Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/01/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Rob, The advantage is that you can shoot at f1.0. Remember, the Noctilux was not designed to be a perfect lens for all conditions. It was designed to shoot in extremely low light. Under these conditions, you're usually shooting a barely lit subject against a dark background. Vignetting is not so noticeable when the background is dark. In his book, "Leica M, The Advanced School of Photography," Gunther Osterloh describes it this way: "At full aperture, the 50mm f/1 Noctilux-M lens shows the strong vignetting in the corners of the image that is inherent to the optical system. As the illustrations in this book prove, the loss of brightness in the corners is not at all objectionable in the applications for which the lens is intended, i.e. under extremely poor light conditions. By stopping the lens down to medium apertures, vignetting is eliminated and even illumination is assured across the entire image." All lens design involves trade-offs. Some lenses are designed to favor light weight and portability, some to favor flatness of field, some to favor size, etc. The Noctilux was designed for one thing - to shoot in low light, and in order to keep it reasonably functional on the Leica M, some trade-offs were accepted. The Noctilux can certainly be used for things other than low-light shooting (narrow depth of field or the ability to user slower film under well-lit conditions, for example), but if you buy one thinking that it will be as good an all purpose lens as a Summicron (which was designed to be an all purpose lens), you'll likely be disappointed. If you buy one to go into the darkness where other lenses fear to tread, you'll discover shots that are impossible with anything else. Bryan - ----- Original Message ----- From: "robmueller" <robmueller@home.com> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Saturday, January 22, 2000 12:31 PM Subject: RE: [Leica] Noctilux result???? > Hey Dan, > > F1.0, let's see. $2900, can only use it at >f4. Hmmmm. Why would I want this > lens again? I'm not trying to be a smard A.., but something doesn't > correlate. I admit I know nothing of lens, so what are the advantages? > > Rob Mueller > www.studiesinblackandwhite.com > > > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us > [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Dan S > Sent: Saturday, January 22, 2000 1:34 PM > To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us > Subject: RE: [Leica] Noctilux result???? > > > > > > ---------- > > From: Dan S[SMTP:DSTATE1@HOTMAIL.COM] > > Sent: Saturday, January 22, 2000 1:34:13 PM > > To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us > > Subject: RE: [Leica] Noctilux result???? > > Auto forwarded by a Rule > > > Rob, this is only evident at the widest apertures. It is one of the trade > offs of an F1.0 lens. Stopped down this lens is really superb. Indeed at f > 4.0-f11.0 I would doubt most users could tell it from the Summicron M at > enlargments less than 10x...and no way could you judge the difference when > using high speed film. > > Dan > > > > > >Ted, > > > >Would you accept this vignetting image from any other lens? No. Why must we > >make excuses for this? Because it is Leica? As an artist I object to this > >in > >the image. I think it looks terrible and completely detracts from the > >photo. > > > >Rob Mueller > >www.studiesinblackandwhite.com > > > > > >-----Original Message----- > >From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us > >[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Ted Grant > >Sent: Friday, January 21, 2000 11:09 PM > >To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us > >Subject: Re: [Leica] Noctilux result???? > > > > > > > > > > > ---------- > > > From: Ted Grant[SMTP:TEDGRANT@ISLANDNET.COM] > > > Sent: Friday, January 21, 2000 11:09:03 PM > > > To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us > > > Subject: Re: [Leica] Noctilux result???? > > > Auto forwarded by a Rule > > > > >Jerry S. Justianto wrote: > > > > >Please see my first pictures with my Noctilux :-( > > > > > >http://Noctilux.homepage.com/photoalbum.html > > > > > >Why do I get vignetting with these pictures? > > > > > >Above me are 4 neon lights and windows on my right side. > > > > > >I am using E60 filter for my Noct. > > > > > >from 5 pictures taht I shot all at 1.0 all have some funny shadow on > >it.>>> > > > >Hi Jerry, > > > >I guess nobody told you that the Noctilux at f 1,0 does vignette on > >corners. But it's no big deal other than when you run into plain > >backgrounds as you have in yours. But the vignetting isn't objectionable, > >just kind of adds a framing factor to the image. > > > >And take that filter and throw it away, all it'll do is screw-up your > >images. You don't need any filters on a Noctilux, I guess you weren't told > >it's against the law and you could be arrested for putting a filter on the > >worlds most remarkable lens for night light and no light? :) Well not quite > >but wait a bit for further comments on the filter. > > > >ted > > > > > > > >Ted Grant > >This is Our Work. The Legacy of Sir William Osler. > >http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant > > > > ______________________________________________________ > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com >