Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/11/20

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Noctilux - 1st impressions
From: lea <lea@whinydogpress.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 15:07:21 -0600
References: <3BFA714C.382FEDFD@earthlink.net> <3BF743EF.5D9EBE48@home.com> <B81C68CA.6EEB%mlquinn@san.rr.com> <5.1.0.14.2.20011118100754.00abb1f0@pop.mindspring.com> <p05100300b8200340b6aa@[216.192.238.6]> <v04011708b8205d7628e6@[66.81.40.156]>

Guy,

I've heard this is an awful lens and if you'll mail me yours I'll put it
through a few tests to prove it.

:o)
Lea

Guy Bennett wrote:

> I recently got a Noctilux, and having had a couple of weeks to use it, I
> thought I'd share some first impressions. To date, I've put about 5-6 rolls
> of film through an M6/0.72 mounted with the lens, which I've used in a
> variety of contexts and situations, ranging from relatively bright to
> virtually no light. The negs are impressive, but haven't had time to make
> any prints yet...
>
> First of all and contrary to what I expected, it doesn't feel that big or
> that heavy, though I know that as M lenses go, it's one of the
> biggest/heaviest. I have a bunch of chrome lenses, and they can get pretty
> heavy, esp. the 90 & 24 Elmarits. Being used to their weight, I haven't
> found the Noctilux particularly heavy. It does block a bit of the VF, but
> that hasn't been a problem thus far. One just composes as one normally
> would. If you're aware of the general background, the bit covered by the
> lens protruding into the VF area isn't that troublesome. At least it hasn't
> been for me.
>
> Build quality is great, as it is with every other Leica lens I have. Focus
> and aperture rings are smooth and tight. The focus throw is a bit long, and
> that has felt slow to me on a couple of occasions. For that reason I find
> myself trying to anticipate the distance between camera and subject and
> adjust the focus roughly before even lifting the camera to my eye. That
> makes focusing a bit quicker. The one thing that really bothers me - and I
> guess that this is my main criticism of the lens - is the plastic
> extensible hood: it feels flimsy to me, and I'm not particularly convinced
> of its effectiveness. It seems that if you're not careful, you might even
> break it if you pull it out too quickly or roughly. I don't mind the
> plastic hoods on other lenses (Summicron 35, Elmarit 24), but this one I
> just don't like. Does anyone else feel the same way? What were the previous
> clip on hoods for earlier versions of the Noctilux like?
>
> As for images produced with the lens, they remind me of those produced by
> the Summicron 50, which is a fantastic performer. They have a beautiful,
> creamy bokeh (I should say that I never stop down beyond 4-5.6) that makes
> the subject just pop out against the background. The great thing is that it
> is obviously a hell of a lot faster than the 2.0 of the Summicron. I've
> used the lens a lot wide open, and the shallow DOF and out of focus
> background produce a really unique quality. Thus far, I haven't had a
> problem with getting the focus where I want it.
>
> I've so far used both 400 and 1600 speed film with it, and in both cases
> have managed very easily handholdable speeds indoors in low light. Last
> Friday night I shot a roll of Neopan 1600 at a poetry reading at a local
> literary center. The room in which the readings are held is entirely black:
> walls, windows, everything is painted black. I sat in the front row about 6
> feet in front of the readers, who stood at a podium illuminated by
> spotlights: the negs are stunning. Incredible detail (hair, fabric in the
> clothing, etc.), dark shapes that were not visible to the naked eye are
> there on the negs, just barely coming out against the almost black
> background. These pix were made at 1.2/1:4 at about 1/60th.
>
> Anyway, just some initial thoughts on the Noctilux, which is a really
> exciting lens. You definitely have the impression you can use it anywhere
> for any kind of shooting.
>
> Guy
> --
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- --
Lea Murphy
Whiny Dog Press
816-333-9111
Home: http://www.whinydogpress.com
Newest: http://www.whinydogpress.com/new.html


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