KAD Posted February 23, 2014 Share #1 Â Posted February 23, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Since replacing my DSLR equipment with Leica, I have so far got the focal lengths that I initially wanted, 28-50-90mm. The 50mm is by far the one used the most, and I currently have a Summilux, last version. The lens is perfect in all aspects, but the "mystery of the Noctilux is of course always there... Â A few weeks ago I came in a "financial" position to actually by a Nocti ( it is insainenly expensive no matter how you look at it), and I have one on order. It is (as usual with Lieca) on back order from the dealer, and nobody know when it will arrive. The waiting has made time for thinking, and my question is whether I should just stick with my Summilux? the money spent on a Noctilux, could give me a lot of other equipment. What I really like with Leica is the size, and with a Nocti, I am more or less back to DSLR size again. Â Anyone have both/tried both, and can give me some advice? Picture quality, rendering, handling other important things... Â Thanks, Â Kjetil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 Hi KAD, Take a look here Summilux or Noctilux. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Fgcm Posted February 23, 2014 Share #2 Â Posted February 23, 2014 Since you already have aSummilux Asph, buy also a Noctilux and compare. This it's the only way to decide what you like more. Â My bet is that you will keep the Summilux and trade the Noctilux. Â Franco Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenInTime Posted February 23, 2014 Share #3 Â Posted February 23, 2014 The truth is the Noctilux and Summilux are complimentary : both have their place. Â I currently have both and a Sonnar ; in the past I had concurrently the f/1 and f/2.8 Elmar so knew what to expect when making what I would class as a lifetime purchase of the f/0.95. Â The Noctilux is unique in what it does, but at the price of being almost clumsily large and heavy; the f/0.95 even more so than the f/1. Â After a honeymoon year, just using a Noctilux, you will long to also have the smaller Summilux again - so don't sell it. Equally don't sell a Noctilux as once it's in your blood you will always relapse and want one again. Therefore it should be compulsory for all Noctilux purchasers to keep a second 50mm lens for general use. Â "Noctilust" was a term used quite a lot a few years ago - it describes what you are going through ;-) Â If you are in doubt, try attending a Leica academy class to borrowing one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted February 23, 2014 Share #4 Â Posted February 23, 2014 Noctilux ...... it will either be love or hate..... Â ...... no way of knowing till you have tried it for a few weeks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Lord Posted February 23, 2014 Share #5 Â Posted February 23, 2014 Frozenintime is right. I love my F1 but you need a small light sharp 50 too IMHO. Â The .95 is a better all rounder than f1, but is a hand grenade in size and weight. Â F1 magic + summilux is an ideal combo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted February 23, 2014 Share #6 Â Posted February 23, 2014 F1 magic + summilux is an ideal combo. Â Oh yes Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted February 23, 2014 Share #7 Â Posted February 23, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) F1 magic + summilux is an ideal combo. +2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted February 23, 2014 Share #8 Â Posted February 23, 2014 Perhaps I'm the wrong person to comment since I bought an M9 to have a Noctilux. I don't care for its short comings, I'm not even aware of them anymore because what I do like about it greatly outweighs any negatives. I wouldn't mind if it were my only lens because it's everything I want and need in a lens. I would buy a 35mm Noctilux if one were offered. I forgot about the price long ago and don't notice the weight. I consider it an ever day lens, and as a bonus, the value of it hasn't gone down. Â If it were me and I was doing again I wouldn't hesitate in buying and I will never sell it. It's one of the best, if not the best photographic related purchase I've ever made. Ask someone else though and they may tell you the opposite so you're just going to have to find out for your self. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted February 23, 2014 Share #9  Posted February 23, 2014 ........... ....................Ask someone else though and they may tell you the opposite so you're just going to have to find out for your self.   Me, for example. I found that the Summilux gave me everything I wanted from my Noctilux, the extra stop notwithstanding, but with the the additional benefit of being so much smaller and therefore, for my style, more versatile and usable. It somehow feels more organically attached, whereas the Noctilux felt a little detached somehow, a little more of a technical feat perhaps, but more intrusive on my photography. Maybe I should have given it more time, but it imposed itself on me in a way I didn't feel comfortable with. Hard to fully explain.  