Noctilux SL users

[T25UFO]

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SL2 with 50mm f1.2 Noctilux.  Cropped to an effective 75mm.  I would like to try the same shot with 75mm Noctilux . . . if only I could afford it!

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[Photoworks]

I think the 75 SL lens is great, but it rather clean..

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The Noctilux 50 has a little more magic less reality..

 

 

[T25UFO]

I also have the SL 75mm and have reached exactly the same conclusion.  It would be interesting to compare this lens with the 75mm Noctilux rather than the 50mm.  Or maybe even the 90mm Summilux.  After reading this item on the Leica Blog . . .

https://www.leica-camera.blog/2021/07/14/freedom-to-focus/

. . . I'm beginning to wonder if I really need auto focus.  Unfortunately, there is still a big price jump swapping the SL 75mm for the Noctilux 75mm; however, this would have the advantage of using the 75mm on the M10M.  Might be even more tempting if an improved new Visoflex is backward compatible.

[Jon Warwick]

41 minutes ago, T25UFO said:

I also have the SL 75mm and have reached exactly the same conclusion.  It would be interesting to compare this lens with the 75mm Noctilux rather than the 50mm.  Or maybe even the 90mm Summilux.  After reading this item on the Leica Blog . . .

https://www.leica-camera.blog/2021/07/14/freedom-to-focus/

. . . I'm beginning to wonder if I really need auto focus.  Unfortunately, there is still a big price jump swapping the SL 75mm for the Noctilux 75mm; however, this would have the advantage of using the 75mm on the M10M.  Might be even more tempting if an improved new Visoflex is backward compatible.

Yes, that’s a question I’m curious about too, ie, would love to see a direct comparison of the rendering of the SL APO prime lens, versus the M 75 Noctilux or M 90 Summilux. The MTFs of the latter pair are also incredible and can obviously create a unique look wide open, but what’s their rendering compared to the SL primes - ie, as modern and clean with very high acuity, or are these two Ms something different (possibly more gentle and cinematic in rendering)?

[JCR33]

1 hour ago, T25UFO said:

I also have the SL 75mm and have reached exactly the same conclusion.  It would be interesting to compare this lens with the 75mm Noctilux rather than the 50mm.  Or maybe even the 90mm Summilux.  After reading this item on the Leica Blog . . .

https://www.leica-camera.blog/2021/07/14/freedom-to-focus/

. . . I'm beginning to wonder if I really need auto focus.  Unfortunately, there is still a big price jump swapping the SL 75mm for the Noctilux 75mm; however, this would have the advantage of using the 75mm on the M10M.  Might be even more tempting if an improved new Visoflex is backward compatible.

Tried the SL75 when it first launched and liked it a lot. However, I prefer the SL35 more as I am a 35 person.

It took me 2 years before I bit the bullet and bought the 75 Noct after seeing some amazing images online.

I must say Noct 75 is totally in a different league, pairing it with SL2, it is a perfect combo.

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[trickness]

10 hours ago, Photoworks said:

I think the 75 SL lens is great, but it rather clean..

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The Noctilux 50 has a little more magic less reality..

 

 

Which version of the Nocti did you shoot these with? 1.0?

[Photoworks]

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1 minute ago, trickness said:

Which version of the Nocti did you shoot these with? 1.0?

0.95

[trickness]

3 minutes ago, Photoworks said:

0.95

Very nice. All your photographs are really well composed that you’ve posted here.

[farnz]

34 minutes ago, JCR33 said:

I must say Noct 75 is totally in a different league, pairing it with SL2, it is a perfect combo.

I agree.  I took mine out for a night shoot in London on my M10 recently and, as a long time 50/1 Noctilux night shooter, I found that I didn't have tooooo much difficulty nailing focus with the M10's OVF, which I'd expected to be harder, (I never use the Visoflex 020 for this) but the rig as a whole felt a bit clumsy and cumbersome in the hands compared to the 50/1 Nocti.  Also I kept forgetting about the 75 frame lines and cutting heads off because I'm mostly a 50 mm shooter.  

I've decided to (keep on) shooting the 50/1 Noctilux with M10/OVF and the 75/1.25 Noctilux on the SL2-S. Better balance and the 10x EVF magnification can be helpful.

Pete.

[Overgaard]

I use the Noctilux on M9, M9M, M10-P, SL2 and all, and it makes Noctilux photos. 

If we go into details beyond that, then I find that the 50mm Noctilux f/0.95 belong on a Leica M body. It's fast and intuitive with the rangefinder, and the results are always surprisingly beautiful when opened on the computer because you newer saw the depth of field and bokeh in the rangefinder. On the Leica M you can imagine and flow with the feeling of making something dreamy, there is no space for overthinking and reviewing it. You just make the photos. 

