Vince Lupo
Whatever
That, my friend, is with the 0.95 Noctilux. I like the lens, but I hate to say it, it's been back to Leica twice for service. Thankfully under warranty.
Leica M Monochrom: best pics
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That, my friend, is with the 0.95 Noctilux. I like the lens, but I hate to say it, it's been back to Leica twice for service. Thankfully under warranty.
xdayv
Color Blind
What happened?
That's the bokeh to die for btw. The Lux can't even touch that. :angel:
Vince Lupo
Whatever
What happened - twice. The offense? It being in my camera bag. First time was back in February when I was in New Mexico. The lens was just not in focus -- and it usually happened at about 12 ft. It then got 'bound up' for no apparent reason. I sent it to Leica and they did something to the focusing mount, then it was fine. Fast forward to June, and I'm in Minneapolis. Use the lens one day, perfectly fine. Pulled it out of the camera bag the next day, and the lens was bound up again. Gradually worked it loose, and it did focus fine, but I could detect a distinct 'notch' in the focusing at around 8-10 feet. I sent it back to Leica and they replaced all three focusing guides. When I explained everything to the service manager as to what happened, he said this:
"None of us can say exactly what happens to a camera and lens when it is in a camera bag. The new Noctilux lens is very heavy to the front side. All three guides were replaced, and the lens works perfectly(focusing). I always tell people to carry the lens separate from the camera. Think of the lens as a lever mounted onto the camera. An physical force will be increased just like a crow bar. The longer the lens the more force will be exerted (weight is also a factor). I do understand your concerns, and there is no precise way to tell what happened or caused this. The lens gives great results on the MTF."
Can't imagine carrying the lens separate from the camera, and you'd think that Leica would consider the weight of the lens when they designed it. Based upon that explanation, you'd think that simply carrying the camera with the lens around your neck would exert more force/torque than it being in a camera bag.
Right now the lens is fine, and I'm being extra-careful with it. The thing that gets me is that none of my Nikon lenses has ever caused me trouble like this, and I use them much more than this Noctilux lens. Plus they cost much less! You'd think for $11,000 the lens would pretty much be able to withstand anything, let alone simply being carried in a camera bag.
"None of us can say exactly what happens to a camera and lens when it is in a camera bag. The new Noctilux lens is very heavy to the front side. All three guides were replaced, and the lens works perfectly(focusing). I always tell people to carry the lens separate from the camera. Think of the lens as a lever mounted onto the camera. An physical force will be increased just like a crow bar. The longer the lens the more force will be exerted (weight is also a factor). I do understand your concerns, and there is no precise way to tell what happened or caused this. The lens gives great results on the MTF."
Can't imagine carrying the lens separate from the camera, and you'd think that Leica would consider the weight of the lens when they designed it. Based upon that explanation, you'd think that simply carrying the camera with the lens around your neck would exert more force/torque than it being in a camera bag.
Right now the lens is fine, and I'm being extra-careful with it. The thing that gets me is that none of my Nikon lenses has ever caused me trouble like this, and I use them much more than this Noctilux lens. Plus they cost much less! You'd think for $11,000 the lens would pretty much be able to withstand anything, let alone simply being carried in a camera bag.
xdayv
Color Blind
I can understand the frustration at times. We have high expectations for the premium we pay... I had my small share (nothing compared to yours though), I never expected my 28 Cron will have the loose front portion which was mainly due to the lens hood exerting force and grip to the lens and the 3 screws eventually got loose. Now, I never use the lens hood anymore.
C'est la vie.
Vince Lupo
Whatever
That's funny, as the same thing just happened to my 75/2.5 Summarit.
menos
Veteran
Dave I like the portrait of man with cap!
Regarding lens build quality - I have worked on many of the older Leitz lenses from the age of heavy brass and thick chrome and compared to the modern age Leica lenses I have worked on, these are of an entirely different built.
As a side note, I recently fell in love again with my Nikon gear, having just recently bought a set of old Ai-S lenses, a few decades old.
These are not only built like tanks but feel and perform exactly like new, despite one of them showing clear signs of use.
A few shots from the after midnight hours at a local wet market:
watching tv by teknopunk.com, on Flickr
unloading the truck by teknopunk.com, on Flickr
ps: some are a bit sneaky ;-)
Regarding lens build quality - I have worked on many of the older Leitz lenses from the age of heavy brass and thick chrome and compared to the modern age Leica lenses I have worked on, these are of an entirely different built.
