David Murphy
Veteran
Adorama is listing it for $7695.00. Actually not a bad price for what it is. I'm shocked 🙂
Noctilux M 50mm f/1.2 ASPH *Heritage*
- Thread starter keytarjunkie
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 78
- Views 6K
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Yes, my Nokton 50mm f/1.1 too! NB: without aspherical elements. No distortion and incredibly sharp, even on full aperture. Beautiful lens. No black corners.
Erik.
x-ray
Veteran
I owned one of the originals that I bought used from another photographer that needed money quick. I bought it in 1972 if I remember correctly but don't remember what I paid.
Hans Kippert our Leica rep at the time showed me three images shot of the same subject at night with the v3 Summicron, Summilux and Noctilux. It was a night scene with bare bulb lights and street lights in the scene. As you'd expect there was a ball f light fuzz, flare, around the light sources with the Summicron and Summilux. The Summicron was noticeably better than the Summilux. All were shot wide open including the Noctilux. Where the Noctilux exceeded was in flare control. There was hardly any glow around the lights with the Noctilux.
I kept the lens for several years and found that it was really designed to perform its best wide open to f4. f2.8-4 was about the peak of resolution and after that it was nothing special. Wide-open to 2.8 or 4 was where it shined.
Its strong point wasn't resolution but was contrast under difficult lighting conditions. If you didn't use it near wide open there was no advantage to having a large heavy and expensive lens. For those of us making a living with our cameras at that time no one ever heard of MTF charts, character or cared much about corner resolution. The center was where things happened that were important. We weren't looking at our negatives at 200% and analyzing every little thing to death.
After using it for a few years I traded it to Doc McGinnis Camera in Nashville and walked away with an armload of goodies I could put to better use. I wound up with a nice V3 Summicron that I used for years.
Other than improved contrast at night or under difficult lighting conditions, the 1/3 stop gain over the Summilux just wasn't worth the cost and additional weight.
Hans Kippert our Leica rep at the time showed me three images shot of the same subject at night with the v3 Summicron, Summilux and Noctilux. It was a night scene with bare bulb lights and street lights in the scene. As you'd expect there was a ball f light fuzz, flare, around the light sources with the Summicron and Summilux. The Summicron was noticeably better than the Summilux. All were shot wide open including the Noctilux. Where the Noctilux exceeded was in flare control. There was hardly any glow around the lights with the Noctilux.
I kept the lens for several years and found that it was really designed to perform its best wide open to f4. f2.8-4 was about the peak of resolution and after that it was nothing special. Wide-open to 2.8 or 4 was where it shined.
Its strong point wasn't resolution but was contrast under difficult lighting conditions. If you didn't use it near wide open there was no advantage to having a large heavy and expensive lens. For those of us making a living with our cameras at that time no one ever heard of MTF charts, character or cared much about corner resolution. The center was where things happened that were important. We weren't looking at our negatives at 200% and analyzing every little thing to death.
After using it for a few years I traded it to Doc McGinnis Camera in Nashville and walked away with an armload of goodies I could put to better use. I wound up with a nice V3 Summicron that I used for years.
Other than improved contrast at night or under difficult lighting conditions, the 1/3 stop gain over the Summilux just wasn't worth the cost and additional weight.
maitani
Well-known
exciting release imo, the blackchrome also lower priced than expected (for a Leica) for somebody replacing his big 0.95 which might be too bulky, already for the size, the switch could be worth it, and the classic look.
the website seems to say that it's kind of optimized stopped down, by today glass sorts, and machine-polishing, the unique extreme heavy glass used in the original doesn't exist anymore, It will have the price of the original skyrocket even more unfortunately, putting it more out of reach than it already is, I still predict a quick sellout of this 1.2 re-editions, although I'm not sure if the blackchrome is limited production at all. If I could afford it, i would put a black-chrome on order, but can't.
the website seems to say that it's kind of optimized stopped down, by today glass sorts, and machine-polishing, the unique extreme heavy glass used in the original doesn't exist anymore, It will have the price of the original skyrocket even more unfortunately, putting it more out of reach than it already is, I still predict a quick sellout of this 1.2 re-editions, although I'm not sure if the blackchrome is limited production at all. If I could afford it, i would put a black-chrome on order, but can't.
HenningW
Well-known
I had the original for a while around 1970. A Leitz catalog from March 1971 has many items priced, probably entered a couple of months later at most. The Elmar is $117, the Summicron is $222, the Summilux is $324 and the Noctilux is $996. An M4 chrome body was $468. This is in Canada, and the Canadian prices are somewhat skewed as some things were manufactured in Midland and some things were imported from Wetzlar so the price relationship between items was not the same as it would be in some other countries. In 1971 the Canadian dollar was quite close to par with the US dollar.
I didn't really care for the lens, as I found it significantly less sharp than the Summilux, and the slight speed increase didn't offset the increase in size, weight and cost. The rendering was generally OK, but not superior to that of the Summilux and the general 'mushiness' was not appealing. I got rid of it after a year and when the f/1 Noctilux came out, happily used that. I've had a total of three f/1's and still have and use one. Flare resistance was better than that of the f/1.2. The f/0.95 hasn't appealed to me either.
So the new (black) one is relatively 'cheap', as it doesn't cost twice as much as the main body it's intended for, but it still holds no appeal for me.
I didn't really care for the lens, as I found it significantly less sharp than the Summilux, and the slight speed increase didn't offset the increase in size, weight and cost. The rendering was generally OK, but not superior to that of the Summilux and the general 'mushiness' was not appealing. I got rid of it after a year and when the f/1 Noctilux came out, happily used that. I've had a total of three f/1's and still have and use one. Flare resistance was better than that of the f/1.2. The f/0.95 hasn't appealed to me either.
