Which Noctilux version...

[Shade]

The first first version is 1.2, and is aspherical, smaller in size, and are mot easy to find.

The first version of the F1.0 vignettes the most due to the slightly smaller barrel size diameter. By comparison its 58mm and newer ones are 60mm. The difference is slight if not un noticeable in real life practice.

The rest of the F1.0 version are all the same optically with sligh cosmetic differences. There may or may not be coating differences between versions.

The latest one F0.95 is back using aspherical glass, hence is much sharper and defined in its looks. And in corporating aspherical glass eliminates the aspherical aberrations which people refer to as leica glow. So the latest version doesnt have a glow.

But to me the main difference of getting the 0.95 or the 1.0 is the bokeh characteristic. The 0.95 is more correct and modern and precise and smooth, while the 1.0 verion has that swirly characteristic that I am very fond of.

 

[Shade]

I was also wondering... I heard rumors on the Internet that a Canon 50mm/0.95 lens with perfect focus, 6-bit coded as the Noctilux 50/0.95 could be a "poor mans" choice, alternative... After seeing the works of Tommy Oshima, I am sure it would be hard to settle for anything else BUT the Noctilux, if you love the dreamy glowing bokeh. But still, I do see from time to time, people that seem to be positively surprised with this lens...
Anyone here having opinions on this matter or this Canon lens?

The canon is fine but it is softer than the leica and has very low contrast. My friend own the lens and I have played with it before, although he didnt have it coded so I choose manual coding.

The bokeh characteristic is also "common", not the one Im after.. So I personally would skip on the lens. However I wouldnt consider the Canon a poor man's noct, since canon actually made the 0.95 long before Leica did theirs.

The nokton 1.1 on the other hand could be considered as such, but it holds its pwn reputation quite well and many are satisfied with it.

 

[urban_alchemist]

I have both the f1.0 (most recent version with hood) and the f0.95. They are very different lenses, but both share an incredible and unique signature.

The f1.0 is objectively a terrible lense - the long-throw focus is a nightmare, it's unusable between f2.0 and about f8, and even wide open, the in-focus areas ripple like waves.

The f.95 is the exact oppsoite. It is pin-sharp, perfect through the f-range and the throw isn't bad either. Infact, apart from the extra few stops, it perfoms as well as a 'Lux ASPH, just without the slight stickiness in the focus throw...

Both will give beautiful dreamy shots wide open, but - and here the clincher - the f1.0 will always paint the scene completely differently from anything else, and denote it a magical quality. The f0.95 will just be a very very very beautiful, pin-sharp, nice-boked lense.

I tend to use the two equally: I retread my steps with the f1.0, trying to see the world differently. And I go to new places with the f0.95, as it perfectly captures the wonder of the new.

f0.95:

f1.0:

Both shots are M9, both at 160ISO. Hope that helps!

 

[Jubb Jubb]

i've been looking into saving for this lens (most likely an f1 version as Im budgeting for around $6000). Just wondering why the lens is unusable from f2-f8?

I know you don't really buy a fast lens to use it on the higher f stops, but is it that bad?
Do you have any examples you could post?

 

[urban_alchemist]

For the old, f1.0 lense:

The indefinite focal-point, while endearing at f1.0, is irritating and magnified at f2.0. You expect a certain consistency with a working lense once stopped down, and the Noctilux fails miserably. At f8 it is a joke.

You'd be better off buying a budget lense, or a much cheaper, slower lense (eg. Elmar 2.8 or f2.5) for far better results.

To give an idea: I have no working shot from the f1.0 past ~f2.0.

Wide open: magical. Stopped down: a disaster.

 

[Tom Diaz]

I can't shoot my M9 at 1.6000th..🙁 The shortest speed is 1/4007th. (Yes it is in Solms and they will replace the LED display😛)

I traded my M8 in on an M9 a while ago, and the 9 has a lower maximum shutter speed. I suppose I will have to set the ISO to 400 or so on occasion instead of letting it float. Even so, the combination of really fast lenses with fast shutters really opens up new possibilities for daylight shooting even though these lenses are thought of as tools for shooting in the dark.

I should mention that the Noctiluxes (I think all of them) are incredibly resistant to flare, so you can shoot right into blasts of light. They are not perfect lenses by any means, but that is one of their really strong points.

 

[Shade]

i've been looking into saving for this lens (most likely an f1 version as Im budgeting for around $6000). Just wondering why the lens is unusable from f2-f8?

I know you don't really buy a fast lens to use it on the higher f stops, but is it that bad?
Do you have any examples you could post?

I'm not sure either why he posted its unusable from F2-F8... perhaps focus shift issues? But I'm not sure I'm experiencing any...