50/1.1 Knock Your Socks Off Nokton at CameraQuest

[Tom A]

is this going to be a limited edition lens?

the oz distributor seems to think it is.

I heard nothing about it being a limited edition. Could be that they limit it to how many they can sell - and that should be a lot at $1149!!!!!

 

[le vrai rdu]

can we have a picture of the lens mounted on a RF body ?

 

[Tom A]

Thanks for the review. Could you give us an idea of size and weight? How does it feel, say, compared to the 35/1.2, or the Konica 50/1.2?

It does feel about the same size as the 35f1.2. I did not really compare it to anything except with a Noctilux. All I can say is that I felt very comfortable with it - did fit either the ZM or the M2 fine. Balanced reasonably well (it is 475 gram after all - you know it is on the camera!).
Smaller and more compact than the Hexanon 60f1.2 that I used to have. Cant remember the "feel" of the 50f1.2 - but probably similar or smaller in size.

 

[le vrai rdu]

okay 🙂 thanks 🙂

 

[Krosya]

Anyone else disappointed with the bokeh mess from the lens?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rapidwinder/3405738511/in/set-72157616278125070/

And thats wide open.

Thats why I want to see more photos from it and also photos in colour. I hope it'll be good but I'm not sure it will be like CV 35/1.2.
Also, this lens is not ASPH, correct?

 

[Keith]

I think this is a cruel trick on Cosina's part for those who were already sweating over the folder and 'could they or couldn't they' stretch their finances to buy it. 😛

 

[mwooten]

If any of you need to raise some cash, have some gear to sell, and live along the Southern I-85 corridor... KEH is having a gear buying event next weekend, May 29 & 30, at their Atlanta office.

I have nothing of value that I don't use so I'll just keep saving my lunch money change. 🙂

 

[35mmdelux]

Mr. K better get ready to make some yen. Good job Tom and Stephen.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Keith, maybe they'll start dumping the folders to buy the lens! 😉

 

[larmarv916]

Well I like the performance very much and as a former owner of a E58 Noctilux for several years. I would say..yes this new lens is a better deal and perfromer over the "Nocti" and price is several thousand dollars better than Leica. A real value added product and Mr. Kobayashi deserves 2 thumbs way up! I would expect to order a lens. I would perfer to put this on my M5 body.
Do you or Stephen know if it will fit ?? I enjoyed the photos very much and they reflect the quality of the lens. All the best....Laurance

 

[CameraQuest]

I would expect to order a lens. I would perfer to put this on my M5 body.
Do you or Stephen know if it will fit ?? I enjoyed the photos very much and they reflect the quality of the lens. All the best....Laurance

To date all CV Leica M mount lenses have been M5 compatible, I would expect the new 50/1.1 to be no different.

Stephen

 

[larmarv916]

wow...fast answer about M5

wow...fast answer about M5

To date all CV Leica M mount lenses have been M5 compatible, I would expect the new 50/1.1 to be no different.

Stephen

Wow great news...Now I really am motivated. I have a Zeiss Sonnar 1.5 and it is great. But this new 50 has a different "signature" style and so for me a "New Brush" for my film canvas.
Also I find certain "F Stops" really shine different lenses of the same focal length..but different "filters". I can see this lens as being a true wide open superstar. Thanks again.

 

[kross]

any chance of a silver-chrome version? if yes, i hope it's not a limited ed.

 

[scho]

Are there any shots available that were taken with the 1.1 on a digital body? M8 or G1. Any evidence of focus shift with this lens?

 

[lorriman]

The "bokeh mess" has more to do with the subject matter than the lens characteristics. It is shot across a display of dolls of varying size - distance to the far end edge is about 15-18 feet and the flower in the foreground is 1 meter away. The dolls were spaced unevenly and of slightly different size and will thus "blur" slightly odd.
Frankly, I am not interested in Bokeh per see as I consider it the "fuzzy stuff" that appears outside of what I focus on and is of limited interest to me. Could have been one reason why I never warmed to the 6 Noctiluxes I have owned (and the 0.95 Canon - which was almost all bokeh and nothing else). I am interested in the area I want sharp and the Nokton does very well there both at f1.1 and stopped down.

Good bokeh, in so far as I can tell, is all about not distracting from the subject. Of course some people actually like busy/messy bokeh, double-lines, bright rings, swirls etc; I suspect these people are right-brain thinkers and that my bad is their good. For people like me we want the bokeh to be a natural backdrop that gets out of the way of the photo. So I also am not interested in bokeh per se but I am very interested in things that distract from my subject.

 

[CameraQuest]

any chance of a silver-chrome version? if yes, i hope it's not a limited ed.

Is there is, not anytime soon.
And it would likely be limited, as the black lenses are much more in demand.

Stephen

 

[raid]

hint: I need such a lens for a lens test.

Maybe Stephen listens and gets soft ......................

 

[__hh]

Is there a typographic error in the page:

"f/1 to f/16 with half stop click stops"

 

[wontonny]

Is there a typographic error in the page:

"f/1 to f/16 with half stop click stops"

Yes I noticed that as well.

How much of a difference is 0.1 of an f-stop value exposure wise? Is it negligable, and can be just exposed at f/1 on an exposure meter?

 

[__hh]

Mathematically, f/1 is 21% brighter than f/1.1