Long live the Noctilux ... big photos

[proenca]

Well, since I started in Leica land, I had a big itch to scratch : the Unicorn, ie, the Noctilux.

Almost bought one when they were around 1.2 to 1.4k but I though to myself, what silly amount of money.

Now I bought one for 2.7k pounds... go figure.

I had so many fears of the legendary backfocus alignment, of the mis focused pictures... and go figure, I bought one that is spot on. I mean SPOT ON.

Another fear of mine is that I read everywhere that the thing is not sharp.

Well, I guess mine is.

For example, when I mean the focus is spot on, it focus exactly where I want it :

But if I stop it down, I get sharp pictures, this is at F8

This is what I call my Luminous Landscape Review of some MF back, the detail in this is amazing, shot at F16

But the best of all, is the bokeh, its like McDonalds, "IM LOVING IT"

Well, Im still in vacations and have TONS of images to edit and select. I've been shooting , when critical focus is needed, 3 to 7 pictures, moving my body a inch or so, to compensate the backfocus, but I find that its not necessary.

I can't wait to see this lens on full frame , on my new MP which is coming.

 

[maddoc]

Welcome to "Noctilux-land" ! 🙂 It seems you already got used to it, some very nice (and I mean nice !) shots !! Keep posting and try it at night time !

Cheers,

Gabor

 

[historicist]

nice shots, the black and white landscape in particular is wonderful.

 

[proenca]

well, thank you all for your nice comments.

Im finding a real pleasure to use it : Im on vacations and I just brought the Nocti and the CV 15mm.

Yes, there are times that I wished another focal lenghts, but since I leave the "huh, which lens" question out, it simplifies things.

Either is the wooly ultra wa or the "normal-ish" 50mm bokeh nuts.

Thing is, since I bought it ( week ago ) its really the first time I'm using it.

When I received it, I did a few test shots with rulers and so on , and the thing was spot on.

So now, Im using it daily, every day and when I get home, I download the images on the laptop and have a look at them.

Its not perfect though : the size is ok, the weight does get noticed. To be honest, specially in the beggining, I was shocked and horrified. But now , to be honest, its pretty much ok.

Also, one must be careful with the backgrounds and what goes on it : since the crazy swirly bokeh is so nice but framing needs to be done carefully, otherwise ( sorry but is the best way to describe it ) if something gets "tangled" in the bokeh, it ruins the background and gets REALLY distracting.

But all in all, Im loving the unicorn 🙂

 

[Nando]

Congratulations. I'd love to have a Noctilux someday. I almost bought one when they were cheap too. Instead I bought an MP body.

 

[POINT OF VIEW]

The Nox’s rules.

The Nox’s rules.

The Nox’s rules. I’ve been using it for years. I shoot dance stage shows, in crowded theaters. I try to get a front center seat and shoot away. I used a M7 with T Max 3200, until the M8 was available. The M7 is quieter then the 8 but I still manage not draw any attention. The M8 with the Nox is perfect for discreet shooting. This is a example of some of the stuff I shot two weeks ago, in Miami. These were shot at 1200 ISO. I was about 75 feet from center stage. I have been to 40 or more shows and have never had anybody complain or even notice me working. This show was a Tango show. Bill

 

[proenca]

I have to say, Im extremely please with the lens : all the negative hype that I usually read turned out to not to be the case.

Yes, perhaps my photos arent pulitzer material, but I like the lens and the way it draws !

thanks for the comments

 

[robklurfield]

proenca, the shot of the sleepy (sleeping?) taxi driver is gorgeous. Enjoy the lens.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

proenca, the shot of the sleepy (sleeping?) taxi driver is gorgeous. Enjoy the lens.

or even worse, drunk? 😀

Congrats on your new buy. Noct is great to have but right now I will enjoy my Canon 1.2 🙂

I can buy noct when I have money..

 

[35mmdelux]

I'm using my Noc as my standard lens for now. The f/1.0 provides my slow films a huge boost, I cant emphasize this enough. The ability to shoot Kodachrome 64 handheld in the shade -- my favorite shooting environment -- is of another world.

 

[proenca]

proenca, the shot of the sleepy (sleeping?) taxi driver is gorgeous. Enjoy the lens.

or even worse, drunk? 😀

Thanks boys ! Just to reassure you about Madeira Island Taxi drivers : he was sleeping and here, the discreet mode was REALLY usefull.

After I took a few snaps, my girlfriend whispered something and he woke up - and he was sober 🙂

 

[proenca]

I'm using my Noc as my standard lens for now. The f/1.0 provides my slow films a huge boost, I cant emphasize this enough. The ability to shoot Kodachrome 64 handheld in the shade -- my favorite shooting environment -- is of another world.

Im so looking foward to use my Nocti in my new MP : bit wider and I was thinking the same : the flexibility to use slow film.

Cheers