Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2013/12/31

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Subject: [Leica] Noctilux
From: red735i at verizon.net (Frank Filippone)
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2013 15:55:17 -0500
References: <6E419175-7D02-4D0C-9C7B-8B79E223F8D8@yahoo.com.sg> <20052A61-22AE-4B1C-929E-29D629781F36@archiphoto.com> <CAF8hL-HAx9aM=C0H8psxyq7Arqc-S_itfDrpXO83U0mF1xDK5A@mail.gmail.com> <BLU173-DS4E902B42235661BE03934B8C90@phx.gbl>

The difference between the DOF of a 50/1.4 and 50/1.0 lens is actually 
pretty minimal. 

Both are hard to nail critical focus, especially close in. With the EVF of 
the M or Sony or Fuji, the issues of focus are remarkably reduced. 

The real difference between the various (age) 50's is the fingerprint of the 
lens, weight, and cost. 

If you are not in favor of weight around your neck, then all 3 Noctis fall 
off the list, closely followed by the ASPH Lux. The lightest is the more 
recent (black) Summicron. 

If you can not afford $3-10k for the lens, then the choice boils down to a 
Summicron. 

Fingerprint is so subjective. But for pure unmitigated sharpness, the ASPH 
Lux is the clear winner. 

I am (almost) down to only the ASPH Lux. And have no regrets. Absolutely 
great lens. 

Frank Filippone

> On Dec 31, 2013, at 3:25 PM, Aram Langhans <leica_r8 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> No matter what you do with a sensor, a 1.0ish lens shooting wide open 
> cannot be duplicated with a 1.4.  Even just from a depth of field stand 
> point, let alone the other characteristics of using such a fast lens wide 
> open.  So, if that is what you want it is indeed necessary.
> 
> Aram, who owned a 1.2 lens at one time but could no longer focus with it.
> 
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Richard Man
> Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 11:07 PM
> To: Leica Users Group
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Noctilux
> 
> I think with the modern digital sensors and cameras, very few lens are
> truly "necessary," and most are a matter of "wants." Nothing wrong with
> that since I succumb to gear lust myself, but the world's best pictures are
> seldom taken by the world's most expensive and best lens.
> 
> 
>> On Mon, Dec 30, 2013 at 10:17 PM, Henning Wulff <hjwulff at gmail.com> 
>> wrote:
>> 
>> The 0.95 is as good as it gets at high speed, with the well understood
>> downsides of price and size. At smaller apertures the pictures are hard to
>> distinguish from Summilux-ASPH pictures, but the large size and price
>> remain. Focus shift exists but is quite manageable. It is the only one of
>> the three that can be considered an all in one lens, if you can live with
>> the size. This lens, like the other Nocti's focusses down to only 1m, 
>> which
>> is a distinct limitation in comparison to the slower current 50's and in 
>> my
>> opinion its main operational failing.
>> 
>> The f/1 is of much lower contrast at wider apertures, but also sharpens up
>> nicely with the downside of considerable focus shift. It has incredible
>> flare tolerance which allows it to capture images that no other lens seems
>> capable of. A lens shade is largely pointless. This is a lens that is not
>> easy to master and renders in a unique way, but the rewards are great. Our
>> Dr. Ted did most of his medical photography for his books with this lens,
>> and mostly at f/1. True mastery!
>> 
>> The f/1.2 is pointless unless you plan on placing it in an honorary
>> position in your collection. Current prices are exorbitant, and it is not
>> as good a lens overall as the f/1 while being slower. It is a much softer
>> version of the old Summilux 50. The Nokton f/1.1 is definitely a better
>> lens overall.
>> 
>> If you have the Summilux ASPH and an M240, the 0.95 is not as necessary as
>> it was with the M9, but it of course still allows a little but lower light
>> subjects to be recorded successfully (as long as they are at least one
>> meter away) with shallower dof, but the f/1 will allow a different vision,
>> if you are willing and able to master it.
>> 
>> I used to have an f/1.2, have used the f/0.95 and the Nokton f/1.1 and
>> currently have the f/1 and the Summilux ASPH.
>> 
>> Henning
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 2013-12-30, at 9:30 PM, David Ching <davidhhching at yahoo.com.sg> 
>> wrote:
>> 
>> > Dear Emanuel,
>> >
>> > The Noct f0.95 is surely superior in some ways to the Lux 50 ASPH or the
>> Voightlander Nokton f1.1 of the later two which I  have.
>> > How would you rate the 3 Noct versions , f0.95, f1.0 and f1.2?
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > David Ching
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Leica Users Group.
>> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>> >
>> 
>> 
>> Henning Wulff
>> henningw at archiphoto.com
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> // richard <http://www.richardmanphoto.com>
> // http://facebook.com/richardmanphoto
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information


Replies: Reply from hopsternew at gmail.com (Geoff Hopkinson) ([Leica] Noctilux)
Reply from tedgrant at shaw.ca (tedgrant at shaw.ca) ([Leica] Noctilux)
In reply to: Message from davidhhching at yahoo.com.sg (David Ching) ([Leica] Noctilux)
Message from hjwulff at gmail.com (Henning Wulff) ([Leica] Noctilux)
Message from richard at richardmanphoto.com (Richard Man) ([Leica] Noctilux)
Message from leica_r8 at hotmail.com (Aram Langhans) ([Leica] Noctilux)