The Noctilux is the only recent Leica lens (i.e. in the last 15-20 years) that I have sold, and I can honestly say I've never missed it because the Summilux is so stunningly capable.  So I agree with Paul. The only way to find out how fitting the Noctilux is to your photography is to see how you get on with it. If it doesn't work out, at least the divorce won't cost you that much: in a year's time you may well get back as much as you pay for it now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W Posted February 23, 2014 Share #10 Â Posted February 23, 2014 Me personally I have 4 50's so I would say buy and keep every one. They are all a little different like fine wine each with their own bouquet. Why do I have 4? I hate to sell a lens because I always regret it and have ended up buying it again. Several years ago I sold my Noctilux and regretted it. When the f.95 came out I waited but eventually bought one. FYI B&H has them in stock. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
satijntje Posted February 23, 2014 Share #11  Posted February 23, 2014 The 0.95 Noctilux is in stock at many places in Germany! e.g. Meister has them I assume that Leica had made a large batch some months ago, and therefore there should be no more waiting time. Even nice discounts are now possible that was unthinkable until recently!  Go for the Nocti  John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted February 23, 2014 Share #12  Posted February 23, 2014 Since replacing my DSLR equipment with Leica, I have so far got the focal lengths that I initially wanted, 28-50-90mm. The 50mm is by far the one used the most, and I currently have a Summilux, last version. The lens is perfect in all aspects, but the "mystery of the Noctilux is of course always there...  A few weeks ago I came in a "financial" position to actually by a Nocti ( it is insainenly expensive no matter how you look at it), and I have one on order. It is (as usual with Lieca) on back order from the dealer, and nobody know when it will arrive. The waiting has made time for thinking, and my question is whether I should just stick with my Summilux? the money spent on a Noctilux, could give me a lot of other equipment. What I really like with Leica is the size, and with a Nocti, I am more or less back to DSLR size again.  Anyone have both/tried both, and can give me some advice? Picture quality, rendering, handling other important things...  Thanks,  Kjetil  I know this is not what you asked, but why not spend half the Noctilux price on the 35 FLE? I keep that lens on my M 80-85% of the time, even though I own both the 50's you discuss. To me the Noctilux is a specialty lens and as a result you might find the 35 more used. Then you can get the 21 SEM and even an APO 135 all three lenses for the price of the specialty Noctilux lens.  For this kind of money rent a Noctilux before you buy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted February 23, 2014 Share #13  Posted February 23, 2014 I know this is not what you asked, but why not spend half the Noctilux price on the 35 FLE? I keep that lens on my M 80-85% of the time, even though I own both the 50's you discuss. To me the Noctilux is a specialty lens and as a result you might find the 35 more used. Then you can get the 21 SEM and even an APO 135 all three lenses for the price of the specialty Noctilux lens. For this kind of money rent a Noctilux before you buy.  I agree, or get a 21 SEM and a Monochrom for a similar price. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAD Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share #14 Â Posted February 24, 2014 Thank you all for your replies! As I thought it is not an easy or correct answer to this. I had similar experience when I was shooting Canon, and I thought about going from 5D MK3 to 1DX. The latter might not be a better camera, but still I regret not have tried it. Â For me the bottom line might be that both lenses has some quality that the other do not have, so it is down to what is most important. Â I live in Norway, and there is no Nocti on stock. Do however have one on backorder, which I got with 10% discount and before new year price increase, so i guess money vice it will not be to bad if I change my mind. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted February 24, 2014 Share #15  Posted February 24, 2014  A few weeks ago I came in a "financial" position to actually by a Nocti ( it is insainenly expensive no matter how you look at it), and I have one on order. It is (as usual with Lieca) on back order from the dealer, and nobody know when it will arrive. The waiting has made time for thinking, and my question is whether I should just stick with my Summilux? the money spent on a Noctilux, could give me a lot of other equipment. What I really like with Leica is the size, and with a Nocti, I am more or less back to DSLR size again.  Anyone have both/tried both, and can give me some advice? Picture quality, rendering, handling other important things...  Thanks,  Kjetil  I own both, and can perhaps give some advice (since you have asked).  