Noctilux alternatives

[stuart_richardson]

How about the Canon FD 1.2L. It is not that expensive, performs very well and focuses much

closer than the normal noctilux. You can also put it on an F1N or T90 which are great

cameras. You can do the whole kit for under 1000 bucks if you are careful. Then you can add

the 85mm f/1.2L as well if you feel like it.

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[ericd]

As we still don't what Andrea is looking for it's difficult to give an advice. If the issue is sharp and fast glass with good bokeh for not much money a good kit will be :

 

Minolta X-500/X-570, Rokkor 58mm f/1.2, Rokkor 85mm f/1.7 and Kiron 28mm f/2.0.

 

I never felt the need of a 50mm or 58mm faster than f/1.4. Thus I've never used a 58mm f/1.2, but I use the two other lenses and I'm perfectly happy with them.

[memphis1]

canon 50/1.2 is very affordable -- comparable with noctilux -- the original noctilux was 1.2 --- if the difference between 1.0 and 1.2 is gonna kill you, spring for the noctilux --- the canon 50mm 1.2 can be picked up in the 200-400 range

 

other alternatives:

1.5 summarit

1.4 summilux

1.5 xenon

 

lots of sub 2.0 lenses available -- the canon is pretty close -- just got mine will post pcis monday

[marek_fogiel]

Andrea, if you want the Noctilux, because you want THE Noctilux, then there are no substitutes. On the other hand, if you want a lens with outstanding low light shooting capabilitier, and/or outstanding bokeh, then I could suggest a couple of lenses I love:

CV Nokton 35/1.2 - this is the fastest 35mm lens made, and it is giving a much more usable dof wide open, plus it is sharper than Noctilux, and you can shoot it at 1/15th of a second with confidence, maybe 1/8th if you have a steady hand... some examples wide open:

 

Carl Zeiss C Sonnar 50/1.5

 

This is a lens created for bokeh - it has somewhat soft rendering wide open, and it has a problem with the focus shift - in order to mitigate the problem Zeiss optimized it for shooting at f2.8 - if you want to use it at the widest apertures, you should either send it back for an adjustment (under the warranty) which Zeiss will do for free, or better still, buy it directly from them, specifying you want the f1.5 optimized version.

 

I don't shoot it all that often wide open, but here's an example or two:

 

This lens at f2.8 is an incredible portrait lens, mixing superb detail without harshness, and a very abrupt passage out of focus, which dissolves literally the background, here's a couple of examples:

 

Both these lenses together will cost you 1/3rd of the Nokton, so I suggest to throw in a brand new Zeiss Ikon camera for superb low light vision and rf focusing precision - enjoy!

[john_shriver]

Summar isn't fast, but it sure offers swirly bokeh. Dizzying. Substantial light falloff wide open. But lots more DOF.

[Robin Smith]

How about the nice Nokton Voigtlander 50f1.5 ASPH?

[blakley]

Here are a few samples of the use of some of the suggested lenses, from various photographers on flickr:

<p>

<a href=" 50mm f/1.0</a>

<p>

<a href=" 50mm f/1.2</a>

<p>

<a href=" 50mm f/0.95</a>

<p>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaisphotos/1437502375/">Canon 50mm f/1.2</a>

<p>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80368104@N00/748914312/">Cosina Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.2</a>

<p>

<a href=" Voigtlander 40mm f/1.4</a>

<p>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffsb/532978505/">Voigtlander 50mm f/1.5 Nokton</a>

<p>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tinyeyes/1257709351/">Leica 50mm f/1.2 Noctilux</a>

<p>

<a href=" Sonnar 50mm f/1.5</a>

<p>

I will note that at least from evidence on flickr, users of the CV 50/1.5 Nokton seem to be thinking of it as a "cheap 50" rather than as a "fast 50"; that is, they don't seem to be trying to use it as they would a Noct, wide open in situations where bokeh is an intentional part of the image.

[dan flanders]

I had a Cannon 0.95 for a while - picked it up for peanuts because someone had removed the iris blades and it was strictly a maximum aperture lens. It was fun and I only used it for low light situations, but its bulk and weight were a PITA! I gave it to my nephew who still uses it occasionally, but unless you have a pressing need for the extra speed it is really a tour-de-force! I would rather spend the equivalent cost on a good f=2!

[frederick_muller]

Assuming one wants to stay in rangefinder land, the Canon 50mm f0.95 is the natural comparator to the Noctilux. It compares favorably in virtually every respect except flare ... the Canon lens is very prone to flare when strong light sources are in the frame; the Noct is remarkable in its flare resistance. The Canon 50mm f1.2 is much more forgiving and has a very nice signature.

 

If one can't easily convert the Canon 50mm f0.95 to Leica mount, buy it with a Canon Model 7 / 7s / 7sz and enjoy. I think you will be very pleasantly surprised ... the Canon 7 series are more than a rear lens cap for the f0.95. .8X finder, frames for 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 105mm, and 135mm. The frames are labeled in the finder! Hinged back for loading, built-in selenium or cds meters, Leica screw mount. Before the Bessa R, the Canon 7 series had the best features of any Leica screw mount machine, and their build quality still beats the Bessa R. AND the Model 7 was built SPECIFICALLY to take the Canon 50mm f0.95.

[joop]

I'm happy with my canon 50/1.2:

 

 

I think I paid couple of years ago about $300,- for the lens

[joop]

I'm happy with my canon 50/1.2 ltm:

 

 

I think I paid couple of years ago about $300,- for the lens

[firass_al_jundi1]

I use a Yashica FX-3, and the Zeiss T 50mm f/1.7 is a pretty decent lens.

 

It doesn't have the sharpness or bokeh of a Leica M glass, but it is pretty decent. And quite

cheap. Got it for less than 80$ American (with the camera).

