After a Year My Dealer has called with Noctilux

[KarlG]

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Surprised nobody has mentioned the new SLR Magic HyperPrime 50mm f/0.95, which appears from Steve Huff's rolling review to have performance which is on par with the Noctilux, and at only $4,300 or so.

 

The shorter MFD of 0.7m may also appeal, depending on your shooting style & requirements.

 

Don't own either of them, but can't hurt to investigate the other option as well, especially in light of the significantly cheaper price.

[brill64]

if you have the cash, take the nocti f0.95 without a doub!. you wouldn't expect it to be for every photographic application so 3% is about right because it is a very special lens. you won't regret it. the bokeh is better (less fluffy, imo) than the slr magic and no barrel distortion. you can see that even in the lens comparisons on steve huff's website.

[michali]

I always respect Luigi's opinion, however from personal experience, the Noktons are really crap wide-open. I had both the Nokton 50mm f1.1 and the 35mm f1.2. They're are a waste of money for wide-open use, however from f2.8 onwards their performance does improve markedly.

 

The Noctilux is in a totally different league, you just can't compare the others to the Noctilux.

And before anyone jumps on my head, this is not Leica fanboy snob talk, I have several other C/V lenses which I enjoy using, they deliver very pleasing results.

[Double Negative]

Total time from "getting serious" about buying one until I had it in my hands... Under three months.

 

Once I had it, started shooting with it and more importantly - seeing the results from it? Priceless.

 

If you want one, and know what you're getting into - it's SO worth any wait.

[Sp12]

I always respect Luigi's opinion, however from personal experience, the Noktons are really crap wide-open. I had both the Nokton 50mm f1.1 and the 35mm f1.2. They're are a waste of money for wide-open use, however from f2.8 onwards their performance does improve markedly.

 

The Noctilux is in a totally different league, you just can't compare the others to the Noctilux.

And before anyone jumps on my head, this is not Leica fanboy snob talk, I have several other C/V lenses which I enjoy using, they deliver very pleasing results.

 

Post some samples. Most reviewers put the 35/1.2 and 50/1.1 as the two best Voigtlander lenses.

[Double Negative]

Let's set the record straight on the fast glass wide open:

 

The Noctilux ASPH is as GOOD AS IT GETS. Period, end of story.

 

The 50 Nokton is rather "variable." Sometimes it's really nice, other times it's just heinous. So much so I usually shoot it at f/1.4. I don't need the Nokton for that.

 

The 35 Nokton is rather good; a little lower contrast, sharpness not "biting" but decent. Considering the pre-ASPH 35's character and the cost of the the FLE, it's excellent.

 

The Hyperprime (so far, I'm in the process of reviewing) looks promising. But a Noctilux it's not. Nevertheless, for the money it's looking quite good if the Noctilux is too much.

 

If you want unreal sharpness, great bokeh at a slightly slower speed - the Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH is the benchmark lens. The Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH/FLE is also good if you prefer wider.

 

I've reviewed several of these lenses, some head-to-head with more on the way - especially between the Noctilux/Nokton/Hyperprime coming very soon... You know where.

[DLS]

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Your feedback over the weekend was helpful and I pulled the trigger. The Nocti will be here on Wednesday. The Dealer, Dale Photo in Florida, was terrific and without being asked honored the pricing from last year when I put in the order - really unexpected! I recommend them highly as knowledgeable and fair. I'm now plowing through as much as I can learn about ND filters and it seems to come down to B&W or Heliopan. The B&W's seem to be more readily available. I'll have about a month to get up to speed using this lens and I'm truly excited! Again - MANY THANKS TO YOU ALL!

[Messsucherkamera]

Let's set the record straight on the fast glass wide open:

 

The Noctilux ASPH is as GOOD AS IT GETS. Period, end of story.

 

The 50 Nokton is rather "variable." Sometimes it's really nice, other times it's just heinous. So much so I usually shoot it at f/1.4. I don't need the Nokton for that.

 

The 35 Nokton is rather good; a little lower contrast, sharpness not "biting" but decent. Considering the pre-ASPH 35's character and the cost of the the FLE, it's excellent.

 

The Hyperprime (so far, I'm in the process of reviewing) looks promising. But a Noctilux it's not. Nevertheless, for the money it's looking quite good if the Noctilux is too much.

 

This brings up a question - where does the last version of the 50/1.0 Noctilux fit into the super speed 50mm hierarchy?

 

From what I have read, the order in terms of image quality seems to be

1: Noctilux 0.95 asph

2: Noctilux 1.0

3: Hyperprime 0.95

4: Nokton 1.1

 

Which brings up another question: Where does the Noctilux 1.2 asph fit in??

[StephenPatterson]

This brings up a question - where does the last version of the 50/1.0 Noctilux fit into the super speed 50mm hierarchy?