1. You should not buy the Noctilux. As you say it is an "insanely expensive lens", and deciding to purchase one simply because you have recently come into some money is not a wise decision. If you are having "buyer's remorse" now, before even receiving the lens, you will surely feel that again when all those thousands of Euros leave your bank account.  2. Today the Leica market is not the same as just a few years ago, and if you decide to sell you will loose money, perhaps several thousand.  3. The 50 Summilux ASPH is a marvelous lens and has a rendering style very similar to the latest version of the Noctilux. There are many threads comparing images from the two, which I suggest would be good to examine.  4. The Noctilux is a large, heavy lens and lacks the focus tab of the Summilux. It also uses E60 filters, not the most common size.  I don't know you, and I don't know anything about your financial security. If you can afford the Noctilux then sure, go for it. If it is a financial stretch then I would humbly suggest continuing to enjoy your 50 Summilux ASPH and leave the money in your account for six months. If after six months you have not spent the money and still want the lens then you probably be able to get an even better deal, as prices continue to fall and availability continues to increase.  Cheers, and good luck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted February 24, 2014 Share #16 Â Posted February 24, 2014 Want some Noctilux magic at half the price? And at the same time expand your lens set rather than double up on focal lengths? Get a 75mm Summilux-m. Â :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted February 24, 2014 Share #17  Posted February 24, 2014 Want some Noctilux magic at far less than half price? Try a CV 50mm f/1.1 Nockton. Just as good as a f/1 Noctilux wide open, why pay more? Plenty of reviewers say the same thing, here is one,  50mm f1.1 Nokton  but as they point out, any lens that fast is a one trick pony and for anything other than low light or dreamy shallow DOF you'd want something smaller. You also have to factor in a lower hit rate through focus error and the extra speed doesn't make that much difference compared with a Summilux considering the better ability of the Leica M in low light.  Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hossegor Posted February 24, 2014 Share #18  Posted February 24, 2014 Want some Noctilux magic at half the price? And at the same time expand your lens set rather than double up on focal lengths? Get a 75mm Summilux-m. :-)  i think the 75 Lux renders completely different to the 0.95 Nocti. Its magic, but different Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ldhrads Posted February 24, 2014 Share #19 Â Posted February 24, 2014 Interesting replies throughout. Â I'm one of those people that "see" in 50mm. As much as I like a wider lens and enjoy them, there's always too much frame for me. As such, I've collected a few 50's over the years. Summicron, Summarit 1.5, Elmarit 2.8, and I had a Canon 0.95. Â What a lens that Canon 0.95 was, I still kick myself for selling it because in retrospect it was a great example of a complex lens. But, I sold it when I got the Noctilux 0.95 and it was because of the Canon that I got the Noctilux. Â It is indeed my favorite 50, it's not on the camera all the time, but plenty of the time and if you buy it and use it you will quickly forget about the weight, comparably it's still not a DSLR! Â I find that if I'm only taking one lens with me, that's the go to lens most of the time. It's magical and does quite well if you have to stop it down. I usually use a ND filter. If you have the opportunity, do it! If you hate it, you can turn it around, probably at not a great loss, if much at all. Â Oh, and the suggestion for the Summilux 75? Another great lens, great rendering, beautiful photos, but it is not the Noctilux 0.95. It's got a similar feel, but a very different look when you compare a Karbe vs Mandler design. I'm not siding either way, I love them both, but vastly different. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted February 24, 2014 Share #20 Â Posted February 24, 2014 I find it best not to treat any camera purchase as an investment. You are only letting your self in for a world of disappointment. I have a cupboard full of systems that I couldn't get a couple hundred quid for now, systems that were once very expensive. Some systems have their moment, few last a life time, most become paper weights. leica is a very rare exception to the rule but I would never bank it as an investment for the future. Â I only buy something if I need it. It's a tool i the tool box. With that in mound I never have a reason to sell something. It's also a good frame of mind to be in because your more than likely to get the most out of your gear and not worry about scratching it. While I will sing praises till the cows come home about the Noctilux, it certainly isn't for everyone. It's really is a stupid amount of money to spend on something if you are not sure about it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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