This one just cooled down to a simmer, no more boiling please. More photos from the expensive lenses are needed please.
cmogi10
Bodhisattva
I like these thread, there are some beautiful pictures.
I wan't to see more beautiful pictures.
If I had a noctilux I would contribute, until then I will just enjoy.
Thank you all
I wan't to see more beautiful pictures.
If I had a noctilux I would contribute, until then I will just enjoy.
Thank you all
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Whew! I finally made it through all pages. Some great photos here. I really like the one of the man walking on the sidewalk beside the water.
I'm one of those who helped create the statistics about the average length of Noctilux ownership being around 9 months. I sold mine and went back to a Tri-Elmar with the money I got from the Noct sale. Reasons: Too heavy; and by the time the light was low enough to use f/1, with fast film, I could not see to focus! Maybe I should have used slower film, but . . . ?
My style with the Leica is to go out, on a trip to a new place, with two M bodies
and 4 or 5 lenses--maybe only 3 if one of them is the Tri-Elmar. I find nothing so magic about the 50mm focal length to privilege that one focal length with an f/1 lens. I can go out with a 21 or 24, a 28, a 35, and a 50, maybe the 90, and fit it all in a Domke 803 or even a 5XB if only carrying 3 lenses.
That said, I saw some great stuff in this thread from those who know how to get the most out of the Noctilux!
I'm one of those who helped create the statistics about the average length of Noctilux ownership being around 9 months. I sold mine and went back to a Tri-Elmar with the money I got from the Noct sale. Reasons: Too heavy; and by the time the light was low enough to use f/1, with fast film, I could not see to focus! Maybe I should have used slower film, but . . . ?
My style with the Leica is to go out, on a trip to a new place, with two M bodies
and 4 or 5 lenses--maybe only 3 if one of them is the Tri-Elmar. I find nothing so magic about the 50mm focal length to privilege that one focal length with an f/1 lens. I can go out with a 21 or 24, a 28, a 35, and a 50, maybe the 90, and fit it all in a Domke 803 or even a 5XB if only carrying 3 lenses.
That said, I saw some great stuff in this thread from those who know how to get the most out of the Noctilux!
x-ray
Veteran
The 50 1.2 Noctilux was well known for its variations. Because the aspheric surfaces (2 surfaces) were hand-ground they had great problems making them with consistency. Machine-made items are generally much more consistent. I think the current asph Leica surfaces are computer controlled grinding machines and some makers have been known to use plastic laminates for the asph surfaces on a glass core. Computers do the process the same every time.
Leica is subject to QC issues just like any other manufacturer. Like it or not there are variations, some more than you would think, in Leica products particularly in the past 25 years. The M8 is a good example and even the MPs and M7s display a higher percentage of problems vs the M2, M3 and M4. I currently am trying to decide the fate of my 50 asph Summilux. Its optical focus is off from its mechanical focus and per DAG both are wrong. He stated it was off at the time of manufacturing. Consider the ISO issue with the M7 and all the problems with the M8. There's a lot of emotion connected with the leica name but in reality they have their QC issues too.
To answer the question about my kit 30-40 years ago. The 21 and 35 were popular at the time but my kit consisted of 2-M2s, M3 and then the addition of an M4. Lenses were 21 3.4 SA. 35 summilux, 50 summicron amd later the 1.2 Noctilux then back to the summicron (rigid, DR and the Wetzlar), 65 + Viso II, 90 elmarit, 135 Hektor and 200 Telyt. Later went to the 90 summicron and 135 Elmarit. I still carry in one kit 2 MPs 21 Elmarit, 35 asph summicron, 50 asph summilux (? to its fate), 90 apo asph and 135 Elmarit. Other kit is MP and Zeiss Ikon, 25 Biogon, 28 CV Nokton, 35 Biogon, 50 Planar, 90 Elmarit v1. Additionally I use the 28 Ultron, 35 Nokton and 50 Nokton with a variety of bodies including a classic M6. In my safe and retired are my old M2 and M3. My wife recently gave me a Bessa R2 and 35PII and 75 CV. The Bessa kit id for travel and to keep in my car all he time. Way more RF cameras than I ever would need but my wife is a sweet lady and showers me with toys for birthdays and Christmas and encourages me to buy what I want.
As to QC, in all honesty the only cameras and lenses that I've experienced issues with over 40 years have been recent Leica products. Older products like the M2, 3 and 4 never gave any problems even after many thousands of rolls. I really think it's just the sign of the times and the pressure to survive in a competitive world.
Leica is subject to QC issues just like any other manufacturer. Like it or not there are variations, some more than you would think, in Leica products particularly in the past 25 years. The M8 is a good example and even the MPs and M7s display a higher percentage of problems vs the M2, M3 and M4. I currently am trying to decide the fate of my 50 asph Summilux. Its optical focus is off from its mechanical focus and per DAG both are wrong. He stated it was off at the time of manufacturing. Consider the ISO issue with the M7 and all the problems with the M8. There's a lot of emotion connected with the leica name but in reality they have their QC issues too.
To answer the question about my kit 30-40 years ago. The 21 and 35 were popular at the time but my kit consisted of 2-M2s, M3 and then the addition of an M4. Lenses were 21 3.4 SA. 35 summilux, 50 summicron amd later the 1.2 Noctilux then back to the summicron (rigid, DR and the Wetzlar), 65 + Viso II, 90 elmarit, 135 Hektor and 200 Telyt. Later went to the 90 summicron and 135 Elmarit. I still carry in one kit 2 MPs 21 Elmarit, 35 asph summicron, 50 asph summilux (? to its fate), 90 apo asph and 135 Elmarit. Other kit is MP and Zeiss Ikon, 25 Biogon, 28 CV Nokton, 35 Biogon, 50 Planar, 90 Elmarit v1. Additionally I use the 28 Ultron, 35 Nokton and 50 Nokton with a variety of bodies including a classic M6. In my safe and retired are my old M2 and M3. My wife recently gave me a Bessa R2 and 35PII and 75 CV. The Bessa kit id for travel and to keep in my car all he time. Way more RF cameras than I ever would need but my wife is a sweet lady and showers me with toys for birthdays and Christmas and encourages me to buy what I want.
