ropo54 Posted August 17, 2017 Share #21  Posted August 17, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) In addition to bloated size/weight, a propensity for generating boring images, the Noctilux is not sharp wide open and also suffers from a particularly nasty form of CA. That's why it sees little use. And it costs an arm and a leg. Must be a bad lens to have... Boring images? I suppose like "beauty" that's in the eye of the beholder.  The noctilux does a fine job when stopped down, as well, so I do not think your critique (that it produces "boring images") is valid.  Costs an arm and a leg? Yes, expensive, but less so on the pre-owned market.  "Not sharp wide open"?  For me, the noctilux image below is 'sharp enough'!  (Hope your critique above was tongue in cheek. If not, to each his own). 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/275731-my-nokton-f11-experience/?do=findComment&comment=3338740'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 17, 2017 Posted August 17, 2017 Hi ropo54, Take a look here My Nokton F1.1 Experience. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
ECohen Posted August 17, 2017 Share #22  Posted August 17, 2017 "Costs an arm and a leg? Yes, expensive, but less so on the pre-owned market."   And everyone that says they had a Noctilux for a while.... didn't like it or use it enough...... said that they made money on it when they sold it ......So couldn't one say its a great value? I know I don't own the lens so my comment really doesn't count, I'll try to refrain from future opinions on this matter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted August 17, 2017 Share #23  Posted August 17, 2017  (Hope your critique above was tongue in cheek. If not, to each his own).  No, no. Dead serious. I wonder why I've been holding on to my 50/1. Must be an unspoken desire to leave something of value to my (yet unborn) grandchildren... Or perhaps it's not that bad a lens after all... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentShutter Posted August 17, 2017 Share #24  Posted August 17, 2017 Went the Nocti route years ago...like others didn't use it enough to warrant the cost, sold it and haven't looked back.  Same here. Good old days with my M6 I thought I need it for taking pictures at concerts and theater. Didn´t use it a lot and the results were not really what I hoped and expected. Today with a digital M I maybe would give it another chance........just for fun ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Lord Posted August 17, 2017 Share #25  Posted August 17, 2017 A lens that never fails to generate intense emotion and hatred on many such threads over the years cannot be described as boring. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ropo54 Posted August 17, 2017 Share #26  Posted August 17, 2017 No, no. Dead serious. I wonder why I've been holding on to my 50/1. Must be an unspoken desire to leave something of value to my (yet unborn) grandchildren... Or perhaps it's not that bad a lens after all...  I will go out on a limb here and suggest that if the Noctilux could be had for $1500, 'everyone' would have/keep one, and use it - wide open or stopped down - as a very effective 50mm lens.  I suppose the selling/trading of it comes as a result of it being so expensive, and that people do not want resources tied up as their more immediate needs may change. Hence, the popularity (or lack thereof)  is not so much about the lens - it is unique - but rather about the costs associated with holding onto it. At the end of the day, it does what it does better than any other comparable lens, and ties up a lot of $.  (Want to sell me your bloated, boring 50 f1?  )  Boring, to me, it is definitely not! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke_Miller Posted August 18, 2017 Author Share #27 Â Posted August 18, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) I put together a gallery to show the out of focus rendering of the Nokton for those who may be interested in this lens. Â These are from my M-240 and are all at f1.1. Â Random shots from my front yard of no artistic merit. Â Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECohen Posted August 20, 2017 Share #28  Posted August 20, 2017 I do like the separation in Luke's new lens.  As I have stated earlier I don't have a Noctilux or Summilux. I have always been able to make situations work with 2.8 or f/2 . Lately I'm shooting indoors a lot .....and I'm thinking about it.  According to an online DOF calculator  a 50mm f/1.0 lens focused at 3.3 feet (1m) has a DOF of 3.26~3.4 (.08')10 feet has a DOF of 9.65'~10.37' (.72')  a 50mm f/1.4 lens at 3.3' its .11' at 10 feet its 1.02'  Do these number seem correct? (I have no way of making a physical test)  Also f/.95 vs f/1.4  1 f/stop Forget the money and the weight, It is not a easy decision.  I know this subject has been beat to death ......but its my first time beating it to death. And you guys are generally a pretty helpful and friendly group ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ropo54 Posted August 20, 2017 Share #29  Posted August 20, 2017  I do like the separation in Luke's new lens.  As I have stated earlier I don't have a Noctilux or Summilux. I have always been able to make situations work with 2.8 or f/2 . Lately I'm shooting indoors a lot .....and I'm thinking about it.   Go for it!   Noctilux 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/275731-my-nokton-f11-experience/?do=findComment&comment=3341684'>More sharing options...
ropo54 Posted August 20, 2017 Share #30  Posted August 20, 2017 Or . . . R 80 1.4 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/275731-my-nokton-f11-experience/?do=findComment&comment=3341693'>More sharing options...
ropo54 Posted August 21, 2017 Share #31  Posted August 21, 2017 noctilux 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/275731-my-nokton-f11-experience/?do=findComment&comment=3341822'>More sharing options...
jaques Posted August 21, 2017 Share #32  Posted August 21, 2017 I accidentally 'won' a Noctilux f1 at a live estate auction- I made a low ball bid- fairly certain I would be outbid- but I wasn't!  stopped down it is very sharp...  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/275731-my-nokton-f11-experience/?do=findComment&comment=3341839'>More sharing options...
