Leica 50mm Noctilux Comparison - f/1.2 Original, f/1, f/0.95, f/1.2 Remake
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- Known Issues in the Video:
I was very sad about this as I only had one chance to shoot this video. As I was going through the footage I realized (1) I had lipstick stains all over my teeth 😩😖😭 I will forever be known as the stained-teeth NoctiGirl 😢 (2) In the Bokeh test, the bottom string of lights were somehow not on in the f1.2 remake @ f/1.2 frame... not sure how I didn't see that as I was shooting, but please look at the top string of lights in that frame for shape of the bokeh and brightness/contrast.
I was so bummed about these mistakes that I hid in the deep mountains of the Himalayas and meditated for 2 months before I could look at my footage again. Please be nice... 🥺😩😢
Lenses Used
Leica 50mm Noctilux f/1.2 Original
Leica 50mm Noctilux f/1 v.4
Leica 50mm Noctilux f/0.95
Leica 50mm Noctilux f/1.2 Remake
Colorful Camera Body Caps and Lens Back Caps:
leicarumors.co...
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Probably the best Noctilux version comparison video out there! Great video and comparison of each version!
Thank you so much!! 😊
Beautiful all around 😍 and yeah, who needs a hubby when you have a chome noct 😅 congratulations on getting one & thanks for sharing! 😊
Hahaha thank you for watching! 😊
Wow!,WoW!, You really worked hard on this episode. It was worth waiting. Mr Coung Dang has been a close friend and advisor to me for the last 40years. You really did an excellent job with this episode. All the work!!!.
I really think the .95 is my lens of choice. During the Ektachrome days we usually used a 5magenta so that the skin tones will not look green. I think that is why Leica was comfortable with the warm tint.
I am so impressed.Thank you.Worth waiting.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your nice comments and insight 😃 You know Cuong too?? May I ask what your name is?? 😃
Thanks!! Will definitely look you up… and let Cuong know 😉
Good video Noctigirl. I enjoyed your enthusiasm and fun testing, with quick results.
Thank you for watching! 😊
Thanks for sharing the entire historic lineup of Noctilux! I have the 0.95. It’s a beast and so much fun to take out.
I so agree! I love mine 😊 thanks for watching!
Though the ‘legend’ of the original Noctilux is that the 2 aspherical elements were ‘hand polished.’ The reality is that Leitz had a special polishing instrument that was operated by a specially trained single employee, and needed very precise and constant control (maybe where the hand-polishing came from, as it was not automated). Polishing and then testing each aspherical element was an extremely tedious and time consuming process, and there were a fair amount of rejected glass elements. It was not a very profitable production, but more for the prestige (bragging rights). When the glass technology became available to produce a Noctilux without aspherical I’m sure everyone at Leica/Leitz was more than happy to move on from the original’s production limitations. Interestingly the original 35mm f1.4 aspherical with 2 aspherical elements was produced in the basic same process. You would think Leica had learned their lesson. 2000 of those were planned for production, but again element rejections and difficulty in manufacturing tolerances. I was told at 700 Leica needed to order lens barrels and made a limited order, so actual production never reached the 2000 unit make as planned.
Thanks for sharing this insider info! 😃
The sharpness test photos are smaller than anyone can imagines...should have done 100% crop... or maybe post a link for the enlarged image, otherwise it is useless in terms of knowing the sharpness of the lenses, but anyway still helpful video, good job.
Thanks for sharing.. Lot of things i didn't know.
Thank you for watching! 😊
Thanks for this review... :-) i have tThe f1 and f0.95.. the f0.95 is my fav.. would love to try the f1.2 but can't afford it at the moment 😃
Hahaha hey!! You already have 2 versions! Would you like to try the f1.2 remake or the original? I’m hearing that each copy of the f1.2 original could render slightly differently because they were all hand polished!
Good to see you came back!
Thank you for your support!
Wow what an amazing review.