As to QC, in all honesty the only cameras and lenses that I've experienced issues with over 40 years have been recent Leica products. Older products like the M2, 3 and 4 never gave any problems even after many thousands of rolls. I really think it's just the sign of the times and the pressure to survive in a competitive world.
Last edited:
ferider
Veteran
More pictures please ....
Mike was nice enough to lend me his lens on Saturday ....
(the "glow" is mostly fog).
Roland.
Mike was nice enough to lend me his lens on Saturday ....
(the "glow" is mostly fog).
Roland.
tomasis
Well-known
WOW very surreal.. like this a lot. is it that so that it was "quite overexposed"? it is just brilliant and it looks like as a normal photo if one doesn't try identify objectsferider said:More pictures please ....
Mike was nice enough to lend me his lens on Saturday ....
(the "glow" is mostly fog).
Roland.
pphuang, nice pictures. I get impression that those jpegs are too much compressed. do you see that too?
V
vizioneer
Guest
noctilux is pretty cool
noctilux is pretty cool
I'd choose a 50 lux asph though, in chrome. I had a noctilux and am thinking about getting back into Leica (sold out a while back). The 75 lux I just didn't end up using a whole lot, the noct I liked using. I didn't like the 1m focusing though (and before you mention the f/1.0, well one can stop down for .7m focusing). And yes it's a specialized lens. I would prefer the wide-open close focus sharpness though of the new lux asph, and being able to focus as .7m. I don't know what other lenses I would like to get, maybe a 28 cron and the 90 cron AA. Oh and a silver MP .72 to go with the silver 50 lux asph. Mm hmn.
noctilux is pretty cool
I'd choose a 50 lux asph though, in chrome. I had a noctilux and am thinking about getting back into Leica (sold out a while back). The 75 lux I just didn't end up using a whole lot, the noct I liked using. I didn't like the 1m focusing though (and before you mention the f/1.0, well one can stop down for .7m focusing). And yes it's a specialized lens. I would prefer the wide-open close focus sharpness though of the new lux asph, and being able to focus as .7m. I don't know what other lenses I would like to get, maybe a 28 cron and the 90 cron AA. Oh and a silver MP .72 to go with the silver 50 lux asph. Mm hmn.
pphuang
brain drain...
tomasis said:WOW very surreal.. like this a lot. is it that so that it was "quite overexposed"? it is just brilliant and it looks like as a normal photo if one doesn't try identify objects
pphuang, nice pictures. I get impression that those jpegs are too much compressed. do you see that too?
Thanks Tomas. As for compression, maybe - its always hard to tell with small jpegs. Or maybe just a little too much sharpening??
Marc-A.
I Shoot Film
I agree with Tomas(is) and John (Fotofool):
This shot is gorgeous, dreamy ... kind of spooky too
I like the (over)exposure here; the glow is more about the exposure then the fog, IMHO. It's perfect Roland.
This shot is gorgeous, dreamy ... kind of spooky too
I like the (over)exposure here; the glow is more about the exposure then the fog, IMHO. It's perfect Roland.
ferider said:
(the "glow" is mostly fog).
pphuang
brain drain...
Krosya said:
Thanks Krosya, yes, wide open. This restaurant was extremely dark - I was quite surprised by the amount of light in the photos...
Ororaro
Well-known
Mazurka said:
Coma? Haven't noticed it. I own both lenses by the way.
You can post some of your samples of abundant coma with the noctilux?
MikeL
Go Fish
peter_n said:
I didn't think the price could go any higher, but if they stop making it, things will get even more ridiculous. I sure wish they still made the 75mm summilux.......
Mean Panda
Established
Leica know what they are doing - simply optimization. They do not need to sell as many as you could. Rather, they sell their products at the right price that will bring them the max profit. On the other hand, the production could be terminated if the company lost too much money from producing it. I won't be surprised if leica will discontiue noctilux some day. The price of Leica gears have gone up quite fast in these past few years, espeically for Noctilux. In this thread, I can see some faces from the lucky Noctilux owner here.
faces from the lucky Noctilux owner here.TJV
Well-known
Well, I've been waiting for 12 months for my Nocti to arrive. The ETA keeps getting put back. I've given up hope it will ever arrive, to be honest.
Prosaic
Well-known
cmogi10
Bodhisattva
MikeL said:
You can always trade....
Hephaestus
Established
The reason that I shoot Leica is for fast compact glass. Discontinuing lenses in this criteria reduces the attractiveness of the Leica kit considerably for me and I am sceptical that doing so is a sound long-term business practice.
Ryan
Ryan
TJV
Well-known
Boy Scout said:
It depends who you talk to as to what story you get. One person says the glass is rare, the next person says there's only one guy who makes them at the factory. Either way, is seems certain it will get the chop as soon as back orders are filled.
dave lackey
Veteran
Ned,
Been really lovin' those Noct shots! That last one with the knee-deep snow...do you remember the camera settings? Man, wish we could get a coupla inches down south!
BTW, thanks for this thread.
Been really lovin' those Noct shots! That last one with the knee-deep snow...do you remember the camera settings? Man, wish we could get a coupla inches down south!
BTW, thanks for this thread.
Ororaro
Well-known
dave lackey said:
Shot with a Zeiss Ikon @f1 (around 1/125th).
If I could, I'd trade your sand for my snow anytime!