M9/Summilux OR M8/Noctilux

M9/Summilux OR M8/Noctilux

  • M8.2 w/ 50mm Noctilux f1

    Votes: 63 16.4%

  • M9 w/ 50mm Summilux pre-asph f1.4

    Votes: 322 83.6%
  • Total voters
    385
jto555 said:
Get the Noctilux, a lens is for life .....
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The ease of finding used lenses rather negates this theory

Certain fairly rare lenses actually crop up secondhand fairly often - and conversely some sell well from new but are rare on the used market. 28/2.8 ASPH lenses are rare used, but I presume sell well - it's the kind of lens that does what you want and one tends to keep.

The Noctilux is very much an acquired taste. The insanely slow, heavy focusing (on the copies I've tried) make it, for me, a non-starter. Many buy one and many end up selling it later. For *some* it's a lens for life, but I doubt for many.
 
maddoc said:
Sure it is. My point is that C41 film exposed for 1600 ISO does not really deliver 1600ISO performance. If you want some shadow details (or more or better), you have to expose at 1250 or even better 800ISO to get the best out of 1600ISO film at night. That is from my experience.
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Dear Gabor,

True ISO 1600 delivers full shadow detail at EI 1600 -- IF you're metering right, i.e. reading shadow detail using a shadow index. Few meters are designed that way and even fewer are used by people who know how to use them.

In other words, blame the meter or the photographer, not the ISO speed (assuming there are any ISO 1600 films left).

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger,

to make my point more clear, I meant "1600ISO box-speed C41 film". The one I had in mind and have often used (Still available from Fuji) is the already mentioned Natura1600, box-speed 1600ISO. That film does not deliver good shadow details when metered for the shadows and set ISO to box-speed.

Cheers,

Gabor
 
maddoc said:
Roger,

to make my point more clear, I meant "1600ISO box-speed C41 film". The one I had in mind and have often used (Still available from Fuji) is the already mentioned Natura1600, box-speed 1600ISO. That film does not deliver good shadow details when metered for the shadows and set ISO to box-speed.

Cheers,

Gabor
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All that being said, the M9 is no better.
 
maddoc said:
Roger,

to make my point more clear, I meant "1600ISO box-speed C41 film". The one I had in mind and have often used (Still available from Fuji) is the already mentioned Natura1600, box-speed 1600ISO. That film does not deliver good shadow details when metered for the shadows and set ISO to box-speed.

Cheers,

Gabor
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Dear Gabor,

Ah, fair enough. I have long harboured doubts about that one myself. Presumably it is 1250 (to meet ISO standards of +/- 1/3 stop) but it does seem a bit slow even for that speed.

Sorry for doubting you.

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger,

no problem at all. It is good to know that you also tend you rate that film more like 1250 ISO (E.I. ?) or even slower. That helps for future use.

Cheers,

Gabor
 
The last time I checked the manual, neither the M8.2 or M9 could take ISO 1600 C41 film. But my original DSLR could.
 
Also remember that with the crop factor on the M8 an f/1 lens is roughly equivalent to a f/1.4 lens on a full frame sensor when it comes to shooting at the shallowest depth of field.

I use an M8 & 40mm cron and love it btw, personally I won't upgrade for a few years yet but when I do I think the M9 with a 50 lux would be perfect.
 
If I were fortunate enough to be in your shoes I'd not hesitate to go for
the M9 Summilux combo. Not only is it a great lens but all the other
Leitz lens can be used as they were intended when you decide
(and you will :)) to branch out.
 
Well, the resale value of the Noctilux is most likely to keep going up and the M9 will go down. If you've never used a Noctilux, I'd suggest you get one first and learn how to use it and see how you like it. If you don't like it (and you need to give it some time), you will most likely be able to sell it for at least as much as you paid (unless you seriously overpay) and get the M9/Summilux combo. The longer you wait on the Noct, the less likely you're going to ever get it due to the rising prices. If you're curious enough to ask the question, try it first. If you like it, you can start saving for the M9 or wait until they come down to M8 levels. I, for one, like the 67mm effective focal length. It's a nice compromise between 50mm and 75-90mm that are your choices on FF. I will probably make the jump eventually but there's no where near the choice of lenses in the 75-90mm range that there are in the 50mm range.
 
I think of it as follows: do you really "need" a Ferrari to drive fast?
Does anyone here really need such cameras and fast lenses?
Many want such equipment.

This is another issue.
 
raid said:
I think of it as follows: do you really "need" a Ferrari to drive fast?
Does anyone here really need such cameras and fast lenses?
Many want such equipment.

This is another issue.
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Well, your 1960 VW bug won't go 175 mph but your Ferrari will. Whether you need to go 175 mph is the real question. And whether your need and your want coincide is really up to each person.
 
This is true. Maybe you need to go 80mph, and then a Yashica will o?
You get the drift ....
 
Continuing the car analogy - other than at high speed, cars like Ferraris can be less pleasant to drive than a 'normal' car, and personally I find the Noctilux far far less pleasant to operate than a pre-asph 50 Lux.

In some cases more is better - but with the Nocti 'more' comes at a price (and not just a financial one).
 
Do you need to have it all on the same day? Actually an M9 and Summicron in the proper hands would blow most of us out of the proverbial soup.
 
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