Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/09/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Anthony, The following is from a piece called The Leica Mystique by Carl Weese reprinted from DARKROOM & CREATIVE CAMERA TECHNIQUES, July/August 1995. Let me know if you want me to e-mail you the whole thing. Bud Cook 'The 50 mm Noctilux at f/1, is obviously a special lens designed for extreme low light conditions. A designer might try to make this lens as sharp and contrasty as possible wide open, while keeping it as close as possible to standard fine lens performance through the rest of its range But the Leitz designers did something else. At maximum aperture and close to it, they aimed for reasonably high resolution with low contrast. Low contrast? On purpose? But it makes sense; most really dim light situations are also high contrast situations; this design parameter helps support shadow detail. (See above). Of course the lens is useable at f/5.6 or f/8 , but that isn't what it was meant for. The designers assume we'll use it flat out when we need f/1, and then when there's more light, switch to the standard 50 mm Summicron (f/2).' - ----- Original Message ----- From: Anthony Atkielski <anthony@atkielski.com> > > Leica's description of the Noctilux implies that it approaches some sort of > fundamental limits in lens design, so maybe not. If it did exist, something > tells me that it would be even more expensive than the Noctilux. > > By the way, I know the Noctilux is supposed to be a bit less sharp than the 35mm > Summicron-M 1:2 ASPH, but just how much less is this, in real-world, practical > terms? Is it something that shows up on a test chart only, or only on huge > enlargements, or what? I can't believe that any Leica lens is going to be worse > than my excellent AF-S Nikkor zoom--or am I wrong? > > -- Anthony > >