The SL2 is great for the 50mm Noctilux f/0.95, yes it is. But the EVF slows you down in focusing and implementing your own control mechanism of seeing if it is in focus. And it is a larger camera. The idea that one needs an EVF to focus a Noctilux is wrong. 

In the choice between Noctilux versions, the f/0.95 is precise and dreamy at the same time. As it's some time since it was designed, the 75/1.25 and 90/1.5 beat it on details. The future seem to be more optical perfection with more details, higher contrast, more accurate colors, less flare and ghosting ... and the further you want to go back in time to when it was all a bit fuzzy and pretty rock'n'roll and cool, you go f/1.0 or f/1.2. 

The 50/1.4 ASPH can be shot like a Noctilux. I move closer to the subject (so as to get more narrow depth of field) and I choose scenes with longer backgrounds. It's a very perfect lens and very "modern" in the sense that it is towards 75/1.25 nd 90/1.5 in colors, bokeh, details and silky bokeh. 

 

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Istanbul SL2 with Noctilux 0.95

Paris with SL2 and f/0.95

Paris with SL2 and 50mm Noctilux f/0.95

 

[John Smith]

On 8/24/2021 at 4:07 AM, Jon Warwick said:

Yes, that’s a question I’m curious about too, ie, would love to see a direct comparison of the rendering of the SL APO prime lens, versus the M 75 Noctilux or M 90 Summilux. The MTFs of the latter pair are also incredible and can obviously create a unique look wide open, but what’s their rendering compared to the SL primes - ie, as modern and clean with very high acuity, or are these two Ms something different (possibly more gentle and cinematic in rendering)?

I've got both lenses. I'll see what I can do this weekend with them. I casually compared them sometime ago. The SL is sharper in the details, but it is close. I think I remember the colors being more vivid on the SL, my guess was because of the APO.

Edited September 29, 2021 by John Smith

[John Smith]

I took both lenses over to take images of my niece. She was terrific, but as with family, things were hectic. So this isn't the best of comparisons. You should be able to tell the 75mm Noct by the DOF. I took the image at the closest focusing distance to show the uniqueness of the lens. 

Just a note on the comparisons between the two lenses (75SL and 75Noct). The 75SL is much, much lighter. The 75Noct is packed with so much glass that it is beastly heavy. It is the sharpest of all the M lenses, but still somehow retains that M look. It's not a lens that you'd want to just schlep over your shoulder. I'd say that you'd want to use it if you have a particular project or look in mind. If not, I'd say stay with the 75SL. It is so much lighter, a touch sharper and I think the APO gives it more contrast in the colors. 

I've got a couple of projects in mind that I'll be starting over the next month or two. I'll try to remember to bring both lenses out for another comparison.  

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Edited October 25, 2021 by John Smith

[Kim Dahl]

7 hours ago, John Smith said:

I took both lenses over to take images of my niece. She was terrific, but as with family, things were hectic. So this isn't the best of comparisons. You should be able to tell the 75mm Noct by the DOF. I took the image at the closest focusing distance to show the uniqueness of the lens. 

Just a note on the comparisons between the two lenses (75SL and 75Noct). The 75SL is much, much lighter. The 75Noct is packed with so much glass that it is beastly heavy. It is the sharpest of all the M lenses, but still somehow retains that M look. It's not a lens that you'd want to just schlep over your shoulder. I'd say that you'd want to use it if you have a particular project or look in mind. If not, I'd say stay with the 75SL. It is so much lighter, a touch sharper and I think the APO gives it more contrast in the colors. 

I've got a couple of projects in mind that I'll be starting over the next month or two. I'll try to remember to bring both lenses out for another comparison.  

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Thanks for the test 👍🏻.  Exciting comparison.  It could be interesting to see if there are color differences on the SL2 between the different lenses.  Thanks again for the test 📷👍🏻

[trickness]

On 9/26/2021 at 2:23 PM, Overgaard said:

I use the Noctilux on M9, M9M, M10-P, SL2 and all, and it makes Noctilux photos. 

If we go into details beyond that, then I find that the 50mm Noctilux f/0.95 belong on a Leica M body. It's fast and intuitive with the rangefinder, and the results are always surprisingly beautiful when opened on the computer because you newer saw the depth of field and bokeh in the rangefinder. On the Leica M you can imagine and flow with the feeling of making something dreamy, there is no space for overthinking and reviewing it. You just make the photos. 

The SL2 is great for the 50mm Noctilux f/0.95, yes it is. But the EVF slows you down in focusing and implementing your own control mechanism of seeing if it is in focus. And it is a larger camera. The idea that one needs an EVF to focus a Noctilux is wrong. 

