Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/10/29

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Subject: Noctilux
From: leicas@isham-research.demon.co.uk (Phil Payne)
Date: Thu, 30 Oct 1997 00:32:15 GMT

In message <199710280807.TAA14117@ThePla.net> Chris Bitmead writes:

> How far do you have to stop down to bring the light falloff within
> reasonable bounds? f1.4? f2? I guess reasonable bounds is
> debatable. Lets say within 1 stop.

Yeah - but you don't do that.  At least, I don't.  Might as well use a
Summilux.

My own use of the Noctilux has changed over the years - I now use it as
a kind of 'stereo substitute'.  In broad daylight, I use a 16x ND filter
at f1 to get the famous _ZERO_ depth of field at reasonable shutter
speeds, and I find the vignetting merely assists in the business of
separating the subject from the background.

You don't, of course, need to print the whole frame.  The main subject
goes in the centre 'hot spot', with classic composition rules giving
them something to relate to in the darker corners.

- --
 Phil Payne