[Leica] For Sale: pristine Nocti .95

[John McMaster]

You shouldn't get it calibrated to a particular body, all lenses and bodies should be set to zero tolerance of what they should be. Solms had my M9 and f1 but did not make them work well together, a lens specialist in NZ did the calibration after I got it back. My 75mm Summilux went to Solms three times before it focussed accurately. As others have said, try your lens on a digital body before you say it focusses perfectly....

john

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Rabiner

My Nocti f1  focused perfectly on two M6's. One much older than the other.
So I'm not ok with the idea that its a thing you have to have specially calibrated for a certain body and so on. I think the thing just works.


On 4/3/15 5:04 PM, "John McMaster" <john at mcmaster.co.nz> wrote:

> I don't tend to use my Noctilii at f5.6, nothing wrong with it just I 
> would use a different 50mm if I was expecting that. It can be 
> difficult to get the
> f1 focussing calibrated accurately but it can be done. The 90AA is not 
> at its best at closer focussing distances, should be updated with FLE 
> like the 75AA....
> 
> john
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Rabiner
> 
> I'm glad to know that John that the f1 has no problems with digital as 
> I thought there were a few threads to the effect on this list a  long 
> while back. And that this had been corroborated in the real world.  
> Having spent all that money on a lens I'm glad and gotten great 
> results with it with film its nice to know if I ever lay my hands on a 
> Monochrom or M240 I'd be able to shoot f1 with it and be there and get 
> that look. Didn't they say it messed up at f5.6? Focus shift?
> If I ever got a digital M I'd certainly give it a shot.
> Aspherically  I have the 21 and 24 Elmarit's, the 35 Summicron and the 
> 90 Apo asph Summicron another lens which in my dreams I heard people 
> saying was a problem with digital.
> 
> On 4/3/15 4:27 PM, "John McMaster" <john at mcmaster.co.nz> wrote:
> 
>> I own both Mark, not sure what issues the f1 has with digital? My f1 
>> focusses fine on all my Ms but the F0.95 front focusses slightly on 
>> the Monochrom :-( I enjoy my Leica lenses where I can get a very 
>> different, but equally good quality, images with a 75mm Summilux or 
>> the 75mm APO Summicron. I am not aware of any other system like this, 
>> with Hasselblad and Canikon etc you tend to need the latest lenses as 
>> they catch up ;-)
>> 
>> john
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From:  Mark Rabiner
>> 
>> I would also like to see side by side comparisons but the meantime 
>> I'd think the new lens is better than the old one (which I have) on 
>> all accounts. This is a key lens in the Leica lineup with high 
>> visibility promo value and the last lens Dr. Andreas Kaufmann is 
>> going to mess up in any respect.
>> The f1 has trouble with digital. A huge embarrassment for the Leica company.
>> This one costing three times more money and having the fastest design 
>> available is not going to have any glitches in it. Its going to be worth it.
>> Leica has the resources to make sure this is the case.
>> 
>> Its common on at least this the list to assume that a lens with an 
>> aspheric element in it has a harsh look with ruined bokeh. Leica went 
>> to bed and woke up stupid.
>> Its as if it goes without saying so that people will make solid 
>> statements to this effect without even seeing this first hand on a 
>> new lens it not questioned by anybody.
>> I've have four M lenes with aspherics in them and have found that 
>> first hand to not be true. Each generation of Leica glass, Nikon too 
>> and I'd think Canon gets sharper with better contrast and god forbid 
>> they'd forget much better bokeh. As this aspect of a lens is all 
>> anyone cares or knows about any more.
>> I find this worship of old glass to be puerile. Even multi coating is 
>> looked upon with a negative slant and older simpler coatings revered.
>> They even say this improves film speed. Pay extra for a single coated 
>> lens. Less contrast means better shadow detail. Like never.
>> The lens or camera companies are highly competitive and none of them 
>> are stupid. The general level of optical engineering improves every minute.
>> I always with few exceptions get the latest a camera company has to 
>> offer unless I cant afford it or its no longer made or its more 
>> compact or something. If I get old glass I don't claim they make 
>> better images. They make cheaper images.
>> 
>> 
>> On 4/3/15 3:18 PM, "John McMaster" <john at mcmaster.co.nz> wrote:
>> 
>>> The f1 can create 'dreamier' images, the f0.95 is a bit harsher. I 
>>> read a few years back about someone who had both; he used the f0.95 
>>> if he was going somewhere and had to get a photo (stopped down it is 
>>> almost as good as any Leica 50mm) but used the f1 in his own time 
>>> for personal images. The colours from the f0.95 and gorgeous but the 
>>> f1 is also significantly smaller and lighter!
>>> 
>>> john
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Or maybe it's just nostalgia...
>>> 
>>> Even if it's purely emotional, I just can't justify having something 
>>> this expensive that makes me feel guilty not loving it.
>>> 
>>> Sue
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>>> On Apr 3, 2015, at 10:04 AM, Robert Adler <rgacpa at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> There is something lovely and unique about the "older" Notcti's 
>>>> indeed! I agree that there is some secret ingredient missing in the 
>>>> new 0.95's. I think if I were to see some side-by-side shots I 
>>>> might be able to better see a difference.
>>>> Good luck with the sale: many love and produce beautiful images with it.
>>>> Best,
>>>> Bob
>>>> 
>>>>> On Thu, Apr 2, 2015 at 8:29 PM, Susan Ryan <skalte at icloud.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> I shot maybe 100 images with it. Just don't love it the way I did my 1.0.
>>>>> $9000. Photos available. Paypal preferred but we can discuss 
>>>>> alternatives if necessary. Contact me offlist.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Sue Ryan
>>>>>