Luke_Miller Posted October 18, 2017 Author Share #33  Posted October 18, 2017 More on my Nokton 50mm f1.1  As reported in the initial post I did a rigorous focus tests using a tripod, live view focusing, and the LensAlign focus calibration tool. I focused on the target at f1.1 and then took images at half stops until f5.6 without re-focusing. I repeated the test with identical results. This test clearly demonstrated the well known focus shift as the lens was stopped down. This shift made usage at apertures between f2.0 to f5.6 undesirable since the focus shift moved the DOF behind the focus point to the degree that the focus point was now soft. My initial solution was to mount the EVF and use it instead of the rangefinder when I needed to shoot between f2.0 and f5.6. I tried this at a recent family event and found it to be very difficult to focus hand held using the magnified EVF image. So I used the rangefinder exclusively and accepted the fact that I would miss some shots. I was pleasantly surprised to find that was not the case. The subjects were in focus regardless of the aperture I used.  Today I did a handheld test taking shots of various items around my home using apertures f1.4 to f4.0. All shots were rangefinder focused and in each case the subject was in focus. I have no idea why the rangefinder results were so different from my formal test using live view. While the focus shift is clearly visible in a test environment it does not seem to show up when actually taking photos. The more I use this lens the more impressed I am with it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronazle Posted October 18, 2017 Share #34  Posted October 18, 2017 Possibly random distribution of slight errors? In any event, I agree with your posting at the beginning. My 1.1 Nocton seems to be a twin of the one you tested. The big problem; a pun. If I enjoyed lugging around a big camera (camera w/lens) I would still be using a Nikon or Canon. The Nocton and its Lecia very expensive counterpart are just to large for my style of photography while either may suit others. Regards, ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke_Miller Posted October 18, 2017 Author Share #35  Posted October 18, 2017  If I enjoyed lugging around a big camera (camera w/lens) I would still be using a Nikon or Canon. The Nocton and its Lecia very expensive counterpart are just to large for my style of photography while either may suit others.  I hear you. In my case a lot of my shooting is with the Nikon D4 and one of the heavy f2.8 zooms, so my digital Ms are still significantly smaller and lighter even with the Nokton mounted. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted October 19, 2017 Share #36 Â Posted October 19, 2017 I have not used the 0.95 BT if I had the money I would buy one. It's bulky for a RF lens but not a DSLR one, I guess we have all got a little spoilt. In terms of the Voigtlander, one can't call lens clones just because one characteristic is like another's, the Voigtlander is a unique lens and is quite usable at 1.1 with a fun bokeh that looks good in some circumstances and not so appropriate in others. There is no one rule that says "bokeh must be bland and creamy always". I think the Voigtlander is a great lens and takes unique pictures. It's also a great beater for low light work without worrying about knocking it. The fact that many people on this forum have multiple lenses at the same FL says a lot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted October 23, 2017 Share #37  Posted October 23, 2017 I first passed up buying a Noctilux in 1969 - and I've kept passing ever since. Well I guess you have been missing out for a long time........................fantastic lens  Neil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted October 23, 2017 Share #38 Â Posted October 23, 2017 " Â I know I don't own the lens so my comment really doesn't count, I'll try to refrain from future opinions on this matter. Â Good Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mls1483 Posted October 24, 2017 Share #39 Â Posted October 24, 2017 The Noctilux has a very special rendering and a wonderful bokeh. I use it a lot for available light photography in very dim conditions (e.g. in churches). I mainly use it at f/0.95 to f/2.0, where it really shows it unique character. Stopped down it gets similar to the Summilux (by the way, the Summilux also has a special character and nice pop wide open due to field curvature). Â I had a Noctilux f/1.0 and changed to the f/0.95 version because of sharpness. The new version is decent at f/0.95 and fairly sharp at f/1.4 or f/2.0. Stopped down to f/8 it is very sharp (at least my copy) - in the centre as well as throught the picture right up to the edges and corners (this is to be expected). I checked sharpness with brick wall pictures and compared it to the Summilux and other lenses. Â If it is worth the money is a question of personal taste. I do not really mind the weight and size when I shoot "availbale light", because there is no alternative. Maybe the preference also depends on how often you really use it. The Noctiulux 0.95 gave me many keepers and I do not want to miss it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
koss Posted October 24, 2017 Share #40  Posted October 24, 2017 I would like to get a nocti at some point, so far I have the nokton 1.1 and pretty much only shoot it wide open. In daylight with a ND filter, otherwise without. And don't really mind the weight, I used to carry big dslr+70-200 on one shoulder, so not a big deal. Obviously, it's not that easy to shoot as it takes time to focus, but I'm not in a hurry anyways. If I miss the shot, that's it, some things we should also remember, not only store in photos .  As an example, here's a nice shot, I like a lot the colors and the vibe. 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/275731-my-nokton-f11-experience/?do=findComment&comment=3381302'>More sharing options...
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