapper]

I had the same 50 combo as you till recently.

 

I actually find focussing easier and more accurate with the Noctilux wide open (than the 50/1.4) due to the larger barrel and hence greater 'travel' when rotating it. I also think this lens is adjusted more carefully than the 50/1.4 before it leaves Solms (but that's another story).

 

I have dumped the 50/2 and hardly use the 50/1.4........ I don't find the extra weight and size an inconvenience , and the Nocti offers all that the 50/1.4 does with the added bonus of the distinctive 0.95 signature.

 

A recent trip to Rome had me split almost 50:50 between the 50/0.95 and 90/4 (with a few 21/3.4 shots). I cannot fault it in the images it produces.

 

Unless you cart around a bag full of lenses and have weight issues ... or are in need of financial liquidity I can't see any reason to dispose of it.....

[StephenPatterson]

Very nice work Brian, showing that you know how to get the best results from this lens.

 

There really is nothing not to like about the 0.95 Noctilux, except the price. Anyone who says it's an "overpriced snob lens" need only look at your images...