[Leica] Noctilux ramblings

[s.jessurun95 at chello.nl (animal)]

> Well as you all know I recently sold my Noctilux to finance the
> purchase of the new Summilux. I thought I would post my thoughts on the
> Noctilux before the new lens comes and colours my views.
>
> The Noctilux is not sharp wide open. The Noctilux is not a light lens
> by most measures and is simply gargantuan by M standards. The Noctilux
> does not focus close and its focusing is slow and ponderous. The
> Noctilux vignettes wide open in a manner more reminiscent of a lens of
> the late 1800s rather than one designed just a few decades ago. The
> Noctilux's bokeh varies from creamy smoothness ? perhaps we should
> judge cream by how closely it resembles the Noctilux? ? to disturbing
> and nausea inducing at certain subject/foreground distances.
>
> So what the hell gives? Why is it a simply stunning piece of glass?
>
> First and foremost it is the most flare proof piece of glass I have
> ever used. I have photos with large bright light sources right behind
> the subject and every hair is clearly defined and the subject is as
> crisp and clear as if you were photographing on cloudy bright day with
> a scrim. It took my breath away and I am going to miss that quality the
> most. Yes, it was so good in this regard that I find it difficult to
> believe I will ever find its match again. I won't complain if the new
> Summilux comes close but I will be surprised.
>
> Contrary to popular report, the Noctilux is excellent stopped down. It
> is as crisp and clear as most other normals out there. Perhaps the
> corners are not quite as crisp as the Summicron ? when both are at f2
> to f2.8 and enlarged to four feet by six feet ? but, I hate to break
> the news, this just doesn't matter in handheld photography. Handheld is
> all I do and that is why I use M cameras (your habits and needs may
> differ). Once I tried the Noctilux, my Summicron went on the shelf
> permanently.
>
> On my Rapidwinder equipped M6TTL, the Noctilux balances very nicely and
> is a joy to use. Perhaps not a joy to have hanging off the neck as you
> are walking about but, once up to the eye, everything falls into place.
> The controls are nicely weighted and stay where they are put.
>
> It is remarkable just how far that aperture ring turns! It never seems
> to stop. If you can see the subject then you can get a decent handheld
> shot with 400 ISO film. Yes it vignettes badly wide open but it really
> does not show in the photos as the light conditions tend to be very low
> when you are at f1. Yes it is not remarkably sharp wide open but the
> ability to use fine grained low speed film makes up for this. Done
> right it produces drop dead gorgeous, take your breath away photos when
> everyone else has had to switch to flash.
>
> So why did I sell it?
>
> The main reason is that i found myself constantly struggling with the
> 1.0 meter focus limit. I needed to be closer. The photo I saw in my
> mind required me to be closer. It was very frustrating as it would only
> have to be a little bit closer as I never had the same trouble with the
> 0.7 meter limit of the Summicron. I hoped that over time i would adjust
> but after two years of the Noctilux as my normal of choice, it is time
> to admit defeat.
>
> The other reason is that my back has suffered from years of strain
> doing mechanical work and it is now not a pleasure to carry a heavy
> camera and lens around my neck. No searing shooting pains, yet, but my
> one arm goes numb. I have tried various exercises which help relieve
> the problem once it has developed but none have solved the problem. I
> hope to be actively photographing until I die and, if losing a stop now
> will help down the road, that is what I am going to do.
>
> I have tried and sold on many pieces of M glass over the years. All
> have gone with no regrets. I am not a sentimental man. If it does the
> job, I keep it. If it doesn't, it goes. There is a magical quality
> about shots into the light using the Noctilux. My lips purse into a
> silent "oh" when I look at them. This was a tough call where my emotion
> and reason struggled with the obvious. While there is no doubt it had
> to go and I will not be buying another, I will miss the Noctilux.
>
> John Collier
>
>
Well if you ever come to Amsterdam i,ll lend you mine for the day.
http://www.leica-gallery.net/apekop/folder-6938.html
Simon Jessurun
Amsterdam
The Netherlands