As a side note, I recently fell in love again with my Nikon gear, having just recently bought a set of old Ai-S lenses, a few decades old.
These are not only built like tanks but feel and perform exactly like new, despite one of them showing clear signs of use.
A few shots from the after midnight hours at a local wet market:
watching tv by teknopunk.com, on Flickr
unloading the truck by teknopunk.com, on Flickr
ps: some are a bit sneaky ;-)
icebear
Veteran
awesome, Dirk.
Even at the small screen size. The originals must be stunning.
Even at the small screen size. The originals must be stunning.
xdayv
Color Blind
Dirk, sorry can't pick a fav... all are nice. What body are you using for the ol' nikkors? Are you still shooting with the 58 1.4 AFS?
icebear
Veteran
Here some more from the stunning performance of Ariana DeBose:
2/90 open, ISO2500
2/90 open, ISO2500
menos
Veteran
Thanks Klaus, yes, when it comes to file quality, small internet JPGs are disappointing. Also it seems that files ran through flickr are further mangled.
Thanks Dave, and I have to admit I didn't use it much, as I shot mostly with rangefinders recently.
I have to dig it out again now that I found back a little to the Nikon gear.
The two shots above have been done on a D800E body with Canon precision matte manual focussing screen (full matte, no focussing aids).
I have the same screen also installed in my D3 (it works beautifully even with long lenses as the 300/2.8).
The screens can be ordered from Taiwan (focusingscreen[DOT]com) - they call it the matte S-type screen (it is cut down from a Canon screen I suppose and is delivered in it's original Canon plastic case).
I find these screens to be a huge improvement, focussing the Noct-Nikkor over the stock screen of the D3 and D800E, much more precise than the electronic focussing helper dot.
Nothing beats a Leica RF with fast glass in focussing precision though.
In terms of Nikon bodies I find that the D800E just matches the M Monochrom files in actual detail (although the Mono files seem out of the box sharper still). I think it is a good match if mixing gear and using a SLR for AF and longer glass, combined with a Mono.
The files are comparably flexible.
I like the last one Klaus - yellow filter?
xdayv
Color Blind
Klaus, all photos are standing ovation!
icebear
Veteran
Yes, B&W MRC 022M. It usually helps to preserve the highlights in difficult light. Here the light was very easy. Only the mike stand has some blown out reflex. Everything else was pretty much spot on. Very little correction in LR4.
Thanks for flowers 😉 but that's due to the performer, she was really flooring the audience.
Being in the right spot at the right time helps a little taking the pictures...
I guess everybody wanted her to sing some more but she would have made it tough for the main act.
airfrogusmc
Veteran
Great stuff Dave and Vince that is some crazy badass bokeh and a really strong portrait.
airfrogusmc
Veteran
Great set Klaus....
airfrogusmc
Veteran
Another strong set Dirk. Really like the portrait (last one)
Dektol Dan
Well-known
More Old Glass
More Old Glass
35mm 2.8 Summaron
50mm f2 Summitar
35mm 2.8 Summaron
More Old Glass
35mm 2.8 Summaron
50mm f2 Summitar
35mm 2.8 Summaron
Dektol Dan
Well-known
More Old Glass Continued
More Old Glass Continued
Elmar 135mm @f8
Tele Elmarit 90mm @f4
More Old Glass Continued
Elmar 135mm @f8
Tele Elmarit 90mm @f4
icebear
Veteran
Dave, great set of portraits again. The kid with the adult glasses is my favorite.
Dan, as long as the lens has been adjusted to the MM body, the sensor will reveal the special characteristics of the lens even more than film. Old glass can really shine.
Dan, as long as the lens has been adjusted to the MM body, the sensor will reveal the special characteristics of the lens even more than film. Old glass can really shine.
xdayv
Color Blind
Klaus, thanks. Yes it's my fav shot too from yesterday's shoot.
Dan, you got some nice ol' glass, they shine on the MM!
MichaelToye
Well-known
Literally my first test shot on today's photo walk. Caught in the cross hairs!
This Is A Test by michael_toye, on Flickr
This Is A Test by michael_toye, on Flickr
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