Thank you so much! 😊
I personally own the Noctilux f/1 V4 lens, I think out of all the Noctilux you compared the f/1 being not that sharp in the center, does have a nice bokeh character among all the lenses, what I also notice is it has like a greenish tint to the images, making the images look like film, very good comparison!! Thank you!! Only suggestion is if you can make the video in 4K, so I would be able to zee the charts a bit better, but again awesome video, thank you!! :)
Thanks for your comment!! Hahaha sorry about the video quality. I’m waiting to get a new computer so I can process 4K footage. As you know most of my money goes to camera gear acquisition 😂😅😆
Great review. I remember when trying these out I was looking at the f/1 vs the f/0.95 and always found even the center focus area to be a bit softer than I liked on the f/1 so I went with the .95. Seeing the bokeh here be more smooth makes me wonder about my choice. Thanks for sharing this great info.
To be honest, I like the .95 because it’s sharp enough with really nice bokeh. The f/1 is just… very soft. Though of course depending on what you are shooting, maybe you prefer a softer look 😊
And yes, I had both the 50mm f1.2 and the 35mm f1.4 aspherical. I enjoyed the 50 Noctilux, it was fairly flair resistant considering the lens coatings of the late 1960s, and the color I thought very beautiful in a pastel way, it was sharp enough in the center field and could make for ‘dreamy photography.’ But at some point I just didn’t see any advantage over my ½ stop slower Summilux, and that lens was in black paint which seemed to fit look and weight better on the BP M4. So, stupid me, I sold it. Can believe what the prices are now.
I know! Crazy! The prices on everything Leica have gone up so much! The 50mm f1.2 is a bit too soft for me. I prefer the more modern 0.95, which I own 😊
Great history lesson and cool technical review of the various noctilux versions,fantastic to see all versions together!!! i never noticed the lipstick stains but you looked great so dont beat yourself up about that.
Hahaha thanks! Perhaps I’m just too self conscious, but my lipstick stains were the first thing I noticed when I was reviewing my footage 😆
Oh girl, what a Video! I love your content so much, Charlice 👍🏻
Thank you so much for tuning in Lars! 😊🥰💖
Excellent video and very informative. Well done!!!
Thank you Chats! 😊
I think you got the right candidate out of the four here. There 0.95 would be my choice. The slightly warmer color and overall performance seem very very pleasing to me
Yes definitely! It renders beautifully, creating beautiful bokeh wide-open but also can be really sharp when stopped down 😃
Great content! Super helpful. Picking up a 50 .95 noct for my m11 today. Trying to decide on a 75 noct or 35.
Thanks! And congrats! Wow the 75 noct or the 35… they are very different lenses. What do you shoot mostly?
Hi NoctiGirl, Impressive evaluation, I originally viewed this on my phone but will have to watch again on a bigger screen to see the variations. One thing surprised me was center sharpness of the f1 and f1.2. My copy of the f1 is sharper in the center than my f1.2, so the only conclusion I can draw is that single sample variation exists and conclusions while they are valid for the samples tested are not 100%. Nonetheless, great video and evaluation.
Thank you for watching! I totally agree with you. My evaluation was based on the copies I had. But as mentioned in the video, all of the original 1.2’s were hand polished, so the quality and sharpness could vary lens to lens. But I think the general consensus is that the .95 is way sharper than any of the previous models 😊
There is definite sample variation. I have owned 3 of the F1s
That’s what I’ve been hearing too!
Exactly, My 50 f1 is sharper than 50 1.2 remake, not only center but also mid frame. And I think the remake will be more consistent and definitely shaper than original handcraft version.
Definitely! Since it's made with newer, more precise technology 😊
Well done, thanks for posting this.
Thank you for watching!
I wish my dream can come true, instead I am still using my $25 Olympus OM1 that I found as a parts camera with a kit 50mm lens
You know what they say… the best camera is the one you have when you need it 😉 I’m sure you can create awesome photography with your current setup 😊
Great comparison! I. never realised that the original f/1.2 has an almost biotar like swirl to it, and the remake is remarkably similar! Of all of them, my preference is for the f/1, but more for "character" than anything; I can see why people may prefer the 0.95!
