jonoslack Posted October 14, 2007 Share #1 Posted October 14, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi there Well, I've read many horror stories about focusing the nocti at wide aperture, focus shift, back focus etc. etc. My Nocti was secondhand, and had been back to Solms twice (once for coding, and once to correct focusing). I thought my experience might be of interest to those considering this 'challenging' lens. I've had it for a fortnight now (thank you Wilson), and the anticipated learning curve hasn't really happened, sure, it's fairly easy to get it wrong, and it helps to have time to focus, but I haven't been using a magnifier, and even this early on around 75% of the f1 shots are spot on, with most of the rest being useable. The crunch came in Holland on Wednesday night, which I spent at a pub quiz in Bergen op Zoom (the things we do). I just set it on ISO 320 and shot away at f1 (mostly 1/60th second). I took around 50 shots, I've put 24 of them into a web gallery for those that are interested: [url=]http://www.slack.co.uk/newsite/2007/events/quiznight/index.html[/url] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 14, 2007 Posted October 14, 2007 Hi jonoslack, Take a look here Focusing the Nocti at f1 (quizzes and night shots). I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
ptomsu Posted October 14, 2007 Share #2 Posted October 14, 2007 great shots and very encouraging :-) what did you choose for WB ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkie Posted October 14, 2007 Share #3 Posted October 14, 2007 the heineken glass shot is my fav Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody Campbell Posted October 14, 2007 Share #4 Posted October 14, 2007 Great shots. f1 at iso 320 and 1/60 is relatively bright light in Nocti territory. My experience with focus accuracy in that range is roughly the same as yours. But at three stops darker (1250 and 1/30) my percentage of keepers drops to 50% (or worse) because it harder to focus on what you're having trouble seeing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gesper Posted October 14, 2007 Share #5 Posted October 14, 2007 Hi thereWell, I've read many horror stories about focusing the nocti at wide aperture, focus shift, back focus etc. etc. My Nocti was secondhand, and had been back to Solms twice (once for coding, and once to correct focusing). I thought my experience might be of interest to those considering this 'challenging' lens. I've had it for a fortnight now (thank you Wilson), and the anticipated learning curve hasn't really happened, sure, it's fairly easy to get it wrong, and it helps to have time to focus, but I haven't been using a magnifier, and even this early on around 75% of the f1 shots are spot on, with most of the rest being useable. The crunch came in Holland on Wednesday night, which I spent at a pub quiz in Bergen op Zoom (the things we do). I just set it on ISO 320 and shot away at f1 (mostly 1/60th second). I took around 50 shots, I've put 24 of them into a web gallery for those that are interested: QuizNight - Page 1 I'm not having any partiuclar focusing issues at f1.0 either (new Noctilux under 30% discount program). By the way, Jono, I spent three months in Bergen op Zoom in 1985 when I worked for GE (their plastics center for Europe). I am sure I spent some time in that pub. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted October 14, 2007 Author Share #6 Posted October 14, 2007 great shots and very encouraging :-) what did you choose for WB ? HI Peter I just put it on Tungsten - it was close enough, and I've rather given up on auto! Glad you liked the shots Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gesper Posted October 14, 2007 Share #7 Posted October 14, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Great shots. f1 at iso 320 and 1/60 is relatively bright light in Nocti territory. My experience with focus accuracy in that range is roughly the same as yours. But at three stops darker (1250 and 1/30) my percentage of keepers drops to 50% (or worse) because it harder to focus on what you're having trouble seeing. Agree. The biggest trouble with focusing is that the Nocti sees better in the dark than I do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted October 14, 2007 Author Share #8 Posted October 14, 2007 the heineken glass shot is my fav HI there How are you? You have a lot to answer for! I couldn't even afford a heineken after all the money I've spent on the M8s and lenses! (The white wine glass is mine) I hear from Wilson that Bart is heading back to SA, which will be sad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted October 14, 2007 Author Share #9 Posted October 14, 2007 I'm not having any partiuclar focusing issues at f1.0 either (new Noctilux under 30% discount program). By the way, Jono, I spent three months in Bergen op Zoom in 1985 when I worked for GE (their plastics center for Europe). I am sure I spent some time in that pub. Hi George - glad your's is working as it should - I like Bergen op Zoom . . do you remember the Drak hotel in the square? As for the pub, do you think they had an Irish pub in 1985? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkie Posted October 14, 2007 Share #10 Posted October 14, 2007 am good thanks jono. good to see you putting your noct to good use! what vers do you have? i have the 1st vers f1.0 58mm with detachable hood. from Bart as well. along with quite a few other lenses and a 2nd M8. yes, he's going to SA for hols and then off to the RAF. Its a real shame he's leaving HA Baker. He will be sorely missed. where will i go to get my leica stuff now? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsteve Posted October 14, 2007 Share #11 Posted October 14, 2007 the heineken glass shot is my fav I think it is people shots that people have the most trouble with. Even if you get the focus right, either you or the subject only has to move a cm or two between focusing and firing and the focus is lost. In the case of the Heineken Glass, it probably wasn't moving very fast When I shoot people with the Noctilux, I focus on the eyes and then take my han off the focus and move in an out from the subject until the iris of the subjects eye is in focus and then fire the shutter. Focus and recompose seldom works with the Noctilux. You need to get the focus nearly perfect and then fine tune by moving your body in haromony with your subject and fire when the two images align. Robert Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted October 14, 2007 Share #12 Posted October 14, 2007 Sounds like focus dance to me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsteve Posted October 14, 2007 Share #13 Posted October 14, 2007 Here is an example of waiting for the images to align and firing the shutter. It was shot on film with the Noctilux while I was waiting for my M8. Yu can see his eyes are where the rangfinder patch would have been. