thpeters Posted March 8, 2007 Author Share #21 Posted March 8, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Robert, The Leica Lens is an USA lens from Leica with full warranty. And sorry robert that I have not explain that I have only 1 lens at this moment, but I have a leica m4 in the past for 20 years with 3 different lenses (not an noctilux) and still have great negatives from it, that is why I was comparing it, with this lens and in digital. Regards, Theo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 8, 2007 Posted March 8, 2007 Hi thpeters, Take a look here Noctilux sharpness or M8 out of focus?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
robsteve Posted March 8, 2007 Share #22 Posted March 8, 2007 Robert, The Leica Lens is an USA lens from Leica with full warranty. Regards, Theo Have you checked the infinity setting of the rangefinder? Set the lens at infinity and look at a distant tower a km or two away. If the rangefinder does not align at infinity, it may be the lens or the rangefinder. If you are only using one lens, you could adjust the infinity of the rangefinder to match the lens and you camera will focus much better with the lens. This is what I always did with my cameras and the Noctilux I have. I didn't have the 90mm APO or 75mm APO in the past so I didn't notice that adjusting to my Noctilux affected the longer lenses. Since I want to use the longer lenses and have the focus be accurate, I need to have my Noctilux adjusted. They just make an adjustment to the lens cam, which is the brass barrell that surrounds the rear element of the Noctilux. If I were you I would test the infinity setting of the rangefinder and look up the thread regarding adjusting it and adjust it to your Noctilux and use that lens until your other lenses arrive. What are the other lenses you have ordered? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted March 8, 2007 Share #23 Posted March 8, 2007 Have you checked the infinity setting of the rangefinder? Set the lens at infinity and look at a distant tower a km or two away I find the moon is good for this. It's a long way away and the transition from light to dark makes it easy to see if the rangefinder's out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thpeters Posted March 8, 2007 Author Share #24 Posted March 8, 2007 Robert, I have orderd the Apo 90 mm and for my architecture photography the Tri-Elmar 16-21 mm. Both in backorder and have no idea when it arrived, dealer said maybe in April, Leica has a big back lock regarding lenses. Thanks for your suggestions and help. Regards, Theo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsteve Posted March 8, 2007 Share #25 Posted March 8, 2007 Robert, I have orderd the Apo 90 mm and for my architecture photography the Tri-Elmar 16-21 mm. Both in backorder and have no idea when it arrived, dealer said maybe in April, Leica has a big back lock regarding lenses. Thanks for your suggestions and help. Regards, Theo Theo: Try Camtec Photo in Montreal. Jean may have a 90mm APO. Leica Boutique - Best choice for leica products in Canada Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thpeters Posted March 8, 2007 Author Share #26 Posted March 8, 2007 Theo: Try Camtec Photo in Montreal. Jean may have a 90mm APO. Leica Boutique - Best choice for leica products in Canada Thanks Robert, I try it today. Theo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted March 8, 2007 Share #27 Posted March 8, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I find the moon is good for this. It's a long way away.. Goodness Steve, is there no end the extent of your knowledge? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thpeters Posted March 8, 2007 Author Share #28 Posted March 8, 2007 I find the moon is good for this. It's a long way away and the transition from light to dark makes it easy to see if the rangefinder's out. Thanks Steve, when the sky is clear at night and the moon is there I try it out. Theo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted March 8, 2007 Share #29 Posted March 8, 2007 Theo, I'm not at all sure you have a problem looking at the pictures. I recommend you check the infinity and then bracket focus a shot 1.5 - 2 metres away of something you can assess focus. Take a shot with focus set through the viewfinder and then turn the focusssing ring 1mm in one direction and take another shot. Repeat three times in each direction. You then have 7 shots and you can assess where the best focus is. It should, of course, be that first shot. Make no mistake, the Nocti is a tricky lens to use and it takes practice. I'm not there yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thpeters Posted March 8, 2007 Author Share #30 Posted March 8, 2007 Theo, I'm not at all sure you have a problem looking at the pictures. I recommend you check the infinity and then bracket focus a shot 1.5 - 2 metres away of something you can assess focus. Take a shot with focus set through the viewfinder and then turn the focusssing ring 1mm in one direction and take another shot. Repeat three times in each direction. You then have 7 shots and you can assess where the best focus is. It should, of course, be that first shot. Make no mistake, the Nocti is a tricky lens to use and it takes practice. I'm not there yet. Hello Mark, I try that out , I am not there yet either.. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thpeters Posted March 8, 2007 Author Share #31 Posted March 8, 2007 Thanks Robert, I try it today. Theo Camtec in Montreal for my lenses. Robert, Camtec has both lenses in stock, thanks for the information, I go to order from them today. Theo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsh Posted March 8, 2007 Share #32 Posted March 8, 2007 Theo: You made a good decision. You will always be happy you have the Noctilux. When we go to Paris at month's end, I will take the 24 ASPH, 35 Summicron ASPH and 75 Summicron for the M8. I will leave the 50 Summilux at home and take the Noctilux on either an M5 or an MP loaded with B&W Film. Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thpeters Posted March 8, 2007 Author Share #33 Posted March 8, 2007 Thank you guys for all you great advice and help, but I did this morning an infinity shot, from a tree, distance 200 meter at least. I have still my doubts about the focus and the sharpness? After seeing an night shot from Steve Robortson if i am correct, that is what I like, but my new shots are not that quality. Maybe I am wrong in all this, my gut feeling keep saying the lens is working not 100% correct on my M8, but again I can not compare it yet with an other lens. Shutter speed 1/125 - Iso 160 -settings camera standard F 5.6 Theo 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/18125-noctilux-sharpness-or-m8-out-of-focus/?do=findComment&comment=194202'>More sharing options...
