Going through the LUG and found the following site featuring some interesting Noctilux shots. Rather than doing the fast film / no light thing, the photographer shot outdoors at f/1.0 with slow film and when needed used a deep red filter to make the 1/1000th of a second work. The shots look different than the standard Summicron medium / deep focus effect.

I think some of these guts must be working on commission for every lens they make someone buy. Every time I convince myself I don't NEED a Noct', one of these people makes me reconsider.

http://www.shinozuka-family.com/f1

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), July 25, 2001

Answers

I agree. Awesome tonality, sharpness--a completely different look than a Cron. Thanks for the reference--

-- patrick C. Garner (pg@patrickgarner.com), July 25, 2001.

Some of the images look similar to those shot with a fast short tele, like an 85mm f1.4. Selective focus sure can add a dramatic look to an otherwise typical scene.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), July 25, 2001.

I wish taht lens wasn't so expensive! Nevertheless, I'm putting it on my short list. Contributions are welcomed ;^}

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), July 25, 2001.

Yes, these images with the Noct. are great. However, I've been mucking about with my Summilux 50 at 1.4 and the images I've been getting are darn close...

Anyone else with a 50 'Lux shoot wide open in daylight?

-- Steve Hoffman (shoffman2@socal.rr.com), July 25, 2001.

Here are a couple of shots done wide open in daylight. Obviously one is cropped out but you get the idea.

-- Collin Orthner (corthner@home.com), July 25, 2001.

Has anyone compared the Noctilux with Nikon's fabled 58mm f:1.2 NOCT lens? (yes I know it's 1/3 stop slower. I'm referring to the pictures at maximum aperture.)

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), July 25, 2001.

Sorry, my new server timed out so here you are. As a side note - Using this lens on a moving target up close is quite a challenge because of the very small dof - although I feel the effort is worth it.

-- Collin Orthner (corthner@home.com), July 25, 2001.

Third time lucky or no luck at all??

-- Collin Orthner (corthner@home.com), July 25, 2001.

> Has anyone compared the Noctilux with Nikon's fabled 58mm f:1.2 NOCT lens?

it is half-stop slower and rather unremarkable. I have the 55mm f1.2 which I assume is the lens you reference. not overly sharp and poor edge resolution, but exactly what you would expect. the corner vignetting is a feature, partnering with the extremely narrow DOF to give it a unique signature like the Noctilux. to pave the way for the possible purchase of a Noctilux, I recently ran some tests with this lens and found it very difficult to focus accurately with a Nikon F2 SLR. this prompted my thread regarding focusing accuracy using the .58 viewfinder.

-- daniel taylor (lightsmythe@agalis.net), July 25, 2001.

No, the 55mm f1.2 is NOT the Noct Nikkor 58mm f1.2 designed specifically for low light performance. The 58mm is a great low light SLR lens but I dont like ever comparing with fast rangefinder lenses as they dont have to illuminate mirror boxes. Fast rangefinder lenses will always have an advantage in optical purity where SLR's are penalized

-- Joel Matherson (joel_2000@hotmail.com), July 26, 2001.

Note to self: remember to break the rules. Shoot wide open in daylight. Try stuff...

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), July 26, 2001.

Thank´s Al, a good page on a great lens, the Shinozuka family should be proud of those pictures.

The f/1 really amazed me, never had seen it in day ligth, the high contrast of it helps a lot, and edges resolution is something to see.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), July 26, 2001.

Here is a site with wedding photos done largely with a Noctilux.

http://www.scottstreble.com/html/nuptials/weds.html

-- Collin Orthner (corthner@home.com), July 26, 2001.

On the last post you cannot click on it you must copy and paste. My apologies to all. I am obviously having a tuff time posting to this forum.

-- Collin Orthner (corthner@home.com), July 26, 2001.

I will be a proud owner of a brand new Noctilux next Monday. It will be my first Leica lens.

Can some experienced users summarize your intersting techniques with Noctilux that creates interesting effects, like Bokeh and so?

Is there a Noctilux club or forum?

Thanks for sharing.

Damond

-- Damond Lam (damond_lam@hotmail.com), July 26, 2001.

A Noctilux Forum...?

Wow, how many peices of photographic gear could seriously be considered the single subject of an on-line forum. Perhaps the Noctilux could?

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), July 27, 2001.

How about a forum called, "Why I suddenly found myself two months behind on my mortgage... but hey, look at these pictures!"

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), July 27, 2001.

Well, Dan & Al, my question is still not answered. Thanks for trying. Noctilux is not cheap but my monthly mortgage bill is much bigger in amount. And in ten or twenty years it is probably worth more than my car and TV put together. In the meantime let us discuss how we should have fun and make some great shots with this lens before it becomes a collectible item.

Agree that we should try to pay off our mortgages before we buy the Noctilux. However by the time most of us pay off my mortage brand new Noctilux is probably not around.

I don't mean to create a forum or to start a Noctilux owener club. It is not feasible to creat one if such does not exist. You cannot deny that Noctilux is a special lens which is both addictive and very difficult to use well. And it is not for everyone, I guess.

Damond

-- Damond Lam (damond_lam@hotmail.com), July 27, 2001.

I was not saying that tongue in cheek. I am liquidating some Contax gear to get more Leica stuff, because I am convinced that Leica is my long term photographic tool.

I have a 35 and 50 'cron, and I think a Noctilux would be a prefectly reasonable direction for me to go in expanding my systems, rather than say, a second body, or 90, or 24 or 3E. I feel that variations in aperture are just as valid as variations in focal length in terms of picture taking usefulness.

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), July 27, 2001.

Damond,

I hope no offense was taken from my joke. I have vacillated back and forth thinking about buying a Noctilux for a long time now. Every time I think that my Summicron is all I need, someone produces some images that make me wonder if there still might be a Noct' in my future. My joke was simply the verbalization of considering "wants" versus "needs"... I want a Noctilux, but I need my house.

At this point in time, my Summicron remains on my camera... sigh. :-(

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), July 27, 2001.

Al, again thanks for the link. Every time I convince myself I don't need neiter Noctilux not Leica, you come with your links and make me reconsider. There is only one rival for you: restrictions of my wallet. The latter won this time again... Please continue the temptation!

Andrey

-- Andrey Vorobyov (AndreyVorobyov@mail.ru), July 28, 2001.

In Hong Kong, the street prices for 50mm Noctilux and 35mm Summilux are US$1'750 and $1'450, respectively. They are brand new kosher units with full warranty. Somehow I think we pay a bit less in HK for Leica M lens and the $300 difference between the two makes Noctilux a better bargain. And there is no sales tax in HK. Pls tell how much they are on your side of the world?

I know from people's experience that if I get a 50mm Summicron or Summilux I would not have peace of mind when I know there is a Noctilux out there. Since I could not find any 2nd hand Noctilux in HK (and even I could find one it would cost $1'600 or higher) I then ordered a new one last week. I can always pick up a used 50mm 'cron if I ever need it at a later time. D.

-- Damond Lam (damond_lam@hotmail.com), July 28, 2001.

"optical purity where SLR's are penalized"

I was always think this is something of an article of faith for M-users and is endlessly repeated, but is it really true? It seems to me that it might have a case for retrofocus lense (usually wide angles), but for standard lenses, I am not at all sure.

The Noctilux is a great lens, but it is also greatly expensive - is this not a reason enough for it to be better than the equivalent Canon EF f1.0? By the way, anyone actually used the Canon? It is probably a good deal more expensive than the 1.2 Nikkor.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), July 30, 2001.