Leica 50mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95 "King of the Night" and other Noctilux lenses
By: Thorsten Overgaard
It has a magic attraction to it, like a large diamond. And not unlike a real diamond, the glass for it is said to be prepared in underground owens for a number of years (hence the often long wait for a new batch of lenses). Currently the Leica 50mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95 is in stock.
It's perhaps the most unique lens available in the world in that it photographs images almost in the dark, adds a distinguished look to any image captured through it, and at a price of $10,995 it allows only the most dedicated photographers to own one.
The Noctilux-M ASPH f/0.95 was introduced by Leica Camera AG in 2008, perhaps as an early sign of a new golden age of uncompromizing lens design from the company: Soon after came the Leica 21mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1,4 and the Leica 24 mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1.4, followed the year after by the "impossible" full frame Leica M9 digital rangefinder that was presented as a surprise on September 9, 2009 at 9:00 AM.
In short, it all marks a strategy of focusing on Leica core qualities such as low-light photography incorporating image quality of the highest caliber, no-nonsense simplicty, compactness and almost complete silence.
That the most light strong, most impossible to design and most expensive Leica lenses (besides the above three mentioned we can count in as well the Leica 50mm Summilux-M ASPH f/1-4 and the Leica 75mm Summicron-M ASPH f/2.0) are also the most sought after, will tell you that it's the right strategy for a company as Leica Camera AG...
http://overgaard.dk/leica-50mm-Noctilux-M-ASPH-f-095.html
