Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/01/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 07:59 PM 27/1/98 -0500, you wrote: >Dan K wrote: > ><<<I can't wait till I try it out at f1.>>>>>> > >Dan, > >Your going to be very surprised, pleasantly or otherwise. > >The only suggestion I can make is, make sure you focus exactly on what you >want in focus! Because if you don't at f. 1, there isn't any room for >missing by a hair! :) > >ted > > Ted, I shot a roll of FP4 with the Noctilux on my Leica M6. I took mainly people pics and all were shot indoors. Shutter speed was 1/30 sec and the lens was opened up all the way to f1.0. I developed the film in Agfa Rodinal. Eyeballing the negatives, I found that there was slight but obvious vignetting at the corners in all my shots which were taken at f1.0. I am told that this vignetting disappears on closing down the lens aperture. I plan to utilise this characteristic artistically. The prints were enlarged to 8x10. While sharpness is not like what one may be used to with other leica lenses, yet the shots have a sort of magical aura about it. The images flow and glow. Three dimensional effects are enhanced. Backgrounds have a pastel-like quality. It is difficult to put these qualities into words. They can only be seen to be appreciated. I am sure this lens will shine when pictures are shot in colour. You are right. Used at f1.0, the lens has to be focussed spot on. Many of my shots were not in focus. Some were blurred by the slow shutter speed and subject movement. This lens does need a little getting used to and requires a higher level of photo taking discipline to achieve its full potential. Dan K.