I totally agree! They just have different characteristics but all very unique. It all depends on personal preference 😊
good video, but one other thing to mention, that using the SL2s gives the focus peeking feature, allowing for more accurate focus than manually with the rangefinder.
Thanks for tuning in!
You rock! I was totally that guy with the Nikon FM2 and the 50f2. Lol
Hahaha thanks! Glad to know that I’m not alone 🥲
Awesome comparison! All lenses are pretty amazing! I think the f.95 would definitely be my choice if I had the money! But I got the Voightlander f1.1 to use on my SL2-S. Great work Charlice.❤
Thank you for watching Ron!! The Voightlander is an awesome lens too 😊
Thank you for sharing Charlice! Yes Voightlander does make some very good lenses! I hope you made it back home safe! Take care!
Thanks for the analysis, great documentation; i've own the 1.0 for more than 20 years and shot hundreds of pictures with it wide open on film. When I look at my negatives with a modern critical eye, i find that on most of my shots, i missed focus. it is either a bit in front or behind my subject because of the very shallow depth of field. I mostly did documentary run n gun type of photography. I sold the lens eventually because I wasn't using it enough. Today, I would say that apart from aestical rendition and beautiful bokeh, look for a higher excellent ISO like the Delta 400 properly processed and you may not need the bulk and the price of this masterpiece. I am not even talking about the quality of high iso in digital version. I miss the fact that it was a nice conversation piece but how often I feared of dammaging it in difficult situations and often left it home and used my Summicron... Thanks again.
Thank you for watching and sharing your experience!
I saved up for 10 years to get my noctilux. After owning it for 6 years, it's still my only M lens today. I forced myself to shoot it exclusively as I desperately wanted to master it. While I can't say that I've mastered it yet, I can get focus pretty well 😊 Ultimately I think we just gotta shoot what we love, and love what we have.
Happy shooting! 📸
Great analysis! Love to dork out on lenses like this. They missed out not inviting you to their parties!
Thanks! It was definitely a dream come true for me!! Maybe too much information for some, but I got to satisfy my own curiosity 😁
Hey - that 4x5 field camera looks like a Chamonix; I have one too. The f1.2 remake is one of favourite lenses, but then I also like the Nokton f1 as it is sharp wide open.
The f1.2 is awesome! Though it’s a bit too soft for me. I haven’t personally tried out the Nokton yet but have seen beautiful images produced from it 😊
Love the Nokton f/1 and having the LLL 1966 f/1.2 remake arriving this week. Looking forward to comparing, though I know the Nokton is going to win on sharpness.
In my experience the 0.95 is the sharpest out of them all. Can’t comment on the Nokton since I’ve never tried it. Maybe you can share your findings with us 😃
If you can commit to the weight.... The Leica 50mm 0.95 is the best Lens in the world on any system. I shoot exclusively in Black and white so purple fringing is no concern. I can't believe it's actually not sold for more than its current prices.
I have a 50mm f/1. I always wanted a Noctilux and the opportunity to buy one came in about 2006. It gets limited use, though. It is such a big and heavy lens. I also have the
APO-Summiicron 50 f/2. It gets more camera time because of its size. When I shoot with the Noctilux, I try to use it wide open. Thanks for posting this video. It was fun and informative. I'm waiting for an M11, now. And then maybe an M11-monochrom, or a 50 f/.95, or perhaps an APO-Summicron f/2. Or maybe just skip all the camera gear to buy a Tesla!
Hahaha you know I do love my lens! I understand people’s comments about its size and weight. But over the years I’ve gotten quite used to it. The results I get outta that lens lightweight any cons!
The M11 is out now… are you pulling the trigger?? 😉
@@NoctiGirl Trigger pulled. I was in my local camera store about one month ago and the salesman told me they had one M11 in stock. The owner of the store walked by at that moment and told me that I should buy it, so I did! They had never seen one of the cameras in the store, so we opened it there. It works great and is amazing I have put the Noctilux on it and it is a good combination. The focusing aids help with that extremely shallow depth of focus. I'm waiting for the EVF-that will also help me focus better. I like your channel; keep up the good work! From what I've been reading the 50/f0.95 is getting to be somewhat dated. Leica may be working on a successor to it.