So the new (black) one is relatively 'cheap', as it doesn't cost twice as much as the main body it's intended for, but it still holds no appeal for me.
Bille
Well-known
I always found the f1 Noctilux to be the signature high speed lens. The 1.2 renders like many other fast lenses. So does the newer 0.95.
tightsqueez
Well-known
Well, after viewing Jono's images along with Leica's own downloadable DNG's... I pulled my preorder. This isn't a lens for me. You could have told me they were shot with any of the overseas 0.95 lenses of the week and I would have believed you. Which at a 1/10th of the cost I may just buy one of those disposables.
So, I'm going to wait this out a bit. I'm sure if I change my mind there will be a sea of used ones like the 0.95.
My search for a good walkabout night lens continues. Maybe I'll just go back to the original f/1.0? In the meantime I'm completely content shooting the 50 APO handheld in the dark with the M10M.... just looking for something with a bit more sass and character that reflects the mood of the night.
Any suggestions?
So, I'm going to wait this out a bit. I'm sure if I change my mind there will be a sea of used ones like the 0.95.
My search for a good walkabout night lens continues. Maybe I'll just go back to the original f/1.0? In the meantime I'm completely content shooting the 50 APO handheld in the dark with the M10M.... just looking for something with a bit more sass and character that reflects the mood of the night.
Any suggestions?
Tim Gray
Well-known
Jay, 2 questions: What about the Voigtlander 50/1.2? Second, you got an M10M? Nice - hope you like it.
tightsqueez
Well-known
I've been eyeing the 50 1.2 for quite some time... I think you may be right, not that you mentioned it but it may be the 50 APO-ish lens for the night. The question remains though, "does it have enough character?" Or, does that really matter?
And yes, I picked up a "Wetzlar" M10M back in September. I was inquiring about a black chrome M4 from a Leica dealer on the West Coast and long story short they informed me they had a M10 Wetzlar coming in and the slotted buyer backed out. Same price as the serial camera so I figured why not, especially since I already have the Wetzlar 35 FLE.
The M10M is by far the best camera I have ever used. Just amazing. It's been difficult shooting film since!
Last edited:
tightsqueez
Well-known
I'm going back to the 50 Lux ASPH as my go-to for night walks. Solid lens, probably the best I've ever used for night time images, especially color.
I'll have one on Friday.
I'll have one on Friday.
Tim Gray
Well-known
Good to hear. I’ve been enjoying my M10M. Use it with the 50 ASPH Summilux and a C-Sonnar for ‘character’.
From what I’ve seen of the Voigtlander 1.2 on Sony, it looks like a solid lens.
From what I’ve seen of the Voigtlander 1.2 on Sony, it looks like a solid lens.
HenningW
Well-known
I have a number of lens options, but the 50/1.4 ASPH on the M10M 'Wetzlar' is almost perfect. Small enough, sharp enough, smooth enough and with the M10M's high ISO capabilities I really don't need more. I only shoot the Nocti f/1 wide open, often with a 4 stop ND for the character of the lens, not the light gathering ability. On the M10M the ISO can go to 50k for fully acceptable pictures, and I can still pull up the shadows if needed.
tightsqueez
Well-known
Thanks for the input, including your history with the 1.2 you described in the earlier post.
I backed out of the 50 Lux, for the moment. It didn’t really offer much over the APO, and I should have known that. It’s a tremendous lens but tends to overlay the qualities of the smaller Summicron. At one time I had the 50 Lux ASPH, f1.0, f0.95 and the APO. The APO is the only one left because it’s rendering does not impose on the image, it’s perfectly sized for typical M photography and well behaved wherever you put the subject in the frame (stitching is a breeze).
After owning almost every Leica lens (not really but feels like it), my kit has evolved into two groups. The first group encompasses the 28 Cron, 35FLE, 50 APO when I want the best size, balance, tactility that offers performance up to the M10M level. My second group throws back to a more vintage look, and that’s where the 35 Cron IV fits in; quite the character wide open but modern stopped down. Right now I’m looking for a fast 50 that goes well with the little guy. Off to the sideline but I think it will be the f1.0 again or this new f1.2.
awilder
Alan Wilder
Priced at $7,695 for the black version and is now available. Relatively speaking, it's a "bargain" compared to the 50/1 or 50/0.95 given the smaller size and performance/IQ character. Same 6/4 design with 2 aspheric surfaces as in the original but now with multi-layer coating unlike the original non-multi-layer type. Not that multi-coating is a deal breaker but at least their newer generation of coatings are likely harder and more resilient than the older coatings on the original Noctilux. The original version had a stainless steel mount, I don't know if it's true for this re-issued version. As a Nikon shooter, if I had that kind of money and was looking for a high speed 50 for my Z mirrorless, I'd go for this Noctulux over the 50/0.95 Noct Z lens in a heartbeat.
raid
Dad Photographer
While I will not buy such a lens I hope that some people here will get it. I want to see many images created with the 50/1.2.
robert blu
quiet photographer
I do not need a new lens...I desire a new lens but I do not need a new lens... 😀
Joking apart it seems an interesting lens (money aside) to try.
As someone said it would be interesting to compare with the CV 1.2... anyway I do not need...
Erik van Straten
Veteran
This one is with the discontinued Noctilux 50mm f/1.
gelatine silver print (noctilux 50mm f1) leica mp
Erik.
gelatine silver print (noctilux 50mm f1) leica mp
Erik.
james.liam
Well-known
Continue repeating that mantra to keep yourself from clicking "Buy It".
raid
Dad Photographer
Collectors will maybe prefer having the original Noctilux 50 1.2 stuck away insured in a safe somewhere ...
Similar threads
- Article
