[Leica] Nokton f/1.1 and Noctilux f/1 v.2

[msadat at gmail.com (mehrdad)]

so Henning , are u saying these tow are about the same!! if so, i will keep
my nocti

also tom's opinion these are are a bit tinted when it comes to cosina stuff

On Fri, Aug 21, 2009 at 5:35 PM, Henning Wulff <henningw at 
archiphoto.com>wrote:

> Last Friday Tom Abrahamsson loaned me his blueprinted f/1.1 Nokton, and I
> shot and my v.2 Noctilux f/1 side by side on M8's. For the most critical
> stuff I used the same body and switched lenses. I took about 600 shots.
>
> Historical notes: I had a 50/1.2 Noctilux a long time ago (after having
> tried and handed back such things as Canon f1.2 and f0.95 attempts), and
> when the f/1 came out I compared them and got the f/1. I had it for a long
> time, but after a while didn't take that many pictures with it (mostly
> because I didn't feel like hauling a lens of that size/weight around) so I
> sold it.
>
> In the mid 90's I saw another 50/1 in pristine condition for a superb price
> so I bought it. It still doesn't get used an awful lot, but it is the only
> f/1 lens I have :-) and the investment wasn't that great, so I've kept it,
> but mostly use the 50/1.4 ASPH.
>
> The Nokton has higher contrast at f/1.1 than the Noctilux at f/1. Flare
> levels are quite close, but the Noctilux has a slight bit less so that
> shadows are a bit darker than those of the Nokton. The Nokton has a lot 
> less
> focus shift, so between that and the higher contrast and resulting 
> sharpness
> the Nokton is a much better all-round lens. A bit of distortion in such a
> lens doesn't bother me, and both have about the same level. By f/5.6 or 8
> they are about equal in overall performance, but from f/1.4 on neither can
> be confused with a 50/1.4 ASPH.
>
> I took a number of shots of evenly lit surfaces, and tried to determine the
> relative transmission. The Nokton transmitted about 0.47 stops less at
> 3500?K at the center of the image. I would assume that in daylight that
> difference might well be less, as the Noctilux is known for being a 'warm'
> lens and optimized for warmer wavelengths. As my Noctilux is coded, I 
> assume
> that in-camera correction took care of the slight falloff over the M8 
> frame,
> making it definitely less than that of the Nokton. In any case, vignetting
> wasn't an issue with either lens.
>
> In general, I'm OK with the general look of either lens. The Noctilux has
> softer OOF areas, and the perception of isolation is definitely greater.
> This is probably due to the slightly shallower actual depth of field as 
> well
> as the types of correction. In any case, none of the harshness in either of
> the lenses of the 50/1.5 shots.
>
> The size and weight of both lenses is still an issue, but as a new high
> speed lens the Nokton is excellent, and especially excellent value as are
> most Voigtlaender lenses. If I were looking for a high speed 50 now, the
> Nokton would be at the top of my list since I am certainly not going to
> spring for the f/0.95. As things stand, I'll keep my Noctilux.
>
> Since Tuesday Tom's had his Nokton back and my Noctilux, and took a bunch
> of B&W shots on film. He'll probably have something to say about that.
>
> --
>
>   *            Henning J. Wulff
>  /|\      Wulff Photography & Design
>  /###\   mailto:henningw at archiphoto.com
>  |[ ]|     http://www.archiphoto.com
>
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>



-- 
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 regards, mehrdad