Peter Branch Posted January 23, 2016 Share #41  Posted January 23, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) I like to think that I mastered the f/1 Noctilux on film in my M6ttl. Certainly I'm still surprised at the number of photographs I took with this lens that are still displayed in the homes of friends, neighbours and acquaintances. Mostly people in domestic and social settings.  It was special principally because of its resistance to flare. Light sources in the picture area, and equally important just outside, did not cause secondary images etc.  Other contemporary Leica 50mm lenses were nothing like so resistant.  Then came digital and the faults soon started to irritate - focus shift was only one amongst many. Also the 50mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH was launched.  It was game over for me.  I sold it for slightly more than I paid only to see the used value more than double in a short space of time. That lens is something of a beast!  I've absolutely no regrets about getting the Summilux as a replacement - it is even more resistant to flare than the f/1. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 23, 2016 Posted January 23, 2016 Hi Peter Branch, Take a look here Noctilux Esoteric lenses?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jdlaing Posted January 23, 2016 Share #42  Posted January 23, 2016   I've absolutely no regrets about getting the Summilux as a replacement - it is even more resistant to flare than the f/1.  Not to mention much smaller and lighter too....... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
menos I M6 Posted January 24, 2016 Share #43  Posted January 24, 2016 When I bought my Noctilux, it was a purchase at first out of a need, as I wanted a low light lens for my M8.2. It became my favorite lens on the M8.2 and I loved it's character and imperfections even more on full sensors and film. The low light abilities of the M Mono have changed my usage patterns and I have since used the 50 Summilux much more than the Noctilux. I did make an effort though to find a 50mm lens as close in character to the Noctilux f1 as possible and the pre ASPH 50 Summilux E46 became my most used 50mm on the Mono ever since. The Noctilux f1 though is a lens I will never ever sell.  man loves dog loves man by teknopunk.com, on Flickr  the godfather by teknopunk.com, on Flickr  Untitled by teknopunk.com, on Flickr  portrait - JC - desk looking up by teknopunk.com, on Flickr  Untitled by teknopunk.com, on Flickr  Untitled by teknopunk.com, on Flickr  Leica M7 ALC + Noctilux v4 by teknopunk.com, on Flickr   Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted January 24, 2016 Share #44 Â Posted January 24, 2016 Pardon by denseness.... I don't understand what you mean by this. Please elaborate. Do you think the Nocti is a fraud promising much delivering little? And that those that use it somehow feel themselves a part off some obscure rarefied group? Sorry for not following up. Â My comment was mostly sarcastic with regards to the (yet another) new term used to describe a lens. As if all the weird terms and blogs aren't already polluting enough. Â Esoterism, to me, is a charlatan trade. Calling the Noctilux an esoteric lens makes it sound very amateurish. In that regard, any Large format lens could be called esoteric. Many Russian lenses, as well. Â If by esoteric we mean magical, yes the F1 noctilux has a magic of its own. But so does the Canon f0.95, the canon f1.2, the summitar... Â I love my Noctilux. And as opposed to 99% of the owners, I use mine at f5.6 a lot. Â To think of it, using a noctilux at f5.6... That has to be esoteric. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theodor Heinrichsohn Posted January 24, 2016 Share #45  Posted January 24, 2016 Cheshire Cat comes closest to my photographic results. I bought the 50/1.2  and the 50/1 years ago, using the lenses with Kodachrome 25 and 64. The results were often different from what I had anticipated or tried to achieve. Some better, most worse and discarded. The best average was obtained in low level lighting, such as candlelight, Tibetan temple interiors with butter lamp flames, early evening scenes outside in Japanese temple gardens with lanterns etc. Mostly very contrasty and low light. All at  full aperture. As I said, results were - for me - unpredictable - and often disappointing. For the few really memorable pictures I felt and feel it was worth it. The 0.95 is a different beast altogether. If I were forced to part with one, that's the one I would let go because at apertures from about 2.8 it is more or less the same as the 50/1.4 Summilux. The old Summilux 50/1.4, second version is more similar to the Noctiluxes f1 and f1.2 Teddy  Sorry, I must enter a correction. .......more or less the same as the ASPHERICAL 50/1.4 is what I should have written. By the second version of the old Summilux 50/1.4 I mean the optically revised version that was not immediately announced. Teddy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akaki Posted January 24, 2016 Author Share #46  Posted January 24, 2016 Thank very much for all! It's difficult to say that I really got an answer, but a lot of interesting opinion and suggestion. From my point of view Noctillux is more intuitiv than the other lenses. But that is also can be personal opinion Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted January 25, 2016 Share #47 Â Posted January 25, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) It is purely a matter of opinion. For me, it is exotic, poetic, and even esoteric (intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest). Of corse, any piece of gear does not make a good photograph, and there are countless images out there made with this lens that are empty of purpose, but when used with consideration and intent, when it's characteristics are employed in the story telling of the image then it becomes a singular lens, and in my opinion quite possibly the best lens ever made. Â But you are of corse free to form your own opinion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akaki Posted January 26, 2016 Author Share #48  Posted January 26, 2016 It is purely a matter of opinion. For me, it is exotic, poetic, and even esoteric (intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest). Of corse, any piece of gear does not make a good photograph, and there are countless images out there made with this lens that are empty of purpose, but when used with consideration and intent, when it's characteristics are employed in the story telling of the image then it becomes a singular lens, and in my opinion quite possibly the best lens ever made.  