Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/09/05

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Subject: [Leica] Cosina/Voigtlaender Nokton 50mm f1.5
From: bd at bdcolenphoto.com (B. D. Colen)
Date: Tue Sep 5 13:28:29 2006

Well, in most cases I've only owned one 50 per camera system.


On 9/5/06 4:04 PM, "Scott McLoughlin" <scott@adrenaline.com> wrote:

> Maybe a logic like this applies.  If you're only gonna have one
> 50mm RF lens, you naturally want something capable but you're
> on a budget, the Nokton 50 should be a great candidate - for
> all the virtues of this lens already enumerated (which I won't
> repeat) and for it's relatively modest price.
> 
> Maybe @ f1.5 it can be bested by several other pricier lenses,
> but it performs really well a stop down, plus the f1.5 option is
> there should one need it.
> 
> Of course, no one's going to just have only one 50mm lens, but
> that's beside the point :-)
> 
> Scott
> 
> B. D. Colen wrote:
> 
>> Yup, some people don't like them. But bulky? Compared to a Summilux? I 
>> think
>> not. Compared to a Summicron? Bigger, but not "bulky."
>> 
>> And, yes, the price was insane at $1000 and is even more insane at $1500.
>> But then that's the Leica "mystique." ;-)
>> 
>> 
>> On 9/5/06 3:02 PM, "Jeff Moore" <jbm@jbm.org> wrote:
>> 
>>  
>> 
>>> 2006-09-04-18:07:15 B. D. Colen:
>>>    
>>> 
>>>> No, the Nokton is not a Summicron, but then neither is the pre-asph
>>>> Summilux, but any stretch of the imagination
>>>>      
>>>> 
>>> Well, yeah, but...  I had a Nokton for awhile.  Even if you set aside
>>> its bulk relative to the Leica offerings (except of course for the
>>> Noctilux), there's its visual fingerprint wideish-open -- I just didn't
>>> like it.  Seemed really harsh, blocky, and somehow lacking subtlety --
>>> even though it was probably objectively [ha!  I make little joke!]
>>> "sharper" (whatever that means) than the pre-ASPH Summilux I'd bought it
>>> in an attempt not to have to pay for.
>>> 
>>> I sent the Nokton on down the stream to its next owner, and scraped up
>>> the pennies for the then-current pre-ASPH Summilux, which I loved.  A
>>> little softish wide open (especially away from the center), though never
>>> really annoyingly so, and just a lovely smooth presentation.  Mmmm.
>>> 
>>>    
>>> 
>>>> In fact, what is a Summicron 50 but a Summicron 50.
>>>>      
>>>> 
>>> Indeed.  But I just happened to be looking at B&H lens prices the other
>>> day, and noticed the current price for a 50mm Summicron-M.  What the
>>> HELL.  About $1500?  For a Summicron?  I thought it was crazy when they
>>> hit $1000.
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Leica Users Group.
>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>>    
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>  
>> 



Replies: Reply from hoppyman at bigpond.net.au (G Hopkinson) ([Leica] Cosina/Voigtlaender Nokton 50mm f1.5)
In reply to: Message from scott at adrenaline.com (Scott McLoughlin) ([Leica] Cosina/Voigtlaender Nokton 50mm f1.5)