Damn. Noctilust again.

[__jon__]

>Eliot Rosen , sep 05, 2005; 02:58 p.m.

 

>rear end of a horse.

 

Hold still--I'll try to get a picture of you...

[lutz]

As hard as I may look at Noctilux pics, I can't help but be disturbed by their typical aberration (coma, I suspect). Speed can't be *that* important to trade in the beauty of a Summicron, Summilux, Hexanon or Nokton bokeh - or can it?

[john_amiet2]

Lutz, you are right, never trade in another lens for a Noct. It something you ADD to your palette, if you appreciate what it delivers.

 

For me, it is speed and narrow DOF, laid over its inherent abberations. Its a matter of personal taste, not quality. Also, it should, IMHO, be used sparingly as a general rule, but I do go outside that point for spefic reasons.<div></div>

[max_fun]

Dave,

 

You can try to get the poor man's Noctilux... the Canon 50mm f/1.2. It's not without its weaknesses, but for most intends and purposes, it does its job competently. You can use it as an experiment and trade up if you find yourself needing a lens with the Noctilux caliber a lot. If not, you'll be pleasantly surprised by how well the Canon performs.

 

With the money saved, you can get your 75/90 or whatever lens you prefer.

[blakley]

If you want to do portraits, GET the 75/2 Summicron. I posted one portrait I took with it in <a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00Cs0B">this thread</a>; here's another.<div></div>

[james_.1]

Dave,

 

Sell your tri-elmar and get a 50 lux (asph or pre-asph), 35 lux asph, and a 90 cron AA. If

you like shooting with a 50mm, there's no substitute, so build your system around it.

[kc4fox]

I have the Noctilux, and use it with a ND filter and good slow film outside on vacation- I do like the look, you see.

 

Huge caveat there, though- as many define the "Leica look" as one of perfectly sharp images, like the modern 50mm 'lux (which _THIS_ Noctilux owner lusts after- anyone wanna trade?). The Noctilux doesn't give you this- what it DOES, though, is an amazingly useful lens that only focuses as close as a the Voigtlander Prominent (without the close-up attachments) and makes rooms far brighter than you'll have remembered them.

 

I like mine. It ALWAYS surprises me- no focus problems ever- and friends that have never used a rangefinder before have caught me at f/1 and 1/15'th second. It's a good lens.

 

The only cure? Rent one from that shop in Beverly Hills, then cough up the $ to buy it. If you don't like it, it's resale is purty durn good. You'll have lost only a couple hundred in rent.

[fjords]

Eliot- Boyz and their toys<div></div>

[fjords]

:~)<div></div>

[andrew robertson]

The Noctilux appears to have classic bright-edged bad bokeh.

 

Anybody have any 'good bokeh' Noctilux shots?

[james_symington1]

I just bought a new one from HK and love it. It is perfectly usable as a standard lens at 'normal' apertures but it does have the turbo setting if you need/want it. That shallow DOF is fabulous but makes trying to take subjects that are only moving slightly pretty hard.

 

You clearly are every bit as ill as I am so just go and buy it - you also have my permission! :-)

[furcafe]

If you have the money & time, by all means get the Noctilux, but as w/all Leica stuff I'll 2nd those who suggest you try renting 1st. If you can't rent, then buy used & save yourself a lot of money (I think mine was around $1600 on the 'bay).

 

The Noct' is big & heavy for an RF lens, but can easily be used as a regular 50 that happens to go to f/1 (or "11" in "Spinal Tap"-speak)--the longer focus throw & shallower DoF (@ f/1) just mean that it handles more like a telephoto. That said, I wouldn't recommend using it as your only fast 50 if you don't plan on using it @ f/1. Yes, the out-of-focus areas can get funky, but sometimes that's the price of getting the shot (a tripod is not a solution if your subject is moving).

 

<center>

 

<img src="http://static.flickr.com/1/1120208_15622605e4_o.jpg">

 

</center>

[Bill Blackwell Images]

Dave:

 

When deciding on a lens purchase, you need to consider more than its focal length. The Noctilux is a full four stops faster than your Tri-Elmar and, while not tack sharp, it offers qualities you can't get in anything else. I also have a Tri-Elmar, which is essentially permanently mounted to my M6. However, I also use (often) a 28mm Summicron and a 35mm Summicron. There is no question the Noctilux is a specialty lens, but since I got mine I haven't touched my 50mm Summicron.

 

Instead of grappling with us over your decision, just ask your self what you want. If you are a hobbiest, the end results are for your pleasure, not ours. If you are a pro, you have certain needs in order to get the job done and the client(s) will ultimately pay for your equipment.

 

But take it from me: if you're an equipment junkie, you won't stop with the Noctilux. Just buy one or two lenses a year (within your allotted budget) and ultimately you'll have all of it.

 

It's up to you what you choose to buy. If you read your original post, you'll see you already know what you want.

 

Best regards, Bill

[ben z]

The photographers doing the wedding I was at this weekend said they have 2 Ms and 2 Noctiluxes, for when clients want the journalistic look (this particular wedding, they did not). If I had such a specific purpose, and was getting paid, then I could see paying for one and dealing with the pinpoint-d.o.f., the weight, and the finder intrusion. Personally my needs aren't as stringent and my budget isn't as vast, and I've found that the pre-ASPH Summilux suffices quite well.

[35mmdelux]

Buy it. Try it. If you don't like it, sell it. I always wanted a Rolex. One day 15 years ago I took a deep breath and I bought one. Never regretted it, even though th cheaper Omegas keep better time. Its a Leica thing.

[simon_hughes1]

Dave, the Noctilux is without doubt a beautiful piece of glass but, as pointed out by others, there are less expensive alternatives to get you really close to the light gathring capability. Also pointed out by others is that it is like hanging a brick around your neck... rent it for a week and walk around with it... it's HEAVY!

 

I had one and I don't regret having had it, but I'd never buy it again.

 

Ciao

[steve_ries]

I think this is a lens you "may" want to get after you have a nice set of primes. With todays films you can do quite a bit with a nice Cron. I must admit I do like the idea of the new 75mm. And if you don't like it for some strange reason one of us will buy it from you in a heart beat.

 

On the topic of Barry Lyndon. I am going to have to watch that film again just to experience the camera work. I heard that Kubrick spent 7 entire weeks editing the final dueling scene. That scene is only about 4 minutes long but runs like a swiss watch.

[leica ron]

I don't like the bokeh of the Noctilux at all ...

[tom_bryant]

Hmmm. I had noctilust for years. Finally bought one.

 

It gathers dust, the least used of my leica 50s. The summicron and summilux are *much* more pocketable.

 

However, there are those very dark times that I'm glad I've got it.