The Ultimate GAS for Leica

[jdos2]

Yes, of course, the lust is teasing, the Noctilust.

I have found used samples in my range, if I sell my Prominent kit and Canon D10 (and the lenses).

Anyone else here use one? Rumors are that it's a bit "soft." Is that the case? I'm not worried about vignetting. I've the Summilux 35mm and Summicron 90, I know how to compose considering most of the background is WAY out of focus, and I would certainly use the lens at f/1- I'm in Cleveland, fer chrissake, and winter is only 7 months of the year.

So again, anyone using one? Too heavy? (not that I mind heavy) Or are the pictures stopped down much less sharp than the Summicron 50?

Or is this something that just won't go away until I figure it out for myself?

🙂

 

[SolaresLarrave]

You don't have the ultimate Leica GAS, jdos, you have what Andrew Nemeng (and others) call "Noctilust."

And it's a bad thing.

Come on... I don't want you to turn into one of those snotty Leica purists... The minute you lay your hands on one, you'll start waxing poetic about its creamy bokeh and its great signature. Of course, those are compensations for a lens that's surprisingly fast, but not to the user's gain (IMHO). If you use it wide open, the DOF is so shallow that a hairline deviation sends your sharpness into oblivion.

Sure, I've seen some priced at what might be my range: roughly the equivalent of another M6TTL body, but the photos I've seen haven't left me agog. In fact, I like what you can do with a good Summilux (which you already have, and whose performance is simply legendary), but if you have to close the lens down to f5.6 to gain some decent sharpness...

You'd be better served by a Nokton 35/f1.2.

Sorry, don't want to sound too harsh, but I find the Noctilux too much noise for what it is worth. And it's very heavy too... The Leica representative who usually comes to Chicago has told me so. Apparently he's a great fan of that glass... I just haven't found a reason why, because I don't do a lot of night shots.

Now... if you're getting into that, check your PMs! 🙂

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Sorry again, jdos... After writing all that stuff above, I definitely must admit to have suffered from Noctilust. Very briefly; and managed to cure myself by repeating the famous and uneffective mantra of "when will I use it?"

It worked. In case it doesn't do it for you, again, check your PMs. And keep me posted!! 😀

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Okay, the Good Angel has spoken.

Now It's my Turn.

F1.0! That's the fastest Leitz lens ever made. FAST! Fast! Fast!

ONE FULL F-Stop Faster than the Fastest Lens that most people have ever Used!!!


GET IT! GET IT! GET IT!!!

I also Suffer from Noctilust. and also from Nikkor F1.1 lust. I satisfied my Canon F0.95 lust at only $200. The others are going to cost more. I toyed with selling the Nikon M Unsync to get one. But I am a Nikon Fanatic First, above and beyond all normal metrics.

 

[jdos2]

You are right.

It's either that, though, or a good Summilux 50mm, preferably the ASPH.

Oh, it's not that bad- I'm aware of the vignetting, the f-1 IN THE CENTER (Ur Nemeth has a GREAT site!) considerations, and the very tight focus. I've the Summilux 35mm, and the issues are similar, but my fondest pictures are of my subject emerging from the fuzz and into sharp focus.

And then again, I probably shouldn't be buying anything, and just take pictures with what I have.

But a Noct? A 'Lux ASPH 50?

And thanks!

I prefer "Nauselux" or WET MOP Bokeh.

 

[jdos2]

Okay, the Good Angel has spoken.

Now It's my Turn.

F1.0! That's the fastest Leitz lens ever made. FAST! Fast! Fast!

ONE FULL F-Stop Faster than the Fastest Lens that most people have ever Used!!!


GET IT! GET IT! GET IT!!!

I also Suffer from Noctilust. and also from Nikkor F1.1 lust. I satisfied my Canon F0.95 lust at only $200. The others are going to cost more. I toyed with selling the Nikon M Unsync to get one. But I am a Nikon Fanatic First, above and beyond all normal metrics.

Puts pinky to the corner of my mouth:

"PURE EVIL."

LOL! Brian,

I found one for $2,100. Steep, especially when I've not yet got the other cameras sold. Still. It would be a challenge, used indoors, at night, with Tri-x and Diafine, (1,250 ASA!) it would certainly have a certain look.

That 1.1 Nikor haunted me for a while until I saw one on e-Bay, NOT in perfect condition (external mount, too) for about $5,000. That... Took some of the wind out of my sails. I don't remember if the SP was attached or not. Still, there's such an attraction to bright glass, as if f/1.4 wasn't bright enough.
If 1.4 IS bright enough, shouldn't the ASPH 50mm (found one!) be the better lens ANYWAY?

