Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/07/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Jim: Check out my Noctilux page: http://home.istar.ca/~robsteve/photography/Noctilux.htm My favorite pictures are of Jennifer, Baby, and the basketball. The Bruce and Boyd pictures are also pretty good showing great shadow detail in what were shots with bright flare inducing windows in the background. As for you question about the difference between shooting the 35mm 1.4 to give the same view as the Noctilux, I have a pair of pictures on my baby page that show what you want. It is the set with the nurse and a clip board in her hand. The colour one was with the Noctilux at about f1.4, while the B&W was with a 35mm Summicron ASPH at f2. Notice that the 35mm holds the focus further into the background, while the 50mm barely has the subject in focus. I probably could have done a better job of scanning the slide, while the B&W was a scan from a print that had some doging and burning, especially the dodging of the eyes. The available light pictures on this page in colour were done with the Noctilux. The colour pictures obviously taken with a flash were with the 35mm Summicron. http://home.istar.ca/~robsteve/photography/gordon_francis_stevens.htm As for the other 50mm lenses, I have a 50mm Summicron, of the vintage prior to the one with the built in hood. I would suggest this lens if you really don't need a high speed lens. Its results at f2 and smaller are far superior to the Noctilux and it gives a real smoothness to the pictures. The first two pictures on the page below were taken with the 50mm Summicron at F2 and 1/50th and demonstrate the smoothness of the colour and image. Excuse the limited depth of field, as it was not bright enough in the church to use a smaller aperture. http://home.istar.ca/~robsteve/photography/gordon_francis_stevens-3.htm If I had only one 50mm, I would probably choose the Summicron, as it is a better all around lens than the Noctilux. The Noctilux is designed to get pictures which would not otherwise be attainable and do it with reasonable quality. The Summicron, on the other hand gets top quality pictures everywhere along its operating range. It is pretty light and compact as well. Regards, Robert