Review: Leica Noctilux 50mm f1.2

[Capuccino-Muffin]

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1 hour ago, wlaidlaw said:

https://gmpphoto.blogspot.com/2015/08/leica-lenses-what-sets-them-apart-from.html

 

Very nice.

But again, I’d have no problem with the noctilux having Plain Jane Cocopuffs glass.

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[farnz]

1 hour ago, Capuccino-Muffin said:

But again, I’d have no problem with the noctilux having Plain Jane Cocopuffs glass.

Perhaps I've misunderstood - is it your view that all glass is just glass and it all has the same properties?

Pete.

[didier]

Dear all,

I had the opportunity to try a noctilux 1.2 re-issue on my M10M yesterday for a few minutes.

I could not test it, just took a few shots, but I really liked the Handling and balancing on the M, absolutely perfect.

I read carefully a lot of posts and it seems the judgement regarding IQ / interest in this Lens is not a consens here 

To help me make my opinion, can some of you answer a few questions, in order to decide if I’d be happy with the Lens ?

1) I am a 50 guy and already own the Noct .95, the ‘lux asph and the apo 50. I use the apo 50 most of the time. I use my Noct only from time to time, and often with my SL as it is a bit bulky with the M. I also have a Summicron Rigid I like a lot as it is sharp but not too contrasty. I understand the Noct 1.2 is a very different beast. How would you describe it in comparison to those lenses ?

2) does it show onions rings (my ‘lux 50 asph and apo 50 do show and it can be annoying for environmental portraits) ?

3) How would you compare the Noct 1.2 with the ‘lux pre-asph ?

 

thanks

Didier 

 

[insideline]

6 hours ago, didier said:

Dear all,

I had the opportunity to try a noctilux 1.2 re-issue on my M10M yesterday for a few minutes.

I could not test it, just took a few shots, but I really liked the Handling and balancing on the M, absolutely perfect.

I read carefully a lot of posts and it seems the judgement regarding IQ / interest in this Lens is not a consens here 

To help me make my opinion, can some of you answer a few questions, in order to decide if I’d be happy with the Lens ?

1) I am a 50 guy and already own the Noct .95, the ‘lux asph and the apo 50. I use the apo 50 most of the time. I use my Noct only from time to time, and often with my SL as it is a bit bulky with the M. I also have a Summicron Rigid I like a lot as it is sharp but not too contrasty. I understand the Noct 1.2 is a very different beast. How would you describe it in comparison to those lenses ?

2) does it show onions rings (my ‘lux 50 asph and apo 50 do show and it can be annoying for environmental portraits) ?

3) How would you compare the Noct 1.2 with the ‘lux pre-asph ?

 

thanks

Didier 

Hello Didier,

I am one of the members who have provided some first hand experience with the new 1.2 Noctilux remake. I am lucky enough to own my Dad's original 1968 f 1.2 Noctilux, plus as you the 50 APO, 50 f1 Noctilux, 50 1.4 Pre-Aspherical Summilux etc.

Readers digest report is: My Dads's original 1.2 from 1968 renders in a noticeably more artistic-smoother, warmer, more pastel in colors and yet an even increased level of artistic out of focus look over the remake. From F2 on up the remake is far more contrasty and sharp over the original 1968 f1.2, plus it is very very well made, in fact could be noticeably better made than my 50 APO. 

For me though my 1976 E58 F1 Noctilux is my preferred Noctilux lens as the out of focus rendering is just more interesting, and my Dad's original 1.2 a better 1.2 lens when shot wide open at f1.2 shot back to back against the 1.2 remake.

Dollar for dollar I would take the V3 f1.4 Pre-aspherical 50 Summilux all day long as its very sharp, along with what I feel is a more realistic version of chromatic aberrations as compared to the re-make 1.2 Noctilux. To answer your question:

#1 pick E58 F1 Noctilux as it possesses the early softer coatings and 'wonderful' out of focus rendering in all of the F1 Noctilux copies. 

#2 pick is easy , 50mm 1.4 Summilux Pre-Aspherical Summilux as it possesses a great deal of the character of the F1 Noctilux series in a far more manageable body size, plus it has a minimum focus of .7 meter vs 1.0 m for the Noctilux. Yup, favorite lens for price, character, close focus and all around fantastic lens. 

[farnz]

14 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

A (philosophical) question for all dear Forum members: Would you consider a brand new black anodized Noctilux 50/1.2 a viable short or long term investment with a possible good return? At the moment it is the cheapest brand new new Noctilux and at 5580 - 5792 euros before tax (here in EU) AND a strong contender to be the cheapest Noctilux of them all ever since the price of the 50/1 has risen to astronomical heights.

Very grateful for your input and thoughts and looking forward to the debate.
(I apologize if this has been asked here before.)

Unfortunately I only have a Class 4.2 crystal ball, and it's the 'Seymour' model, which is frustratingly unpredictable further into the future.  (If it had been really good then it would have predicted that I would find it frustrating and prevented me from buying it in the first place.)

The winds are from the east today, which is a good portent and Mars elides with Sedna and Capricorn is rising and the original Avengers is on tv this afternoon so the signs are all good.  