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gesper Posted October 14, 2007 Share #14 Posted October 14, 2007 Hi George - glad your's is working as it should - I like Bergen op Zoom . . do you remember the Drak hotel in the square? As for the pub, do you think they had an Irish pub in 1985? My memory's not good enough for specifics, but I do remember the square and I remember staying in a hotel there (the tiniest room I have seen outside of Japan). I don't remember an Irish pub, but I know I hit every bar in town (it's a small town). My best memory is of the big festival they have there around February (similar to Mardi Gras). I remember being completely soaked in beer from head to toe by the time it was over. The people were extremely friendly and very tolerant of foolish Americans. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted October 14, 2007 Share #15 Posted October 14, 2007 Enjoyed your shots Jono, must be one of the last places in Europe where smoking in public places is still allowed... My hate-hate relationship with my Noctilux up to now has been based on the impossibility of setting the focussing ring exactly where I want it on my copy of the lens. Up to now, the ring has been very sticky and minute adustments have been impossible. The good news is the lens is back from a second trip to Solms (I think all Noctis should come with 2 free mailers back to Solms as standard) and the focussing is now very smooth and so far, it looks much improved. Even so, it's a challenging lens to get right and rewards care in use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted October 14, 2007 Author Share #16 Posted October 14, 2007 am good thanks jono. good to see you putting your noct to good use! what vers do you have? i have the 1st vers f1.0 58mm with detachable hood. from Bart as well. along with quite a few other lenses and a 2nd M8. yes, he's going to SA for hols and then off to the RAF. Its a real shame he's leaving HA Baker. He will be sorely missed. where will i go to get my leica stuff now? Hi There Maybe HA Baker will get someone else good . . . . hard to believe it will be someone who is quite as much on the customer's side! I bought my two bodies from him as well, but the Nocti was a swap, it's the latest version, from around 2000 as far as Leica can tell. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted October 14, 2007 Author Share #17 Posted October 14, 2007 I think it is people shots that people have the most trouble with. Even if you get the focus right, either you or the subject only has to move a cm or two between focusing and firing and the focus is lost. In the case of the Heineken Glass, it probably wasn't moving very fast When I shoot people with the Noctilux, I focus on the eyes and then take my han off the focus and move in an out from the subject until the iris of the subjects eye is in focus and then fire the shutter. Focus and recompose seldom works with the Noctilux. You need to get the focus nearly perfect and then fine tune by moving your body in haromony with your subject and fire when the two images align. Robert Hi There Rob That glass was moving like anything:) (of course, it was nothing to do with the wine I'd consumed!). Still, I do agree, I do a lot of sway focusing, but you need to be careful that you don't get so out of balance that camera shake comes in to play. Nice swing picture too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted October 14, 2007 Author Share #18 Posted October 14, 2007 Enjoyed your shots Jono, must be one of the last places in Europe where smoking in public places is still allowed... My hate-hate relationship with my Noctilux up to now has been based on the impossibility of setting the focussing ring exactly where I want it on my copy of the lens. Up to now, the ring has been very sticky and minute adustments have been impossible. The good news is the lens is back from a second trip to Solms (I think all Noctis should come with 2 free mailers back to Solms as standard) and the focussing is now very smooth and so far, it looks much improved. Even so, it's a challenging lens to get right and rewards care in use. HI Mark I'm glad it's looking better - maybe two trips is mandatory! I must say, I feel I've been very lucky to get one where someone else has done the legwork. Maybe you'll grow to love it now: I've found it wonderful for doing still life as well, especially flowers and leaves. Worth the effort I think. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sps Posted October 14, 2007 Share #19 Posted October 14, 2007 Beautiful pic's. I have a nocti & my solution to the issue is simple (unprofessional?). I go a little past "in focus", and take three shots in a row while rotating the focus ring between each shot. Just a mm makes a difference. If you get used to the timing, you can do this on "continuous" between shots. See- there is an upside for so few fps! I hope this helps. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted October 14, 2007 Author Share #20 Posted October 14, 2007 Beautiful pic's. I have a nocti & my solution to the issue is simple (unprofessional?). I go a little past "in focus", and take three shots in a row while rotating the focus ring between each shot. Just a mm makes a difference. If you get used to the timing, you can do this on "continuous" between shots. See- there is an upside for so few fps! I hope this helps. Hi there but, but - which one is the decisive moment . Seriously, for life which is still, one should really be able to get it right anyway, but surely, if you're taking pictures of people, expressions change so fast that another picture will simply be different (and probably for two of them the focus will be wrong). I can see the principle, but like most bracketing situations, it only seems to be relevant where the subject is completely static, in which case . . . . . . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.