Thank you for the kind words, I am very flattered!
So happy and excited for you that you pulled the trigger! I will probably wait until a special edition M11 to pull the trigger. So far I am still enjoying my M10P 😊
I've also heard that a redesign might be in the works. But who knows. There are a lot of rumors in the Leica world 😉 No matter what, just keep shooting!
I have the 0.95, and I am in love with it.
that's awesome! What camera(s) do you use to shoot it with?!
@@NoctiGirl Leica M10-R
Great camera! 😊
a very, very nice video. Thank you.....
Thank you for tuning in! 😊
That was an interesting comparison. I would love to add the f/0.95 version to my collection, but the price is a bit out of my league.
You can find some used ones at better prices! 😄 I love mine and will never part with it 😊
@@NoctiGirl I said the same thing and one day I sold it! Owning the 50 m lux and 50 sl lux something had to give... months later and I am deeply regretting it! Looking to get another one someday down the line I miss it so much!
Hahaha I see that you love your 50mms! Don’t need to own 3 tho 😛 must you keep the 50 sl? I heard the autofocus is quite slow. Is it true? Maybe replace that one with a nocti 😊
Have you thought about reviewing the 75mm noctilux? Would be good to hear your opinion!
Thanks for asking! I haven’t really thought about reviewing the 75mm as I’m not normally a 75mm shooter… what about it specifically would you like to know? Maybe I can borrow a copy to try and do a review 😉
Wonder how these lenses match up with M9 and M10? Is the 0.95 meant to be used on a M10-R for optimal performance? How well does the 1.0 perform on a M9 versus a M10? Leica shop likes to test M lenses on SL2, so maybe the variation can become even more apparent.
I wouldn’t say the 0.95 was “meant to be used on a M10-R”. Remember the 0.95 came out well before the M10-R became available, so it was not “designed” for that camera specifically. Most Leica stores and videos like to use the SL to test these lenses due to the EVF and better LCD to confirm focus, as the .95 has such shallow depth of field.
Cool video. I didn’t expect the fall-off to be so pronounced.
Thanks! Pretty crazy huh??
@@NoctiGirl yes you should sell it 🙂
Are you encouraging me to divorce my husband?? 😮😆
@@NoctiGirl unless he has a prenup yes 😆
🤣🤣🤣
All of us could relate to a portrait of a person. I found it difficult to relate to your colored rectangles and abstract patterns - and the young man at the end was too far away to count as a portrait. Another issue (?) is the Leica 75mm f/1.2 Noctilux lens. Have there been iterations of that 'Noctilux' lens? If you had to choose between the 50mm f/0.95 and the 75mm f/1.2, which would it be?
Thanks for watching! Because most of the lenses were borrowed, I could not really take them out and shoot them, especially the original 1.2. That lens is not only precious, but also pricey! I wouldn't dare to take it out and risk it being harmed or damaged 😖
As far as I know, Leica has only made one 75 noctilux. I didn't talk about it in the video because I'm not normally a tele shooter. I tend to stick with 50mm or wider 😉
@@NoctiGirl, I had to sell my car to get it, but I have the 75mm f/1.2 Noctilux. It weighs a ton, but otherwise it's an amazing lens. :-)
Haha it’s a huge lens!! I saved for 10 years for my 50 noctilux. But I’m so happy that I finally get to own it 😊
Amazing video thanks
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching! 😊
Wow, that was a lot of very expensive glass! I wish I could afford a Noctilux, but my M5 has to settle for a 50mm Voigtländer Nokton f/1.1. It too blocks quite a lot of the view in the viewfinder, but it's not a problem. When I use my Nokton f/1.1 with my M5 (at least in my mind) it kind of becomes a beast to look at. It's a huge difference compared to when I use my 40mm Leica Summicron-C f/2.0.
