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Noctilux mystery: New lens is marked "Made in Canada"


Guest darkstar2004

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Let me get this straight: According to Stefan Daniel, Leica might receive another shipment frm Canada for the waiting list of 250?

If it is materized, then the last 100 is technically not really the last 100.

 

Production of the Noctilux has always been done in Canada by Elcan and quite rightly by a very small team. Secondly, you have a new lens.

 

When we visited Leica in June, the product manager for Leica M, Mr Stefan Daniel, told me directly that the Noctilux was indeed sold out and had been sold out for some time also. There was a waiting list of about 250 people waiting for the lens, and he hoped, but was not sure, that there would be another delivery from Canada.

 

The last batch of lenses dealers received was in March 2008. For example, I know that a dealer received two lenses with successive serial numbers 3985443 and 3985444. It therefore makes perfect sense that your lens is right out of the oven so to speak with serial numbers a little higher than the March Delivery.

 

One brand new Noctilux was also handed over to me in by Leica in Solms, with a serial number in the 384xxxx. This lens had already been delivered to a dealer (Meister Camera Hamburg) and I bought it from them but there was no problem sending it back to Leica as I was physically there.

 

Interestingly there is one of the last 100 with the cigar box now available on eBay (a bargain at USD 27 449) and serial number is 3985362. Yours appear to be made after the last 100 units.

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Well... if I remember correctly, when they announced the "cigar case" edition (I am still waiting my PAIR of... :D ) they said indeed Nocti was phasing out, but they didn't specify that the "special 100s" would have been the LAST produced... the mystic of s/n is fading, nowadays... :)... even if I still regret my Hektor 7,3 cm is "almost" a five-digit, but not really one... ;)

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When Leica were making discounted noctilux available to those who ordered M8 in 2006, the serial number ranged between 3985000 to 38853xx. There were some deliveries to dealers at the end or in the beginning of this year after dicounted Noctilux orders were fulfilled. Then Leica announced the last 100. So the following is my guess:

3985000-39853xx Delivery mostly to discounted Noctilux orders.

39853xx-39864xx Last 100.

39854xx-39856xx To the waiting list of 250 around the world.

So my assumption is Leica is still taking delivery from Canada after last 100.

 

My question to darkstar2004 is this: When and how are you able to get this Noctilux with such a late number?

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Guest darkstar2004

My question to darkstar2004 is this: When and how are you able to get this Noctilux with such a late number?

 

I purchased it from Camera West in Monterey, CA on 8-21-08. As far as the "how," I just kept calling & emailing them; I guess I was lucky... :D

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Guest stnami

Atleast it hasn't Made in Bangladesh inscribed ..........., stuffs up the future worth to a Leicafondlafanatic without the mother country's monika:D

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I purchased it from Camera West in Monterey, CA on 8-21-08. As far as the "how," I just kept calling & emailing them; I guess I was lucky... :D

Your Noctilux may have one of the highest serial number of the discontinued Noctilux.

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Guest darkstar2004
Atleast it hasn't Made in Bangladesh inscribed ..........., stuffs up the future worth to a Leicafondlafanatic without the mother country's monika:D

Rest assured: This lens will never be sold as long as long as I'm alive and kicking. She's a keeper! :D

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Rest assured: This lens will never be sold as long as long as I'm alive and kicking. She's a keeper! :D

 

Now how many times have I heard that before??:confused:;)

 

Seriously, I hope you really benefit from your Noctilux! I have. I have had mine about 6 or 7 years now and it is close to my most used lens. When coupled with the M8 BOTH components need to be precisely tuned. Then they are a formidable duo. In my case, I found the 'Steer' an indespensable accessory for focussing the Noctilux quickly because of the long throw. Practice, practice, prac......... !

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Guest darkstar2004
Now how many times have I heard that before??:confused:;)

 

Seriously, I hope you really benefit from your Noctilux! I have. I have had mine about 6 or 7 years now and it is close to my most used lens. When coupled with the M8 BOTH components need to be precisely tuned. Then they are a formidable duo. In my case, I found the 'Steer' an indespensable accessory for focussing the Noctilux quickly because of the long throw. Practice, practice, prac......... !

 

Okay, you are right - I might consider selling her some day. It would take $85,000 American to get me to part with her but not a dime less! :D

 

I am working on getting acquainted with her - so far, so good. I love the way Fuji Velvia 50 transparencies look when made with this lens!

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I think that some lenses were sold for a higher price than the list price due to strong demand and few lenses available. I see some dealers on eBay actually offering the Noctilux (new) for around $9000 or € 6000.

 

*NEW* LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50MM/F1.0, CURRENT E60, 6-bit - eBay (item 270267806283 end time Sep-20-08 10:53:23 PDT)

 

No one can blame them for charging what the market is willing to pay, I guess.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Funny things serial numbers, where I work we make (yes industry is still alive and kicking in the UK) sensors. Some have engraved serial numbers, these we allocate on a batch basis and have engraved by a third party. The rest of the numbers are allocated sequentialy because they can be marked in house. We have an intimate knowlege of this here and it still confuses us, what chance do outsiders of Leica have of cracking the nut?

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  • 7 months later...

Right, yours, assuming not in cigar case or 0.95, would be a 4,xxx,xxx unit definitely 11822 p/n.

 

What is not so clear is that there may have been 2 versions of 11821 post s/n 3,220,708, of which many had built-in hoods before the official 1994 11822 p/n.

 

Yes, this is an old thread - I got my Noctilux on 8-12-08. It was $6495 American.
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Does anyone know anything about the glass used in the f1.0 Noct?

Apparently some elements are made from a special glass that is very difficult and expensive to manufacture.

 

From what I have heard the glass for these elements was made in one or several large batches that Leica has ground elements from over many years.

 

Aside from new regulations that ban lead and arsenic in glass, could the demise of the old Noct be tied to this glass no longer being available?

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