Thorsten Overgaard on the Noctilux 0.95 and other versions

[Herr Barnack]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Here's a longish essay from Thorsten Overgaard on the Noctiluxes. He includes some nice images with the essay...

Leica 50mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95 "King of the Night" and other Noctilux lenses

 

By: Thorsten Overgaard

 

It has a magic attraction to it, like a large diamond. And not unlike a real diamond, the glass for it is said to be prepared in underground owens for a number of years (hence the often long wait for a new batch of lenses). Currently the Leica 50mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95 is in stock.

 

It's perhaps the most unique lens available in the world in that it photographs images almost in the dark, adds a distinguished look to any image captured through it, and at a price of $10,995 it allows only the most dedicated photographers to own one.

 

The Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95 was introduced by Leica Camera AG in 2008, perhaps as an early sign of a new golden age of uncompromizing lens design from the company: Soon after came the Leica 21mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1,4 and the Leica 24 mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4, followed the year after by the "impossible" full frame Leica M9 digital rangefinder that was presented as a surprise on September 9, 2009 at 9:00 AM.

 

In short, it all marks a strategy of focusing on Leica core qualities such as low-light photography incorporating image quality of the highest caliber, no-nonsense simplicty, compactness and almost complete silence.

 

That the most light strong, most impossible to design and most expensive Leica lenses (besides the above three mentioned we can count in as well the Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1-4 and the Leica 75mm Summicron-M ASPH f/2.0) are also the most sought after, will tell you that it's the right strategy for a company as Leica Camera AG.

 

The company own more expertise in the photographic field than anyone can imagine. As an example the company has more than a thousand patented recipies of how to make special glass types (the thin single glass filter in front of the sensor of the Leica M9 is one example of such a recipe of a glass type that does what other camera producers must use three individual glasses for)....

Read the rest of the article at leica.overgaard.dk - Thorsten Overgaard's Leica Pages - Leica 50mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95 - Leitz 50mm Noctilux-M f/1.2 and the Leica 50mm Noctilux-M f/1.0 samples and article

[Jeff S]

Thorsten beat you to it here four years ago.

 

Jeff

[Gerard]

Thorsten updated yesterday... http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m-type-240/325577-new-updated-noctilux-king-night-article.html