The Nokton is an awesome lens too! I’ve shot it with great results 😄 I think any other prime lens you own will rarely be bigger or heavier than a Noctilux/Nokton 😆 What do you shoot mostly with the Nokton?? 😃
@@NoctiGirl It was the best lens within my price range at the Leica boutique, when I bought my M5, so I use it for a bit of everything. I have added a 4-stop nd-filter to be able to shoot it wide open in harsh daylight. So far I have mostly used it stopped down a bit for street photography though.
Nice!! The ND filters are must-haves when you shoot wide open! I have a 3-stop ND myself to use on my Nocti… thinking of getting perhaps a 6-stop ND so I can use my nocti on my film cameras more 😊
Be handy to compare to the equivalent lenses from Mr. Ding, 7Artisans, TTartisan etc.
It's the difference between $$,$$$ and $$$. Which is a lot. Especially these days.
@Bernard-ux2eb thanks for sharing! I personally am not familiar with those brands, that’s why I didn’t not compare them in the video. I’d actually never heard of Mr. Ding before. Thanks for sharing! I’ll look into them 😉
Very good video explanation
Thank you for watching! 😊
such a wonderful video. One suggestion, you could have zoomed into these pictures when you focus on one particular area of the image. I assume your photos were taken at much higher resolution than 4k.
Haha thanks for the suggestion! Yes the pictures were shot in raw, but it was taking me a lot of time making those comparison frames. When I reviewed the video I realized I couldn’t really see the difference unless if I zoomed in on the video. But I had spent a lot of time on this video already, so I released it this way… thanks for understanding 🥲
@@NoctiGirl Yeah I'm totally with you. I do a lot of these comparison videos with Leica lenses as well on my channel, and I DO FEEL YOUR PAIN!
@@NoctiGirl incidentally, what is your own opinion about the remake vs original (1.2). I know it's probably better to leave the video unopinionated, but you can tell me your thoughts haha! Also, which one is your favorite!
Hahahaha you want the unofficial opinion that I couldn’t share in the video in case if I offend Leica 😂
My true opinion? If I had the money I wouldn’t buy either the 1.2 original or the remake. The 1.2 original renders differently from copy to copy. Not that I’ve shot a lot of them, but that’s what I’ve heard. The quality is inconsistent. It was my dream lens, unfortunately not practical for me. The focus is simply too soft for my liking. The remake copies probably render more consistently, with modern technology, but it also focuses very softly.
My fav? Of course my hubby! 😍 it can be really sharp but also produces that amazing bokeh. It’s definitely the sharpest out of all 4 lenses. You get the best of all worlds with this lens (0.95) 😉 in my opinion 😆
@@NoctiGirl haha thank you so much for your detailed reply! And I bet it’s honest too :-p but don’t you find the 0.95 heavy and does the color fringing which showed in the video bother you?
Great review Noctigirl!
Thank you for watching! 😊
Girl with Noctilux? I love you! Subscribed!
Hahaha thanks!! 😊
Where can I get the shirt?
I bought my shirt from Leica directly many years ago. Not sure if they are still making them…
It would be interesting to run the comparisons on Film. Remember that the earlier noctilux lenses were designed for film imaging, not digital, and each has its own design requirements.
Thank you for your comment!! I definitely thought about running the comparisons on film as well, but I didn’t want my video to be too long… maybe a part 2? 😛
@@NoctiGirl another option might be to select two of the lenses, maybe the .95 and the 1.2 original and compare the performance of each on film and digital.
In the Bokeh test at 1.4, many bokeh balls of the remake seem without color. Can someone explain?
Did you mean at 1.2? That was our mistake. The bottom string of lights was somehow unplugged when we shot those photos. This was explained in the description of the video. Sorry for the confusion!
the 50 1v4 and e43 is my favorite
Nice!! 😎 That’s an awesome lens. The bokeh on that lens is the most prominent in my opinion 😉
Please do a review about the popular 35mm M lenses
Thank you for the suggestion!
we will do that in the future, the 8 elements included
Yayyyyy 😊
Super nerdy which is fine with me. You probably didn’t miss anything great at those parties.
Hahaha thanks for making me feel better! 😄
A party in the darkroom? Not a bad idea 🤞
Correct pronunciation of the “e” in “Luces” (Latin) is like the first “e” in elephant. The “c” might be pronounced “k” (classic) or “ch” (traditional).
