Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/08/17

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Noctilux 50mm f1.4
From: "Jerry S. Justianto" <jsjm6@cbn.net.id>
Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2000 23:29:37 +0700
References: <LAW2-F198TvRVuQ6z6w00002367@hotmail.com>

Hi Barry,

Noctilux is very unique lens.  I remember when I just got the lens, my first
two roles have very unexpected results (I will post it in my noctilux page
someday).  It is very frustrating that more than 80% of the image have
vignette an unknown lighting and color change.  I consult to the Luggers
here and lots of theory come out, like Asia neon have different freq, to
much light on top of me etc.

But.

BUT, after getting friendly with Noctilux, I never find any more problem
with this lens.  It just like it change its attitude toward me (I am not a
superstitious person, but I don't know how to explain it).

I just update my homepage with a baby picture shot with Noctilux at 1.0 with
Fuji 100 print film
http://LeicaM.Homepage.Com/g01.htm


May be it need time to mastering the characteristic of the lens.  You might
want to read Erwin's article about Noctilux, comparing it like a great wine.

Regards,
Jerry S. Justianto
Http://LeicaM.Homepage.Com

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Barry Dinan <hawkeyecreative@hotmail.com>
To: <leica-users-digest@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2000 5:51 PM
Subject: [Leica] Noctilux 50mm f1.4


> - thanks to all who responded to my last query re parallax error using
24mm.
>   Being new to rangefinder I had never thought of parallax error in
relation
> to foreground obscuring background. -
>
> I had the Noctilux 50mm on trial and after shooting a test roll with this
> lens I returned it to the shop and bought something else (The 75mm
Summilux
> f1.4).
> The main reason I can't ever use this Noctilux lens is ridiculous - the
> things a bloody cuckoo!  It's too big for the M6.  When it's on the M6 and
> you look through the viewfinder it's all you can see, it really obscures
> half the finder!!
> So I certainly found that not being able to see what you're trying to
> photograph - A BIG PROBLEM.
> The dark vignetting in the corner of the shots was extremely bad and nine
> out of ten shots required much cropping.  This factor could be critical
for
> e.g. if sending original slides or negs to a magazine publisher who layout
> originals without cropping facilities, and so on.
> Of course composition through the viewfinder is affected by taking the
> vignetting into account.
> On the other hand I did get some fantastic reproduction on the slide film
> that I shot with the Noctilux.  The colours and tones as captured by the
> Noctilux in low, artificial lighting were remarkable.
> However, I would need to do more tests with it to say that the Noctilux
50mm
> f1 has unique and outstanding characteristics that outweigh its defects.
> You've really got to see it to disbelieve it.
> Leica certainly don't list any of these major problems with the lens in
> their glossy brochure - quite the opposite.  Even though they are trying
to
> sell, I think Leica should be more honest in their brochure about their
> products.  When surprised with problems like these I am now suspicious
about
> any Leica equipment that I am considering to buy.  Try before you buy.
> Don't get me wrong I do enjoy my M6 system.
> Regards,
> Barry Dinan
> ________________________________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
>
>

In reply to: Message from "Barry Dinan" <hawkeyecreative@hotmail.com> ([Leica] Noctilux 50mm f1.4)