50 APO or 0.95 Noctilux?

[fotografr]

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I've not been able to personally compare my 50 APO to the 0.95 Noctilux. I do have a late version of the f/1.0 Noctilux and have never been overly impressed with it. My question here is for those lucky enough to own both lenses, or at least to have used both enough to make conclusions. If you absolutely had to choose between the 50 APO and the 0.95 Noctilux (primary use would be on the M10M), which would it be? Thanks!

Edited August 2, 2020 by fotografr

[onasj]

They are more opposites than siblings. If you want to use your M10M in situation when lugging around a large heavy lens is impractical, go with the 50 APO.  If you want dreamy rendering and don’t care that much about acuity wide open, go with the 0.95.  If you want most of the best of both, go with the 50 lux, which I increasingly go to over both of the others!

Note that the 0.95 only focuses down to 1 meter, so if you like to or need to get close to your subjects that’s not a good choice.

Of course if you want to be able to take photos in the lowest possible light, the M10M + 0.95 is very hard to beat—probably as good as the new a7siii with an f/1.4 lens (minus autofocus).

[01af]

The Apo-Summicron-M 50 mm Asph for sure.

[fotografr]

8 minutes ago, onasj said:

They are more opposites than siblings. If you want to use your M10M in situation when lugging around a large heavy lens is impractical, go with the 50 APO.  If you want dreamy rendering and don’t care that much about acuity wide open, go with the 0.95.  If you want most of the best of both, go with the 50 lux, which I increasingly go to over both of the others!

Note that the 0.95 only focuses down to 1 meter, so if you like to or need to get close to your subjects that’s not a good choice.

Of course if you want to be able to take photos in the lowest possible light, the M10M + 0.95 is very hard to beat—probably as good as the new a7siii with an f/1.4 lens (minus autofocus).

One of the things I don't like about my f/1.0 is the lack of sharpness wide open. I was under the impression that had been much improved with the 0.95, but perhaps not so much?

I do already own a 50 APO Black Chrome. Someone has offered to trade straight across for his mint 0.95, which is why I'm trying to decide. My inclination is to stick with the APO and I guess I'm looking for something to support that decision.

Edited August 2, 2020 by fotografr

[Jeff S]

Since you’re looking for forum feedback, this fellow offered a clear opinion not long ago...

Why not just switch lenses for a week and decide?  No survey will ever provide the same information, tangible and otherwise.

Jeff

[onasj]

36 minutes ago, fotografr said:

One of the things I don't like about my f/1.0 is the lack of sharpness wide open. I was under the impression that had been much improved with the 0.95, but perhaps not so much?

I do already own a 50 APO Black Chrome. Someone has offered to trade straight across for his mint 0.95, which is why I'm trying to decide. My inclination is to stick with the APO and I guess I'm looking for something to support that decision.

The 0.95 wide open is reasonably sharp in the center and, if you account for the field curvature away from the lens as you move towards the edges, it's reasonable sharp away from the center too.  It's just that the 50 APO is world-class sharp everywhere, at every aperture (until diffraction starts to spoil the party around f/11 and smaller).  

Personally I think a black chrome 50 APO will be much harder to replace than a 50 Noct so even though the economics on paper seem favorable, I would lean towards keeping your APO unless you really don't like the modern 50 APO rendering (modern meaning near-perfect optically).

[didier]

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I’d keep the 50 APO, all the more so you have the BC version (I own the normal version but the BC looks make the Lens even more something special).
It is a dream combo.

Given the M10M high-iso performance, you don’t really need the extra-speed. You won’t find the versatility of the APO anywhere else : the APO performs in a class of its own, and at every focusing distance (close-up performance for exemple is amazing, compared to the lux asph). Bokeh is smooth. There is an unequalled kind of clarity, purity and sharpness.

You’d take a Noctilux only for its signature. There are some shots you cannot make with another Lens than the Noct, but the Noct is far from an all-around Lens : it is not only about size, but also versatility. With the APO you have no color fringing, great flare resistance , focusing speed. The Noct is a special purpose lens.

I am a 50 guy. I like the .95 but use it maybe 5% of the time, when I use the APO 80% of the time.

I cannot compare the .95 to the Mandler Noct, but I can state it is certainly much sharper Wide open in the center than the 75 Lux, so probably sharper Wide open in the center than de Noct 1/50.