Hahaha thanks for sharing!
Are the double aspherical elements of remake f1.2 noctilux made by hands or machine?
Can the speaker of the above vedio tell us about that?
I don’t believe the remake is hand polished as that would be cost prohibitive! Also they would not be able to make that many copies in such a short time.
at the time , the molding of aspheric molding technology was not widely available, so it was hand polished and optically figured my friend
Thank you for sharing your knowledge Cuong! 😊
It’s been a quick minute.
New content uploading very soon! 😊
I will study properly and comment, but I did a similar test. The advantage of the 0.95 is the best of both worlds. Sharp or soft. Bokeh or no Bokeh. The only downside, literally, is the weight. Plus, I think that the framing 'issue' is minor, but I know that you seek perfection. And the lipstick test would only affect those who indulge in unusual teeth fettishes. 😬
I so agree!! Would love to see your test results/chat about your thoughts on this comparison.
I could not stop staring at my lipstick stains when I went through my footage. I couldn’t even hear whatever the heck I was talking about 😩 then BOOM bottom string of lights in that one frame was off. Whyyyy 😫
@@NoctiGirl It's OK. All a learning curve, which takes a lifetime. Your videos are always good: charming, informative and interesting.
Thank you ☺️
E60 F1 for me personally
Nice!! 😄
thumbs up for high school latin reference
Hehe 😛
👍
😊
@@NoctiGirl subscriber new from indonesian.
Thank you for your support! Appreciate it 😊
@@NoctiGirl your welcome. Waiting next content
You said, whaah? Noctilux lenses?
Thaaaaaat’s right!! 🤓
Firstly, thank you for the video, which should be of great help and interest to many people. Secondly the minor hiccups really are minor. It was prepared and presented with your typical, conscientious and lady-like approach.
And having been lucky enough to try all four models myself (not in the Weinstein sense), my findings are that the original f 1.2 is a joy to use - but because of what it is and not what it does. I had high hopes for the f 1.0, but found it a bit characterless.The new f 1.2 is similar to the old, and as expected, but with better light control. The f 0.95 is obviously heavier but can be soft or sharp, if stopped down or not, making it more versatile. It also has a nice character and is not sterile, like so many modern lenses.
Any of above need care focusing, but are far from impossible. Easy on a Leica SL, and on a digital M series I use Liveview to check that the rangefinder is correct.
Any Noctilux is a joy to use, and thank you Noctigirl for flying the Noctiflag !
I can always count on you for thorough analysis and witty comments to make me chuckle 😄 do you still own all 4?? Which of the f1 do you have?
I find that the bokeh produced by the f1 to be the most “noticeable”… almost in a distracting sense because the bokeh is so prominent. Whereas the bokeh produced by the .95 is smoother and blends in with the overall image better. The bokeh is definitely still noticeable but just not as distracting.
Thanks again for all your support over the years! I always look for your comments when I post my vids now ☺️
@@NoctiGirl You are welcome ! (The wit is natural. I blame my mother.) I have two versions of the F1. One with a detachable hood and one with the pull-out hood. Both produce nice images, but they just feel a bit bland. I prefer the two 'extremes of the f1.2 and f0.95. But, the 0.95 really is the best photographic option. It has the best of both worlds, bokeh and sharpness if required, and character. Definitely not a 'one trick pony' unless you choose it to be. I have spoken. Thus endeth the sermon ...
Hahaha… of course you have 2 versions of the f1 😆 I agree with you! The .95 has the best of both worlds, but I am partial to it, considering I married it… 😝
Let me pick your brain some more 😚 suggestions on a future video?? 😃
@@NoctiGirl Firstly, congratulations on your optical conjugations. My suggestions for videos would be: '5 ways to better bokeh', 'The Leica 50mm versus anything', 'Leica 50mm Noctilux myths versus reality' and 'I married a bokeh monster'. 🙃
@@NoctiGirl And: 'Why you shouldn't buy the Leica 50mm Noctilux'. (clickbait: temptation'.)