New Nokton 50mm F1.1 is released

I must be an oddity, this does not do anything for me. I have the Nokton f1.5 which is already too heavy. More often than not I venture with a tiny industar f.3.5 unless I really need the light.
 
Tom A said:
Go to our Flickr site, click on the Nokton 50mm f1.1 set and set it as a "slide show" (bigger images). There are 19 shots there - some wide open, some stopped down. I used the lens for a couple of days in Japan at the end of March.
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Tom,

I would certainly cherish a portrait of me, shot by Mr. Kobayashi himself with that pre-release Nokton!

Can't believe this: in one of your last-week posts you mentioned the characteristics of modern fast lenses, and I suggested Voigtlander whould build one. Less than a week later, it's announced! now that's what I call A FAST LENS :D:D:D
 
The price is extremely reasonable (as compared to the uber bucks one needs to acquire even a USED Noctilux) - granted the formula will be different than Leica's and the bokeh is a bit different (which never bothered me too much) and there's no "Leica magic" *smirk*. I think I'll be saving my sheckles for one of these - any idea of shipping/arrival?

Cheers,
Dave
 
Vickko said:
GAS never ends, does it.

Okay, I die broke. And they can bury me with all my photo gear.

Lottery up here is $49 million on Wednesday. I have my one ticket.

"....daddy needs another 50mm lens....."
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$49 million should just about cut it when you try to corner the Nokton one-point-one market:D
 
I think the thing that stands out to me is that the photos do not stand out, the lens seems pretty well balanced photographically. That's really not what most folks seem to want from a superfast lens like this, though. They want a distinctive signature, so it will interesting to see how it does.

The price isn't bad, but the size and weight would be a real consideration. How much of the finder does it block?
 
Ronald_H said:
And there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth...

Do you even get a Summarit 50mm for that amount of money from the boys from Solms?

But of course it will have quality issues, 'weird, harsh bokeh' and focus shift.... If only it had a Leica name on it, all those 'bad' attributes suddenly would become 'character traits'.

Me like. Me wanna!
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Haha how true!!
 
Brian Sweeney said:
Leica M3, 0.92x finder...Way faster Focussing with that big EFB. Nikon finders have 1.0x, but the Patch on the M3 is better defined.

AND since the close-focus of the new lens is 1m, the M3 stays with it through the whole range. You do not lose anything as you do with lenses going to 0.7m.
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Brian,

Thanks for the extra GAS. Now I need another body, as well as an ultra fast 50.

You know how to hurt a guy when he's broke.

Calzone
 
Pickett Wilson said:
I think the thing that stands out to me is that the photos do not stand out, the lens seems pretty well balanced photographically. That's really not what most folks seem to want from a superfast lens like this, though. They want a distinctive signature, so it will interesting to see how it does.

The price isn't bad, but the size and weight would be a real consideration. How much of the finder does it block?
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I used it on a Zeiss ZM and it was very comfortable. It does show in the viewfinder, but intrudes very little in the 50 frame. On my M2 is sticks in a bit more, but no more than a "hood"less Noctilux. Weight is noticeble, but no more than a 35f1.2. The slightly smaller diameter compared to the Nocti makes it less bulky of course - and it would be a reasonably sized all-round 50mm lens with the added extra stop or two when you needed them.
 
Bland signature?

It's not down to the lens really, it down to what you're taking. One of my favourite shots at the moment that I took the other week:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilserenity/3523342666/

CV Ulltron 35mm f/1.7

I wouldn't exactly call that a bland photo because of the lens used.

As for Leica, of course I like them, I use an M2 and wouldn't trade it for the world, but for quite a lot of us who love and enjoy photography, we don't have salaries that allow us to buy the 21 f/1.4 ASPHs of this world; but with a bit of saving, a Nokton is possible.

A few Leica lens prices are potentially in my reach but some would account for the lion's share of my annual disposable income.

But to say that a Leica lens has a 'interesting' ? signature vs. a mostly bland signature on CV lenses? I'm a bit dubious, I doubt many people could look at a photo and work out what lens took it if you're shooting at f/5.6 - f/16. Mind you I might be 'biassed' as I do a lot of work in good light so the usage of the wider apertures is not as much as many.
 
What's the closest focusing distance for this len?

Argh...nevermind, I just found out it's 1m for closest focus, which means I will not buy it.
 
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Closest distance is 1m.

In my experience shooting different lens and comparing them, apart from the very distinct lens such as Summilux ASPH range (for their sharpness) or the swirly bokeh type of Summitar, Summarit (old one) you'd be hard press to distinguish lens signature, especially when you only looking at the photos and can't remember which is taken with which.
 
It certainly will be a best selling lens at that price, and it seems to me that Mainlinephoto will offer it at a cheaper price that Cameraquest ;-)
 
I owned both Nokton 50 and 35 with 52mm filter size, this diameter is an integral part of the Cosina lens' physical signature. Thus I feel kind of uneasy with the 58mm filter size on new the 50 f1.1.
 
endustry said:
Great lens. Great price. Stickin' it to Leica where it hurts = priceless. However, looking at Tom's test photos I think this lens has the same bland signature that most CV lenses have. I will withhold judgment until more sample images surface but at this price range I'd still go for a Hexanon 50mm f/1.2 instead.

Flame away :)
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You wouldn't be able to call your avatar 'bland' though... it's slighty disturbing even...
 
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