Nick De Marco Posted July 11, 2013 Share #1 Posted July 11, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) A short review of the lens on my blog: Rangefinder Chronicles: The new 50mm Nokton f1.5 VM - on film Nick 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! 7 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/208662-the-new-50mm-nokton-f15-a-new-legend/?do=findComment&comment=2372131'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 11, 2013 Posted July 11, 2013 Hi Nick De Marco, Take a look here The New 50mm Nokton f1.5 - a New Legend?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
awslee Posted July 12, 2013 Share #2 Posted July 12, 2013 I'd prefer the classic old version of the Nokton 50/15 or a Prominent converted one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokoshawnuff Posted July 12, 2013 Share #3 Posted July 12, 2013 Some wonderful photos Nick, thanks for the link...it's a lens I've been contemplating since it was announced ps £5 for meringue?!? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shade Posted July 12, 2013 Share #4 Posted July 12, 2013 Looks like its a well performing lens, as its legend status, I doubt it.. Only time will tell though. However I still dont like its physical design, yeah call me whatever, but the lens design looks busy to me with all the shapes stacked into a lens.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
asiafish Posted July 12, 2013 Share #5 Posted July 12, 2013 Some wonderful photos Nick, thanks for the link...it's a lens I've been contemplating since it was announced ps £5 for meringue?!? May I ask why? I have the original version and like it, but wonder why it might be better than the new M mount version. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsgary Posted July 12, 2013 Share #6 Posted July 12, 2013 Ive just bought this lens and love it Shot at F4 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted July 12, 2013 Share #7 Posted July 12, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) It is a very nice lens. I have 2 of the LTM version, although the closer focus would be nice, they are optically identical, and are styled more like the v1 Summilux - so I'll stick with them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinis Posted July 12, 2013 Share #8 Posted July 12, 2013 Pint in the London Apprentice ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Marc G. Posted July 12, 2013 Share #9 Posted July 12, 2013 I compared one with my summilux 50 asph and cannot understand a comparison that favors the 50 nokton. the nokton copy I had was less sharp anywhere at any aperture up to f/8 (I didnt use 11 and 16 as I find it useless to use those apertures due to diffraction kicking in). the nokton suffers from focus shift from f/2 to f/4. the issue is gone by f/5.6 and of course non existent wide open. the main argument will of course be the price which is a matter, but I already had the 50 summilux so I compared just the performance. furthermore I found the finish of the chrome version a slight pain in the ass. the focus ring knurls are just milled out without softening the sharp edges. it does not get in the way in short usage but I wouldnt want to shoot a concert or a festival which I have both done with the summilux and had no issues. the black version felt MUCH better which is why I would recommend this one over the more expensive chrome version. the black hood on the chrome lens is a bummer too.... if you pay extra for the looks you would expect a chrome hood (at least on the outside) too. on another forum a member suggested that my nokton copy had quality control issues. possible. but if that was a bad copy, other people might receive one as well... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokoshawnuff Posted July 13, 2013 Share #10 Posted July 13, 2013 May I ask why? I have the original version and like it, but wonder why it might be better than the new M mount version. Only differences are the new appearance, minimum focus is now .7 meters, and filters are now 49mm; optical formula remains the same. Probably isn't a lens you want if you have the LTM version unless you're a collector...As someone that doesnt already have the LTM version I would go for this version. I compared one with my summilux 50 asph and cannot understand a comparison that favors the 50 nokton. I think this lens compares favorably to the pre-asph Summilux, not the current Summilux asph...they are very different lenses and price points. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnsato Posted July 13, 2013 Share #11 Posted July 13, 2013 UPS delivered Nokton 1.5 today leica M9P leica MM other 50's I own...current 50 1.4 ASPH leica Sonnar 50 1.5 zeiss I like this Nokton 50 alot... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shade Posted July 13, 2013 Share #12 Posted July 13, 2013 I would agree that from the samples there is nothing to particularly dislike from this lens, considering its price point. But as always, a lens is always good (and bad) to personal tastes.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick De Marco Posted July 13, 2013 Author Share #13 Posted July 13, 2013 Interested to read Marc's report. Most reviews I have read have compared the new Nokton very favourably with the new 50 Summilux ASPH, and found it far better than the pre-ASPH version of the Summilux. But if anyone has very different experiences I would like to see some photos as I don't have the lux to compare. I have certainly not so far noticed any focus shift issues. The lens continues to impress me - I am using it on the M in Italy at present and astounded by its sharpness. Anyway, below is my favourite from my blog article, a quick street shot when I was using it with film in Brick Lane on its first weekend out Nick 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! 1 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/208662-the-new-50mm-nokton-f15-a-new-legend/?do=findComment&comment=2373151'>More sharing options...
