terrestrikon Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 Thanks to whoever it was in a prior thread that talked about using his Noctilux with ND 8x filters. That remark got me thinking: The Noctilux is marketed as a low-light lens, but it really should be marketed as an f/1.0 lens for out of focus areas. I've -- wrongly -- felt that my Noctilux was useful mainly for low light, but then haven't used it that much. This evening I got it out and shot some HP5+ at f/1.0 and realized as soon as I pulled the film out of the tank how much more there is in this lens than I'd realized. I'd -- again, wrongly -- been thinking of it like an ordinary lens, to be used at other apertures than f/1.0 when, in fact, it should be used mostly or only at f/1.0. This was all something of an epiphany. Anyhow, thinking ahead, this afternoon I called around the country trying to locate an ND 8x filter. I can report that they are not easy to find. Finally I called the Heliopan distributor to ask if they knew of a retailer who might have one. They did: Ken Hansen. And sure enough, Ken had one. Which is now on its way to me via 2- day UPS (better than waiting ten months for a special order from Germany). Am now looking forward to shooting HP5+ in daylight at f/1.0 at 1/1000. Thanks again, very much, to whoever it was who pointed out this sensible and obvious (except to me) use of the lens. G. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_kaplan1 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 George, unless something has changed in the last few years an 8X filter cuts light by only three f/stops. That might work out OK on a cloudy day but not in the sun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_.1 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bh5.sph/FrameWork.class among other types of ND filters FYI. : ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_.1 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 oops...guess they're special order items. I was thinking of one for my 75 lux, neat idea, thanks for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrestrikon Posted February 12, 2003 Author Share Posted February 12, 2003 Well, maybe partly sunny. I rate my HP5+ at 320, sometimes even 200, and expose for zone III using a spot meter. From my measurements today, which was a partly sunny day with quite a bit of reflection from snow, at f/1.0 at 1000 I should be covered. But you may be right -- I'll just have to try and find out. If 8x won't do it then there's always darker ND filters to choose from, or slower film like FP4+, or even TechPan (which, by the way, can be developed without any contrast problems with Barry Thornton's TechPan developer) rated at 45, less three stops, for an ISO of about 6. On a bright, sunny day at f/1.0 -- I'm guessing here -- that's probably about 1/125. I've got all those films, fortunately, in the fridge. G. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografz Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 George, I think I'm the one that mentioned using 8X Heliopans on the Noctilux. I had posted these results before under the title "Vampire in the Sunlight" (refering to tha fact most people only use the Nocti at night, and it never sees the light of day" Mr Kaplan is correct in that 8X will not allow f/1.0 in bright sun with a faster film. My first experiments were with T-max 400 cn rated at ISO 320 or a bit less. I shot in Las Vegas at 1.0 in the morning light and late afternoon, usually at 1/500th or 1/1000th. Open, non-shaded areas during midday sun required stopping the lens down. However, the ND made the lens usable in a far greater range of situations than I had previously thought. Also, I found that the way the Nocti handles bright areas of spectral light in dark conditions translated to handling hot spots in bright sunny situations. Good luck, and post some results when you get your ND. The next time I go visit the sun, I'm going to try the combo with a few rolls of Plus X I have in my freezer.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chip l. Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 You may want to consider using a film like 400TCN. You can in my experience downrate ths film to 100ISO, and it holds up well. BTW, thanks for getting me interested in the Nocti yet again <g> Chip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografz Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 Of course, the Nocti's real value is going where other lenses can't.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_.1 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 Oh very nice images, I especially like the last one. Heck I especially like the first. Unique indeed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_chananie Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 George let me look through his Noctilux last night. He had it on an M3. I was surprised at how easy it is to focus wide open. George said it was because of the longer rangefinder on that body. The Leica grip he had on made it a lot easier for me to balance the weight of the lens. I have big hands, and the grip was very comfortable. Someday it will be fun to have such a lens. In the meantime, I'll make due with a Canon fd f1.2 50mm which is much more affordable and does a nice job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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