.95 Noctilux = disappointment

[Michael Patrick Ryan]

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Hello all. I am brand new to the forum. Great site! I have shot Leica since 1971 and finally succumbed and purchased a .95 Noctilux for my SL. Needless to say I was a little confused with the lens shade. Trying to extend it was not pleasant. Side to side play and almost a scraping, irregular movement. Hmmmm. What do you want for 12,500?! I have a R90 Elmarit and the built in lens shade is surgically smooth. I thought maybe it would seat in and get better. Opposite. Got worse and then yesterday it wouldn't retract! Frozen and locked in the extended position. Wow, I don't know how this would fall thru the cracks. Theres more ..... not wanting to use third party adaptors I purchased the Leica M to SL adaptor. 435.00! In for a penny in for a pound, right? When I mount the lens with the adaptor to the camera the slop is unbelievable. Not a rocking slop but back and forth clockwise, counterclockwise. So much so when I go to focus, I can feel the sloppy fit and play. Much play. I'm sorry I just shelled out 13,000 dollars and this is far from what I envisioned my experience to be. I will be sending BOTH back and am unsure I even want to replace it at this point. I'm running scared so to speak. Has anyone encountered these things on their Noctilux? I am horrified it even left the factory in this condition. I know, boo hoo I'm packing a shitty because my 12,500 lens isn't working right but I have labored over this purchase for years and a letdown would be the understatement of the decade. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[RoySmith]

Real downer. For sure they should be returned or exchanged with a request that the vendor check them before shipping.
Did you buy them from Leica Store Miami ? They have a good reputation.

I have the Leica M Adapter L and it fits very well with no play.

[LocalHero1953]

When I had this adapter it had a small amount of side to side play, and this was discussed here at the time the SL was launched - others noticed the same.

TBH it never worried me because it had no effect on my photos, since it doesn't change focus.

[Chaemono]

vor 39 Minuten schrieb Michael Patrick Ryan:

...I know, boo hoo I'm packing a shitty because my 12,500 lens isn't working right but I have labored over this purchase for years and a letdown would be the understatement of the decade. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Due to six feet distancing rules, the lenses are now thrown from one work station to the next, I think.

[Michael Patrick Ryan]

27 minutes ago, RoySmith said:

Real downer. For sure they should be returned or exchanged with a request that the vendor check them before shipping.
Did you buy them from Leica Store Miami ? They have a good reputation.

I have the Leica M Adapter L and it fits very well with no play.

I purchased from Adorama. 

[Michael Patrick Ryan]

23 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

When I had this adapter it had a small amount of side to side play, and this was discussed here at the time the SL was launched - others noticed the same.

TBH it never worried me because it had no effect on my photos, since it doesn't change focus.

Images are like nothing I’ve ever had before. Sometimes almost surreal. Problem is at times when I’m turning the focusing ring I get the CLUNK CLUNK and it really breaks my concentration. 

[Hanno]

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Hello. So sorry to hear what happened.
 

I use the Leica adapter for my 75mm Noctilux on my SL2. It works very well and smoothly. None of the issue you mentioned.
 

I hear your frustration. I would suggest if you feel ok about it, to get another try or even go at a Leica shop if one is nearby.
 

I am sure the 50mm Noctilux is a superb lens and once all this is sorted out, you will simply be enjoying it for a long time.

[Jon Warwick]

6 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

When I had this adapter it had a small amount of side to side play, and this was discussed here at the time the SL was launched - others noticed the same.

TBH it never worried me because it had no effect on my photos, since it doesn't change focus.

On my SL2, with the Leica adapter and M 75 Summarit, I’d get a very slight side-to-side play too .....but really nothing major and no impact on image quality.

But I much prefer to have everything working 100% precisely,  with exacting tolerances. For example, with the M 50 APO on my M240, or SL 50 APO on the SL2, there was basically no play whatsoever. And using the lens on a native mount, without any adapter, simply looks neater too IMHO.

I’ve toyed with the idea of getting one of the phenomenal newer M lenses (the 75mm 1.25 Noctilux or 90mm 1.5 Summilux), and often read how these are arguably best used via an M-L adapter on the SL bodies due to their excellent EVFs ....but I’d rather avoid the adapter altogether for the above reason. As such, I hope one day that we will see a native M Mount camera with a tier 1 EVF where these M lenses can be finally used with full focusing precision, on a native M mount, and hence without adapter.

Edited February 7, 2021 by Jon Warwick

[PeterGA]

Reads to me like the lens shade has been forced into cross threading its own mount - this can happen through a variety of means. All adaptors are 'sloppy' that is the nature of the beast - how sloppy each and every adaptor may or may not be depends on the condition of both the camera and lens mount as much as the adaptor. Without looking at each of these mating surfaces it is hard for people to comment. I've used the same adaptor on my old SL and SL2 for the purpose of mounting my Nocti - and have noted some play - but not to the detriment of the image. I much prefer using lens to camera mounting sans adaptor and I agree with poster above that Leica could look at providing the M with a decent EVF - which is why I dumped the M years ago.

 

[Michael Patrick Ryan]

Peter it was goofy right out of the box. From the first time I tried it.