But you are of corse free to form your own opinion. I am absolutely agree with you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted January 26, 2016 Share #49  Posted January 26, 2016 In this tolerant age it seems to be OK to allow people to define words as they wish. The written definition does not determine meaning - custom, practice and usage does. But accepting common meanings is all part of the ability to communicate without misunderstandings. If everyone decided to redefine words (like the recent attempt on this forum to define photography so as to exclude digital photography, or the guy who renamed the Summilux 35mm FLE), forums like this couldn't function, especially when they are in a language that is not every member's mother tongue. The meaning of esoteric is clear, unambiguous and undisputed in English: it is sometimes mistaken for "exotic" or something in between. (It does not mean "erotic", which, for the avoidance of doubt, is something totally different, but much more interesting).  Rant over, and I'll slide off my hobbyhorse in the direction of my glass of wine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted January 27, 2016 Share #50 Â Posted January 27, 2016 Perhaps this will shed some light on the debate - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/understanding-bokeh?BI=4906 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpwhite Posted January 30, 2016 Share #51  Posted January 30, 2016 Until now, I have held back from chiming in....  I have just started back with some film, really because of the 50/1, which is all of one month old for me. Here is a shot that indeed strikes me as esoteric. It is soft and grainy: 1/45 hand-held, Velvia 100 pushed +1. Film colors are not adjusted in the scan and untouched in ACR, but they are just right!  The palm fronds in the background are 8 to 10m behind the focus point plant on axis. The fronds should be blobs, like the banana tree leaves. The integration of the crispy frond edges into the soft f/1.0 OOF is not like a juxtaposition of flow and structure that I remember seeing before.  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! 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/255843-noctilux-esoteric-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=2979120'>More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted January 30, 2016 Share #52  Posted January 30, 2016 Thank you for posting this image, Peter. It demonstrates what the f/1.0 Noctilux is capable of and shows why this lens is one of my prized possessions in a way that words alone cannot. As they say "a picture is worth a thousand words."  There's no denying that the 0.95 Noctilux is an outstanding lens it does what it does with excellence.  It gives a more technical and very different rendering than its older sibling. In the end, it comes down to a matter of which rendering is most appealing on a personal level I would have to say.  As for NB23's comment about shooting with the Noctilux at f/5.6, I can find no fault with that, as I use mine at most apertures from f/1 to f/4. The f/1 Noctilux is capable of so much more than it is so often used for. Somehow this lens has come to be relegated to use at maximum aperture which is unfortunate; it is far more than a one trick pony. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akaki Posted January 31, 2016 Author Share #53  Posted January 31, 2016 Thank you Peter, great example!  so... an other example  the third day N 4 (still life), MM 246 N 0.95, F/16  2016 © Koka Ramishvili 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! 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/255843-noctilux-esoteric-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=2979992'>More sharing options...
CheshireCat Posted January 31, 2016 Share #54  Posted January 31, 2016 the third day N 4 (still life), MM 246 N 0.95, F/16   f/16 ? You kidding, right ? Do you know the official formula for esoterism ? There it goes:  esoterism = 1 / f_number  Therefore, at f/16, the Noctilux is as esoteric as a $20 lens Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted February 1, 2016 Share #55  Posted February 1, 2016 Noctilux 0.95 @ f/5.6 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! 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/255843-noctilux-esoteric-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=2980449'>More sharing options...
Akaki Posted February 1, 2016 Author Share #56  Posted February 1, 2016 f/16 ? You kidding, right ? Do you know the official formula for esoterism ? There it goes:  esoterism = 1 / f_number  Therefore, at f/16, the Noctilux is as esoteric as a $20 lens Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akaki Posted February 1, 2016 Author Share #57  Posted February 1, 2016 MM 246 N 0.95 F/0.95 high way - 2016 © Koka Ramishvili Courtesy Laurence Bernard Gallery 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! 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/255843-noctilux-esoteric-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=2980905'>More sharing options...
CheshireCat Posted February 1, 2016 Share #58 Â Posted February 1, 2016 Definitely more esoteric Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.