Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/01/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]MarK: There are two main versions of the Noctilux, the early F1.2, and the later F1. Of the later versions, there was the first F1 lens that took a 58mm filter and the later ones had 60mm filter threads and different hoods, finalizing on a built in one. Optically, there is no difference between the F1 versions. Mine was the second version of the F1 and has 60mm filter threads and a bayonet on hood. It probably dates from the late seventies or early eighties. I think the next version after mine had a clip on hood and the one following that is the current one with a built in hood. As for night shots with the Noctilux, go to the motorcycle trip link on my main page and you will see some pictures taken in New York at night and using F1 at about 1/30th of a second. These were on E100S slide film. http://home.istar.ca/~robsteve/photography/index.htm Regards, Robert At 11:43 PM 1/16/99 -0700, you wrote: >"Robert G. Stevens" wrote: >> >> Mark: >> >> Look at my Noctilux pictures on my home page: >> >> http://home.istar.ca/~robsteve/photography/index.htm >> >> The Lady with the Cuban Cigar (Montecristo) was shot at 1/30th at F1 using >> Tmax P3200 at EI 1600. This could have been done with a slower lens, but >> would have more camera shake. The Noctilux also gives a smooth rendition >> of her skin. The two pictures of Boyd and Bruce were taken in a dimly lit >> boathouse with harsh light coming in the windows behind Boyd and Bruce. >> There is no flare and great detail in the shadows and highlights. You can >> count the hairs on Boyds head and even do a thread count on his black >> sweater. Now thats shadow detail while maintaining the highlights. Shot >> with Tmax 100 at 1.4. The Noctilux is superior here in flare suppression >> and shadow detail than the Summilux. The bottom picture of the baby on the >> lawn chair was on APX25 and at F1. It is very sharp with a great blurred >> background and illustrates the effect of shallow depth of field and slow >> fine grained film. >> >> As for the cost of a Noctilux, good used ones can be had for about $1,600, >> which is not much more than the cost of a new Summicron. Most of the used >> Noctiluxes are like new because, as Mark says, some owners never use them >> to their potential and eventually sell them after they sit unused for a while. >> >> Regards, >> >> Robert Stevens >> >Robert: >That shot of the baby on the swing sure turns my head around, a >superlative shot. I'll admit I was wrong on the Noct. being stupid to >use with slower films. The effect of extreme lack of depth of field and >the quality of the lens is easily seen more-so with the tmax 100 and >apx25, very impressive. The shot of Boyd with the glass in hand bright >and soft in the foreground you might darken a mite, I think your eye >goes there first. Other shots with the high speed films as you indicate >show a excellent use or justification of the lens. The Focusing system >of the Leica as well as your own eye is extremely impressive. But I >think to appreciate the lens to its full value you should shoot or show >us some stuff taken outdoors at night, under street lamps, backlit or >rim lit, with lights in or just out of the picture. I think that is very >much what this lens is all. But I think your shots at dusk and indoors >in low light are quite impressive. Thank you. My need for the Noct. lens >has been upgrade by a lot. >I'm under the impression the newer ones are quite a bit better, is yours >older or newer? >Mark Rabiner > > > >