leicafan! Posted March 30, 2013 Share #1  Posted March 30, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am about to return to Leica M after a 4 year absence as I have just ordered a second hand black M9-P from a dealer which has only taken 300 pictures. I like to travel light and normally shoot with a 50mm lens on full frame. I have been using a Fuji X-Pro 1 with 35mm lens for the last year or so.  My original plan was to buy a 50mm Summicron to go with the camera but my dealer currenty has a mint, previous version, f/1 Noctilux lens and I was considering stumping the extra cash to have this as my only lens to use on the camera.  Would be interested to hear what others think about using this as a single lens/camera combination for travel photography. You can see examples of my style of photography at PhotoWebb.co.uk  Kind regards  Daniel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 30, 2013 Posted March 30, 2013 Hi leicafan!, Take a look here 50mm Noctilux f/1 good single lens with M9-P?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
MarkP Posted March 30, 2013 Share #2 Â Posted March 30, 2013 Good question. Â I have an M9 and Monochrom. My 50mm lenses include E60 1.0/50 Noctilux, 1.4/50 Summilux ASPH, and 1.5/50 ZM C-Sonnar. Â My thoughts on the Noctiux are summarised in post #8 of the thread below: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m-lenses/252840-50mm-noctilux-f1-0-a.html POST #8 Â I also do a lot of landscape/seascapes and have taken some great photographs with this very special lens. However, if I'm primarily shooting such scenes, as I see you do (very nice work btw), I would take my 1.4/50 Summilux ASPH (and 2.0/28 Summicron ASPH - both can be had for less than the price of the E60 1.0 Noctilux). The 1.0 Noctilux is the wrong lens for such precise work. Too soft, too heavy, strong vignetting wide open, muted (albeit lovely) colour rendition, barrel distortion. these make it a great 'art photography' lens - don't ask me to define that but I'm sure you know what I mean. Â I would recommend getting the 1.4/50 Summilux ASPH over the Summicron (faster & sharper) unless you're looking at the 50 Summicron APO Â Oh, and enjoy the M9-P. Â Regards, Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndReini Posted March 30, 2013 Share #3 Â Posted March 30, 2013 Nope. The Noctilux as a single lens is a disaster unless you shoot only very specific subjects that hold still while you focus. I own one and have a love/ hate relationship with this lens. The Noctilux also suffers from bad purple fringing, which can be rough with a digital camera. If you are looking for a one lens travel package, get the 50lux aspherical. It is an amazing lens, much more usable, sharper, and smaller than the Noctilux. If you still feel the need for a Noctilux, get it in addition to the 50 1.4. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted March 30, 2013 Share #4 Â Posted March 30, 2013 I agree with Mark's comments concerning the f/1 Noctilux. Just too soft and too "art house" for a good one lens solution. Â My most used focal length is 35mm, but I do shoot plenty at 50mm and now my only 50 is a f/0.95 Noctilux. I know people argue that it's too big and heavy, but compared to any dSLR lens it's a midget. Also I can make the 0.95 look like the 50/1.4 Summilux ASPH with a simple turn of the aperture ring, but I could never make the Summilux look like the Nocti wide open. ND filters just add to the capabilities. A marvelous lens (but expensive)! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted March 30, 2013 Share #5 Â Posted March 30, 2013 Nice pictures on your website, Daniel. From what I see there, I'd support Mark's suggestion: get the Summilux. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest borge Posted March 30, 2013 Share #6 Â Posted March 30, 2013 As a one-lens solution I would definitely go with the 1.4/50 Summilux ASPH. The only exception is that if you know you really need the Noctilux for your type of style. If you love shooting wide open all the time then the Noctilux it is. But for general all-around use I would then heavily suggest that you go for the 0.95/50 Noctilux ASPH since it can serve as a Summilux from 1.4 and upwards. The 1.0/50 Noctilux has a bit too much character for normal allround use (at least for me). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicafan! Posted March 30, 2013 Author Share #7  Posted March 30, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks very much for your advice everyone. Can I assume from what's been said so far that people would recommend I go for the latest Summilux rather than the non APO Summicron (also latest version)?  