New Noctilux vs. the older one. Is the Noct "look" gone?

[eleskin]

I have picked this feeling up from reviews I have been reading online that although sharper, the new Noctilux has lost that beautiful smooth bokeh and painterly look of the older f1.0 Noctilux.

I have the older one with my M8, and have only used the new one at the Photo Expo Plus last year for a short time, so I could not evaluate it as well as I wanted. So what do users of any M (M9,M8, M7, M6, etc,,,) think about the new design?

 

[35mmdelux]

At $10K I wont be thinking about it.

 

[maddoc]

From what I have seen it is a different lens. I too think that some of the "character" of the original design has been corrected when designing the new 50/0.95 ASPH. My guess, after some time (a year or so) it will be the same as it was with the 50mm Summilux. Some swear on the ASPH version and some prefer the latest pre-ASPH version.

I wouldn`t buy the new Noctilux, the old version is challenging enough and in case of doubt it is not the lens fault when my photos are crap ... 😀

 

[Tom Diaz]

I have picked this feeling up from reviews I have been reading online that although sharper, the new Noctilux has lost that beautiful smooth bokeh and painterly look of the older f1.0 Noctilux.

I have the older one with my M8, and have only used the new one at the Photo Expo Plus last year for a short time, so I could not evaluate it as well as I wanted. So what do users of any M (M9,M8, M7, M6, etc,,,) think about the new design?

I am also a happy user of the old one on an M8 (and soon an M9). I would probably trade up to the new one if I could afford it. My main question, though, would be whether the new one still had the amazing flare resistance of the f/1.0. It's just another of the ways that amazing lens is suitable for shooting in available light (where there are often unavoidable light sources in the image) and also suitable for shooting in very bright light (when you want zero depth in the background). For the latter category the M8 is nice, 'cause it has such fast shutter speeds. One of my favorite pictures (my avatar these days) was shot at f/1.0 at 1/6000.

The bokeh of the new lens I would expect to be pretty good. If I can read MTF curves correctly, the new one looks no more astigmatic than the old, maybe less, which is a good sign.

Actually, although I have nothing against the new lens (or people who can afford it) I guess I would strongly recommend the old one to people, 'cause it's so interesting and so much less expensive.

Tom

 

[peter_n]

Has the look gone? Perhaps yes, see this thread:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/100320-new-old-noctilux.html

 

[WoolenMammoth]

same name, different lens. its not like this isnt the case with any of the other asph lenses and the versions that preceded them, dont know why people make a big deal, this is exactly the model leica has been following for some time... Its not more old nocts, its a new lens...

 

[peter_n]

When the lens was released Leica actually did claim that the new lens had the "character" of the old one. So there is an understandable interest in whether this is actually the case or not. It seems that the "painterly" look that the OP ascribes to the f1 version is not there in the new one. It is good to get user feedback as distinct from manufacturer's claims.

 

[Tom Diaz]

So if the old one works.....?

Yeah, kind of a good point. Earlier I said I would buy the new one if I could afford it. It's because I would expect it to be sharper (the in-focus parts 🙂) than mine. The Noctilux is one of my most frequently used lenses, so it'd be nice if it were sharper.

Not that it doesn't do well! For example, the fasted 35mm camera lens I owned previously was a 50mm f/1.4 Zuiko. The Noctilux at f/1.4 produces much better images, for my taste. More contrast and better bokeh. And, I figure, the new one would be that much better.

Tom

 

[peter_n]

I use the old one and I like it and I'm not interested in the new one. If I need sharp and a bit of extra speed I have a Summilux 50 ASPH and I can use faster film with it . If I'm using XP2 it's even less of a worry.

 

[Tom Diaz]

I use the old one and I like it and I'm not interested in the new one. If I need sharp and a bit of extra speed I have a Summilux 50 ASPH and I can use faster film with it . If I'm using XP2 it's even less of a worry.

Good point. The new Summilux is another lens that I think looks great. If I were just starting up a kit it's probably the one I would get. Now I have the Summicron that came with my camera, and the Noctilux, and that's probably what I will always have.

Tom

 

[fleetwoodjazz]

Frankly I think the selling point of the Noctilux is its look or more accurately, it's rendering.

If image quality is what you're looking for, better to buy the new Nokton and save some money for extra lenses.

 

[Tom Diaz]

The Noctilux "look" is rooted in what many consider to be flaws/shortcomings such as coma, vignetting, etc. The new lens is a state-of-the-art aspherical design so images will be sharper, corners brighter and backgrounds more creamy. In a word: they are of the same ilk in name only. If you want the Noctilux for the Noctilux "look," only the old lens will provide it.

The Canon 50/1.2 LTM and Konica Hexanon 50/1.2 also give a look very similar to that of the original Noctilux in my opinion.

Let's see... sharp, bright corners, creamy backgrounds. Sounds good! What do I care if it's the same ilk in name only! As long as it handles flare as well or better than the old one, I would adjust.

The new Noct is so expensive it makes everything else seem like a bargain, even the Summilux ASPH. That's why I'd probably go for the f/1.4 and be happy if I were just starting into all this. However, the Noctilux is more than one stop faster than the Summilux, and that can really matter in available light situations. I would rather shoot at 1/30 than at 1/15 any time. Pushing the film a stop is a more reasonable thing to do with modern films, but it's still nice not to have to do it so often.

In a more perfect world I would be able to afford the new one, and there I'd be.

 

[meven]

Here are two shots taken with the M9 by one of my Flickr contacts (*zzj). The old noctilux is on the left and the new one is on the right.

 

[Tom Diaz]

Here are two shots taken with the M9 by one of my Flickr contacts (*zzj). The old noctilux is on the left and the new one is on the right.

That's really interesting. Tripod mounted pictures? Look at the out-of-focus horizontal lines on the building in the background.

Tom

 

[Erik van Straten]

Very interesting. The out of focus zones of the asph are smoother, but I think the pre asph is sharper. I also noticed that in other shots. I also think the Nokton 50 mm f/1.1 is sharper than these two.

Erik.

 

[axiom]

Here are two shots taken with the M9 by one of my Flickr contacts (*zzj). The old noctilux is on the left and the new one is on the right.

OMG!!!
This is bad!
very bad!!
That means that I will have to be saving for the new Noctilux :_|

 

[Tom Diaz]

... I also think the Nokton 50 mm f/1.1 is sharper than these two.

Erik.

Hey, if you have one, would you send it over to meven, please? I'd like an A-B-C comparison.

Thanks,
Tom

 

[summaron]

The out of focus areas in the older lens have more contrast and look more three-dimensional. Their identities are still recognizable -- which is a good thing if you want to counterpoint the foreground objects with the background ones.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Hey, if you have one, would you send it over to meven, please? I'd like an A-B-C comparison.

Thanks,
Tom

I have one, but I do not like the idea to send it to anyone. I hope you'll understand.

Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f/1.1, Leica MP, Tmax400 printed on Ilford MGIV fb.

Erik.

 

[meven]

Hey, if you have one, would you send it over to meven, please? I'd like an A-B-C comparison.

Thanks,
Tom

Unfortunately, it wouldn't make any difference! I am not the lucky one who have 2 noctiluxes and a M9!!!

BTW, I have the Nokton 50/1.1 and it is a great lens. Looking at the link and the photo I posted above, I am glad I went for the Nokton, I saved a lot of money!!!!