Leica 50mm f 1 0 Noctilux M Manual Focus Lens 11822
The NOCTILUX-M is the only f/1 lens for 35-mm photography manufactured in series by Leica. Because of this extraordinary optical performance it is eminently suited not only for photography at twilight, but also for night photography without flash – the light of a single candle is already sufficient. It produces outstanding contrast rendition, so that barely noticeable color differences are faithfully separated and the finest structures of the subject are resolved accurately, even under extremely unfavorable light conditions. The optical computation of this super-fast lens approaches the limits of what is physically possible. The NOCTILUX-M gives LEICA-M photography capabilities that are beyond the reach of other outfits.
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars The only lens when there’s no light and you need the picture
I own three Leica 50mm lenses. The Noctilux is the one I use for weddings and commercial indoor work without flash or studio lights.
Pictures from this lens lack the sparkle of those from more recent Leica designs, but in a poorly-lit room with ISO 800 film, there’s no other alternative if you have to get the picture without flash.
My lens is a first-version 50mm f/1, 11 821, but the optical formula hasn’t changed since Walter Mandler designed it in 1976. Stopped down to f/1.2, the vignetting wide-open reduces a little.
The lens makes great images stopped down further, too, but it’s a real boat anchor to carry. If you don’t need the f/1 speed, the 50mm f/1.4 Summilux is much lighter and smaller. I use the second version – it’s optically excellent. They’re available used for less than $1000 if you hunt around a bit.
Another reviewer cites Canon’s EF 50mm f/1, but this lens has been discontinued. Even used, it can fetch over $5000.
Canon will release the new EF 50mm f/1.2 in late 2006. For fast 50mm lenses, it and the Noctilux are your only choices.
5 Stars Fastest 50mm Lens Available for Leica M-mount rangefinder cameras
The Leica 50mm f1 Noctilux is not only one of the two fastest 35mm lenses currently in production (The other one is the 50mm f1 Canon EOS lens.), but it is truly one of the specialist Leica lenses which have earned much praise from diehard Leica fans, fine art photographers and photojournalists. This lens truly shines wide open at f1, where its relatively lower contrast will yield lovely, almost pastel-like, out-of-focus blurs. For those interested in doing available low-light photography at the slowest possible speed, this venerable lens will open some interesting artistic vistas for a photographer who has a M-mount rangefinder camera such as the Leica M series, Konica Hexar, Voigtlander Bessa series, and last, but not least, the relatively new Zeiss Ikon. I have not had the need to use the Noctilux, but have seen wonderful work done with this lens, which is used frequently to photograph musicians performing in dimly-lit, smoke-filled rooms. Unless you have the burning desire and need to do a lot of low-light available light photography with a 35mm M-mount rangefinder camera, then don’t purchase this lens, but instead, think of acquiring Leica’s venerable 50mm Summicron, its superb 50mm ASPH Summilux, or the Carl Zeiss ZM 50mm Planar lenses.