Bundestrainer Posted September 4, 2012 Share #21 Posted September 4, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am truly astonished by the Noctilux 0.95. Sure, it is what is it is wide open. You love it or hate it. But at medium apertures and stopped down it is just truly incredible. The colour detail, tonality has a character that is unmatched in anything else I have owned or tried. Beautiful colour and just the perfect amount of contrast and tonality. It is a feat in engineering. I have owned many fast lenses before and have never had anything that comes close to its performance wide open and I use this lens alot wide open because it is very capable at doing so and it suits my style. This is my standard lens I use it for my work and I use it as my personal camera. This lens, combined with the M9 has supplanted most of my work with medium format. I used to shoot only with a Hasselblad and Phase One. Now 90% of my work is with the Leica and I largely attribute this lens for the shift. It's only Billboard work that sees me dust off the Blad now and I hope a higher MP M10 will let me do away with MF entirely. It is without doubt the best lens I have ever owned and is pretty much attached permanently to my camera. The lens hood is tiny but I've not really noticed any flaring. At least nothing significant. I can't comment on the 50 APO but will consider it once I start seeing in depth reviews to supplement/compliment the Noctilux. Paul, did you compare the character of the Noctilux when stopped down with that of the Summilux as well? In your view are they very similar or rather different in their specific rendering? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 4, 2012 Posted September 4, 2012 Hi Bundestrainer, Take a look here The best 50?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
bpalme Posted September 4, 2012 Share #22 Posted September 4, 2012 Paul, did you compare the character of the Noctilux when stopped down with that of the Summilux as well? In your view are they very similar or rather different in their specific rendering? I can't tell any difference. The only difference visually is a slightly shallower DOF. I love it but in no way am I saying it's worth an extra $6,000. .. If I can only choose one it would be the Summilux ASPH. Another one of my favorites. Not an award winner but I just like the color and 3D pop: 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/186975-the-best-50/?do=findComment&comment=2105188'>More sharing options...
jip Posted September 5, 2012 Share #23 Posted September 5, 2012 I enjoy using an old Elmar 50mm from 1961... Although I do think of getting a 50 cron... but I don't like the fact it has no focussing tab!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruniroquai Posted September 5, 2012 Share #24 Posted September 5, 2012 Definitely the 50 lux asph, at least to me. Well balanced and sharp and contrasted all the aperture range. Bruno Gracia Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard Posted September 5, 2012 Share #25 Posted September 5, 2012 ...the Summilux isnt as sharp as the cron but for my needs as a non-pixelpeeper by far sharp enough.... If you are talking about the Summilux 50 asph, then I am surprised. At every aperture, my Summilux 50 asph is definitely sharper than my (current) Summicron 50. Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bundestrainer Posted September 6, 2012 Share #26 Posted September 6, 2012 I can't tell any difference. The only difference visually is a slightly shallower DOF. I love it but in no way am I saying it's worth an extra $6,000. .. If I can only choose one it would be the Summilux ASPH. Another one of my favorites. Not an award winner but I just like the color and 3D pop: The ball and chain. Noctilux on M9 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! So the rendering stopped down is almost identical? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Thompson Posted September 6, 2012 Share #27 Posted September 6, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) No experience with the APO Chron. If I had to have only one camera and only one lens, M9 with the current Noctilux, and I prefer 35s... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MarcRF Posted September 9, 2012 Share #28 Posted September 9, 2012 If you are talking about the Summilux 50 asph, then I am surprised. At every aperture, my Summilux 50 asph is definitely sharper than my (current) Summicron 50. Andy I've seen it to be just slightly less sharp than the cron... but that's really at huge magnifications.... in any practical use it's not relevant... love my Lux anyway Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted September 10, 2012 Share #29 Posted September 10, 2012 I've been reading Erwin Puts's "Leica Chronicle" with great interest recently because of various threads that have popped up. In the section on the 0.95 Noctilux, he says that that lens is "at least as good as the [summilux 50 Asph], the reigning champion of high-speed lenses of 50mm". He also says that "stopped down the lens equals and even surpasses (slightly!) the performance of the [summilux 50 Asph]." Puts calls the 50 Summicron APO "the best standard lens that money can buy", noting that there is "zero distortion and at maximum aperture the lens is a significant improvement compared to the predecessors." Optically speaking, and realising that there's little practical experience with the 50 APO at this point, which of these three lenses is the best lens? Everything you read about the APO is superlative, and it's between the Noctilux and the Summilux in price. I have the Summilux and the Noctilux, and I would hate to make a choice between the two. But, the Summilux is on my M3, and it does not get used that much, whereas the Noctilux is permanently on my M9P, and goes everywhere with me. There's just something about the Noctilux I prefer, and it has the extra stop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted September 10, 2012 Share #30 Posted September 10, 2012 Well said, John. Budstrainer, While the lenses are very similar I found I preferred the colour and contrast of the Noctilux. I didn't have the summilux to try out for long though but was still very much wowed by it. I put what differences there are down to the exotic glass, the apparent 6 month cooling process of the elements during manufacture and the physical difference in size of the barrel and aperture. I'm sure someone who owns both and who has used them long term is better qualified to answer. I don't think you would be able to say which is which when stopped down if you shot the lenses separately with separate images. The differences aren't as obvious as say a summicron v summilux bokeh. The Noctilux is apparently marginally sharper though stopped down. I can't say I really noticed this in the testing that I did do. As for the Noctilux, well I keep banging on about it but Ive never really quite been affected by a lens, or any bit of gear for that matter, more so than the Noctilux. It suits me and it suits my style. It's everything I've been looking in a lens, combining high IQ and colour/tonality with the traits of traditional lenses like Petzvals. It really is everything I want and that to me makes it the best and it feels like it was made for me. To me it's perfection. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted September 15, 2012 Share #31 Posted September 15, 2012 Have many all from Leica. Normally I use the chrome 50 collapsible last version. Red scale is also fine and even smaller. The DR is now gone as it does not fit to digital, but the rigid stayed. Build is superb. 1.5 Summarit is interesting. From 2.8 or 4 it keeps up with any. Still have two Summitars. Very sharp and nice at 5.6, interesting effects as I open more. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonki-M Posted September 19, 2012 Share #32 Posted September 19, 2012 Noctilux is a very specialized lens, so it is difficult to compare its attribute to any 'standard' measurement. similarly the summilux, when compared with summicron, holds something special at F/1.4 with its bokeh characteristics. The summicron of any focal length seems to be the most modest of them, achieving high standard in every aspects, yet have no special look to its own(generally) comparing the the noct or lux. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucisPictor Posted September 19, 2012 Share #33 Posted September 19, 2012 I really like my Summitar 2/5cm (coated, round aperture). It's by no means the "best" 50mm but it's the one I like the best for my non-DSLRs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share #34 Posted September 19, 2012 I agree Carsten. I have the very same Summitar and like it a lot. It gives really cool flare if pushed. 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/186975-the-best-50/?do=findComment&comment=2118771'>More sharing options...
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