Re: [Leica] Should I buy a Noctilux?

["Mxsmanic" <mxsmanic@hotmail.com>]

I think that, unless you can afford to get the Noctilux _in addition to_ your
existing 50mm Summicron, you shouldn't bother.  How often do you really need the
extra two stops?

The weight issue is greatly exaggerated.  It's a heavy lens, for sure, but still
a feather in absolute terms, as anyone who has hefted any SLR and then lifted a
Noctilux on an M body can attest.

I'm in the opposite situation.  I have the Noctilux but I'd like to _add_ a
Summicron one of these days (not very urgent, as I don't often shoot with a 50mm
lens, but it's on my wish list).  I would not exchange the Noctilux for the
Summicron, though, because the former is irreplaceable when you really need
those two stops, and it seems to perform beautifully in really low light.

Maybe you could rent a Noctilux for the trip (can that be done in Copenhagen?)
and then decide on that basis whether or not you wanted to get one of your own?

- ----- Original Message -----
From: <Ninka@aol.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2001 00:18
Subject: [Leica] Should I buy a Noctilux?


> I plan In a few weeks time  to go on a short trip to Denmark, and though I'll
> only be there a few days  I hope to bring back some good shots from the
> street life of  "wonderful
> Copenhagen".  But I have a dilemma that I would like to get  solved before
> leaving,  and I hope you  experts will give me some advice:
> For my Leica M6 I have three lenses, a 50mm F2Summicron,  a 90mm F2.8 Elmarit
> and a  28mm F2.8 Elmarit.  Of these I use the Summicron for at least 90% of
> my picture taking,   Now for some time I have seen a lot written here about
> the famous 50mm  F1 Noctilux lens, and since I value picture quality very
> highly, do not like flash and am happy when I get a picture which I think
> have bokeh , I  have seriously considered changing out the Summicron for a
> Noctilux.  The drawback (aside from the expence) is that the Noctilux (which
> I have not yet seen)  is so  heavy, my dealer says that the weight is the
> double because of all the glass, and he also says that I will not get better
> quality photos than with my Summicron, as long as I do not absolutely need
> the extra light power.     I am certain that if I were a professional I
> would have  had no doubt, but since I'm just a keen amateur,  getting much
> satisfaction from my hobby,   would the change be  worth it?   I have always
> believed  in having the best tools, this is why I bought Leica in the first
> place.    Please advise me.  I hope to hear pro and contra to make the right
> decision.
> Karen Sorensen