CV about to announce an M Mount 50mm f1.1 Nokton!

ah, finally, something I can get without having to lust over the noctilux.

I think if you are just looking for that f1 ish speed with the right contrast, there is no need to pass this one up. hopefully I can get a hold of one in canada without much trouble.
 
axiom said:
So far I have only read comments about Noctilux is very contrasty at F1, so you are claiming that the Nokton is contrastier? Any direct comparison in color?
I have read that the Hexanon 60/1.2 is not as sharp as Noctilux wide open (cant find ref now), are you sure about being newer from this company necessarily means better over the other company?
I don't own either (right now), I have no experience, but your statements are controversial to what I have been studying from internet forums about the Noctilux (research before I invest).
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The "original" Noctilux was rather low contrast at f1. It was designed to be so as it was intended for low light shooting (theatres, bars etc) were the lights tended to be harsh spots intermixed with deep shadows. The contrast increased slightly as you stopped down.
Both the Hexanon 50f1.2 and the 60f1,2 were better performer than the Noctilux. I did have the 60f1.2 for several years and did shoot some stuff with the 50f1.2 and did a comparison.
Today's films are better than the films the Noctilux was originally intended for - mostly pushed Tri X/HP5 in the 70's and pushing inherently shifts the contrast and that's why the Noctilux was so popular with the performing arts shooters in its time. You could get a print without having to perform magical tricks in the darkroom. However. just as with any fast to super fast lens - depth of filed is shallow and chasing focus in the darkroom could be frustrating. The higher contrast of the Hexanon's and the Nokton helps with that.
My reason for liking the Nokton 50f1.1 is also that it performed very well at f5.6 -f8 - an area were the Noctilux was fairly mediocre in its performance.
To each his own - if you like the Noctilux and it does what you want- that is great, but after 1/2 dozen of them (slow learner) I find that the 50f1.1 appeals more to me as an all-round lens.
 
axiom said:
So far I have only read comments about Noctilux is very contrasty at F1, so you are claiming that the Nokton is contrastier? Any direct comparison in color?
I have read that the Hexanon 60/1.2 is not as sharp as Noctilux wide open (cant find ref now), are you sure about being newer from this company necessarily means better over the other company?
I don't own either (right now), I have no experience, but your statements are controversial to what I have been studying from internet forums about the Noctilux (research before I invest).
Click to expand...

I haven't used the Hex 60/1.2 but the 50/1.2 is definitely sharper than the Noctilux. I wouldn't go for a Noctilux if I wanted sharpness and could live with F1.2 (or now F1.1, it seems).

But sharpness isn't for all occasions, so you need both a sharp 1.2/1.1 and a Noctilux ! ;)
 
Whoopee ... I've just checked the Mainline Photo site and Scott is selling the new Nokt for $1295.00 AUD. That's a great price considering the current worth of the Oz dollar and far better than I expected. :)
 
Keith said:
Whoopee ... I've just checked the Mainline Photo site and Scott is selling the new Nokt for $1295.00 AUD. That's a great price considering the current worth of the Oz dollar and far better than I expected. :)
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wowee.... makes me want to get an R3a to use it with....
 
Keith said:
Whoopee ... I've just checked the Mainline Photo site and Scott is selling the new Nokt for $1295.00 AUD. That's a great price considering the current worth of the Oz dollar and far better than I expected. :)
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Edit: My mistake, I have just reserved one and the price is still to be decided here in Japan. Hopefully going by that $1295 AUD it is cheaper.
 
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The Leica fan boys over on LUF are, by and large, saying they'd much rather a Noctilux despite the price difference. The price difference is worth it, they reckon...
At least most here are more even sighted!

Will eagerly await some reports on this new lens after it has been released!
 
Tom A said:
My reason for liking the Nokton 50f1.1 is also that it performed very well at f5.6 -f8 - an area were the Noctilux was fairly mediocre in its performance.
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I don't think that the Noctilux is fairly mediocre at f/5.6 - f/8. At least I found it quite usable:

98158553.jpg


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98067845.jpg
 
I just got the Japanese magazine. It features 1 big color sample and comparison pictures between Noct F1, Nokton F1.1, Nikkor F1.1 and Canon EF50 F1L. I can say Nokton is sharper at centre, Noct's bokeh is better. Noct has a yellowish tone, and for bokeh, Nokton is quite similar to Nikkor and Canon.
 
issa918 said:
I just got the Japanese magazine. It features 1 big color sample and comparison pictures between Noct F1, Nokton F1.1, Nikkor F1.1 and Canon EF50 F1L. I can say Nokton is sharper at centre, Noct's bokeh is better. Noct has a yellowish tone, and for bokeh, Nokton is quite similar to Nikkor and Canon.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the summary

the Nokton sounds more like a traditional Japanese lens
I guess it's not for me

the Noctilux asph is not in the test?
 
issa918 said:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21189661@N05/sets/72157618513243163/

Samples from magazine.
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Thanks for posting that link.
It seem to me that the new Nokton tends to render more like the Nikon ,rather han the Noctilux lens.
Seems more contrasty with a slightly less "creamier" bokeh than the Nocti as well. I like the way it renders the colours way more than the Noctilux shot I see there. With the bokeh and the colours the Noctilux image looks like some David Hamilton shot from the distant past.
 
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