 

 

[fotografr]

47 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

Since you’re looking for forum feedback, this fellow offered a clear opinion not long ago...

Why not just switch lenses for a week and decide?  No survey will ever provide the same information, tangible and otherwise.

Jeff

I'd love to do that but the person with the 0.95 lives in another state and I doubt either of us has that level of trust in one another. Considering the limited number of BC 50APO lenses, I think I'm inclined to stick with it. Letting it go would likely be one of those transactions I'd immediately regret. I've already had too many of those.

I think my moment of temporary insanity has passed and I'll hang on to the 50 APO.

Edited August 2, 2020 by fotografr

[Jeff S]

24 minutes ago, fotografr said:

I'd love to do that but the person with the 0.95 lives in another state and I doubt either of us has that level of trust in one another. Considering the limited number of BC 50APO lenses, I think I'm inclined to stick with it. Letting it go would likely be one of those transactions I'd immediately regret. I've already had too many of those.

I think my moment of temporary insanity has passed and I'll hang on to the 50 APO.

A test of your desire or allegiance might be whether you’d be willing to spend $300 -$500 to rent the Noctilux for a few days to a week.

https://www.lensrentals.com/rent/leica-50mm-f0.95-noctilux
 

Unless of course you have a friendly dealer with a demo. But even if you liked it, I think you’d end up wanting both. You already have a gem.  I also have the APO black chrome version, but I didn’t sell my 50 Summilux ASPH. I’ve always stuck to a maximum of four M lenses (usually three) and those two are among my current keepers. 

Jeff

Edited August 2, 2020 by Jeff S

[jaeger]

two f-stop comparison... really? 

[fotografr]

1 hour ago, Jeff S said:

I also have the APO black chrome version, but I didn’t sell my 50 Summilux ASPH. I’ve always stuck to a maximum of four M lenses (usually three) and those two are among my current keepers. 

Jeff

That's pretty much where I'm at with lens quantity. I have also kept my 50 Summilux (for now, anyway) but don't use it much. The BC version is quite heavy due to solid brass construction, but I was surprised when looking at the specs how much heavier the 0.95 is.

[fotografr]

4 minutes ago, jaeger said:

two f-stop comparison... really? 

Your point? Is this somehow not a valid inquiry?

Edited August 2, 2020 by fotografr

[satijntje]

Best compromise between a f2 and a f0.95 lens is a f1.4 50mm Summilux ASPH:
And then, if you also want the best looking lens, go for the Black Chrome version.

 

Edited August 2, 2020 by satijntje

[fotografr]

I think perhaps I should use Gorilla Glue to affix my 50 APO to the M10M. That way these silly notions will not keep popping up.

[fotografr]

8 minutes ago, satijntje said:

Best compromise between a f2 and a f0.95 lens is a f1.4 50mm Summilux ASPH:
And then, if you also want the best looking lens, go for the Black Chrome version.

 

Yes, that would be a good compromise. Particularly since the f1.4 50mm Summilux is also an APO lens, even though Leica do not advertise it as such.

[M11 for me]

Very interesting thread. I wonder why no one suggests the Summarit? Probably this thread is about money.

[fotografr]

1 minute ago, M10 for me said:

Very interesting thread. I wonder why no one suggests the Summarit? Probably this thread is about money.

Not at all. It's 100% about image quality and differences in the way each lens renders.

[Jeff S]

27 minutes ago, fotografr said:

That's pretty much where I'm at with lens quantity. I have also kept my 50 Summilux (for now, anyway) but don't use it much. The BC version is quite heavy due to solid brass construction, but I was surprised when looking at the specs how much heavier the 0.95 is.

My Summilux is the standard black version; ergonomically delightful since your friend DAG smoothed out the focusing.

I couldn’t imagine having the Noctilux as an every day lens. It’s a bit of a beast and my photography would make little or no use of 0.95, let alone the possible need for the EVF, which I don’t care to own. But each to his/her own.

Jeff

 

Edited August 2, 2020 by Jeff S

[M11 for me]

Gerade eben schrieb fotografr:

Not at all. It's 100% about image quality and differences in the way each lens renders.

Oh, I understand. Its about rendering. 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[fotografr]

42 minutes ago, M10 for me said:

Oh, I understand. Its about rendering. 

It would probably help if you read the initial post.

Edited August 2, 2020 by fotografr