Noctilux Archives

Leica has re-released its iconic Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 ASPH

Jan 28, 2021 by John Aldred Leave a Comment

Leica has announced a reissue of their Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 ASPH lens. As the name suggests, it’s designed for the Leica M mount. Its optical design is virtually identical to the original Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2, released in 1966, which they say provides the same classic, vintage feel. It’s the third reissue of Leica’s M mount Classics range, adding to the Summaron-M 25mm f/5.6 and the Thambar-M 90mm f/2.2.

Two versions of the lens are being released. The first is the standard black, which is available in all of the usual places. The other is silver and a limited edition of 100 units available only at Leica stores.

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This is what it looks like to shoot portraits with $12.8K Leica 75mm NOCTILUX f/1.25 lens

Feb 14, 2018 by Dunja Djudjic 1 Comment

Back in November 2017, Leica announced a super-pricey Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens. The $12,795 lens should start shipping soon, and photographer Matt Granger was lucky to try it out.

Matt got the opportunity to test out the Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH, as well as another unreleased Leica lens: Summicron-SL 90mm f/2 ASPH. He went out on a cold day in Brooklyn and shot some great portraits of Stephanie Pham. In this video, he shares some of the photos, as well as his impressions of the lenses.

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Leica announces 75mm f/1.25 manual focus lens and it’ll only cost you $12.8K

Nov 30, 2017 by John Aldred 9 Comments

I know things with Leica written on them are supposed to be expensive, but wow. Leica has been producing Noctilux lenses for over 50 years. It kicked off in 1966 with the Noctilux 50mm f/1.2 at Photokina in 1966. That lens today has been updated with an f/0.95 aperture. Leica say that the new Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH is even better, and even more expensive.

At $12,795, one would hope so, too. Designed for the 35mm “full frame” format, the Noctilux-M 75mm contains 9 elements in 6 groups with 11 aperture blades. Leica says the elements are designed from material with high anomalous partial dispersion and low chromatic dispersion. This allows them to reduce aberrations to a “hardly detectable” level, Leica told Digital Trends.

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This $11,000 lens is exactly why you don’t check camera gear when flying

Aug 18, 2017 by John Aldred 3 Comments

It should be pretty common knowledge by now that you don’t check your delicate camera gear when flying. Ok, sometimes, you might no choice, especially if you fly Delta. But if the ability is there to carry it in your hand luggage, then do it. This was an expensive lesson to learn for one lady who recently brought her Leica M10 & 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux to Leica Store Manchester for repair.

The $10,995 lens has been smashed, and the $6,895 camera now won’t even turn on. Leica Store Manchester told PetaPixel, “She had only had the camera and lens for 2 weeks”.

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