Scratching the noctilux itch

[atournas]

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I used to have the Noctilux f/1, along with a Summicron 50mm. I was never impressed with the Nocti results on black-and-white films. But when M9 came out, it became my permanent 50mm on the M9 with impressive rendition and colours. 

People say the Nocti is a Summilux with an extra stop. It sounds reasonable to me.

Edited August 30, 2022 by atournas

[jakontil]

On 8/25/2022 at 12:20 PM, Aryel said:

My m3 has a new friend:

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Thank you so much for all the information, feedback and suggestions. Time to discover and learn. 

Congratulations! Beautiful looking noctilux out of the bunch

[derleicaman]

Wow, the hood is enourmous! I have been using mine without the hood. I was thinking about getting an inexpensive generic vented hood to use.

[Aryel]

4 hours ago, derleicaman said:

Wow, the hood is enourmous! I have been using mine without the hood. I was thinking about getting an inexpensive generic vented hood to use.

Yes, this it is 😂. However, it doesn’t come up in the viewfinder so ok with me. Still, if you find a generic smaller one that doesn’t vignette, please share. 

As a side note and without having seen any image yet (taking my time to finish one roll), just handling the lens kind of highlight that the comparison with a summilux (pre-asph e46) was irrelevant (at least to me).  The long focus throw and handling makes it slower and seems to be suited for more contemplative images (in a good way). Maybe this is because It is new to me. 

Thanks a lot for all the advices!

[Jeremy Bunting]

On 8/20/2022 at 11:24 PM, SoarFM said:

I've had the 50 1.2 reissue for quite awhile now. Wide open it is only "sharp" in the center. Sharp being a catchall term for contrast and resolution together. Wide open off center,  you will not find that combination of contrast and resolution at any distance (it's not a matter of field curvature) until you start getting nearer the edges of the frame. Of, course this only applies to wide open. As you stop it down it gets very contrasty and high resolution throughout the frame, it's almost as if you can dial in the effect of the lens from a lot at 1.2 to none by the time you hit f4/5.6. It's a pretty darn good lens, but just know it's not a matter of a razor thin focus from center to edge wide open.

I just purchased the lens a couple hours ago. I traded my Q2, which has sat unused since I got my M11. Anyway, I went into the NYC Leica Store more curious about the f0.95, since they have a couple used examples at the moment. It was just too big. I'm not a studio photographer. My photography is a vanity project primarily aimed at making nights I'd otherwise forget memorable, and making my friends look attractive in bars. I loved the size of the f1.2--this is a lens I'll actually take out with me. It also seemed to offer more of a unique look than the 0.95 versus my Summilux--but really it came down to size.

I've been testing it for the last couple hours. I agree that wide open the sharpness drops off a bit towards the edge of the frame, but I'm not sure if it's because the depth of field is so shallow and the focus point is changing as I focus with the rangefinder and then compose the shot, or if it's just the lens. It sounds like you're saying it's the latter. For me, the drop in sharpness is not so significant that I feel I need to avoid placing the subject off-center with the lens wide open. Here's a shot of my cat, completely uncropped and unedited.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremybunting/52342660037/in/dateposted-public/

She's not perfectly sharp when you blow up the frame, but I kinda bought the lens for the soft look anyway. I'm fortunate enough to own an APO 50 when I want everything sharp.

Of course I've only had the lens a few hours so maybe I'll change my mind and decide this really is a point against.

[kivis]

On 8/19/2022 at 1:43 AM, Aryel said:

This is definitely a case of acute gas…

Correction: It's called Acute GAS 🥸

[SoarFM]

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1 hour ago, Jeremy Bunting said:

I just purchased the lens a couple hours ago. I traded my Q2, which has sat unused since I got my M11. Anyway, I went into the NYC Leica Store more curious about the f0.95, since they have a couple used examples at the moment. It was just too big. I'm not a studio photographer. My photography is a vanity project primarily aimed at making nights I'd otherwise forget memorable, and making my friends look attractive in bars. I loved the size of the f1.2--this is a lens I'll actually take out with me. It also seemed to offer more of a unique look than the 0.95 versus my Summilux--but really it came down to size.

I've been testing it for the last couple hours. I agree that wide open the sharpness drops off a bit towards the edge of the frame, but I'm not sure if it's because the depth of field is so shallow and the focus point is changing as I focus with the rangefinder and then compose the shot, or if it's just the lens. It sounds like you're saying it's the latter. For me, the drop in sharpness is not so significant that I feel I need to avoid placing the subject off-center with the lens wide open. Here's a shot of my cat, completely uncropped and unedited.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremybunting/52342660037/in/dateposted-public/

She's not perfectly sharp when you blow up the frame, but I kinda bought the lens for the soft look anyway. I'm fortunate enough to own an APO 50 when I want everything sharp.

Of course I've only had the lens a few hours so maybe I'll change my mind and decide this really is a point against.

