The curse of expensive equipment?

[YYV_146]

I was reading a very fine article on using the Noctilux ASPH as a B&W lens when I noticed some comments beneath, calling the Noct a piece of "pointless bull****" and stating that the author was "simply trying to justify his needless purchase". Other comments noted that "nothing this lens can do a $800 Voigtlander can't do" and suggested to "sell the glass and go traveling" and "stop creating bokehy mess and make real pictures".

While RFF is wonderfully devoid of such rude remarks, I have been on the receiving end of similar comments on a variety of forums (and in different languages, no less). About why expensive equipment, with the Noct being the obvious worst offender, are overpriced and impractical. People have told me that I should stay away from them and use the funds more wisely, such as buying a car or touring the world.

So yes, I bought a pre-owned Noctilux a short while back. I'm aware of how much traveling I could do with an extra 9 grand, but the Noct produces amazing pictures and gives an extra stop of light beyond any of my other lenses. I will admit that I bought it partly to explore the incredibly shallow DOF, but is there anything wrong with that?

In other words, is it just more "noble" to carry a cheap film set or P&S and sightsee in the most beautiful cities of the world, compared to loading up on top-of-the-line cameras and lenses but only working in the 20 blocks around your home?

 

[Phil_F_NM]

“Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things can not be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain.

Yet at the same time, that 20 blocks around your home could be an intense and exhaustive study, truly rewarding if you make it so.

Your ownership and use of that lens is all up to you and your work. The only one you need to justify it to is yourself. If you're a good photographer, you're a good photographer and that lens will lend its signature to your vision. If you're not a good photographer, well, lets say you can polish a turd all you want but in the end it still is a turd. A Noctilux won't help the latter.

Phil Forrest

 

[fireblade]

whatever floats your boat.....and don't let others tell you how.

 

[btgc]

As you put on counter your own money not my then my opinion isn't worth words I could type on this kind of choice. We all are free to make choices and mistakes, this is fine as long as it's not hurting someone else....too hard.

 

[axiom]

Noctilux (f/1) was what got me into the Leica M world. However, soon after I am totally immersed into Leica, I got rid of the Noctilux.
There are simply other aspects of Leica that I enjoy more.

 

[YYV_146]

“Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things can not be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain.

Yet at the same time, that 20 blocks around your home could be an intense and exhaustive study, truly rewarding if you make it so.

Your ownership and use of that lens is all up to you and your work. The only one you need to justify it to is yourself. If you're a good photographer, you're a good photographer and that lens will lend its signature to your vision. If you're not a good photographer, well, lets say you can polish a turd all you want but in the end it still is a turd. A Noctilux won't help the latter.

Phil Forrest

And Kant made some of the most important advancements in Western philosophy without leaving his hometown. Granted, mail delivery by horse was pretty fast in Europe in those days 😀

But even if I'm - or some other Noct owner is not a good photographer, then either being in an interesting place or having an interesting lens won't be helpful. And even if you are the single worst photographer that ever walked the earth, there is still nothing you can't try to create, right?

 

[YYV_146]

Noctilux (f/1) was what got me into the Leica M world. However, soon after I am totally immersed into Leica, I got rid of the Noctilux.
There are simply other aspects of Leica that I enjoy more.

Sadly, many people - even some Leica people can't see past Leica as a status symbol. Or maybe they think some Leica are status symbols, and some aren't...

 

[Rodchenko]

Works both ways. There's a lot of gear snobbery about. Those of us who can't afford mega-expensive gear, but still enjoy photography get looked down on by the guys with the bling.

Perhaps we could all just relax about it.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

I think that much of the antipathy is engendered by the way in which Leica products, among others, are over-enthusiastically touted by some users.

 

[sanmich]

You really like caviar.
someone bashes you about your expensive taste, and that in fact, a good omelette is just as tasty, but you know it's BS, because you really really hate lobster.

Noble?
why would photography be noble? or not?
Use the tools you feel comfortable with and can afford. end of the story.