I had the Summilux when I had my M8 and never got on well with it, although this was quite possibly due to an issue with calibration between my camera and the lens. I always loved using the 35 cron ASPH on my M8 which is what had pointed me towards the 50 cron for my M9.  Thanks  Daniel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted March 30, 2013 Share #8  Posted March 30, 2013 Thanks very much for your advice everyone. Can I assume from what's been said so far that people would recommend I go for the latest Summilux rather than the non APO Summicron (also latest version)?l    Yes Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted March 30, 2013 Share #9 Â Posted March 30, 2013 Get the 50 f1... Â It will be a love story, you'll buy a 35 anyway, you can buy a 50 Summilux ASPH any time Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted March 30, 2013 Share #10  Posted March 30, 2013 Get the 50 f1... It will be a love story, you'll buy a 35 anyway, you can buy a 50 Summilux ASPH any time  Now is the right time for the 1.4/50 Summilux!  You would know from above that I love the E60 1.0/50 Noctilux but the OP only want's one 50mm lens - at least for now . If you look at his website it's celar than the 1.4/50 Summilux ASPH will better suit what he's trying to achieve photographically/artistically - he will not get that level of precision/reproducability with the 1.0 Noctilux. The 0.95/50 Noctilux ASPH would also give him what he wants but from what I've seen of his work he really doesn't need such a fast and expensive lens. Most of these precise landscapes would not have been shot wide open.  The 50 Summilux still seems to be the best lens, and leaves funds left over for travel to another exotic location and/or another lens Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hhanebeck Posted March 30, 2013 Share #11  Posted March 30, 2013 Yes  Hi Daniel,  The images on your site are fantastic, first of all. Congratulations!!!  Can't really talk about the f/1 Noctilux, since I do not own one. However, frequently using the current Nocti on the M9 and Monochrom, I would certainly consider it for a one-camera-one-lens solution. The biggest (only) drawback is its size and weight. I found that having the 50 Lux helps for longer trips or when you simply do not want to "roll Big Berta into the yard."  However, if I had to pick a single 50 mm lens, it would always be the Noctilux for its stunning image quality and bokeh. To me the results will always trump the hassle, size and weight. I can't tell you how much stuff I hauled around even on my last walk, but I will look at the images for years to come.  Cheers, Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted March 31, 2013 Share #12 Â Posted March 31, 2013 You ask about the 50/1.0. I have one , love it for the MM, but I would never consider this lens as my go to 50. If funds are important get a 50/2.0. It is so good that Leica has not had to change it for many years. It is so small for hard travel I pack it in a little zippered, hard walled LensBaby case. Â If you do not need 1.4 then do not get it now especially if you shoot f2-8 most of the time. Â If you want one heck of a 50 for landscape put your name on the APO 50 waiting list and get a 50/2 for the time being. Heck brand new they cost $2k, the least expensive Leica M lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted March 31, 2013 Share #13 Â Posted March 31, 2013 If you shoot portraits the 50 Summilux ASPH is amazing at f/1.4 and for the money I believe the best "all around" Leica lens. Â If I could only have one lens then this would be it. Without hesitation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted March 31, 2013 Share #14 Â Posted March 31, 2013 As a single lens I think it wouldn't fulfill all your needs, but these lenses are special and shouldn't be missed. A two lens combination with the Summarit would cover all needs except fast/sharp in the same lens. Â The Noctilux is not a large lens for Nikon or Canon, it is by Leica standards. The difficulty I find is the density of the lens and carrying it on the body has an imbalance. Â Lastly, the 0.95 Noctilux is a great landscape lens, it sharpness surpasses the Summilux at many apertures and it is truly an all in one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted March 31, 2013 Share #15 Â Posted March 31, 2013 As a single lens I think it wouldn't fulfill all your needs, but these lenses are special and shouldn't be missed. A two lens combination with the Summarit would cover all needs except fast/sharp in the same lens. Â The Noctilux is not a large lens for Nikon or Canon, it is by Leica standards. The difficulty I find is the density of the lens and carrying it on the body has an imbalance. Â Lastly, the 0.95 Noctilux is a great landscape lens, it sharpness surpasses the Summilux at many apertures and it is truly an all in one. Â If you look at the OPs work it requires a degree of across-the-field sharpness that will not be achieved with a Summarit (and you allude to in your post). I'm not knocking the Summarit as I have the 2.5/35 which is a great lens but not a patch on the 1.4/35 Summilux FLE for this sort of work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicafan! Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share #16  Posted March 31, 2013 Thanks all for your views, they are extremely helpful. It's likely that I'll sell my Fuji X-Pro 1 and three lenses and ultimately end up with a Leica 3 lens kit which'll likely include a wide angle in the 21-25 range, the 75 Summarit, which I've had before and a 50.  Although you see landscapes on my site, I find I shoot these less as time passes and my photography develops (no pun intended).  Here are more recent and typical examples of my photography:  Havana with Fuji X-Pro 1 and 35, 60 lenses  Western Med with Canon 5D and Canon 50 1.2 L  Kuala Lumpur with Leica M8, 35 Summicron ASPH, 50 Summilux (current version) and 75 Summarit  I'm wondering if I might love a 35 Summicron ASPH as my go to single lens (a focal length I've never tried on full frame, but think I'd probably get on with) with a 50 Noctilux for when I want that look.  So ending up with: - 35mm f/2 Summicron ASPH - 50mm f/1 E60 Noctilux  Further down the line: - 75mm f/2.5 Summarit - 21mm F3.4 Super Elmar  I can probably only justify 2 lenses this year and have trips to Hong Kong, Venice, Italian Lakes, Bavaria, and Tuscany in the next 3 months which is driving me to sort out my kit. Could chuck in a voigtlander wide angle for flexibility in the meantime too I guess.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulsydaus Posted March 31, 2013 Share #17 Â Posted March 31, 2013 If you want one heck of a 50 for landscape put your name on the APO 50 waiting list and get a 50/2 for the time being. Heck brand new they cost $2k, the least expensive Leica M lens. Â Not true, the 50/2.5 is cheaper! Though the difference is so marginal (a few hundred quid) I can't imagine why anyone would buy that lens... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
swamiji Posted March 31, 2013 Share #18 Â Posted March 31, 2013 I have both the 50mm f/1 Noctilux and the 50mm Summilux ASPH. They are both very different animals. Both have their good points and their bad points. The Summilux, is very corrected, little or no focus shift, and as sharp as it gets (50mm Apo-Cron excepted), which is also it's drawback. The 50mm f/1 Noctilux has more personalities. Stopped down, is very sharp, wide open is very romantic (note I did not say soft). If you use an ND filter or a good Polarizer, you can get very dreamy wide open. Stopped down lets say f/8 or so, it is quite sharp. Â I used the 50mm f/1 Noctilux in India, where I did not know what lighting I would encounter, and found it a very good one lens kit. A lot of people think, just because you can shoot at f/1, you must shoot at f/1. The Noctilux is one lens, that should be shot at all apertures to be appreciated. Â The biggest problem with the 50mm f/1 Noctilux, is it requires more skill than the 50mm Summilux ASPH, you need to practice with it before you can get good results. With a depth of field of millimeters, and the long focusing, you need to be well practiced with it. Â A small suggestion, you mention a 75mm Summarit. Might I suggest a 75mm Summilux? It has to be the best portrait lens ever. I have both and prefer the Summilux, also it takes the same 60mm filters as the Noctilux... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted March 31, 2013 Share #19 Â Posted March 31, 2013 If you want one heck of a 50 for landscape put your name on the APO 50 waiting list and get a 50/2 for the time being. Heck brand new they cost $2k, the least expensive Leica M lens. Â Not true, the 50/2.5 is cheaper! Though the difference is so marginal (a few hundred quid) I can't imagine why anyone would buy that lens... Â Didn't mean to slight the Summarit as they are very good lenses too. I just never consider them versus Summicron and Summilux. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicafan! Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share #20 Â Posted March 31, 2013 What about a 35 Summilux and 50 Noctilux? I'm driving myself crazy now with so many fine lenses to choose from.... Â Daniel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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