Noctilux users. At this point in time would you buy a noctilux again? If so, what would be yoiur reasons? If you like it, and I imagine you do, why do you like it?

-- Silas Larsen (slarsen@mail.colgate.edu), November 02, 2001

Answers

If I had the money, I'd buy two more of them. I've been using my Noct for almost a year. It's heavy, it's cumbersome, it's a royal pain to keep with you, especially if you like to keep your camera under a coat. But I love my Noct. I think it has something to do with the fact that I know, deep down, that I may never fully come to realize its potential. It's the most exotic lens you can buy for a 35mm rangefinder camera. It's exotic as an object in and of itself, let alone being a fine piece of glass. I have probably twenty pieces of Leica or Leitz glass. If the house was burning down and I could only grab one lens to go with me, it would be my Nocitlux.

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@alaska.net), November 02, 2001.

Silas, good and interesting quest, I am too willing to read answers.

Tony, has your devotion to the Nocī something to do with the fact that you in Alaska have half of the year nigth? I reming that picture of your of a girl before a fire at nigth; IMOO a challenge picture for the Noct.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), November 02, 2001.

Perhaps a better option is to get a Canon 50mm f/1.2 and a 50mm f/2 'cron. Admittitly the Canon is not the greatest lens made; the Noct f/1 failed to pass Pop Photo test back in the early 80's as well.

When you need 1.2 or 1.4 use the Canon; at f/2 or above use the 'cron.

I used a Canon f/1.2 with my M3 in the early 80's and was satisfied with the results using HP5 and making 8x10 prints. But I also bought the 'cron for everyday use.

-- Tony Oresteen (aoresteen@mindspring.com), November 03, 2001.

I sold my Noctilux because although it is incredible at f1 it goes out of focus as you stop down. The depth of field that you gain from stopping down is not sufficient to preserve sharpness. My intention was to use it at f1.4 to f2 but have f1 when necessary. If you're happy to leave it at f1 all the time, it can't be beat!

See Erwin's Photo Site for details.

http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/mseries/testm/M10-50.html

Do some depth of field calculations with the focus shift as quoted by Erwin "The focusshift of the Noctilux is 74 micron when stopping down from 1,0 to 2,0 and 120 micron when going to 5.6".

You'll see why the apparent resolution falls from very respectable at f1 to dreadful at f2.

-- John Stockdale (jo.sto@bbigpond.com), November 03, 2001.

John, I am not sure if I understand the focus shift issue. Leica calibrated the focus of the Noctilux at maximum aperture only?

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), November 03, 2001.