 

[YYV_146]

I think that much of the antipathy is engendered by the way in which Leica products, among others, are over-enthusiastically touted by some users.

Leica's image has been trending towards the over-enthusiastic by their own engineering - I mean, all camera makers occasionally bling up their products for a markup, but Leica does it as if it's their main business...

As long as they keep making world-class lenses, though, I'm fine with it.

 

[btgc]

Then I have to ask if every owner of porsche, ferrari and similar cars are masterful racers? Many of them just are enjoying what they drive.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

I'll try again. It's a bit like political correctness. If you tell people they can't use certain words or discuss certain subjects, they'll overuse those words or become determined to make a fuss about the banned subjects. We're seeing a lot of that in Britain and France where there's a great deal of support for questionable parties like UKIP and the Front National.

If you say that the Noctilux is the finest lens ever made and only a fool would argue otherwise, some people will take a great delight in pointing out how a £50 lens is just as good in real terms, if not better. It's the sort of fight that neither dog can win, nor deserves to.

 

[sevo]

Then I have to ask if every owner of porsche, ferrari and similar cars are masterful racers? Many of them just are enjoying what they drive.

I frequently find them far more annoying than the most boastful-incompetent Leica owner. Showing off with a camera does not kill, showing off with a fast car may...

 

[ricnak]

Make the most of what you have available to you and stop worrying about what other people think.

Chances are that Joe Blogs on the street has no idea what a noctilux is, let alone what it costs. My kids think it sounds like a shell that you might find washed up on a beach.

Chances are that people on photo forums know what it is and how much it costs. So what?

Snobbery - don't get me started... there are many photo enthusiasts around who think that owning the odd one expensive lens is somehow a bad thing and that owning 10 different cheaper 50mm alternatives is somehow more admirable.

It takes all sorts of people to make the world go around. If they are happy with their many choices - good. If you are happy with your one choice - good.

 

[YYV_146]

I'll try again. It's a bit like political correctness. If you tell people they can't use certain words or discuss certain subjects, they'll overuse those words or become determined to make a fuss about the banned subjects. We're seeing a lot of that in Britain and France where there's a great deal of support for questionable parties like UKIP and the Front National.

If you say that the Noctilux is the finest lens ever made and only a fool would argue otherwise, some people will take a great delight in pointing out how a £50 lens is just as good in real terms, if not better. It's the sort of fight that neither dog can win, nor deserves to.

Not that I was disagreeing with you in the previous reply - just making an observation of Leica fanboyism, but this I wholly agree with. There are some lenses (and cameras)with way too much surrounding hype...

 

[YYV_146]

I frequently find them far more annoying than the most boastful-incompetent Leica owner. Showing off with a camera does not kill, showing off with a fast car may...

No, but if the camera is big enough, heavy enough - maybe you could drop it and break someone's neck 😀

 

[jschrader]

both ways:
one says can't you afford a good camera (lens, car, ...) ?
the other one sais can't you take good photos with a simple camera (lens, ...) ?

I take different photos since I've had a Leica. Probably I could have taken them with any camera, or mostly, but I didn't, so somehow the equipment has an influence.

And is some 1000$ is much money? Who around here is a smoker? How long do you need to burn the money for a Noctilux?

 

[michaelwj]

Then I have to ask if every owner of porsche, ferrari and similar cars are masterful racers? Many of them just are enjoying what they drive.

On the contrary, many of them are horrible to drive. Stiff suspension, heavy short clutches, noisy, with uncomfortable seats, and unreliable. Its purely for status.
At least a Leica doesn't need a track day to be used to its fullest potential.

And to the OP, how dare you own AND enjoy something I can't afford! Show me a picture you took with it and I'll tell you you're not good enough🙂

Cheers,
Michael

 

[rluka]

They just need to voice their thoughts.
If you change, then fine. If you keep your Noct, that's your choice.
It's not like they're putting high expectation that their words will change the world. 😛