damien.murphy
Damien
Well, I may end up joining the list of people who have sold this lens, if I don't like it, but I have just agreed a deal for a beautiful condition f1.1 
The temptation of a 50 for all light has proved too appealing to me, and I have to see it for myself
The temptation of a 50 for all light has proved too appealing to me, and I have to see it for myself
alan davus
Well-known
Hallelujah: finally some common sense enters the argument. Thanks DN!!
ampguy
Veteran
well. If you don't care about what's in sharp focus or not, why not use a Pen EE2 fixed focus camera. Plus you get 2x the # of photos per roll.
ampguy
Veteran
Well Roland
Well Roland
ideas change over time.
20 years ago, most people thought amelia earheart's plane crashed in the water ...
Well Roland
ideas change over time.
20 years ago, most people thought amelia earheart's plane crashed in the water ...
wintershrooms
Member
I've owned the 50/1.1 for a short time, and I've enjoyed shooting with it in low-light conditions. On film, the bokeh (to my relatively less experienced eyes) looks fairly smooth at 1.1, and I haven't noticed any focus shift (yet). Here's an example of a typical result at f/1.1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wintershrooms/4984409002/. I started developing my own black and white film about 10 days before I developed that shot, so you'll have to excuse the blocked shadows...
As others have noted, the 50/1.1 is a hefty lens, so I don't find myself taking it out often unless I anticipate having to shoot in low light; my 1954 collapsible 50/2 Summicron sees more action instead. When I do take it out, its almost always wide open or near wide open. I'll have to give the Nokton a spin stopped down between f/2 and f/4 to see if I notice focus shift.
I don't plan on selling the lens any time soon, if at all, but to those who haven't handled this lens yet: listen to everyone who mentions the bulkiness and heaviness of this lens before you decide to buy it. This isn't a joke: it's a big lens that overpowers any M body (though I'd really like to try it on an M5, haha). Sure, it's smaller than most lenses you might use on a DSLR, but there is a bit of an ergonomic awkwardness that comes from using this particular lens on the bodies it was designed for. I had read that this lens was big, bulky, beastly, heavy, hulky, hefty, monstrous, colossal, and many other adjectives, but none of those words sunk in until I actually handled the lens myself.
The only gripe I have about the 50/1.1 is its flimsy-as-hell plastic lens cap. Seriously, wtf. For such a substantial lens, I would have expected a lens cap that hugged the lens better. I find the cap snapping off if my fingers randomly graze the side of the front portion of the lens, and the cap feels awkward to remove quickly without feeling like I'm going to fumble it accidentally. I've learned to just keep the cap off for extended periods of time instead of toggling with it as I do with my other lenses.
As others have noted, the 50/1.1 is a hefty lens, so I don't find myself taking it out often unless I anticipate having to shoot in low light; my 1954 collapsible 50/2 Summicron sees more action instead. When I do take it out, its almost always wide open or near wide open. I'll have to give the Nokton a spin stopped down between f/2 and f/4 to see if I notice focus shift.
I don't plan on selling the lens any time soon, if at all, but to those who haven't handled this lens yet: listen to everyone who mentions the bulkiness and heaviness of this lens before you decide to buy it. This isn't a joke: it's a big lens that overpowers any M body (though I'd really like to try it on an M5, haha). Sure, it's smaller than most lenses you might use on a DSLR, but there is a bit of an ergonomic awkwardness that comes from using this particular lens on the bodies it was designed for. I had read that this lens was big, bulky, beastly, heavy, hulky, hefty, monstrous, colossal, and many other adjectives, but none of those words sunk in until I actually handled the lens myself.
The only gripe I have about the 50/1.1 is its flimsy-as-hell plastic lens cap. Seriously, wtf. For such a substantial lens, I would have expected a lens cap that hugged the lens better. I find the cap snapping off if my fingers randomly graze the side of the front portion of the lens, and the cap feels awkward to remove quickly without feeling like I'm going to fumble it accidentally. I've learned to just keep the cap off for extended periods of time instead of toggling with it as I do with my other lenses.
Super Fast 50 lenses are big, there is just no getting around that. If you think the 50/1.1 Nokton is big, remember the Canon 50/.95 and Leica 50/1 Noctilux are bigger - and of course the not pictured 50/.95 Noctilux!
Left to Right: Canon 50/.95 for Canon 7/7s, Leitz Noctilux 50/1 Leica M mount, Voigtlander 50/1.1 Leica M mount, 50/1.1 Nikkor Leica Screw Mount, 50/1.1 Zunow Contax rangefinder mount.
BTW, part of the reason so many 1.1's have been put up for sale used is because so many were (and continue) to be sold new. This is a popular lens far out selling Leica's original 50/1 Noctilux.
Here Jeff Hapeman compares the Noctilux 50/.95 ASPH with the 50/1.1 Nokton
http://www.digitalhapeman.com/Digit...2_Ultra-fast_50mm_lenses_on_the_Leica_M9.html
Stephen
Left to Right: Canon 50/.95 for Canon 7/7s, Leitz Noctilux 50/1 Leica M mount, Voigtlander 50/1.1 Leica M mount, 50/1.1 Nikkor Leica Screw Mount, 50/1.1 Zunow Contax rangefinder mount.
BTW, part of the reason so many 1.1's have been put up for sale used is because so many were (and continue) to be sold new. This is a popular lens far out selling Leica's original 50/1 Noctilux.
Here Jeff Hapeman compares the Noctilux 50/.95 ASPH with the 50/1.1 Nokton
http://www.digitalhapeman.com/Digit...2_Ultra-fast_50mm_lenses_on_the_Leica_M9.html
Stephen
ZeissFan
Veteran
Wow -- what a difference a few months make. It doesn't seem that long ago that people couldn't get a hold of this lens fast enough.