In the choice between Noctilux versions, the f/0.95 is precise and dreamy at the same time. As it's some time since it was designed, the 75/1.25 and 90/1.5 beat it on details. The future seem to be more optical perfection with more details, higher contrast, more accurate colors, less flare and ghosting ... and the further you want to go back in time to when it was all a bit fuzzy and pretty rock'n'roll and cool, you go f/1.0 or f/1.2. 

The 50/1.4 ASPH can be shot like a Noctilux. I move closer to the subject (so as to get more narrow depth of field) and I choose scenes with longer backgrounds. It's a very perfect lens and very "modern" in the sense that it is towards 75/1.25 nd 90/1.5 in colors, bokeh, details and silky bokeh. 

 

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Istanbul SL2 with Noctilux 0.95

Paris with SL2 and f/0.95

Paris with SL2 and 50mm Noctilux f/0.95

 

And yet, many Noctilux users who try the lens on an SL body claim that it is much easier to focus than on an M, especially wide open…..

I think it probably all boils down to just putting in the hours with the tools and getting comfortable and familiar with them. I know there are many purists who insist that EVF is somehow inferior to an optical rangefinder, but they both have their strengths and I personally have never found the EVF to be an impediment to focusing an M lens, quite the contrary.

And yes, in regards to the M 50 1.4, I shoot it quite the same way when I want a dreamy result, Get close and shoot it wide-open. It works so well at this that the lens is really the main reason I have not purchased up a .095 (as of yet!)

 

 

Edited October 26, 2021 by trickness

[John Smith]

10 hours ago, trickness said:

And yet, many Noctilux users who try the lens on an SL body claim that it is much easier to focus than on an M, especially wide open…..

I think it probably all boils down to just putting in the hours with the tools and getting comfortable and familiar with them. I know there are many purists who insist that EVF is somehow inferior to an optical rangefinder, but they both have their strengths and I personally have never found the EVF to be an impediment to focusing an M lens, quite the contrary.

And yes, in regards to the M 50 1.4, I shoot it quite the same way when I want a dreamy result, Get close and shoot it wide-open. It works so well at this that the lens is really the main reason I have not purchased up a .095 (as of yet!)

 

 

Maybe you can use the 75Noct on an M, but I don’t see the point. The EVF makes it so much easier to focus. And the lens weighs so much that you need the SL2’s grip. 

[John Smith]

18 hours ago, Kim Dahl said:

Thanks for the test 👍🏻.  Exciting comparison.  It could be interesting to see if there are color differences on the SL2 between the different lenses.  Thanks again for the test 📷👍🏻

I’ll post a couple of colored images this weekend. I’m kinda curious myself. I’ll also try to take them both out again  if there is a particular thing you’d like to see, let me know. 

[Hanno]

30 minutes ago, John Smith said:

Maybe you can use the 75Noct on an M, but I don’t see the point. The EVF makes it so much easier to focus. And the lens weighs so much that you need the SL2’s grip. 

There is also the issue of the M’s viewfinder being considerably blocked at the corner by the size of the 75mm Noctilux.

[T25UFO]

On 10/25/2021 at 11:12 PM, John Smith said:

I took both lenses over to take images of my niece. She was terrific, but as with family, things were hectic. So this isn't the best of comparisons. You should be able to tell the 75mm Noct by the DOF. I took the image at the closest focusing distance to show the uniqueness of the lens. 

Just a note on the comparisons between the two lenses (75SL and 75Noct). The 75SL is much, much lighter. The 75Noct is packed with so much glass that it is beastly heavy. It is the sharpest of all the M lenses, but still somehow retains that M look. It's not a lens that you'd want to just schlep over your shoulder. I'd say that you'd want to use it if you have a particular project or look in mind. If not, I'd say stay with the 75SL. It is so much lighter, a touch sharper and I think the APO gives it more contrast in the colors. 

I've got a couple of projects in mind that I'll be starting over the next month or two. I'll try to remember to bring both lenses out for another comparison.  

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Nice photos and an interesting comparison.  If cost is not an issue then it would be great to have both lenses; sadly, for most of us, cost is an issue and I’m still struggling to see the value proposition in the M Noctilux over the SL Summicron.

[John Smith]

16 hours ago, Hanno said:

There is also the issue of the M’s viewfinder being considerably blocked at the corner by the size of the 75mm Noctilux.

One might be able to make a case to use it with a Monochrom. I haven't tried that yet. 

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[farnz]

2 hours ago, T25UFO said:

If cost is not an issue then it would be great to have both lenses; sadly, for most of us, cost is an issue and I’m still struggling to see the value proposition in the M Noctilux over the SL Summicron.

I won't make a value judgement about how the two lenses 'draw' but my 75 Noctilux has a unique character so I should think that's where the value proposition you mention should probably begin (providing that size, weight, focus throw etc don't unreasonably intrude).

Pete.