rosuna Posted March 31, 2008 Share #21 Posted March 31, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) I can't see Leica offering a Noctilux ASPH - it would have to sell for $1500 or more over the price of the current Noctilux. Why? The current price for the Noctilux is due to special circunstances. The sales price was around 3000 euros for many time, and then, suddently, the price arose. A new design could be selling for the price of the 50mm Summilux APSH + 600/900 euros. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 31, 2008 Posted March 31, 2008 Hi rosuna, Take a look here Noctilux - Buy Now or Wait?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Agent M10 Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share #22 Posted March 31, 2008 What special circumstances? Does that mean that the price is due to fall soon? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosuna Posted March 31, 2008 Share #23 Posted March 31, 2008 No. It is said that the production cost of at least one of the special glasses of the Noctilux experienced a severe (and maybe irreversible) increase. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted March 31, 2008 Share #24 Posted March 31, 2008 If you believe the folk-lore, the glass from which one of the elements is made has to be annealed (heated and then slowly cooled) over many months to remove internal stresses so that it can be worked and, I suppose (though I'm no expert), to obtain the optical characteristics required. The glass is therefore very expensive and, added to that, the lens is made by Elcan in Canada in miniscule quantities; again, if you believe the folk-lore, they brought someone back from retirement to make more. Other rumours say that Leica has all but discontinued taking new orders for the lens. A new design, computed to use modern glasses and one or more ASPH elements, might not be at the same statospheric price level but it's anyone's guess how much demand for such a lens is out there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted March 31, 2008 Share #25 Posted March 31, 2008 You've got to think that in the overall scheme of things a new Noctilux at even more nose-bleed prices and limited market is the LAST thing that Leica would be able to afford to invest in. Common sense would dictate that they're spending their limited budgets on more affordable lenses, the next digital R series and other more mundane endeavors that would provide a real return on investment. Ultimately the NEED for an f/1 lens doesn't exist these days with the availability of good fast films and digital. If you want the Nocti look then only a Nocti will do, but that's almost regardless of it being an f/1 lens. For all of the attention to detail in building the Noctilux, the care in manufacturing, the time involved in curing the glass etc it still baffles me why whoever QC'd my lens couldn't make it absolutely PERFECT straight from the box and not need adjustment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent M10 Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share #26 Posted March 31, 2008 Gwelland, Sorry, but I do not agree with you. Faster film on one lens doesn't necessarily equate to slower film on another. Here is an article by Sean Reid about why cameras matter and I believe that the logic also applies to lenses. By the way, I decided to sink the money into the Noct. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted April 1, 2008 Share #27 Posted April 1, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Gwelland, Sorry, but I do not agree with you. Faster film on one lens doesn't necessarily equate to slower film on another. Here is an article by Sean Reid about why cameras matter and I believe that the logic also applies to lenses. By the way, I decided to sink the money into the Noct. Obviously didn't read what I actually wrote. I said: if you need the look of a Nocti then only a Nocti will do.... My point was that the absolute NEED for the fastest glass is not really as compelling today as it was in the days of Kodachrome 25/Velvia or even 400ASA film. Today there are plenty of fast films with grain smaller than a pebble or digital cameras that can shoot at better than ISO 320 and not producing a kaleidoscope of noise. Thus you have less need for the speed of f/1 and so f/1,4 or f/2 will still give you enough light to expose well. If you want f/1 DoF or the particular look, then sure, go with the Noctilux. I did for just this reason. However, I'd bet $$$ that Leica still won't spend their meagre budget on a Noctilux replacement. I hope I'm wrong. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted April 1, 2008 Share #28 Posted April 1, 2008 I hope you're right! I think Leica have other more important things to do than sink huge amounts of money into a replacement for this trophy lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted April 1, 2008 Share #29 Posted April 1, 2008 Personally I'd like them to stop production completely so that those of us who currently have one can chuckle demonically and hold on to them until the prices finally go through to the stratosphere. Bwaahhhhaaaahhhhaaa!!!! Just kidding ... Graham (who's order for a 50, 28, 35 TriElmar never actually officially got cancelled by Leica!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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