[Leica] A Noctilux and Velvia ...

[mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner)]

On 11/18/05 10:02 AM, "Bruce" <bruent@shaw.ca> typed:

>>  3) Are there any general feelings of (dis)satisfaction with the CV
> 35mm 1.2 lens?
> I'm very satisfied with it, wise-open and otherwise.
> I have not compared it to a Noctilux- on paper the CV is a bit bigger,
> a bit lighter, half stop slower focuses a bit closer, and more
> importantly has a wider field of view. More comparable to the 35mm
> Summilux which is (relative to the CV) smaller, 1/2 stop slower, much
> more expensive, said to be better optically. There were some very
> favorable LUG and on-line reports on the CV when it came out.
> 
> Regarding size, The CV is large relative to typical RF wide angle
> lenses, but not to most SLR lenses (quite a bit smaller than most of
> the WA zooms or fast WA I have seen)/ I have not found the size of the
> CV to be a problem in use- the extra bulk is an advantage hand holding
> low shutter speeds, a disadvantage for carrying the camera under a
> jacket or in a belt case.
> 
You know we all talk about here over the years how a 35 1.4 ASPH wide open
or this 1.2 CV might be a more convientant and usable lens for extreme low
light shooting than the Noctilux.
The way I see it though is there's an apples and oranges tilt to the whole
thing because the Noctilux is DESIGNED for low light shooting. Whereas the
fast wides are NOT  Though if you were shooting Agfapan 25 that you'd been
storing in an absolute zero time capsule on the beach SURE! Don't put your
money on the Noct..
But I think with the little street lights hitting the image from the corner
and the thousand natural low light variables an image is subjected to would
throw the balance to the Noct. Side of the scale in the deep dark. We should
assume the lens designers know a few things we don't about what a low light
lens would have to deal with. They make all kinds of tests and everything.
And have little measuring tools. And computers. And they went to lens
school.
But a 50 is darn harder to work with than a slight wide or wider.
I bet 99 percent of the low light shooting specialist's shooting socially
unacceptables lurking in dark allays use wides. Even if they had the spare
cash for a Noct. Just a guess.

Mark Rabiner
Photography
Portland Oregon
http://rabinergroup.com/