[John Smith]

1 hour ago, PeterGA said:

Reads to me like the lens shade has been forced into cross threading its own mount - this can happen through a variety of means. All adaptors are 'sloppy' that is the nature of the beast - how sloppy each and every adaptor may or may not be depends on the condition of both the camera and lens mount as much as the adaptor. Without looking at each of these mating surfaces it is hard for people to comment. I've used the same adaptor on my old SL and SL2 for the purpose of mounting my Nocti - and have noted some play - but not to the detriment of the image. I much prefer using lens to camera mounting sans adaptor and I agree with poster above that Leica could look at providing the M with a decent EVF - which is why I dumped the M years ago.

 

I have a Noctilux 75mm and the adapter works perfectly on my SL2. No play whatsoever. Tight as a brick.

[Michael Patrick Ryan]

14 minutes ago, John Smith said:

I have a Noctilux 75mm and the adapter works perfectly on my SL2. No play whatsoever. Tight as a brick.

JEALOUS!

[Photoworks]

The 0.95 has a little play on the adapter. The lens sits much better on the on an M body. Not sure why Leica can have a more precise adapter.

I see this to be a problem on video with follow focus gear.

My biggest complained about the M to L Adapter is that the lens goes past infinity. On an M camera is so easy to focus on the distant by going to infinity.

 

[PeterGA]

8 hours ago, Michael Patrick Ryan said:

Peter it was goofy right out of the box. From the first time I tried it.

 

 

I'd send it back - pronto.

 

The problem with buying sight unseen is you don't actually know if the item has been handled since it left the actory another thing I learned the hard way was buying from stores like B&H - who will try and send you a previously openned box - this because they allow people to try multiple lenses for example before picking the 'best'. I understand it may be difficult to actually get to a dealer because  COVID and all that on top of distance etc...but for relatively high cost items it is probably worth the and wait time or effort to do so.

As for the adaptor- everything manufactured is manufacturerd to 'acceptable' tolerances and these are subject or should be to quality control - these days quality control is too much sample based on not enough every sample - if something is that far out of whack - again - send it back.

My Schaublin CNC lathe is good for a theoretical cutting tolerance of 0.001mm - the reality is that depending on material/tool/tool wear/machine state  and a host of other cutting conditions - I am happy to get a consistent 0.01 repeat accuracy for multiple parts. I would bet that a proper measurement test between any 3 adaptors throws up much more discrepancy than that - and that is taking no account of the condiiton of the lens or camera mounts on either sides - which is just one reason why EVF is such real world good thing. 

 

Not that I wish to teach you how to suck eggs or anything.

Edited February 8, 2021 by PeterGA

[PeterGA]

6 hours ago, John Smith said:

I have a Noctilux 75mm and the adapter works perfectly on my SL2. No play whatsoever. Tight as a brick.

You actually dont want it too tight but anyway - test it on a number of lenses and / cameras - you will likely feel a difference - as long as it isn't so loose that the lens actually wobbles during taking a photograph - it doesn't matter.

[meerec]

43 minutes ago, PeterGA said:

you don't actually know if the item has been handled since it left the actory another thing I learned the hard way was buying from stores like B&H - who will try and send you a previously openned box - this because they allow people to try multiple lenses for example before picking the 'best'

I buy from B&H ... never happened to me. Just last month received a $8,000+ Hasselblad lens in a sealed box. I hope it stays so as I’d not accept it otherwise. 

[PeterGA]

4 minutes ago, meerec said:

I buy from B&H ... never happened to me. Just last month received a $8,000+ Hasselblad lens in a sealed box. I hope it stays so as I’d not accept it otherwise. 

last time I was in NY I decided to buy an XID and a 45 from B&H. I go to counter pay for Camera and Lens and get told to go to pickup on the exit...camera box arrives along with lens box- lens box looks unopened- but on inspection camera box has been opened and so I decide to look at camera which had actually been used for around 50 shots ...they replaced the camera with a new unopened box camera ...never got the GPS module ...

 

[meerec]

29 minutes ago, PeterGA said:

last time I was in NY I decided to buy an XID and a 45 from B&H. I go to counter pay for Camera and Lens and get told to go to pickup on the exit...camera box arrives along with lens box- lens box looks unopened- but on inspection camera box has been opened and so I decide to look at camera which had actually been used for around 50 shots ...they replaced the camera with a new unopened box camera ...never got the GPS module ...

 

Way to go ... visited the store a couple of times, an experience in its own. I still trust them, even remotely, and much prefer to deal with B&H than the local distributor in Sydney. God help me not having to deal with CRKennedy ever again. Both the 80 and 45p came from B&H without issues.  

Edited February 8, 2021 by meerec

[LeicaR10]

Michael Patrick Ryan,   I own the 50 Noctilux and use to shoot it on the SL, now just the M system.  My Leica M to L adapter when I owned one, did not have the play you mentioned.  Others say they do.  The hood sometimes goes slightly a skew as do other M lenses.  But your focus ring should not go clunk, clunk as you described.  It should be smooth.  I would contact Adorama and ask to send it and adapter (if bought from Adorama) back for either a refund or total replacement.  I would do the refund if I were you.  Make sure you have all the original materials, boxes, documents etc, when you send it back.  You might need a return authorization number from them, so ask for it.  The website has return instructions.  When you get time, call Leica Store Miami and talk with Josh if you are still in the market for a 50 Noctilux.  He will fix you up.  The 50 Noctilux is a superb lens and renders like no other.   Sorry to hear about your experience.  r/ Mark 

Edited February 8, 2021 by LeicaR10

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[budjames]

I was thinking about selling my Noctilux 50mm f0.95 until I tried it on my SL2 with the Leica adapter. I shoot with it now much more than I did on my M10. Now, I love 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.