I recommend that if you do decide to buy the black 50/1.2 Noctilux as an investment that you sacrifice a rubber chicken to She Who Must Be Obeyed and spill its blood over your chest while chanting the words to The Birdie Song in Washington Square, NY to concentrate and amplify the Noctilux's immense power. 

Don't be tempted to call upon Nosferato, Otarefson, or 'Light of the Night' to help you as their negative energy could backfire and bring pestilence to your neighbour's Armadillo-Chihuahua cubs because Aurora Borealis is currently displeased with Gigantor.  Dangerous times!

Or you could just toss a coin and use the Noctilux for your enjoyment and leave the God of Investment and The Time Lord to tussle it out between themselves. 😊

Pete, Third Keeper of The Cosmos and the Garage Key.

 

[Knipsknecht]

vor 3 Stunden schrieb Al Brown:

A (philosophical) question for all dear Forum members: Would you consider a brand new black anodized Noctilux 50/1.2 a viable short or long term investment with a possible good return? At the moment it is the cheapest brand new new Noctilux and at 5580 - 5792 euros before tax (here in EU) AND a strong contender to be the cheapest Noctilux of them all ever since the price of the 50/1 has risen to astronomical heights.

Very grateful for your input and thoughts and looking forward to the debate.
(I apologize if this has been asked here before.)

I think it depends on what you would consider an investment. Like Pete, I can‘t foresee the future, but my assumption would be that the lens will - more or less - hold its value and maybe even rise in value. But I am pretty sure it will never reach those astronomical prices the original f1.2 is sold these days.

If you like the rendering of the lens and you have the impression that it will stress or support your style of photography and if you are willing to pay the price - well, then buy it, use it a lot, and if the price of the lens will go up on the second hand market maybe in some years you could sell it with some extra bonus.

But I would never buy it as a mere investment.

[lookbook]

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vor 4 Stunden schrieb Al Brown:

A (philosophical) question for all dear Forum members: Would you consider a brand new black anodized Noctilux 50/1.2 a viable short or long term investment with a possible good return? At the moment it is the cheapest brand new new Noctilux and at 5580 - 5792 euros before tax (here in EU) AND a strong contender to be the cheapest Noctilux of them all ever since the price of the 50/1 has risen to astronomical heights.

Very grateful for your input and thoughts and looking forward to the debate.
(I apologize if this has been asked here before.)

... there is no other reason than to buy it as an investment.

Because of the quality or the feelings that pictorial results supposedly trigger,
you'd better not buy this lens.
It certainly doesn't work there! It didn't work with the previous lens either.

[SoarFM]

6 hours ago, Al Brown said:

A (philosophical) question for all dear Forum members: Would you consider a brand new black anodized Noctilux 50/1.2 a viable short or long term investment with a possible good return? At the moment it is the cheapest brand new new Noctilux and at 5580 - 5792 euros before tax (here in EU) AND a strong contender to be the cheapest Noctilux of them all ever since the price of the 50/1 has risen to astronomical heights.

Very grateful for your input and thoughts and looking forward to the debate.
(I apologize if this has been asked here before.)

Investing in camera lenses? You mean, you wouldn't actually use the lens? Seems like a waste. There are always a few people that grab a new lens release and try to sell it at a premium on Ebay or something similar.  Apparently people will often pay the premium. Seems like a yucky business.

 

Then there are collectors, and that is different. Are you willing to pay $90,000 for a silver Noctilux 1.2? I think collectors collect for reasons that don't have anything to do with investment potential of their collection. I think they are probably very secure financially and think very little about whether  their collection is appreciating in value.

 

I have a black Noctilux 1.2, and I use it. It costs less that a new 50 APO and why would someone buy one of those just to park it in a cabinet?

FYI, I have a 50 1.2, a 50 Summilux and a 50 APO. In the same way that some people pick what focal length they want to use for a particular exposure (or outing), I also pick which lens in that focal length best suits my subject or mood. 

Edited December 19, 2021 by SoarFM

[Gobert]

Ruhlmann, in the middle with the glasses, was a party animal as well….

 

 

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!

Edited December 19, 2021 by Gobert

[insideline]

1 minute ago, Gobert said:

Ruhlmann, in the middle with the glasses, was a party animal as well….

 

 

possibly 

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!

Possibly why he lived only to 54 years old? 

[SoarFM]

8 minutes ago, Gobert said:

Ruhlmann, in the middle with the glasses, was a party animal as well….

 

 

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!

Definitely taken with a pre-asph lens😉

[SoarFM]

1 hour ago, Steven said:

FYI, in once paid 60K for a silver Nocti. Used the hell out of it, including at the beach on salty summary day, and then sold it for 70k when I was bored of it. You can collect and use at the same time. 

Well, in that case, can I interest you in a beautiful 35-Summicron IV? Ahh, just kidding. 

I recall reading here that you’ve become a real fan of the 50 pre-asph. Any thoughts on what to look for and where? And just so we’re on the same page, my Noctilux 1.2 is one of the cheap black models….

