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

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Noctilux - 1st impressions
From: Mark Rabiner <mark@markrabiner.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 13:17:24 -0800
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 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...
>

Guy! glad the Noct is working out for you. I'll post this on list instead of off.

Yes the proof will be in the printing and I've barley scratched the surface of
the negs I've shot with it but HAVE made some fiber 16x20's which say a lot.

Ted I've seen going everywhere with the slightly earlier removable hood version
over his arm. Making great use of the removability feature of that hood!
I think if they made a big fat black rubber band to keep the built in hood
extended it would firm it up and make it better, more solid. Blacktape might
gunk it up, sorry Doc!
Some someone on the list a few years ago expressed frustration at not being able
to get the darn hood off i think some of us at the time felt that to be a bit
silly. But now that i have one i can almost see his point.
I wouldn't mind having mine not be there. Prying it off.
Get some other hood for the front. Or even be like Ted and go hoodless. Naked
against the cruel dark world.
That makes for a lot of glass between us right up against the world!
People with glass Noctiluxes shouldn't throw anything!

If you noticed in the little book they tell you NOT to use filters period.
But are nice enough to tell you the filter size is a rare 60.
As Leica makes a yellow green for the R in this size it kinda puts me in a corner.

The thing is you want to use the lens as wide open as possible. I do at least.
Wide open.
You walk around: F 1000th a second and be there.
And it feels a shame when you have to stop WAY DOWN
	say to f2.8 or f2. :) or f8 even!
And in the sun even with 100 film it's too bright.
Shooting at f16 with the Noctilux feels just a little silly.
A neutral density filter in a turret in the back would be ideal.
But give me green any day for my black and white, it'll do what for the most
part needs to be done 
panchromaticly speaking. For color I'd got for polarizer in lieu of grey. That's
doing something as well that is usually a good thing. Why not?

Having the Noct over the past few months has changed my whole way of shooting
even with other lenses
	and i HAVE ventured out with a measly Summicron 50 on my body which shows how
much I've evolved.
BOY that thing is light! And the hood comes off! (mine is older)
I did go a month with out taking the Noct. off the camera.
It made for shooting with the 90 apo apsh quite a matching pleasure and for the
most part wide open.
With Neopan 1600 you don't run into a whole lot you cant shoot.
Unless the sun comes out. I carry a 55 green filter for that.
The smarter money might had been with the earlier removable hood version but I'm
still OK with this version.
I think it looks nice. 
I'll go search the net for a supplier of special professional rubber bands for industry.


Mark Rabiner
Portland, Oregon USA
http://www.markrabiner.com
mark@markrabiner.com
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