Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/03/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Mar 23, 2012 at 08:14 AM -0700, Frank Filippone wrote: >2 lenses that are special because of their max aperture... the 50 Noctilux >and 75 Summilux have shot up in value since the onslaught of the M8/M9. >My cut on this has always been that the new Leica buyers just want the >"best". What is "better" than these 2? > >The fact that they are special only because they open up so widely, and at >that aperture are a real challenge to focus is lost on these >nouveau-Leicaists. Frankly, I was never that interested in the Noctilux, though many are. I got a chance to play with the new one the other week and didn't really like it at all. Not the handling or the focus distance. I don't really like the pictures out of them either, the new or the old. The 75 Summilux is a cool lens which I liked a lot. It does have counterparts that the SLR users have access to (which was part of my decision to sell it), while the Noctiluxes arguably do not. Had it only focused faster, I'd still own it. As it stands, I realized I was missing shots that I would have gotten with my 50/1.4, focal length differences not withstanding, so practicality won out. If I were a rich man, I'd have kept it. If I shot more posed portraits, I'd definitely have kept it. However, neither of those facts are true and so now that money can be committed to another lens/camera which I'll get a lot more use out of. I actually only bought it because I found one for a hair over $2k since it was missing it's hood. Realizing Leica would attach a new one for $150 and figuring I could easily get my money back out if I decided to sell, I went for it. While it does have a nice look wide open, I found that I actually preferred shots at f/4 to f/5.6 with the Summilux. I assume those where the rough apertures My favorite shots with the lens were taken out. Daylight/window light with 400 speed films on a film camera that only goes to 1/1000... So maybe I'll pick up a CV 75/2.5 or Summarit or a Konica 90/2.8 and be as happy and more financially secure :D We'll see what the M10 brings. I might actually be tempted to buy one if some nagging issues are fixed.