I think this is the downfall with buying by specs. Still, it seems like a cool lens, and if I had the $$$/£££/¥¥¥/€€€, I would buy one.
For now, I'll have to make due with f/1.5 and f/1.4 lenses.
I think this is the downfall with buying by specs. Still, it seems like a cool lens, and if I had the $$$/£££/¥¥¥/€€€, I would buy one.
For now, I'll have to make due with f/1.5 and f/1.4 lenses.
wintershrooms
Member
Good point, Stephen. After writing my post, I put the 50/1.1 on my Bessa R2A and went outside to shoot a little. Handling-wise, I realized I've gotten used to the size, and you still can't beat the affordability/speed ratio of this lens.
Also, it's a great companion for my NEX-5's sensor, for which super fast glass is a must to get the sort of bokeh you want at wide apertures. Plus, the 50/1.1 is a pretty sweet hunk of glass for 1080p HD video...
jcrutcher
Veteran
Can someone explain Focus Shift for me? I have this lens and like it very much on my M9 but have trouble focusing on my M3, is that what is meant by Focus Shift?
Thanks
Jim
Thanks
Jim
hteasley
Pupil
Focusing correctly on one camera and not on another would indicate that one of the viewfinders needs adjustment, I think.
Focus shift is when the focal plane moves as you stop the lens down. So if it is focused at distance N at f/1,1, when you stop it down to f/2, the focal plane moves to distance P, which can be closer or further away than distance N. The lens will not be focused where you think it is. The Nokton 1,1 focus shifts pretty noticeably.
So it can come across as a softer lens than it is, if you don't practice with it to compensate.
jcrutcher
Veteran
Thank you. That makes sense so I'll have to refocus as I stop down. I have trouble with M3 in low light because of my eyes and it's 55 years old so the viewfinder is not as bright as the M9. I'll start refocusing. thanks again. I really like this lens.
damien.murphy
Damien
Thanks for all the replies - I must say I am looking forward to my own copy arriving any day now. I have a handheld few night shooting opportunities lined up, which I haven't indulged in for years, and also look forward to developing a few rolls and seeing firsthand what the f1.1 is capable of.
k.a
Well-known
you have to give us a review of it! i'm also really intrested in getting one for myself
damien.murphy
Damien
Indeed, will post back here my first impressions of it after I shoot with it, with hopefully some pics from the first rolls. I am interested to see how I will get on with it, and suspect even should it prove too hefty or too clinical in rendering, I shall end up keeping it, if only for that wide aperture for night shooting.
It would have been great to try it out locally and shoot a few frames or a roll, but unfortunately, this was not the case here, and it was just easier to buy the lens and try it for myself. I also have a Zeiss Sonnar-C, so will need to decide which stays after I've had a chance to play with the Voigtlander.
craygc
Well-known
Jim, unfortunately this wont help... The viewfinder alignment wont change as you vary the aperture. There is no way of seeing this effect with an rf lens as you focus. If it is a problem, its about knowing at which aperture the lens is accurate (for your sample of the lens on your camera) and at what distances, then testing to see how much correction you need to make to accommodate any perceived focus shift.
damien.murphy
Damien
Perhaps there's curvature of field too. Didn't realise Sean had his review up, and must head over to have a look.
EDIT: Just seen you mentioned curvature of field already in your above comment
Last edited:
damien.murphy
Damien
Yeah, that's what I figure too (and tacked that onto the end of my post above). It only helps if the lens shifts focus in the right direction...
The Sonnar ZM shifts backwards a bit and it seems the CV Nokton shifts forwards about as much (a few cm).
Another solution is to just shoot it wide open. Works for me. That's why I got it in the first place.
Lol, indeed
I'm not the closest of shooters, so perhaps with the distances I will be shooting it at, it may not be a problem.
Would be nice to understand the nature of my copy on the way, so must consider a test roll..
hteasley
Pupil
By "refocus", you need to mean "deliberately misfocus in the viewfinder." With focus shift, the viewfinder and the lens lose focus synchronization.
And my comment was general regarding focus shift, where the focal plane can move nearer or farther as you stop down. The Nokton 1,1 back focuses.
aldobonnard
Well-known
Focus Shift: there's one guy page 1 saying the Nokton 1.1 has focus shift, and shows pics.
Ha ha ha... Just poor focussing, mate !
I never had a miss with the Nokton 1.1, either on M7 and R-D1. Time for changing glasses or readjusting your M.
Bad pics, blame the lens...easy...
The Nokton is great for film too, full frame. It has the same character as the new Noctilux, being basically a better designed lens than older generations, for example the noctilux 1 with huge vignetting, focus shift etc...
Nevertheless, my preferred 50mm lens will stay the summicron 50, 1969's design. Best OOF ever and how sharp at F/2.
Ha ha ha... Just poor focussing, mate !
I never had a miss with the Nokton 1.1, either on M7 and R-D1. Time for changing glasses or readjusting your M.
Bad pics, blame the lens...easy...
The Nokton is great for film too, full frame. It has the same character as the new Noctilux, being basically a better designed lens than older generations, for example the noctilux 1 with huge vignetting, focus shift etc...
Nevertheless, my preferred 50mm lens will stay the summicron 50, 1969's design. Best OOF ever and how sharp at F/2.
jcrutcher
Veteran
Ok I'll make some tests for back focus and learn how much or if I have to adjust. Either way this is a fun lens to own and use. Thanks for your help.
Jim