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Charle Waite, recognised as one of the great landscape photographers, used closed apertures ... even f/22.

:rolleyes:

 

I am not certain, but I think Mr. Waite used larger than 35mm format where physically smaller ƒ stops are more tolerable.

Edited by pico
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... My belief is that wide open is best for studio work such as individual portraits. ...

In my experience it's rare to shoot wide open in a studio because the artificial lights ensure sufficient light to stop down.  Typically i'm shooting at f/8 in the studio even when shooting low-key pictures.

 

Pete.

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My intention with the test photos were just to show any differences between the two Noctiluxes at full aperture. Just a contribution to the discussion and no ambitions beyond that. We are having fun with our Leicas and all the beautiful lenses.

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Agree with you evikne. I will try again with these portraits. The man is with 0.95. The lady is with 1.0. Both at full aperture at 1-2m distance.

The 0.95 seems a little more crispy and contrasty with a smooth bokeh. The 1.0 is a little softer, dreamier and also very smooth. I am not sure that comes across with small jpgs. Love both lenses.

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Honestly, I owned a lot of old manual lenses in my 10 years of photography and I know what a long focus throw is designed for. There is no issue with that, but I will disagree with a stiff focus that is only stiff on a certain distance. Cause this does exactly the opposite of what it should do. Once I pass the focus point and try to micro adjust the focus back it is so stiff that I need too much force to be precise. That’s an issue and few years back, when my business wasn’t running so good a friend inherited a 50/1 V4 in perfect condition and it was buttery smooth. I sold it for him. If I had the funds back then I would have bought it.

 

You are correct on that; what your lens is doing in that regard doesn't sound right.  Firm focus is one thing.  What you are experiencing is another matter.

 

You might want to contact Sherry Krauter, DAG or Leica Wetzlar to see what they recommend.  Based on what I have heard of late about Leica NJ having hideously long turnaround times for repairs, I would avoid sending the lens to them. 

 

Since you are located in Germany and Leica Wetzlar is in your neighborhood, that would probably be the logical choice for repair work.

Edited by Herr Barnack
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I purchased my current Noctilux 50 f0.95 a few mk the ago used, but in mint condition, from Ken Hansen. OMG, what a lens. It is a must own for Leica M shooters, if you can afford it.

 

Regards,

Bud James

 

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto.

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So guys, I did something a little unexpected. But a little back story first.

 

So I went to the Leica Store Porto, tested the f0.95 and compared it to my f1. I made some test shots and compared sharpness and oof rendering.

 

The f0.95 won an all points for me(!!). The shorter focus throw of the f0.95 makes it faster to focus and in the end I got a really awesome deal for trading in my f1. I played 30 more minutes and decided to take the deal. This way I don’t have to worry about getting it maintained or anything.

 

I also got a 5% discount on top of all. All in all I was over 2 hours in the Leica store and I am now a happy owner of a F0.95!

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I couldn't say if you're alone but I've seen plenty.

 

And I don't understand your presumed connection been composition and a Noctilux or any other lens; composition takes place some 4 inches behind the viewfinder.

 

Pete.

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I couldn't say if you're alone but I've seen plenty.

 

And I don't understand your presumed connection been composition and a Noctilux or any other lens; composition takes place some 4 inches behind the viewfinder.

 

Pete.

 

Pete, I respect your views,

 

Sometimes people are so busy trying to use wide-open that they forget the basics of photography.  The narrowness of f/0.95 could be useful, however it usually takes control of the mind and lets composure go out of the door. I repeat that I have yet to see a decent photo taken wide-open with a Noctilux.

 

I have seen great photos taken at f/2 to f/16 with a 50mm APO Summicron which is a dwarf compared to the ugly and heavy lump of a Noctilux.

 

Each to their own. I can afford a Noctilux but as soon as I had one all I wanted to do was sell it ... which I did at the earliest opportunity.

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Peter, I think we all already understood that you dislike the 50mm Noctilux, since you already start to copy paste the same answer all over the LUF over and over again. For me it is a beauty of a lens, but it is not my only lens I will use. I´ll switch happily between 24, 35 and 50. With the Noctilux I´ll definitely shoot wide open most of the times, cause otherwise I could have bought a Summilux or Apo.

Pete, I gotta say, the experience in the Leica Store of Porto was really good. So you were right. I also left with a new red dot, cause it was scratched for free of course.

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@SMAL: Cut and paste is not my style ... it is preferable to write afresh each time.

 

There is nothing wrong with the Noctilux lens. It is a product of skilled workmanship.

 

That said, it is heavy, it is expensive, it blocks the viewfinder, and the results posted by others have been less than impressive (my subjective assessment).

 

As an individual I stand by my right to differ from other people. I have owned an f/0.95 Noctilux and tested it in the field. It was so impressive that I sold it. [Litotes, in case you have missed the irony.]

The person who bought it from me sold it within a short space of time.

 

I also stand by my right to try to warn potential buyers of the upsides and downsides. 

 

Best wishes and I hope you enjoy your lens. Please let me know if you become tired of it. I bought one on the basis of hype from others. It was a mistake. Although I sold it for more than I paid, it was an experience that I wish I had never bothered to try.

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Speaking from an entirely pragmatic point, I find a Canon ƒ0.95 converted to M very good, although I did go through four to find the  best. In the end all four together were less expensive than one Noctilux.

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@SMAL: Cut and paste is not my style ... it is preferable to write afresh each time.

 

There is nothing wrong with the Noctilux lens. It is a product of skilled workmanship.

 

That said, it is heavy, it is expensive, it blocks the viewfinder, and the results posted by others have been less than impressive (my subjective assessment).

 

As an individual I stand by my right to differ from other people. I have owned an f/0.95 Noctilux and tested it in the field. It was so impressive that I sold it. [Litotes, in case you have missed the irony.]

The person who bought it from me sold it within a short space of time.

 

I also stand by my right to try to warn potential buyers of the upsides and downsides.

 

Best wishes and I hope you enjoy your lens. Please let me know if you become tired of it. I bought one on the basis of hype from others. It was a mistake. Although I sold it for more than I paid, it was an experience that I wish I had never bothered to try.

I think it’s a typical “Love or Hate” lens.

For me it’s love on distance, at least for the time being.

Edited by Gobert
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I think it’s a typical “Love or Hate” lens.

For me it’s love on distance, at least for the time being.

 

I think it is more than that .. those who hate it seem to hate it with a vengeance for reasons I do not understand

Maybe it fell on their big toe at some point .. :)

I really like it, but come close to selling it once or twice to finance other gear as I get 90% of what I get from it from the Lux at less price, less weight etc

I am really happy I kept it, but understand why others did not

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