Leica 50mm pre asph summilux vs. Nokton 50mm f/1.1

[felix5616]

I would like to hear from anyone that has used both the leica 50mm pre-asph summilux and the nokton 50mm f/1.1 lens. I am interested is how they compare in terms of sharpness, both wide open and stopped down and contrast. I would like to get down to one lens for each focal length.

 

[martin s]

I can't really compare optical performance, but the Nokton is a joy to focus while the Summilux (except for the e46) I find rather annoying due to it's long focus throw.

Cheers

 

[ferider]

Long focus throw is good for a fast lens ... with a couple of inches of DOF, I want to be accurate.

Not sure about the two - I have gone back and forth myself. Kept the Summilux in the end, partially because it's smaller and I like its signature - a personal thing ...

Check out photos from the two lenses in the M-mount flickr group (see my sig).

Roland.

 

[jmkelly]

I have both and plan to keep both for the time being - they are just so different. To be clear, I'm talking about a very early E43 Summilux. The Nokton is pretty sharp at all apertures, where the Summilux is creamy-soft wide-open; OOF is smoother. The Summilux shows less distortion at all apertures, not that the Nokton has so much that it is distracting. Shot back-to-back on the R-D1 the Nokton has a slightly cooler color rendition than the Summilux - the difference is less on film. The Summilux shows more character - a je ne sais quoi - with black & white that the Nokton does not. If push came to shove I would keep the Summilux for this character and its smaller size. I like the Nokton for its no-fuss competence and that extra bit of speed.

 

[issa918]

I used to own a Nokton.

I had 2 problems. 1 is purple fringing issue on white/ light color object when wide open. This is the most serious issue among other lenses i have had, no matter on M8 or film. 2 is the focus issue, the throw from 5m to infinity is very short, so false focusing occured very often when u use f1.1 to 7-10m objects.

Wish this helps

 

[mfogiel]

I have both, but I am quite put off by the Nokton's focus shift, which forces you to focus on the closest element you want sharp. Since in dim light it is more likely to find something contrasty at the border of your subject, I judge Nokton as usable only wide open, where it focuses correctly. As a universal fast lens the Summilux pre asph is much more useful, and it handles very well too ( I have the latest version). It has a mixture of a Sonnar and Summicron performance, with the roundness and smoothness typical of Sonnars, and the articulated bokeh typical of the early Summicrons. A very interesting lens.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I own both lenses. The Summilux preasph is a fine performer. It's only drawback is it's substantial barrel distortion, see picture.
I never noticed the focus-shift of the Nokton that Mfogiel mentions, but until now I didn't had the time to test it thoroughly on that point.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Summilux 50mm f/1.4 II, Leica M3, Tmax400 printed on Ilford MGIV fb.

Erik.

 

[ferider]

I saw this comment before, Erik. I am trying to reproduce your barrel distortion on my v2, but I just don't see it, at least not as strong. And Puts' distortion graphs don't show it either.

Your picture shows more distortion than my 35/1.4 Nokton would exhibit !

Not sure I understand.

Roland.

 

[oldoc]

None here, M8 with ISO 640, 1/60 sec., wide open.

 

[jmkelly]

Yes, Eirk - the distortion in your first shot surprised me. Do you think it might have been an anomaly? If I get the time I may have to get some shots of a flat grid pattern with both lenses - on film, not cropped on the R-D1 - to convince myself, but having looked at hundreds of shots taken with these two lenses I stick by the conclusions I noted above: the Nokton shows a minor barrel or pincushion distortion while by comparison the Summilux is flat.

Also, I have not seen focus shift with the Nokton that mfogiel noted, nor the purple fringing seen by issa918 - I guess I have to look harder - though for sure I have missed focus on more shots in low light than I want to admit. I figure that is more a function of my crappy 52-year-old eyesight than any problem with the lens or camera.

 

[tonal1]

Distortion

Distortion

I own both lenses. The Summilux preasph is a fine performer. It's only drawback is it's substantial barrel distortion, see picture.
I never noticed the focus-shift of the Nokton that Mfogiel mentions, but until now I didn't had the time to test it thoroughly on that point.

Erik.

Thanks for posting your photo that shows this distortion.

There are many great lenses, in this world, but I find distortion to be a real deal killer. My favorite 50 is the Pentax 50/1.4 (any iteration), but it's (similar to above) distortion nags at me. Normally you don't see this, but occasioanlly...... I shot a portarait that I quite liked, but this line behind the person curved across the frame, just, and it really bothered me.

The search for the perfect lems goes on (and always will). Bokeh, sharp, tonality, crisp, smooth, and flat. We're a hard to please lot.

 

[Lord Fluff]

Both examples of the Nokton 1.1 were quite nice optically, but showed substantial backwards focus-shift as you stopped down from wide open - at close range you'll have more ears in focus than eyes if you use f2.8 or so.

Buy the Nokton if you need 1.1 and intend to shoot wide open, but I plumped for a lovely late model pre-asph Lux and the results are lovely, plus I can shoot at whatever aperture I need.

 

[peter_n]

The search for the perfect lems goes on (and always will). Bokeh, sharp, tonality, crisp, smooth, and flat. We're a hard to please lot.

The Summilux 50mm ASPH.

 

[DNG]

...... It has a mixture of a Sonnar and Summicron performance, with the roundness and smoothness typical of Sonnars, and the articulated bokeh typical of the early Summicrons. A very interesting lens.

Sounds like a fine wine or sherry ... ummm 😉

 

[Erik van Straten]

Yes, Eirk - the distortion in your first shot surprised me. Do you think it might have been an anomaly? .

I don't know. Mine is a very early second version, 1883472, the numbering of the second version starts at 1844001. Maybe later ones are improved on this point. It should however be noticed that the Summilux 50mm is totally free of coma and that property almost inevitably leads to distortion.

Erik.

 

[rsosa]

nice discussion here, moreover when both are priced "near" each other, guess thats the reason for the question which lend me to search for it.
I want to shoot with available light on film with an M3, guess the Nokton will perform better then?
cheers

 

[khc1013]

lets push this up again since I am very interested to know more comparison between this two lenses(planning to get one and having a hard time to make the choice.) anyone would like to give in more input?

 

[rsosa]

just bought the Nokton, couldnt resist fast glass and no way im getting the noctilux (until im rich or something)

 

[ampguy]

The Nokton is a good lens

The Nokton is a good lens

and possibly less distortion than the pre-asph lux, although I never saw it in my ~'67 lux, it could have been there...

just bought the Nokton, couldnt resist fast glass and no way im getting the noctilux (until im rich or something)