Guest Marc G. Posted July 13, 2013 Share #14 Posted July 13, 2013 Interested to read Marc's report. Most reviews I have read have compared the new Nokton very favourably with the new 50 Summilux ASPH, and found it far better than the pre-ASPH version of the Summilux. But if anyone has very different experiences I would like to see some photos as I don't have the lux to compare. I have certainly not so far noticed any focus shift issues. The lens continues to impress me - I am using it on the M in Italy at present and astounded by its sharpness. Anyway, below is my favourite from my blog article, a quick street shot when I was using it with film in Brick Lane on its first weekend out Nick the focus shift is not as pronounced as with the sonnar. I tested it in the very close range between 1-1.5m. at f/2.8 the point i focused on was totally blurred as the DOF started at about 2 cm behind it. as I said the issue is gone by 5.6 the lens gets a bit of a hype due to the looks. I simply looked at the pictures that came out of the M-E. one thing that I found particularly annoying is the out of focus rendering with loads of doubling and harshness. but I compared it to one of the butter machines for the money it is excellent but cannot compete with the higher priced lens Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick De Marco Posted July 13, 2013 Author Share #15 Posted July 13, 2013 Thanks Marc Like I said though, I would rather see photo comparisons given that most reviewers have compared it far more favourably to the lux than you do. And not only because the build and look of the lens is so good! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlashGordonPhotography Posted July 14, 2013 Share #16 Posted July 14, 2013 (edited) My LTM version has no focus shift that I can see (versus the 1.1 version which does). I have done tripod tests at various distances on a focus chart and seen no shift. Of course I only tested the copy I own. But I have spent hours calibrating my M9 rangefinder to be as perfect as possible (nearly 100 % accuracy with the 135 apo telyt) and I shimmed my Nokton to make it perfect (probably the mount I use). The only difference I see with the 50 summilux is that the Nokton has a bit more purple fringing at wider apertures and a slihhtly different signature. I don't see 3k difference in the price when PF is usually fixable in LR anyway. My experience is that the Nokton lives up to its glowing reviews. it's my favorite lens. YMMV. Gordon Edited July 14, 2013 by FlashGordonPhotography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruhayat Posted July 14, 2013 Share #17 Posted July 14, 2013 If the new version is like the LTM version I have been testing then it will be a fine lens. Not so sure about the "legend" tag, though... It doesn't stand out singularly to me like the Nokton 35mm 1.2, for example. The 50 1.5 is always being compared to a Summilux; it will become a legend only when people say it the other way around, that a Summilux looks like the Nokton 1.5. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rramesh Posted July 14, 2013 Share #18 Posted July 14, 2013 I don't think anything new can be a legend. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick De Marco Posted July 18, 2013 Author Share #19 Posted July 18, 2013 I'm sure it will become a future legend however. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
henning Posted July 18, 2013 Share #20 Posted July 18, 2013 I had the LTM version when it first came out and was reasonably happy with it. It was maybe slightly sharper than the pre-ASPH Summilux and of course cheaper, but the OOF rendering was often harsh and annoying which did bother me. Focus shift was definitely in evidence, but not a huge issue. Then one day my camera bag got bumped and the only result was that the aperture blades of the Nokton all fell in a little puddle against the side (or bottom, depending on how you held it. My local repair guy fixed it while I was there, and I saw the construction quality. I sold it soon after and got a Summilux ASPH, which is definitely a big jump up in quality; both optical and mechanical. No focus shift, sharp wide open pretty much across the field (which the Nokton wasn't) and much smoother OOF rendition. I recently tried the new Nokton for a week. Optically clearly the same but mechanically better, but it's now also a lot more expensive. Centre sharpness is not much different than that of the Summilux ASPH, but the outer zones definitely are, especially at the wider apertures. Henning Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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