[Leica] 7 Artisans 50mm F1.1 Lens

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (Ted Grant)]

Hi Frank,
When LEICA began production of the Noctilux in the new factory in Canada I
managed to purchase the first one sold back in I think in the early '70's?
And I still have it and it's NEVER BEEN TESTED IN ANY FORM!
My assignments back in those days were shooting many industrial projects,
"steel mill operation, the automotive industry building vehicles start to
finish to showroom!" Atlantic & Pacific industrial fishing, aircraft
assembly, farming the prairies to baby birthing to finally on occasion,
death of the elderly.
Never once did it ever occur to me to test the "NOCTI?" And there were lot's
of f1.0 frames with no concern whatsoever! WHY???? 
It was a "LEICA LENS! WHY TEST IT?" :-)
Granted 90% were shot on B&W film and many prints were on 16X20 heavy weight
paper for exhibitions by government international use in Canadian government
embassy offices.
A sort of two sides to the coin situations?
cheers,
Dr. Ted Grant  O.C. 


-----Original Message-----
From: LUG [mailto:lug-bounces+tedgrant=shaw.ca at leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
Frank Filippone
Sent: January-04-18 10:44 AM
To: 'Leica Users Group'
Subject: [Leica] 7 Artisans 50mm F1.1 Lens

I bought one of these from Amazon last year ($369).  Only over Christmas did
I get to really try it out..

 

I own a Noctilux, 3rd version. Not the new F0.95 version, but the 1.0
version.  I thought that maybe I could buy this cheapie, and sell off the
Nocti..   Put several thousand dollars back into the coffers...

I also own a 50mm F1.4 Summilux ASPH, the sharpest lens I have ever run
across. 

My Monochrom is back from its stay in Allendale.. So it was the right time
to try the lens on the Monochrom body and run it against the Summilux.

 

The focus seems right on.  There is the possibility to adjust the RF cam,
but I did not have to do the adjustment, everything worked just fine.

 

I shot wide open. why else buy this lens?

 

There is a creamy edge to all of the images taken, from F1.1 to about F2.8
After that, the creaminess disappears.  It is a pleasant effect.  Soft
renditions of an earlier time and place.  But if you think this is in the
less well focused areas, you are wrong.  It is creamy all over.  Focused
areas or not...  May will love this for portraiture.  Maybe for some
landscapes.

 

But it you LOVE sharpness, and pursue tit with lenses like the 50 ASPH Lux,
this lens is so different it takes some time to comprehend.  I am not there
yet.

 

Do I like what I shot?  Depends, as a shot of my Son worked out real well.
But a shot of my future DIL was way more interesting ( technically?) but it
showed every pore on her face...   The shot of her with the 7 artisans, was
much smoother.  Of course, it also means there was nothing sharp.  So I like
everything smooth or everything sharp?

Not so sure yet..

 

Next thing to try out is the 7 Artisans against my Nocti.

 

Maybe this week...

 

BTW, the Techart Leica M to Sony A7II (and other) AF adapter worked real
well..   That was a real win.

 

Frank Filippone

 

Red735i at verizon.net

 


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