Noctilux M 50mm f/1.2 ASPH *Heritage*

[Mackinaw]

My father, now retired, was an optical engineer. I found a copy of a 1971 Popular Photography magazine at my parent’s house at Christmas. There was an article in it describing Canon’s latest 50mm FD lens with an aspherical element. In the page margin was a large note written in bold letters: “REJECTION RATE!??” Before mould and polish processes were developed, hand profiling of aspherical elements was slow, difficult and error prone. Luckily, things progress.....

Canon was one of the first companies to use machines to grind and polish the aspherical surface of a lens. The first version of the FD 55/1.2 aspherical (1971) was hand polished and expensive, 147,000 yen. The 1975 machine-polished surface of the 55/1.2 aspherical cost 80,000 yen. The prices are from the Canon Museum website. I own a FD 55/1.2 aspherical (machine polished surface) and it is excellent.

Jim B.

 

[maddoc]

I wonder how it will compare to the modern CV 50/1.2...

 

[David Murphy]

I've read somewhere that it was four times the price of a Summicron 50mm.

Here some pictures taken with the original lens:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/talegal/50878953887/in/feed-76631706-1611692683-1-72157718046719576/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/talegal/50878147208/in/feed-76631706-1611692683-1-72157718046719576/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/talegal/50878147138/in/feed-76631706-1611692683-1-72157718046719576/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/talegal/50878953802/in/feed-76631706-1611692683-1-72157718046719576/

Erik.

I find the look of the original very appealing artistically: sharp as heck in the center, with a soft vignette at corners (that presumably diminishes as closed down).

 

[David Murphy]

Retirement investment?

Can I hold one of these in a 401K?

 

[zleica]

I wonder how it will compare to the modern CV 50/1.2...

Looking at the optical designs of both lenses, I think CV 50/1.2 is a better lens for distortion and center sharpness.

 

[oldwino]

Canon was one of the first companies to use machines to grind and polish the aspherical surface of a lens. The first version of the FD 55/1.2 aspherical (1971) was hand polished and expensive, 147,000 yen. The 1975 machine-polished surface of the 55/1.2 aspherical cost 80,000 yen. The prices are from the Canon Museum website. I own a FD 55/1.2 aspherical (machine polished surface) and it is excellent.

Jim B.

Wasn’t one of the elements in the Noct-Nikkor 58mm hand ground?

 

[james.liam]

Looking at the optical designs of both lenses, I think CV 50/1.2 is a better lens for distortion and center sharpness.

With a 55 year head start, I would hope so. 😉

 

[Freakscene]

Wasn’t one of the elements in the Noct-Nikkor 58mm hand ground?

Yes. The original f1.2 Noct-Nikkor (as opposed to the giant f0.95 for the Z series) was introduced in 1977. Canon introduced FD lenses with aspherical elements from 1971.

Marty

 

[Erik van Straten]

This is with the new Noctilux 50mm f/1.2 @/1.2. The corners are dark, but not as dark as with the first version:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/talegal/50878953802/sizes/z/

Erik.

 

[alan davus]

Let's face it the only thing stopping us from buying this lens is money. I'd love one (and the 75 and 90's). Would just store it away for a decade. Remember all the hysteria when Leica bought out the final special edition boxed 50/f1 years ago, that it was priced off the planet and only fools would pay that sort of money for it. Well those fools are doing very nicely now, thank you.

 

[tightsqueez]

I preordered mine yesterday.

After owning the f/1 and f/0.95 versions in the past, I've always thought the f/1.2 version had the best rendering. It exhibits this painterly-buzz to it that makes the subject pop without completely melting the background into a mush of nothing like so many modern lenses do. I'd always stumble upon an image on the net or Flickr in the past and was always like, "What was this taken with, it's wonderful?" And to my surprise it was always that out of reach f/1.2. And this new version has 16 aperture blades!! Don't get me started how ugly a f/1.4 ASPH can get from f/2.8 - f/5.6 with those nasty ninja stars.

But to be honest I thought the f/0.95 had the worst OOF, especially on the edges. I liked the f/1 version but the focus shift drove me nuts.

Overall I haven't been so excited about a new lens since the 50 APO. Been seven years with that lens and it's still my favorite. I think these lenses will compliment each other nicely. And the f/1.2 will be home with the 35 Cron IV, which has a similar look to it.

 

[james.liam]

This is with the new Noctilux 50mm f/1.2 @/1.2. The corners are dark, but not as dark as with the first version:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/talegal/50878953802/sizes/z/

Erik.

Is it the downsized image or my imagination but nothing looks to be in focus.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Is it the downsized image or my imagination but nothing looks to be in focus.

This has always been the case with the Noctilux 50mm f/1.2, with the old one, but now also with the new one. Vignetting, distortion and unsharpness. The Emperor's New Clothes?

Erik.


(the new, black lens weighs 405g (14.3oz), so 65g less than the original lens; the chrome version will be heavier because it is made in brass)

 

[james.liam]

This has always been the case with the Noctilux 50mm f/1.2, with the old one, but now also with the new one. Vignetting and unsharpness. The Emperor's New Clothes?


Erik.

My NOCT Nikkor resolves better on center.

 

[Tim Gray]

Really interested to see how this compares with the newish Voigtlander 50/1.2. The Leica looks nice (great size!) but dang, that distortion...

I’m not in the market for this. A bit too $$$ for me and cat pictures; my current 50s are good enough for that. But this does look way more appealing to me than the 50/0.95.

 

[Tim Gray]

Also, Leica, do the 75 Summilux next.

 

[james.liam]

Also, Leica, do the 75 Summilux next.

Kind of doubtful after the 75 Noctilux being so recent.

 

[jbhthescots]

Just trying to figure out how many GameStop shares I need to cash-in to buy one.....

 

[Larry Cloetta]

I preordered mine yesterday.

After owning the f/1 and f/0.95 versions in the past, I've always thought the f/1.2 version had the best rendering. It exhibits this painterly-buzz to it that makes the subject pop without completely melting the background into a mush of nothing like so many modern lenses do. I'd always stumble upon an image on the net or Flickr in the past and was always like, "What was this taken with, it's wonderful?" And to my surprise it was always that out of reach f/1.2. And this new version has 16 aperture blades!! Don't get me started how ugly a f/1.4 ASPH can get from f/2.8 - f/5.6 with those nasty ninja stars.

But to be honest I thought the f/0.95 had the worst OOF, especially on the edges. I liked the f/1 version but the focus shift drove me nuts.

Overall I haven't been so excited about a new lens since the 50 APO. Been seven years with that lens and it's still my favorite. I think these lenses will compliment each other nicely. And the f/1.2 will be home with the 35 Cron IV, which has a similar look to it.

Good for you. Glad someone here is getting it.🙂

 

[Larry Cloetta]

My NOCT Nikkor resolves better on center.

MTF charts show Noct Nikkor out resolves many, many lenses on center, almost surprisingly so. It’s the drop off after that that tends to make the results so distinct from almost anything else.