Noctilux f/0.95 or Summilux 50 ASPH or both?

[jrp]

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Try this link instead: http://smg.photobucket.com/user/pkilmister/library/01-05-2015?sort=3&page=1

Thanks.  What are you inviting us to conclude from these?

 

(My main question is "when (for what sort of photos, in what contexts) does this lens produce results that are better than the other available 50mm Leica lenses?".  It's not obvious that the answer is "when it is very dark" because the Summilux gathers almost as much light, if you take vignetting into account.)

[DigitalHeMan]

Oh WOW........thanks for the link, have you tried printing these...... Would sure look nice on a wall.

It would certainly make a statement - hang a photo of a wall on a wall....

[jdlaing]

In the dictionary please see redundant. 

[thrid]

I used own a Noct and it was a fascinating piece of glass. But as an everyday shooting lens I found it to be impractical. Too big, too heavy and the focus throw is quite long so it is difficult to focus quickly. By Leica standards the front element is huge and you always have to be on guard not to damage it. On my f1 model I always used the vented hood, which just made the lens even bigger. I soon came to see at it as a specialty lens, since it defeated the purpose of the M as a fast and compact reportage camera.

 

Depth of field at f1 and 1 meter is about 1 cm. Simply the fact that you and your subject are breathing can make it depending on your level of skill difficult to get a pupil in focus. As such I found f1 to be more useful at more moderate distances. With high asa capabilities of the M 240 the need for f1/f.95 has almost purely become a aesthetic choice.

 

After one year I sold the Noctilux and got a Summilux-M 1.4/50 instead. That lens has been my constant companion for the last 10 years. It offers a perfect balance between size, weight, handling, speed and image quality. The ASPH model delivers Summicron or better performance and leaves little to be desired. 

 

If I had money to burn I would get a Noct for those special occasions. But for +95% of shooting the Lux is the far better choice.

Edited May 2, 2015 by thrid

[Peter Kilmister]

When I took the photos in the woods it was on very dull day with not a hint of sunlight. Even though the leaves are only just coming out it was fairly dark. The lens was useable with no difficulty. That's what I wanted to find out. It will be used when appropriate.

As it was bought at a very good price it should prove to be an investment. What interest rate can you get in a bank these days?   Leica glass seems to achieve a better rate  of return than any bank offers.

[jrp]

I don't think that the price of Leica lenses is a 1-way bet.

[microview]

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It would certainly make a statement - hang a photo of a wall on a wall....

 … especially with facing bricks shaped like that. 

[Peter Kilmister]

 … especially with facing bricks shaped like that. 

LOL, those bricks are handmade. Factory made bricks aren't used in conservation areas.

Anyway the shot was only taken as a test. If you would like to see more bricks then go to a housing estate.

[Peter Kilmister]

I don't think that the price of Leica lenses is a 1-way bet.

The Leica Noctilux in 2014 was sold new for nearly GBP 6000. Today it is nearly GBP 7000. The chrome version is even more expensive.

Used prices track new prices. If there is a huge mark up in new prices then there will be a huge mark up in used prices.

It is called supply and demand. If you want to bet against the market then that's your option. Meanwhile, how about making a constructive comment?

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

I don't see why folks on here keep bitching about Lieca prices................they are no different to Apple or Lamborghini. If there are enough crazy people in the world that are will to pay their obsorverant prices then why not charge those prices

I am sure that if a milkman could get a fiver for a pint of milk and sale enough of it to make a profit he would do it......................the only way to get the lieca prices down is for everone in the world to stop buying Leica gear and invest in Kongsot, that way they would either go broke or hire a bunch of 15 year old Chinese kids to make there gear and the prices would come down

[Peter Kilmister]

This topic seems to have gone off its theme.

 

The 0.95 Noctilux is a great lens and a masterpiece of engineering. The 1.4 Summilux is a lovely lens that is much lighter to carry. Both have their advantages. Neither is cheap although the Summilux is a lot cheaper than the Noctilux. Which do I prefer? Probably the Summilux because of weight and dimension. The APO version is something else and I haven't tried it.

In summary, I'll probably sell both 50mm lenses and stick with the 35mm Summicron and 90mm Summarit as they are my favourites.

Each to their own.

[BerndReini]

I want a 50 Apo badly. Hmmmm. What to sell?

[MarkP]

I want a 50 Apo badly. Hmmmm. What to sell?

 

The kids.

[Jennifer]

The kids.

 

I've tried that in the past. Sadly, kids' market value rarely meets even ones lowest expectations so, even if a buyer can be found, they'd likely barely cover the cost of a filter to go with the 50 APO.

 

Years ago, someone offered me her kids and husband in exchange for this post war classic car we used to own, and even though the car was very noisy and very uncomfortable and I thoroughly disliked going anywhere in it or the attention it generated, I chose to keep  the car. Quite frankly, one husband is one too many and one brood of kids is more than enough for anyone

Edited May 3, 2015 by Jennifer

[MarkP]

It's not the intrinsic value of the kids - maybe $6.50 worth of elements.

 

It's their non-tax deductible maintenance costs.  Otherwise we could all move to Phase One systems and still have enough to pay off the home loan and travel a bit.   

[microview]

LOL, those bricks are handmade. Factory made bricks aren't used in conservation areas.

Anyway the shot was only taken as a test. If you would like to see more bricks then go to a housing estate.

As a retired architect (living in a North London conservation area) I am well aware that handmade facings aren't like wirecuts. 

[indergaard]

The Leica Noctilux in 2014 was sold new for nearly GBP 6000. Today it is nearly GBP 7000. The chrome version is even more expensive.

Used prices track new prices. If there is a huge mark up in new prices then there will be a huge mark up in used prices.

It is called supply and demand. If you want to bet against the market then that's your option. Meanwhile, how about making a constructive comment?

 

And the more it goes up in price, the less people actually buy it. Even used. I've seen the same mint Noctilux 0.95 for sale 2nd hand here for 4-5 months straight, and nobody has bought it, even if it's listed 20% off retail price. I tried to sell my own last summer (when there was more movement in the 2nd hand market for Leica glass, it seems to have stagnated now, at least here). I spent two months selling it, and then only just broke even on a mint one that I bought for 20% off the normal retail cost of it.

 

All the Summilux lenses sell for less 2nd hand now than they did 1-2 years ago. Everywhere.

 

So investing in Leica glass nowadays doesn't seem like a good option, unless you plan to own the lens for 10+ years maybe.

Edited May 3, 2015 by indergaard

[bocaburger]

Maybe not being fabulously wealthy leaves me incompentent to comprehend how they think, but I really don't get why anyone who could afford purchasing all three 50-LUX-ASPH, 50-APO and 50-Noct-ASPH would need to ask whether to sell one. 

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

Maybe not being fabulously wealthy leaves me incompentent to comprehend how they think, but I really don't get why anyone who could afford purchasing all three 50-LUX-ASPH, 50-APO and 50-Noct-ASPH would need to ask whether to sell one. 

At last .................Thank you Erfahrener Benutzer (is that really your name)? If one can afford to buy Leica gear then one can afford to loose some dosh............simple economy arithmetic

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