Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/12/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>The Noctilux is a spectacular achievement. It can do what no other lens >ever produced, at least in series production, can do. That doesn't mean it >can do what a lighter, more compact lens, better corrected for medium >apertures can do. On the issue that the Noctilux should only be used wide open and that the Summis are better stopped down Erwin has the following to say: The new Noctilux improves on stopping down and at apertures around 5.6 surpasses by a small margin the performance of the current Summilux M and is close to the performance of the current Summicron M. The inherently higher correction of the Summicron M gives the pictures taken with this lens a higher clarity and an almost brittle edge contrast. Comparison pictures with the Noctilux show a somewhat softer definition at the level of very fine detail. The suggestion that the Noctilux should only be used at full aperture because this is the aperture at which this lens should deliver its best is not supported by the facts. ("Leica Lens Compendium," p. 131) I find it strange that some feel the need to put down the Noctilux. No one has said that it's the latest, greatest, best lens Leica ever made, that everybody should go out and buy one, that it's the only 50 to have, etc., but rather that it's a wonderful lens that produces truly outstanding results. What's so controversial about that? Guy - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html