 

Its a very good lens, and I'm incredibly happy with it. Never tried it stopped down, since I

always shoot indoors or in low light and I love the bokeh.

 

You can find adaptors on eBay to convert them for Leica mounts.

 

Some samples, shot wide open.

 

http://fizzj.deviantart.com/art/Z-51313901

http://fizzj.deviantart.com/art/quot-Hi-ya-Man-quot-50110361

http://fizzj.deviantart.com/art/MMMmmmmm-50249514

[don dudenbostel]

I would second the CV 35 1.2 for M cameras. I have one and love it plus find it to perform exceptionally well. Also Nikon made two 50 1.2 lenses. The Noct which is on the pricy side and designed for night shooting and the old 50 1.2 that can be bought for around $300-400 in nice shape. Currently Canon makes some outstanding super fast glass. The 50 1.2L, 85 1.2L, 135 f2L and previoulsly the 200 1.8L. I have all but the 50 1.2 and fine the 85, 135 and 200 to be the finest in their class. The 85 is a little on the expensive side but the version one may be in your price range at just over $1K. The 135 is very reasonable well under $1k but the 200 is now in the $4-6k range. Here is an example of the 85 at 1.2.<div></div>

[don dudenbostel]

Another sample of the canon 85 1.2 @ 1.2<div></div>

[don dudenbostel]

One other example of the 85 @ 1.2. At 1.2 it's exceptionally sharp and contrasty but not harsh. IMO the 135 at f2 is even slightly sharper (slightly).<div></div>

[don dudenbostel]

OOPS, one final image with the 85 @ 1.2.<div></div>

[Aoresteen]

I'd ditto for the Canon 50mm f/1.2. Get it adjusted to your camera body. Here it is on my M3-MOT.<div></div>

[andrea_lotti]

Hi,

thank everybody for the suggestions, I'll try to explain what I'm looking for. What I love in the Noctilux is color saturation and out of focus light renditions (I know it is probably due to aberrations, but I like it). I found similar results in Lomo images, but with less quality.

Let me know...

[blakley]

Andrea, the links I included in my earlier response were intended to illustrate exactly those effects. Most of the lenses the other posters have advised you to look at will give you that effect if used carefully.

 

Incidentally I really like this thread - a great combination of really helpful advice for the poster and good photos illustrating that advice.

[laurentvuillard]

Do test the Zeiss 50 f1.5 ZM, it is said to be like the original 1930 lens , which I own and looks like what you want at a fraction of noct price!

Besides, consider focussing at f1 wih a RF camera??? Difficult enough at 1.4!!

[02Pete]

Since you indicate that cost is a consideration, I would suggest trying a Canon 50mm f/1.4 in LTM mount, with a bayonet adapter. At f/1.4, it offers enough speed for available light shooting under most circumstances. It also has excellent optical quality, even at full aperture, handles well, is of reasonable size and weight, is well-made and durable, and represents an excellent balance of qualities overall. It's not rare or exotic, but it's a fine lens for available-light photography. If you can afford to spend a bit more, I would suggest one of the older versions of the Leitz 50mm f/1.4 Summilux in M mount. If your primary concern is image quality, rather than maximum lens speed or shallow depth of field at maximum aperture, you might also consider either the later version of the Canon 50mm f/1.8 in LTM with a bayonet adapter, which is of good quality but reasonably affordable; or one of the various versions of the Leitz 50mm f/2 Summicron, which has long had a high reputation for outstanding image quality. While the Canon 50mm f/1.2 is fast, and is clearly the choice of some photographers who like the pictorial qualities of its shallow depth of field at maximum aperture, it has the reputation of trading off a fair amount of contrast and sharpness in order to achieve that extra half-stop of speed compared with the f/1.4 lens. That's not a criticism, just an observation about the choices that the designers made when developing that particular lens. The Canon 50mm f/0.95, while offering great maximum speed, appears to be sufficiently large and heavy to affect its handling qualities adversely.

[torbj_rn_holen]

I know this thread is getting old, but I'm also very interested in finding a Noctilux alternative. This far I haven't really found any.

The three reasons (there are probably several more) for wanting a Noctilux is that it is fast, it can produce incredibly shallow depth of field, and the typical noctilux look with light fall off in the edges (vignetting)

As said before, the difference between f1.2 and f1 isn't that big when it comes to what shutter you can achieve. It is however greater when it comes to depth of field. the problem with most lenses suggested here is that they won't be able to reproduce the dof of a noctilux because the closest focussing distance is 1m. If you had a f1.2 lens that could focus to aboud 0.8, it would reproduce the same dof. This issue points towards getting a SLR where close focussing is much nearer. Of course going nearer your subjects means that they'll get bigger on the picture. As for vignetting, I'd say get a hood that's to long for the focal length.

 

"I will note that at least from evidence on flickr, users of the CV 50/1.5 Nokton seem to be thinking of it as a "cheap 50" rather than as a "fast 50"; that is, they don't seem to be trying to use it as they would a Noct, wide open in situations where bokeh is an intentional part of the image."

I have this very lens, and close focussing is the only minus I can find. With a 50mm f1.5 lens that doesn't focus nearer than 0.9m it's hard to get the depth of field one wants, It also makes it quite useless for up close portraits. I have tried though ( ).

 

I'd be really interested if anyone had an alternative that isn't mentioned in this thread.

[norman_peters]

What about the forgotten SLR users? Here's my Tomioka Chinon 55mm f1.2:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3107/2557710574_b3de52740a.jpg<div></div>

[norman_peters]

I forgot to note that I also have a Canon 50mm f1.2 and Canon 7 rangefinder pairing, but I prefer the SLR for high aperture work...