AAAAAAAAAHHH!

 

[Kris]

Gosh Brian is getting more evil than ever. First he sent all this psychic sign to RFF members to get M3s. Now he's spreading Noctilust.

Joe or Jorge, please do me a favour: ban me from this site forever! Lusting after a 50 Jahre Summicron is bad enough. I don't want to catch Noctilust!

 

[jdos2]

What does surprise me is that this topic hasn't come up more often. I guess it will now that more and more people are making deals with the various devils of the world...

 

[schaubild]

Gee am I lucky to have moved to medium format heaven. 🙂

 

[jdos2]

Whispers into schaubild's ear: "Mamiya 645 f/1.9! Ernostar f/1.8!"

Oh, there are PLENTY of places to go in Medium Format for fast lenses. I still covet (in the way George Carlin said it: "Covet, father, heavy on the covet!") my Mamiya Universal f/2.8 100mm.

 

[schaubild]

I hear voices?? Not very nice JD 😉 But with my Alpa I'm definitely in heaven...

 

[andrewn]

I bought one second hand and it had some internal marks i it. The black around the edge of lenses was failing slightly. Probably wasn't optically significant but I sort of lost faith in it and convinced myself that it was flawed. At F1.0 it was soft and at f5.6 it lacked the contrast of my Summicron so I sold it...

Now I look at the photographs I took with it and think, "gosh, they really are beautiful, this is not about science but art, not a REPRODUCTION of the world at large but an INTERPRETATION of it", and I regret selling it!!

I am now saving for another one but will make sure I buy something more recent - say 10 yrs old max. I promise that this time I'll keep it!!

My balanced view; yes it is bloody heavy and bloody expensive, no it isn't mega sharp but you will take photographs that look totally unique and at the end of they day surely that it what it is all about whether it is a Holga, infred film, the Lensbaby, shift movements or the Noctilux that floats your boat.

If you can afford it then go for it and enjoy... you won't focus it accurately half the time but who cares!!

 

[aizan]

i'd say the noctilux is the ultimate unleica lust. it's the complete opposite of the summicron.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Let me just add: It is lighter than the Canon 50mm F0.95, is sharper than the Canon 50mm F0.95, takes much smaller filters (60mm), is sharper, and really screams for an M3 to put it on. I have no problem focussing the 50mm F0.95 on the Canon 7 with its 0.8x finder. I have the M3 and 60mm Skylight filter already, so it is inevitable that one day a Nocti will be mine. My SP was shown to me with the F1.1 (external mount) on it, but I could only afford the body. And My M3 is incredibly accurate down to 0.7m, thanks to JD! And thanks to Essex, it no longer caps at 1/1000th.

 

[Tim]

Man, am I glad that this is one bit of Leicalust I don't suffer from! For me, the Noctilux is just too big and heavy. Handled one about 2 months ago and nearly got a hernia! 630gms is a LOT of weight for a 50, plus the bulk. But as a few people have said - if you need that speed, then there's really no question.

Anyway, who am I to judge Leica GAS? After all, I bought a Tri-Elmar.......

 

[SolaresLarrave]

My GAS (hate to admit it) is still Leicalust-ish... And I'm at the crossroads: it's either a meter-less body or a 135/f2.8 Elmarit.

Needless to say, the latter is a lot more feasible! 🙂

But then... what do I do with the spiffied up Leica-meter MR I'm getting from Quality Light Metric this week? 🙁

See what I mean? 😕 🙁

 

[Tim]

.....And I'm at the crossroads: it's either a meter-less body or a 135/f2.8 Elmarit......

Anyone want to take bets on how long it's going to be before Brian starts sending subliminal "M3..." messages?

😀

 

[andrewn]

A couple of Nocti pictures

A couple of Nocti pictures

Just incase I haven't convinced you here a couple of Noctilux pictures. Please be gentle with me these are the first images I have submitted to the forum!

This is my god daughter Gracie, one with with Grandma and one with Dad. I like the strength of the proud fathers arm against the dreamy softness of the out of focuss areas.

Please let me know what you think. I could have done this with a Summicron there was just about enough light , but it would have been a very different image.

 

[andrewn]

I've just viewed this and it's not very high resolution, sorry but I'm clueless when it comes to digital stuff but I hope it gives you some idea...

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I want one. Camera show in two weeks.