Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/07/16

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Subject: RE: [Leica] Should I buy a Noctilux?
From: Peterson Arthur G NSSC <PetersonAG@NAVSEA.NAVY.MIL>
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 09:38:16 -0400

I agree with Tina's excellent advice (below).  And I would only add that you
might consider the Summilux.  It is just one stop slower than a Noctilux, a
lot less expensive than a Noctilux, and not much larger or heavier than your
Summicron.

Art Peterson
Alexandria, Virginia


- -----Original Message-----
From:	Tina Manley [mailto:images@InfoAve.Net]
Sent:	Monday, July 16, 2001 9:21 AM
To:	leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject:	Re: [Leica] Should I buy a Noctilux?

At 06:18 PM 7/15/01 -0400, you wrote:
>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

Only if you want to take photos in the dark!  I wouldn't give up my 
most-used lens unless I planned to take most of my photos in very low 
light.  The Noctilux is heavy.  You will be able to hold the Summicron at 
much slower speeds than the Noctilux, so the Noctilux would be reserved for 
times when there is almost no light at all.  See if you can rent or borrow 
one for a week-end of shooting before you make up your mind.

Tina

Tina Manley, ASMP
http://www.tinamanley.com

Replies: Reply from "Mxsmanic" <mxsmanic@hotmail.com> (Re: [Leica] Should I buy a Noctilux?)