 

From what I have read, the order in terms of image quality seems to be

1: Noctilux 0.95 asph

2: Noctilux 1.0

3: Hyperprime 0.95

4: Nokton 1.1

 

 

Based upon my experience this is the proper hierarchy, based upon overall IQ, and IMHO there is a significant difference between #2 and #3, less so between #1 and #2. #4 is really outclassed on all counts...

 

1: Noctilux 0.95 asph

2: Hyperprime 0.95

3: Noctilux 1.0

4: Nokton 1.1

[Double Negative]

^ I agree with Stephen's ordering.

[Peter H]

Stephen, sorry if you've already stated this elsewhere, but are there any areas in which you feel 2 is better than 1, even if it isn't the overall best?

[StephenPatterson]

Stephen, sorry if you've already stated this elsewhere, but are there any areas in which you feel 2 is better than 1, even if it isn't the overall best?

 

Price.

 

I believe the Hyperprime is an outstanding alternative to the Noctilux f/0.95, and it's IQ comes closer than any lens to matching the Nocti 0.95, but the Leica wins on size, weight, corner sharpness, vignetting and barrel distortion, although this last point is so minor as to be insignificant.

 

I believe Bokeh is even more subjective than my wife trying to decide what shoes to wear with a certain outfit. To me there is no such thing as "Bad Bokeh". It's just rubbish...

[pico]

From what I have read, the order in terms of image quality seems to be

1: Noctilux 0.95 asph

2: Noctilux 1.0

3: Hyperprime 0.95

4: Nokton 1.1

5: Canon 0.95

[SteveYork]

It's only a half stop faster then a Summilux, but lots bigger and heavier. It's a specialty lens. If you want a fast 50, then get the Summilux.

 

Before the digital Ms arrived, with the influx of new rangefinder users, the Noctilux wasn't that popular of a lens, for the reasons stated above -- big, heavy, expensive, and only 1/2 stop faster. Lots of people got them, used them for a bit, and then turned around and sold them. They were always expensive, but there were plenty on the used market. And then a couple of years ago, when they changed up the model, their popularity (all versions) took off.

 

Ask yourself why do you want a Noctilux? Is it just for the experience of shooting this super fast lens? Go ahead and get it. Given Leica's tendency increase prices, you could probably sell it for close to what you bought it for. Is it for the shallow dof -- I find the Summilux narrow enough. Is it because you think you need the speed? Come on, with digital just ramp up the iso. ect., ect.,

 

And then ask what your heart wants.

[StephenPatterson]

It's only a half stop faster then a Summilux, but lots bigger and heavier. It's a specialty lens. If you want a fast 50, then get the Summilux.

 

It's actually a little more than a full stop faster than the Summilux...

 

I do agree that the Summilux ASPH is the best all around 50, but for extreme shallow DOF the Noctilux 0.95 has it's place in the tool kit.

 

This lens is all about shallow DOF, not light gathering ability...

[Paulus]

It's actually a little more than a full stop faster than the Summilux...

 

I do agree that the Summilux ASPH is the best all around 50, but for extreme shallow DOF the Noctilux 0.95 has it's place in the tool kit.

 

This lens is all about shallow DOF, not light gathering ability...

 

Reason for me not to buy the Noctilux ( just before the M8 came out ) at a price of € 2000,- was the summilux asph 50mm I already had ( which already had cost me € 1900 ) . The noctilux is a great lens ( I had the 1,0 for one day shooting ) but it is also a big lens. The DOF was " to much" for me.

I never regretted it.

 

What I do regret that this year I had twice the chance to buy a apo sum 75 1/3 below the price but I let it go twice.

[wda]

Your feedback over the weekend was helpful and I pulled the trigger. The Nocti will be here on Wednesday. The Dealer, Dale Photo in Florida, was terrific and without being asked honored the pricing from last year when I put in the order - really unexpected! I recommend them highly as knowledgeable and fair. I'm now plowing through as much as I can learn about ND filters and it seems to come down to B&W or Heliopan. The B&W's seem to be more readily available. I'll have about a month to get up to speed using this lens and I'm truly excited! Again - MANY THANKS TO YOU ALL!

Congratulations! I like decisive people.

[Paulus]

Congratulations!

 

B& W filters are great!! Sometimes ( MRC ) even better than the leica filters.

[DLS]

Thanks! The Nocti arrives tomorrow and B&W 0.9 and 1.8 ND MRC filters within a few days. I haven't been this excited since awaiting the arrival of my M9...

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[Double Negative]

Thanks! The Nocti arrives tomorrow and B&W 0.9 and 1.8 ND MRC filters within a few days. I haven't been this excited since awaiting the arrival of my M9...

 

Just curious - where did you find those filters in stock? Robert White I know might have some, but I'm looking for some a little... Closer.