[didier]

2 hours ago, SoarFM said:

In the same way that some people pick what focal length they want to use for a particular exposure (or outing), I also pick which lens in that focal length best suits my subject or mood. 

+1

That's exactly why I own (too) many fifties   

Choosing between the APO and an older Summicron (rigid or V4), or the .95 noct, or the Elmar-M, depending on the intention and conditions...

 

[Gobert]

8 minutes ago, didier said:

+1

That's exactly why I own (too) many fifties   

Choosing between the APO and an older Summicron (rigid or V4), or the .95 noct, or the Elmar-M, depending on the intention and conditions...

 

The Noct and the Elmar M are almost opposites when talking about character.

[farnz]

21 minutes ago, Gobert said:

The Noct and the Elmar M are almost opposites when talking about character.

Which Noct?  The (original) 50/1.2, the 50/1.0 V1, V2, v3, or V4, the new 50/1.2, or the 75/1.25? 🙂

Pete.

[insideline]

6 hours ago, farnz said:

Which Noct?  The (original) 50/1.2, the 50/1.0 V1, V2, v3, or V4, the new 50/1.2, or the 75/1.25? 🙂

Pete.

Almost Pete, you missed the .95 50mm Noctilux........The irony is that while most of the Noctilux's are truly-truly incredible lenses many of them are caught up in a love/hate relationship with their owners and only a few of us keep them for our entire lives. Personally I have owned every single iteration and still own the original 1.2 from 1968, and next the E58 F1 from 1975 and all the rest I have owned and sold. The newest 75 1.25 is an amazing lens when its out of focus rendering is viewed plus it is the sharpest wide open of all the Noctilux's, but it is also the largest in weight and size which could be argued goes against the "M" platform being a reporter style body which is why I personally did not keep my copy. So which "Noctilux" could be considered the ultimate, well that can be argued possibly for ever, yet could it be a three way tie between the original 1.2 for its painterly rendering, next the E58 F1 version 1 for its incredible artistic rendering when shot wide open, and finally the .95 for its ability to balance a great in focus sharpness with a 3 dimensionality between subject matter and butter smooth background. 

Thoughts form others?

[Bo-Sixten]

I believe any lens or any system are able of excellent images. But for me, being an addict to Leica it is all very emotional. I love the way these lenses look and feel and render images all in their different way. Every time I put on a certain lens and start to  use it I feel that this is my favourite lens and that I will never part form it. That is why I end up with way too many lenses and all three of the 50mm Noctiluxes. And I love it!    :))

 

[farnz]

7 hours ago, insideline said:

Almost Pete, you missed the .95 50mm Noctilux........The irony is that while most of the Noctilux's are truly-truly incredible lenses many of them are caught up in a love/hate relationship with their owners and only a few of us keep them for our entire lives. Personally I have owned every single iteration and still own the original 1.2 from 1968, and next the E58 F1 from 1975 and all the rest I have owned and sold. The newest 75 1.25 is an amazing lens when its out of focus rendering is viewed plus it is the sharpest wide open of all the Noctilux's, but it is also the largest in weight and size which could be argued goes against the "M" platform being a reporter style body which is why I personally did not keep my copy. So which "Noctilux" could be considered the ultimate, well that can be argued possibly for ever, yet could it be a three way tie between the original 1.2 for its painterly rendering, next the E58 F1 version 1 for its incredible artistic rendering when shot wide open, and finally the .95 for its ability to balance a great in focus sharpness with a 3 dimensionality between subject matter and butter smooth background. 

Thoughts form others?

Ah, mea culpa.  I agree with what you have said, particularly about the 75/1:1.25  Noctilux and I use it with the SL2-S, which works well for me.

The point I was making was that the honourable forum member was comparing the characters of the 'Elmar M' and 'the Noct' but with the range of Noctiluxes offering a range of different characters I was enquiring which one.

I would prefer not to be drawn into a discussion about 'the ultimate Noctilux' as I see it as having no end owing to views being tinted by subjectivity, personal experience, and expectation.

Pete.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[wlaidlaw]

My 0.95 Nocti sits for year after year virtually unused on a shelf. I just don't find its one (and a little bit) stop extra over my 50 Summilux III SE, compensates for the weight. I think it is probably time I sold it. When I do use the Noctilux, it is usually on my SL601, where IMHO, it balances far better than on an M body and the SL's excellent EVF makes low light focussing much easier than with a rangefinder. I am hoping that the Visoflex 3 will be as good as the EVF on the SL. 

Wilson

[laowai_]

On 12/19/2021 at 3:58 AM, Al Brown said:

A (philosophical) question for all dear Forum members: Would you consider a brand new black anodized Noctilux 50/1.2 a viable short or long term investment with a possible good return? 

Philosophical answer:

1) it doesn’t generate income (assuming your are not a pro photographer and the lens would be a substantial advantage for you over the competition)

2) it doesn’t generate dividends. 

3) you hope to resell the item after a few years at a higher price than what you payed for today (adjusted for inflation and adjusted for the lost  opportunity of investing the same amount of money in a more traditional investment vehicle). Not very likely to happen. 

—> It’s not an investment.