What does the Noctilux really offer in terms of speed

I have long wondered what sort of shutter speeds Noctilux people are shooting at

in dimly lit rooms. I have a VC 35mm f/1.2 and you get just a little tiny bit

more speed than at f/1.4 on the lens. That made me wonder how much speed you

actually get with a Noctilux. Can you, for example, routinely shoot at 1/30 to

1/60 in an average-lit (whatever that is) bar with a Noctilux with, say, 400 ISO

film. Of course, the M8 changes things, coz you can take the ISO up to 640 and

not suffer too much noise. But my question basically is: What sort of shutter

speeds are Noctilux users routinely getting and using in low light? I ask

because the attraction of this lens to me is that I could regularly achieve 1/30

or faster at 640 ISO with the Noctilux wide open in a dimly-lit room. Thanks in

advance!

It totally depends on the lighting and no one could say nor would it be useful. I owned one in the 80's, but I never bought it for shutter speed, but rather control of focus. Frankly it's too shallow a depth of field to be of general use at a higher shutter speed.

Though a beautiful image, the Noctilux is not very sharp at f1. But yes you can shoot in situations otherwise impossible.

You better have real steady hands to shoot this lens at a 30th. You will be better off with your 35mm 1.2 in dim rooms. That said the Noct is one of my favorite lenses just because of the look at f1. Emile/www.deleon-ulf.com

Hi Bruce,

Just missed you by 2 min!! I still remember that great shot of the lady with flowers in the field with your noct. Fabulous!

There isn't a hope in this world that you are going to shoot in a bar, at night, at ISO 400, 1/6oth, f/1.0, not to mention the issues that you are going to have with apparent depth of field. Of course, in a bar with windows in the right latitude in summer ... To find out what's doable, just do a few meter readings in your local bar/pub.

Cheers Emile. Wussup dude?

Peter,

 

For an example, have a look at the photo in this thread that is eight posts down: http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00KXqR

 

It was taken in a bar about a week ago. I just looked at the negative. The description is right, except for one thing. The film wasn't HP5+ 400 (which I realized must be wrong right after I wrote it), it was Delta 3200.

The f/1.0 Noctilux is quite capable of taking photos by candlelight as advertised. I really bought it for the very shallow depth of field, but I'm not certain that the expense has been justified by the handful of good pictures I've taken with it.<div></div>

Try again.<div></div>

Last try.<div></div>

It all depends on your lighting. I often use the Noctilux @ f/1 just so I can get shutter speeds of around 1/15th sec. @ ISO's from 640 to 3200 (1/30th sec. can mean relatively bright). Contra Emile's experience, I have no difficulties using the Noct' (or most lenses) down to 1/8th; subject motion is a much larger problem when you're shooting in those conditions. The key is practice, practice, practice (same goes for dealing w/the thin DoF).

Shots I've taken w/the Noct' (not all @ f/1):

 

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/furcafe/tags/leitz501noctiluxmc1988/

I've searched my Noctilux shots (the metadata browser in Lightroom is so useful) and this

one is the nearest to your example situation, taken with an M8 + Noctilux at f1, ISO 640 and

a shutter speed of 1/250. One doesn't buy the Noctilux for its sharpness at f1 (can't have

everything, can we) but I think the shot illustrates that there is more to an image than

sharpness.<p><p><center><a href="

321406269/"

title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/

135/321406269_0cfa175054_o.jpg" width="800" height="538" alt="Leica Talk (2)" />

</a></center>

It offers an opportunity to shoot in really low light situations which otherwise might require a tripod. However, the images are soft wide open. I rarely shoot it below 1/60 (shaky hands), and don't think I'd ever take it with me into a bar.

Noct shot in a bar:

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/captainvideo/194591127/in/set-72157594352100966/

With images at F1 when focused far away there is way less of the out of focus effect. MANY folks have poor sharpness wide open at F1 just to focus errors, camera mmovement, or your bloody RF was last aligned when Ford was president. The Noct is usually a fling for most photo.net folks. They are use to using their Summicrons at F8; buy a Noct; then get average to poor results. Then they blame the lens, sell it; and go back to the safe f8 world.:)<BR><BR>Ownership is usually only in months.<BR><BR>My Noct was bought used in the late 1970's for 400 bucks.<BR><BR>This is just a lame tri-x shot with d-76 with normal development; 1/15 at f1. The Noct is often sharp wide open, not so with closeups and RF's that are missaligned.<BR><BR><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/ektar/Noct/tripods-322.jpg?t=1175356326 "><BR><BR><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/ektar/Noct/tripods-323.jpg?t=1175356440"> <BR><BR><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/ektar/Noct/tripods-324.jpg?t=1175356486">

I am with Emile, Stephen and Kelly on the use of the Noctilux (or similar fast lenses). There is a MAJOR difference between f/1.4, f/1.2 and f/1 or f/0.95 lenses. I have/use lenses in those apertures (except the Noct and I am unlikely to buy one. It is the platinum crucible thing that puts me off. ;) ).

 

Fast lenses need to be used with some respect and care.

The $900 Pentax K10 offers an f1.9 43mm (FOV x1.5=64.5) with in-camera image

stabilization which is good for a stop or two...treading into Nocti territory for low-light

shooting, although not with the

dime-thin DOF.

 

JC

Thanks, everyone, for the wonderfully informative responses. I have gotten a real feel for how this mythic creature can be used. And great images everyone. Cheers,Peter

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/noctilux/interesting/

 

Here is what the mythic creature can do:

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/noctilux/interesting/

I used a Noct', but it was not just a "fling". Some of the reasons I sold it at no loss were:

 

1. Large (I didn't mind the weight) when compared to my Nikkor and 'lux 1.4.

 

2. Really only about 1/2-stop faster than the above.

 

3. Swirly bokeh. I didn't like the photos.

 

4. Softer than above until f2.8.

This evening, I had a Sekonic L-758 meter at a typical pub, at least where I live, after dark. Incident readings at ISO 400 and f/1 ranged from 1/15 second in the brightest part of the pub (at the bar under lights illuminating the bar) to 1 second in the darker parts. Locally, this pub is a bit brighter than what one would encounter in a typical lounge/dance club/jazz club.

Thanks, Robert. That's very useful to know.

For bar/gig work with ISO 400, I would normally stick it 1/30 (sometimes 1/15) and work with under-exposures later in PS if necessary. The M is fairly easy to hold steady at low (< 1/30) shutter speeds, but, of course, subject movement will be an issue at such speeds (same problem with image stabilization).

<br><br>

This shot was taken at 1/15 with ISO 200 film (at f1.0 of course):

<br><br>

<a href="http://speakeron.ch/steve/photos/pod/10apr07.html">http://speakeron.ch/steve/photos/pod/10apr07.html</a>