[Leica] Monster High-tech 50mm 1.4 from Sigma and everyoneelse - distortion now Nikkor 28/1.4

[sethrosner at nycap.rr.com (Seth Rosner)]

Mark, you have voiced what I have thought for a long while, but I would take 
it further. I do not have nor have I used the new 50/1,4 Summilux-ASPH but 
it appears optically to be the standard against which all 50mm lenses are 
measured. The only real benefit of a Noctilux that I can understand and 
accept is the unusual, even unique, images that that razor-thin DOF offer. 
For in terms of pure speed I would never accept the weight and bulk penalty 
of either the f/1 or f/0.95 for the additional stop or stop and a quarter of 
speed. Especially given the low-light sensitivity of the M8 sensor.

my 2c. perhaps I will think differently when I get an M8 and have the use of 
a Noctilux.

Seth
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Rabiner" <mark@rabinergroup.com>
To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2009 7:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Monster High-tech 50mm 1.4 from Sigma and 
everyoneelse - distortion now Nikkor 28/1.4


> The 1.2 Noctilux was much much smaller than the later f 1 which I have.
> A Summilux on steroids it seemed to me (when I met one) or a Noctilux left
> in the dryer for a very long time after being washed in hot water it 
> changes
> the whole modus operandi reason for being je ne sais quoi of the lens's
> reason for being.
> And its gorgeous.
> unfortunately its rarity is the the first issue.
> The copies out there if you bought it from someone and you said you were
> going to use it to shoot pix they'd be forced to kill you. It's in their
> original buyers contract.
> My hopes were with what we now know about optics the next version would 
> give
> me that balance again.
> Those hopes were dashed to the ground then they went for even more speed
> instead of usability.
> Like threes a shot we're not going to get at .95 that we're not going to 
> get
> a f1 or f1.2.
>
> Give me a compact F1.2 well corrected and balanced and watch it become a
> part of the way a lot of very good photographers work every day.
> They can still do that. The end of the world is not still at hand.
>
>
> Mark William Rabiner
>
>
>
>> From: Frank Dernie <Frank.Dernie@btinternet.com>
>> Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org>
>> Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 09:14:31 +0000
>> To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Leica] Monster High-tech 50mm 1.4 from Sigma and everyone 
>> else -
>> distortion now Nikkor 28/1.4
>>
>> The original f1.2 Noctilux and 35 f1.4 aspherical eash had two hand
>> ground aspheric surfaces. Apparently the scrap rate, and presumably
>> the inspection cost, was horrendous. They made very, very few of each
>> apparently. I have a 35 and prefer the look to the later 35mm f1.4
>> asph which has one moulded aspheric surface. I have read that the
>> difference in sharpness is minimal. The difference in look is not,
>> IMHO. It is my most used lens by far and most of my favourite pictures
>> were taken with it.
>> Frank
>>
>> On 8 Feb, 2009, at 05:13, Marty Deveney wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Why do you suppose Nikon stopped making it?
>>>
>>> Two reasons: the aspherical element was hand-ground, necessitating a
>>> very high manufacturing cost for a prime Nikkor - the lens thus sold
>>> slowly and required a large mark-up to recoup design and tooling
>>> costs; second one of the high-index glass elements used lead and the
>>> laws changed in Japan, making continuing with this impossible.
>>> Rather than opt to redesign with a different glass, they
>>> discontinued the lens.  About 7000 were made.
>>>
>>> I occasionally think about the extremely skilled worker who ground
>>> the aspherical element when I use mine.  I'd sure like to know his
>>> or her story.
>>>
>>> It's tremendous in use, but was designed long enough ago (it was
>>> introduced in 1993) that technology has moved on.  If Nikon decided
>>> to redesign it they would have moulded elements, better coatings,
>>> newer glass types and a variety of new construction methods at their
>>> disposal.  Leica are developing new lenses at quite a clip to keep
>>> their lenses up with technology - and of course their cameras.
>>>
>>> Marty
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information


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