robsteve Posted March 8, 2007 Share #34 Posted March 8, 2007 Thank you guys for all you great advice and help, but I did this morning an infinity shot, from a tree, distance 200 meter at least. I have still my doubts about the focus and the sharpness? After seeing an night shot from Steve Robortson if i am correct, that is what I like, but my new shots are not that quality. Maybe I am wrong in all this, my gut feeling keep saying the lens is working not 100% correct on my M8, but again I can not compare it yet with an other lens. Shutter speed 1/125 - Iso 160 -settings camera standard F 5.6 Theo Theo: Did you focus your shot or just have the lens at infinity. The optical infinity for a lens is something like the focal length squared times one thousand. This would be about 250m for a 50mm. For a f1 lens it may be further. Your sample is also against an overcast sky which can add sensor bloom to the equation to make it less sharp. In regards to my own Noctilux, I set my rangefinder to infinity using my 90mm APO and the moon last night and the noctilux seems to be focusing fine now. With all lenses, even slr, there is a tough spot for focusing and this seems to be the 7-10m range or so where even the finest difference in the focus ring can make a difference between being in focus or not. This distance is probably not the best for testing. You should try the 1-3m range and then then further out. As suggested by Steve Unsworth, a Noctilux specialist, try checking the rangefinder at infinity. The service at Kindermann suggested a radio tower at one or two km away for checking infinity. Robert Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsteve Posted March 8, 2007 Share #35 Posted March 8, 2007 Theo: Send me an email through my user link here and I will try to send you a Noctilux at f1 shot for you to compare. BTW, do you have a IR filter on the lens? Robert Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thpeters Posted March 8, 2007 Author Share #36 Posted March 8, 2007 Robert, No I have no IR filter, is also in backorder... Ok, I try more out with this lens, before I send it back to Popflash. Theo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted March 8, 2007 Share #37 Posted March 8, 2007 Theo-- Remember, a lot of people were less than satisfied with focus when they first received M8s, because a plane sensor is more unforgiving of focus errors than film. That's a beautiful silhouette of the trees, and the enlarged crop definitely isn't as sharp as I would want. But again there are a number of questions--is that diaphragm diffraction? or blooming from overexposed sky? etc At that distance, it is not likely to be due to misfocus. There were recently a couple threads started by Tim Ashley on the 35/1.4; they might make interesting background reading. One is at http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/17699-very-interesting-answer-leica-35mm-1-a.html. Personally, I doubt that the rangefinder of the M8 is off, but it is worth checking. And by all means, an IR cut filter is de rigeur because IR doesn't come to the same focus as other wavelengths of light, and will definitely smudge focus. Take a look at the other lenses and get some ideas of the uses they were all designed for before getting down-spirited! --HC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thpeters Posted March 8, 2007 Author Share #38 Posted March 8, 2007 Howard, Thank you for you comments, Yes I admit I have to learn to work with this lens and know that is coming when i am going along with it. For sure I am in need for other lenses for my portrait and architecture photography, but hope that is coming soon. I put some new pictures in the photo forum under people, also done with the noctilux this morning and I must say I am pleased with it. Theo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted March 8, 2007 Share #39 Posted March 8, 2007 Shooting a tree in relief against a bright sky is hardly a good test for focussing accuracy. Popflash and other dealers must be bored with people returning lenses as faulty when it's much more likely their own lack of competence and unwillingness to master a challenging lens is the reason for ho-hum images. Hello? Not every out of focus image is down to the lens, ever heard of user error/finger trouble/incompetence? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted March 8, 2007 Share #40 Posted March 8, 2007 Mark-- One of the benefits of working with a competent dealer is supposed to be advice. I think sometimes a dealer doesn't get enough information from the customer to be sure the product the dealer is selling meets the purchaser's needs. Sometimes that's the dealer's fault, but not always--the dealer is rushed, for example, or the customer simply calls and says "I want an XXX, do you have one?" And I know you'll agree that with a product like Leica's, the line offers a lot of in's and out's that aren't immediately and simply explainable to all customers. I think Theo's lens and his body are both good, but that he may later want to get an additional 50mm (Elmar, perhaps, just don't collapse it!) for general use, and keep the Noctilux for more light-stressed circumstances. But that is just uninformed personal speculation, of course. The Noctilux was never intended to be a general-purpose 50mm, and shouldn't be sold as such. --HC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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