axiom
Non-Registered User
junk from my yard
f1, iso400, shutter 1/50s
f1, iso400, shutter 1/50s
Noctilux 0.95 ASPH not all that distinctive?
- Thread starter jordan.dickinson
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filmfan
Well-known
Nice shot axiom. No question about it, the Noctilux makes amazing photos of people!
leicashot
Well-known
I have to say that wide aperture photography is sometimes a distraction to the quality and processes of good photography and you're touching on it here...but in defense of 'some' of those you mention, many do like shooting what you and other may describe as 'boring' subjects.
On the other hand, many Noct owners go through the process of shooting boring subjects when interesting subjects aren't at their disposal and unfortunately post them more regularly than i like. Generally the faster the lens, the worse the images in that post, because people are shooting wide open for the effect of the bokeh more than what's actually best for the image. They become very narrow minded images focused on only one focal point in the frame, leaving much empty space to look at (and supposed to admire).
I find I shoot my Noct way too often just because I can, which is a detriment to my pictures at times - which is why I just bought a 50mm Cron so that I'm forced to think about more than just how interesting the out of focus area can be. Mind you. it's also much more fun and fast to use than the Noct.
filmfan
Well-known
I agree with everything you said and thanks for taking more time in your post to expand on my point more eloquently. I tend to just fire off a post without much time committed to it. As a result, my posts may be rough and tough. I do not mean to be hurtful, just blunt. We have an insane amount of talent on this site, which I think is pretty obvious.
D&A
Well-known
I was just reading through the last few postings and filmfan almost word for word wrote in his first sentence what I was going to say. Leicashot expressed what is always a dilema for those with lenses that have unique characteristics. Namely do we try to exploit these characteristics when taking most shots with them, or do we first use (pick) the focal length to execute the best and most interesting type of shot, and then as a consequence of a len's unique properties, let it's attributes contribute to the image. It's not an absolute since its sometimes hard to seperate these two processes. Just some thoughts to the topic at hand.
Dave (D&A)
Dave (D&A)
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kevin m
Veteran
There is a tendency among all super-speed lens owners to show off the effect of ultra-shallow DOF, along with whatever swirly bokeh, coma, flare and other uncorrected aberrations the lens in question produces. It's fun for a spell but, yeah, both as a shooter and a viewer it does get old after awhile.
helen.HH
To Light & Love ...
I have been prone to 'Swoon' over those occasional Nocti Shots
but The more I Shoot
the More 'F2' Pleases
(be it a cron, summar, planar)
Their sharpness, oof & creaminess are IDEAL
but The more I Shoot
the More 'F2' Pleases
(be it a cron, summar, planar)
Their sharpness, oof & creaminess are IDEAL
The distinctive look of the Leica 50/0.95 is that of a highly-corrected super-speed lens of the 21st century. If anyone is unhappy with theirs, my Canon 50/0.95 has a really distinctive look.
"Yard Junk", my most popular flickr photo. Canon 50/0.95 wide-open.
leicashot
Well-known
The distinctive look of the Leica 50/0.95 is that of a highly-corrected super-speed lens of the 21st century. If anyone is unhappy with theirs, my Canon 50/0.95 has a really distinctive look.
"Yard Junk", my most popular flickr photo. Canon 50/0.95 wide-open.
For effect the Canon 0.95 is THE most distinctive without a doubt. I'd love one to play with....someday.
Let me give you an example of why I bought this lens. Well, usually i shoot on sets, so I can't post those but here is an example I took only minutes ago while walking the dog.
Here is how my eyes saw this scene. I could barely make out the color of the car (underexposed in LR).
...and this is what I achieved with the Noctilux wide open at ISO 1600 for 1/8sec handheld.
This is not an example of why I chose the 0.95 over the f/1 but why I believe in fast lenses when 'needed' rather than when 'wanted' to make boring images - less boring. The Noct, any Noct sees more than what 'I' can see given the right ISO can deal with the situation. I've been in darker situations where my Nikon D3s and AF-S 85/1.4 will kill the Noct at ISO 12,800.
Either way, on the M9 and even film, the Noct has a pretty significant place for low light photography, regardless of it's bokeh distinction and merits.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
I can't say I like the "U"-shaped specular highlights in the background very much.
Erik.
Erik.
cam
the need for speed
spend $10,000 for half a stop (or whatever) on a lens that i do not like the look of? :bang:
Kristian shoots models and the like, that's why he has so many people shots. most people don't. it's not my bag, but they are fine examples of what one can do with f/.95 when you have a willing subject.
i shoot a lot of boring shots with my Nocti (and every other lens i own) because i want to be able to focus it quickly and accurately so i can catch a moment. what i don't do, however, is share my experimentations with all of you... in other words, i practice. for my eyes only. i want to be able to shoot the impossible.
boring shots show up on every lens thread. i don't think the Noctilux f/1 brings any more out than the a Summicron or an Elmarit. in focus or out of focus, boring is boring. just like shooting in a fishbowl like Times Square does not make a street shot even (especially?) if there are a ton of people in it.
if people go through this lens like candy, it's usually because they are not willing to put in the elbow grease and learn how to use the lens or realise how really difficult it is to focus. and, in a very few cases like Kristian (who went through 2 or 3 lenses), the lens does not perform properly for their needs.
Tim Gray
Well-known
I thought Bessas, and the Ikon by extension, can use diopters/magnifiers that are standard for another system, like maybe Nikon. I can't remember the details though, and am also sure the original discussion was for diopters.
leicashot
Well-known
It's a 0.95 aperture Erik. I think its fair to say the poor little lens was trying so hard to see in the dark 😉
leicashot
Well-known
Cam, relax buddy, it's alright, no one expects you to spend 10k i you don't want to. The main reason I wne t through the Noct f/1 twice is because I used to shoot boring subjects with it, to take advantage of the f/1 aperture, forgetting about 'what makes a great image'. Also whenever I needed money my 'least' used lens would have to go. It was least used because it wasn't fun to shoot with due to it's size, long focus throw and unique look not suited to my everyday shooting style. The newer Noct is still not fun to shoot with due to it's size, although I'd say the focus throw has been improved. Fun to shoot with? No. Fun to see the images? Yes.
If it makes you feel any better, I hardly ever shoot models. In fact the last time I did was in Thailand, and they were technically men! :bang:
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maddoc
... likes film again.
Two of my friends have and I have used the Noctilux with my Hexar RF, no big problems. The M3 is ideal for the Noctilux, though ... 😉
cam
the need for speed
the shots you put up here (aside from the older couple) weren't posed?
they were beautifully done and i applaud you. not my style, however. i have no talent in that regard. i see and shoot and hope i get the shot.
i could care less about if they were models or not, actually... and even technically men would be fine with me, though i do prefer the real thing 😛
leicashot
Well-known
cam
the need for speed
leicashot
Well-known
leicashot
Well-known
Not trying to push the whole 0.95 V f/1 but for those that wonder how sharp the 0.95 is wide open, take a look. Shot tonight through shop window glass and no post processing.
100% crop
100% crop