Cannot afford Noctilux

[Riccis]

Unless you actually want to use the lens for your living.

I tried a friend's Nocti for a day, indeed, it is fast and has a unique look when used wide open. But all in all, it is not very practical. For effect, I find the Canon 85 1.2 on my 5D to be much more of a money maker, much sharper wide open with an incredible look in terms of bokeh. Or, I find my 50 lux Asph to be by *far* more versatile, easier to focus on moving objects and still gives a great look without being too big on the tiny M's.

I know people laud this lens as the second coming, but I never see any really professional images with impact made with it, just pixel or bokeh peeping shots of kids, cats and beer glasses.

The 50 1.0 Noctilux seems to be a lens that people like to fondle, brag about or play with than actually use to make images with social or advertorial impact.

Show me a great published documentary, advertising or fine art shot with it and I might change my opinion. For now, All I see is a $5,500 bragging right or eye candy lens, nothing more...

I recently acquired one and will definitely use it to make a living... In my case, it is all about the ability to capture a moment under any circumstance so I always try to work with the fastest glass available.

I'll also work on some fine art stuff with the Nocti, it may be a while, though... so sit tight 😀

Regards,

Riccis

 

[phatnev]

Nenad makes incredible use of his Noct

 

[David Murphy]

I bet I could have had fun with a Nocti here, but my lowly 50 1.4 ASPH wide open will just have to do...shot this evening as stock.

I just want to see some real world, outstanding work that is published with the Noct, not just eye candy.

Beautiful shot! Digital (M8) or film?

 

[furcafe]

It's not outstanding & only published editorially, but here is 1 of my real world shots, which is a good example of how I usually employ the Noctilux, i.e., not as a "special effects" lens, but for available light when there ain't much light available &/or I want to be able to freeze motion (its high resistance to flare is a big asset in my book, too):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/furcafe/63802330/

1/60th sec. @ f/1

A more "photojournalistic" example would be this shot:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/furcafe/63760387/

1/125th sec. @ f/1

I bet I could have had fun with a Nocti here, but my lowly 50 1.4 ASPH wide open will just have to do...shot this evening as stock.

I just want to see some real world, outstanding work that is published with the Noct, not just eye candy.

 

[amateriat]

I bet I could have had fun with a Nocti here, but my lowly 50 1.4 ASPH wide open will just have to do...shot this evening as stock.

I just want to see some real world, outstanding work that is published with the Noct, not just eye candy.

Well, your image qualifies handily...well beyond eye-candy.


- Barrett

 

[peter_n]

I bet I could have had fun with a Nocti here, but my lowly 50 1.4 ASPH wide open will just have to do...shot this evening as stock.

I just want to see some real world, outstanding work that is published with the Noct, not just eye candy.

That is quite a lens, and a nice shot too! 🙂

If you want to see professional application of the Noctilux, wedding photographer Jeff Ascough's site is a good place to look (link below). He is a master of the Noctilux. A couple of years ago Jeff abandoned his M6 and bought a Canon dSLR system. The quality of wet printing he was able to get was the issue, not his gear. He now gets (AFAIK) his stuff printed in Australia, and he lives in Derbyshire & Lancashire, England. He has extremely high standards.

There used to be a lot of Noctilux shots on his site, I'm not sure to what extent that is still true, but he must have quite a number up there still. His site is worth a look anyway...

The good news is that he bought an M8 very recently and kept all his Leica glass, so we can look forward to some wonderful RF stuff from him again. 🙂

Jeffs site: http://www.jeffascough.net/

 

[Rob-F]

When I had my Noctilux, I thought of it as a lens for low-light shooting. So I loaded up with ISO 1600 and looked for situations that required f/1. I found those situations, but when I did, the light was so low I couldn't see to focus! Also I didn't like the severe distortion of point sources of light in the picture, owing to coma and lateral spherical abberation, etc. I sold it and have not needed it. I get more use out the Tri-Elmar I bought with the money from the sale of the Nocti.