Travel: NOCTILUX vs SUMMICRON

[james.liam]

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Not quite. The human eye is the measure at 0.0

 

Noctilux is just under one stop slower at 0.95.

 

 

"The f-number of the human eye varies from about f/8.3 in a very brightly lit place to about f/2.1 in the dark."

-

1.  Hecht, Eugene (1987). Optics (2nd ed.). Addison Wesley. ISBN 0-201-11609-X. Sect. 5.7.1

[Mr.Q]

Picked up the 50/0.95 Noctilux a couple of weeks ago. I've been shooting with it every night, on my way back from work. It's everything that I'd hoped for. It's the best lens I've ever owned.

 

I'm now considering selling my 35 Summilux FLE and 50 Summilux ASPH for a 28 Summilux.

Edited January 23, 2018 by Mr.Q

[M11 for me]

Not quite. The human eye is the measure at 0.0

Noctilux is just under one stop slower at 0.95.

Hm, what would be one stopp? The series of the aperture is:

 

2.0 1.4 1.0 0.7 0.5 and from now it is physically not possible to built any more; but anway: How would the series go on: 0.35 0.25 0.175 0.125

 

Note that each number represents a doubling of the light . . . and we are still far from ZERO. A number that we never will reach.

[james.liam]

Hm, what would be one stopp? The series of the aperture is:

 

2.0 1.4 1.0 0.7 0.5 and from now it is physically not possible to built any more; but anway: How would the series go on: 0.35 0.25 0.175 0.125

 

Note that each number represents a doubling of the light . . . and we are still far from ZERO. A number that we never will reach.

 

 

 

See post #61.

[a.noctilux]

Act One: Wish to own a Noctilux 0.95, read loads of reviews in favour, pay loads of money for it, build your muscles to carry it around, feel happy, feel fulfilled. 

 

Act Two: The next step in the Opera is sadness as you realise it is a waste of space. Your viewfinder has been blocked, you couldn't focus the beast, and it doesn't love you as much as you loved it. Also it doesn't do anything for your love life. Your partner objects to the amount of money you paid and threatens to leave. You plan to sell it. 

 

Act Three: In the finale you advertise it on eBay, realise a good sum of money from someone as gullible as yourself. Then the tears drop as you see how much eBay and PayPal have charged you for the deal.

 

A simple work orchestrated to break your heart.

 

Reviews of people who have owned a 0.95 Noctilux say that is what happens. People who have had access to one with no cost say they love it.

 

Be sensible. Unless you are super rich with a very generous partner, don't consider it. The APO Summicron 2.0 is tiny in comparison and takes more rewarding photos.

 

How do I know? I wrote the Opera.

 

Very nice Peter .

 

... waiting for Act Four ...

 

Act Four : When viewing those nice/lovely old pictures you took with the Noctilux, you regret and buy another older Noctilux 1.0 because it's lighter/smaller.

 

Act Four bis : ... Buy Canon LTM 1.2/50 for it's no-finder-blocking-and-so-cheap and then you fall in love again.

 

 

Those last Acts Four = my recent reality

[mdemeyer]

My parallel is that I have a Zeiss ZM Distagon 35/1.4. It’s an amazing lens is every way. But it’s relatively heavy and blocks the viewfinder more than I like. I carry it when I go out to make images.

 

When I go on holiday or just for daily carry, the Zeiss stays home and the M-Rokkor 40/2.0 goes on the M10. And it has made many, many wonderful images for me.

 

Is the Zeiss better? Yes. Can I tell from the images? Usually. But they each serve a purpose. And I know which is for what - for me.

 

So know what matters to YOU and get on with it!

Edited January 23, 2018 by mdemeyer

[james.liam]

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My parallel is that I have a Zeiss ZM Distagon 35/1.4. It’s an amazing lens is every way. But it’s relatively heavy and blocks the viewfinder more than I like. I carry it when I go out to make images.

 

When I go on holiday or just for daily carry, the Zeiss stays home and the M-Rokkor 40/2.0 goes on the M10. And it has made many, many wonderful images for me.

 

Is the Zeiss better? Yes. Can I tell from the images? Usually. But they each serve a purpose. And I know which is for what - for me.

 

So know what matters to YOU and get on with it!

 

 

Wish there were other tri-Elmars or even bi-Elmar/vario-Elamars (like the Konica 21-35). Makes traveling less complicated. The WATE is a wonderful contraption and the optical compromises outweighing convenience most of the time, but my reliance upon 28-75 focal lengths is much greater than 16-21.

