Yet another Noctilux thread - optimal focus adjustment

[gwelland]

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My brand new Noctilux is out for adjustment/calibration as out of the box it back focused terribly with both M7 & 2x M8 cameras. I bought this lens for it's specific bokeh and imaging characteristics wide open and I understand that it isn't going to be a great all purpose 50mm lens. I have other 50's for those purposes.

 

My question is, how should I optimally get the lens set up given that I have options available to me. Ideally it would be absolutely accurate wide open from minimum focus all the way through infinity but I'm resigned to the fact that this probably isn't feasible if I want the best from the lens.

 

How have folks optimized their lenses?

Should I get it optimized at say 1-2m at f/1 and again f/4 onwards and lose true infinity focusing?

What works best for those of you who use the lens a lot?

 

By comparison I've been using a CV 35/1.2 for quite a while and it's pretty much spot on at all f stops, even wide open. I realize that it's likely this is really an f/1.4 lens and the wider focal length gives me somewhat more margin in terms of depth of field, but I'd really like the Noctilux and Nokton's to perform similarly at normal (i.e. not infinity) shooting distances.

 

Thoughts or comments?

 

Thanks

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[Eoin]

It should focus correctly at f1.0 at all distances. Thereafter I've noted a shift in focus from f:/2.8 to f:/5.6 rearwards at close distances. f:/4.0 - 5.6 onwards should be OK for middle distance objects. I had to send mine back twice to get it to focus correctly.

[MP3]

Factory delivered Noctilux, focus off at f1 !

 

This is the most ridiculous Leica subject of all time.

I know there is quite some Noct here in HK which is still sending back and forth for the optimum focusing. What is going at Solms ?

 

Got this lens as well. When it is spot on, the picts it gives always make me speechless.

However, CV Nokton seldem off-focus even when stopped down.

 

I'm wondering shall we collect the Nokton as well, the coffin cover last 100 Noct is ridiculous.

[gwelland]

I wasn't surprised when my lens was off - disappointed, yes, surprised, no.

 

I think Leica are probably glad to see the back of the Noctilux for digital shooters because I think that the guy who set up mine must have been in his nineties with cataracts and pebble glasses (which he left at home that morning).

 

The sad thing is that when you get it focused correctly (in my case focus 6 inches in front of where you expect it to focus) the results are just simply stunning and unique. Oh well ...