APO 50 is in another league of sharpness and contrast, and it’s supposed to be that way. Got one of those also…

But…sharpness is over rated. As is razor sharp. But you can have that too on the 50/1.2, just stop down a few clicks. You might find yourself thinking, “why do I need that 50 summilux or 50 APO??”  Not to get a sharp image at f4 or 5.6. Your 50 1.2 reissue will do that quite nicely.

 

 

 

[Ertos]

I can only echo what was said on this post, trying is knowing. For me it was a great experience (on the SL) but I moved on eventually. Too big, too exotic. Here is a post I wrote about it: https://www.erwinhartenbergphoto.com/post/the-magic-of-the-leica-50mm-noctilux

[Jared]

2 hours ago, Jeremy Bunting said:

I just purchased the lens a couple hours ago. I traded my Q2, which has sat unused since I got my M11. Anyway, I went into the NYC Leica Store more curious about the f0.95, since they have a couple used examples at the moment. It was just too big. I'm not a studio photographer. My photography is a vanity project primarily aimed at making nights I'd otherwise forget memorable, and making my friends look attractive in bars. I loved the size of the f1.2--this is a lens I'll actually take out with me. It also seemed to offer more of a unique look than the 0.95 versus my Summilux--but really it came down to size.

I've been testing it for the last couple hours. I agree that wide open the sharpness drops off a bit towards the edge of the frame, but I'm not sure if it's because the depth of field is so shallow and the focus point is changing as I focus with the rangefinder and then compose the shot, or if it's just the lens. It sounds like you're saying it's the latter. For me, the drop in sharpness is not so significant that I feel I need to avoid placing the subject off-center with the lens wide open. Here's a shot of my cat, completely uncropped and unedited.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremybunting/52342660037/in/dateposted-public/

She's not perfectly sharp when you blow up the frame, but I kinda bought the lens for the soft look anyway. I'm fortunate enough to own an APO 50 when I want everything sharp.

Of course I've only had the lens a few hours so maybe I'll change my mind and decide this really is a point against.

It's not just a matter of sharpness falling off when you recompose due to field curvature (in which case composing as you like, then focusing using the LCD or using the Visoflex would work fine). It's actually just soft as you move away from the central third of the frame. Interestingly, it then gets sharper again as you continue to move away from the center of the field, so a composition like the one you posted can work quite well.

Obviously, the purpose of the lens is not t have a tack sharp image across the frame wide open, so I don't see the issue as a "flew" per se. Just something to understand about the lens. Wide open, astigmatism is very high from about one third of the way to the edge of the frame to perhaps two thirds of the way to the edge, then perceived sharpness starts to pick up again. Put it on a tripod and use the EVF zoomed in to see this effect for yourself. Important to learn one's lenses in order to get the results you want.

I expect you will love your Noctilux, especially since you can supplement with the APO when your requirements differ. Horses for courses. Love your dreamy kitty, by the way.

[Noctinoir]

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Here are my three Nocti. Love them all equally but I love the e58 f/1 I love more equally than the others.

The f/1.2 is fun and small size, so really a ‘travel noctilux’ for me.

But I think for the look and feel of the images a fast lens needs a wider barrel, which is where the f/1.2 falls short. Take a look at the Canon 50mm f/0.95 and look at the size of the barrel! Absolutely required to let that much light in for a fast lense.

So this is why I think the f1 Noctis produce a much better look and can achieve more shaprness than the ‘mini’ f/1.2.

Also the most magical Noctilux glass was made in the decades past imo. The new stuff lacks that certain nocti magic (like the Nocti 0.95 hmm should have never been made if you ask me). 
 

Best to hire one if you can and try it out, you will know straight away

[Noctinoir]

4 minutes ago, Noctinoir said:

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Here are my three Nocti. Love them all equally but I love the e58 f/1 I love more equally than the others.

The f/1.2 is fun and small size, so really a ‘travel noctilux’ for me.

But I think for the look and feel of the images a fast lens needs a wider barrel, which is where the f/1.2 falls short. Take a look at the Canon 50mm f/0.95 and look at the size of the barrel! Absolutely required to let that much light in for a fast lense.

So this is why I think the f1 Noctis produce a much better look and can achieve more shaprness than the ‘mini’ f/1.2.

Also the most magical Noctilux glass was made in the decades past imo. The new stuff lacks that certain nocti magic (like the Nocti 0.95 hmm should have never been made if you ask me). 
 

Best to hire one if you can and try it out, you will know straight away

For context - a photo of the 3 Nocti next to the Canon 50mm f/0.95. Size (width) is a huge factor in performance for a fast lens in my view. These things suck a lot of light in which is much harder to do via the size of the f/1.2, albeit it is a bit slower than the other ones
 

Edited October 28, 2022 by Noctinoir

[Henners]

Have you considered the new-ish Voigtlander 50mm F1 VM asph? It's getting rave reviews, mine arrived today - I've not had a chance to use it yet other than straight out of the box. This photo was the first one I took with it, downloaded just now off Google Photos, quickly resized with Microsoft powerToys and was a straight from camera JPG so not the best representation but better than nothing.

More info and decent example shots here: 

 

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Edited November 29, 2022 by Henners