Re: [Leica] Noctilux vs Summicron

[Krechtz@aol.com]

In a message dated 11/14/00 11:07:34 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
tedgrant@home.com writes:

<< you'd save yourselves a great deal of
 worry and have a great deal of wonderful pictures where others wouldn't even
 think of taking pictures. >>

    Game, set and match.
    That is what a lens like the Noctilux was made to do, and what it in fact 
achieves.  It creates new and substantial photographic opportunities for 
those who wish to explore them.  
    For everyone else, it is arguably no more than an overweight, oversized 
and grossly overpriced example of technology for its own sake.  Yer pays yer 
money, yer takes yer choice.
    In that vein, because so many people buy the lens and then find it 
insufficiently useful, it is available in very fine condition for 
$1,500-1,800, on the auction which shall not be named.  Every few months, one 
or two will appear.  Recently, one was sold on the LUG for $1,700.00.  Unless 
one is faced with an available light emergency, there is no reason to pay 
$3,000.00 for a new lens.  
    To put the expense and utility of the Noctilux into perspective, for the 
sake of argument, think of it as the philosohical M equivalent of the 100/2.8 
APO Macro, at roughly the same price.  Just put it on the list of things to 
buy pre-owned if the opportunity presents itself.  It can usually be resold 
with little or no financial loss.


Joe Sobel