(Apologies for the digression from the thread)

Edited January 23, 2018 by james.liam

[a.noctilux]

Out of topic of 50mm but for James Liam :

MATE plus 75mm   while waiting for that Vario-Elmar-M 28-75 which will come or not one day .

[M11 for me]

See post #61.

And what is f? And what is the angle of view. Absolutety no need to answer to that. I think that the eye can not be sqeezed into the equivalence of a sensor and a lens. Often 50mm on FF is considered normal focal length. But this is never what the eye sees. The eye constantly moves from left to right . . .

[lik]

 

 

Act One: Wish to own a Noctilux 0.95, read loads of reviews in favour, pay loads of money for it, build your muscles to carry it around, feel happy, feel fulfilled. 

 

Act Two: The next step in the Opera is sadness as you realise it is a waste of space. Your viewfinder has been blocked, you couldn't focus the beast, and it doesn't love you as much as you loved it. Also it doesn't do anything for your love life. Your partner objects to the amount of money you paid and threatens to leave. You plan to sell it. 

 

Act Three: In the finale you advertise it on eBay, realise a good sum of money from someone as gullible as yourself. Then the tears drop as you see how much eBay and PayPal have charged you for the deal.

 

A simple work orchestrated to break your heart.

 

Reviews of people who have owned a 0.95 Noctilux say that is what happens. People who have had access to one with no cost say they love it.

 

Be sensible. Unless you are super rich with a very generous partner, don't consider it. The APO Summicron 2.0 is tiny in comparison and takes more rewarding photos.

 

How do I know? I wrote the Opera.

Act one: Don't read reviews - just have a look through it, take some photos and and decide for buy. Don't train muscles - buy a better strap than the one of your Leica M.

 

Act two: Fill the blocked little corner of your viewfinder with your imagination. You'll get used to it very soon. Take photos of your love. But never talk about the money you've spent for that to your partner. Never! In case she or he knows prices...

 

Act three: .... give it a used appearance by scratching the lenshood and tell her / him you found it so very cheap on ebay. If this doesn't work, leave the opera at once doing night photography outside while waiting for her / him. 

 

Be sensible: You only live once. For you as a passionate photographer the reward is by far more than any car or designer-sofa. Whenever doubts coming up - sell your car and go for an APO 50 in addition. You will probably see that even then the Noct remains your most used lens. And how good to have two 50's. 

 

So many opera's written and not written yet...  

[steamboat]

Less is more. Travel light.

Take the Summicron.

If you are planning on photographing on the street at night frequently take both.

[chasdfg]

If I were you - 28 Summilux and 50 Summicron. Low light? Handhold a slower shutter speed and/or bump the ISO. The 28 Summilux is also a great lens in low-light.

 

I'd say if you can't take a good shot with the Summicron in that situation, you more than likely won't be able to take a good photo with the Noctilux -  unless the thinner depth of field, lens rendering style and light gathering ability truly make-or-break the scene.  95% of the time, the 50cron is more than adequate. Just remember that a little camera shake won't destroy a wonderful moment. I also feel that the Noctilux's extra weight negates its handhold-ability in lower light.

 

I own a Noctilux f1 and I use it for places I'm more familiar with, to depict scenes I normally see in a different manner (part of the reason why I never travel with it). It is a different lens to the 0.95 though. Weight is not an issue on most days though on days I just want to sling my camera and go out, my 50 or 35 Summilux will almost certainly be mounted.

[lik]

Last remark from my side: 

 

Really many good reasons mentioned here to go with a small light 50 Cron. 

 

Nonetheless I can reduce my view down to a simple comparison: 

• With Noct I can do everything I could do with Cron. (Not as razor-sharp as with APO 50 but who cares in street photography.) 
• With Cron I never can do things I could do with Noct. (Of course whenever I’m not that restricted I have both, Noct and APO Cron in my bag.)

Best regards

lik

[EoinC]

Bad light is bad light. And darkness is bad light. You can take pictures in bad light, but mostly (!) You will not get good pictures. Neither with a Noctilux.

I mostly don’t get good photo’s in any light.

[Keith_W]

If I was rich enough to afford a Nocti, I would make sure it goes everywhere I go. I don't understand why you would spend so much money on a lens and then leave it at home!