Noctilux f/1

[prosophos]

I recently acquired a Noctilux f/1 (E60). Some initial impressions about it:

http://prosophos.com/2011/09/24/a-walk-with-and-testing-out-the-leica-50mm-noctilux-f1-0/

I'll be posting more shots in this link, as I continue to use it:
http://prosophos.com/category/leica-50mm-noctilux-f1/


Here are some sample photos:






I am enjoying it immensely.

Peter.
www.prosophos.com

 

[f16sunshine]

Looks great so far. Congratulations this is a fantastic lens. I like the MG portrait 🙂

 

[prosophos]

Looks great so far. Congratulations this is a fantastic lens. I like the MG portrait 🙂

Thanks Andy. I feel quite lucky to have it.

You obviously know your cars... I almost walked right by it, but my wife pointed it out to me.

Peter.

 

[Beano_z]

What a coincidence, I just walked in with a Noct F/1.0 V4 (E60), turned on my computer , opened RFF and saw your post!

Anyway, congrats on the new purchase! I haven't gotten the time to test the thing yet, but from what I see, besides the size and weight, I'm going to like it.

 

[prosophos]

What a coincidence, I just walked in with a Noct F/1.0 V4 (E60), turned on my computer , opened RFF and saw your post!

Anyway, congrats on the new purchase! I haven't gotten the time to test the thing yet, but from what I see, besides the size and weight, I'm going to like it.

Congratulations to you too! It's funny how things go.

Regarding the size and weight, it's very reasonable, especially compared to the Nocti f/0.95.

Peter.

 

[horosu]

Peter,

did you manage to compare it to the Hex 60/1.2? As you are one of the lucky few who have both lenses, I guess this would be of interest here.

Regards, Horea

 

[prosophos]

Peter,

did you manage to compare it to the Hex 60/1.2? As you are one of the lucky few who have both lenses, I guess this would be of interest here.

Regards, Horea

Hello Horea,

In owning it all of 48 hrs, I will say there are a few things that jump out immediately:

- the Noctilux f/1 has smoother bokeh than that of the Hex 60/1.2, but - as many know - the bokeh is not neutral by any stretch of the imagination. If you want completely neutral bokeh, then the Nocti f/0.95 ASPH (or 50 Summilux ASPH) is your ticket.
-the 60/1.2 is sharper. For certain.
-the 60/1.2 is smaller and can close focus to 0.80 - 0.90 m (depending on your sample) vs. 1 m for the Noctilux.
-the Noctilux images look more "rounded" to my eye, something more substantial about them.

The last point may sound like mumbo-jumbo but it's the only way I can describe it. I'll be shooting more and more with it as time goes on and don't intend any head-to-head comparisons because that's not my thing (or my interest).

However, you can directly see for yourself the images created by both lenses, at least in the hands of one user (me). Here are the links that will always have new images added to them:

Konica Hexanon 60/1.2:
http://prosophos.com/category/konica-hexanon-60mm-f1-2/

Leica Noctilux f/1.0 (E60):
http://prosophos.com/category/leica-50mm-noctilux-f1/


I hope this helps,

Peter.

 

[prosophos]

Peter,

did you manage to compare it to the Hex 60/1.2? As you are one of the lucky few who have both lenses, I guess this would be of interest here.

Regards, Horea

Hi again Horea,

I actually did one quick comparison today. Please don't view this as an analysis, it's just for my own interest... I thought you might be interested as well:

http://prosophos.com/2011/10/13/the-konica-hexanon-601-2-vs-leica-noctilux-501-0-shot-wide-open/

Peter.
www.prosophos.com

 

[drinkingeye]

guys, let me please join you at the club of happy Nocti f1.0 owners!
Just got mine yesterday and adoring it. such a piece of industrial design... and that bokeh! here few examples (with M9 and converted by silver efex pro 2):

cheers mauro

 

[Tom Diaz]

I'm also lucky and happy to own one. I notice that some of you are doing with yours what I like to do with mine: shoot in broad daylight, and even very bright light, in order to bask in the zero-depth-of-field effects. If you can put it on a Leica M8 or M9 or an m43 camera, let the camera's ultrafast shutter worry about the exposure.

To me that is even more interesting than shooting in low light or "available light."

In fact, for available light situations these days, I'd usually prefer to have a more compact and wider-angle lens. It may be a stop or two slower than the Noctilux. However, digital sensors are so good in these situations that I'm happy with the results.

Tom

 

[prosophos]

Mauro,

Simply lovely.

Peter.

guys, let me please join you at the club of happy Nocti f1.0 owners!
Just got mine yesterday and adoring it. such a piece of industrial design... and that bokeh! here few examples (with M9 and converted by silver efex pro 2):

cheers mauro

 

[Platinum RF]

I find the "fish scale" OOF is kind of ulgly distractive.

 

[drinkingeye]

glad you like it, peter! your "red mg" is outstanding!
will be in town with my nocti tonight. let's see what I will be able to grab!
have a good sunday, mauro

Mauro,

Simply lovely.

Peter.

 

[Vickko]

um, yeah.

I haven't known a Noctilux to produce that type of bokeh.


Vick

I find the "fish scale" OOF is kind of ulgly distractive.

 

[rogerzilla]

That is the most frightening bokeh I've seen this side of a mirror lens, and I haven't seen that on other Nocti shots. Maybe the 1.1 and 0.95 are different?

 

[dave lackey]

Love the way the Noctilux works with the M9. The MGB photo was a dead giveaway that you used the M9 and I am happy to see the Noctilux only gave it a little different character because, to me, the M9 produces the digital images that I really want myself.

I think this is a fantastic combination.🙂

 

[ian_watts]

Interesting shot. Puts me in mind of early Ralph Gibson.

 

[aldobonnard]

guys, let me please join you at the club of happy Nocti f1.0 owners!
Just got mine yesterday and adoring it. such a piece of industrial design... and that bokeh! here few examples (with M9 and converted by silver efex pro 2):

cheers mauro

(over) looks digital from miles away. Shame.