Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/03/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The Noctilux is an outstanding lens stopped down and amazing wide open. it is not fuzzy. The lack of flare makes any other fast lens I have used look poor. Stopped down its performance is close to the Summicron and Summilux. Whilst it is fairly heavy - lots of glass and metal - it is about the same diameter as my EOS 50mm f1.4 lens and very slightly longer, though this is to be expected as the M body is much thinner than a reflex. A Noctilux on a M is still much smaller than most reflex cameras with the standard zoom. The Noctilux at f1 is better than typical standard zooms at f4. The "good" f2.8 zooms are massively bigger and heavier as well as 3 stops slower. I can understand somebody choosing the M with 50 f1.4 because it is smaller not because it is superior. Anyone who thinks it is flawed doesn't know how to use it. Frank On 25 Mar, 2006, at 13:59, Walt Johnson wrote: > Hi: > > I'm just curious what the fuss is all about concerning the > Noctilux. Big, pricey and seemingly flawed. The difference between > 1.4 and 1.0 cannot be worth the sacrifice in quality, is it? Just > about the only advantage a Leica had over the SLRS (size, weight, > unobtrusiveness) of its day would seem to be given up. > > Many times over the years I've given up an f stop or two for > excellent performance and portability. When covering an event > where long,fast glass was needed then the bulky monsters were > necessary. Other than that I could never justify it. There have > been many fine images shown on the LUG by folks with a Noctilux but > were any done in situations where a 1.4 or even a 2.0 would have > not done the trick? > > Maybe that should be one of the next "shadow" type entertainments > posted here? Are fuzzy aberrations worth the price? Lets do f 1, > 1.4, or 2.0 and be there??? > > Walt > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information