The most famous lens ever made … is back!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ธ.ค. 2023
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You can preorder the Light Lens Lab 50mm f/1.2 ASPH "1966" directly from Light Lens Lab lightlenslab.myshopify.com/?r...
The original Leica Noctilux 50mm f/1.2 is one of the most innovative and rare lens designs in the history of photography. It revolutionized optical design by using 2 aspherical surfaces that had to be hand-ground. Light Lens Lab has just introduced their replica of the original down to the Lanthanum glass elements which are hand-ground just like the original. The Light Lens Lab is one of the most faithful replica lenses I've ever used, but at a fraction of the price of trying to get one of the originals.
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Ted Forbes
The Art of Photography
2830 S. Hulen, Studio 133
Fort Worth, TX 76109
US of A - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
Another very informative and excellent video. As always you give the feel of the lens in your reviews. One thing about your reviews is you give us so many hard choices which lens to purchase. Love what LLL is doing bringing back classic hard to find lenses.
Old is old and that is why I am/have been putting together a complete set of Minolta Rokkor MC's mark 3's. Light Lens Lab look gorgeous.
Happy New Year , thank you for the many years of great content More to come !!! I'll just dream about that lens for now !
Gorgeous. I’m happy to see more lens manufacturers seeing the trends and bringing back vintage inspired designs. The sigma classic cine set comes to mind and some contemporary voigtlanders. I love it and hope to see more.
Great review. I love the perspective you provide. I happen to shoot Pentax - and one of the fun parts of that are all the vintage Pentax lenses from that 60's and 70's era that I can still use on my DSLR. As you suggested, because each lens from that era seems to have its own quirks and personality, I find it asks more of me to figure out the best ways to use those characteristics.
I love the romance of this initiative. Interestingly Voigtlander do a 50mm f1.2 which has wonderful character and is a true 50.
I suppose it does depend on the way you look at it, but I do think your statement the most famous lens ever made, is questionable. In 1902 Zeiss patented the most copied camera lens of all time, the Tessar. Since that time millions of cameras, including smartphones, have lenses of Tessar design. There is a list as long as your arm of companies that made lenses based on the Tessar. Kodak Ectar, Minolta Rokkor, Schneider Xenar, Yashica Yashinon, Leitz Elmar, the list goes on.
I love the Tessar-type lenses, and they're famous, as you stated. But...Tessar is not a lens, it is a type, a way to build lenses, that's why it exists in some many different 'shapes and forms' , read focal lengths and apertures, built for 6x6 cameras like the Rolleis and 35mm cameras like the Rollei 35, the Practica and Exacta, and all the different applications you mentioned. So, yes, your right saying that the Tessar is one of the most famous - type of - lenses, but the Noctilux is one of the most famous lenses it it's own right.
Tessar is a brand assigned to a Zeiss patented lens design and the respective lenses. After the patents ran out, many lenses of the same design were made such as Xenar, Scopar, Elmar etc. Later designs such as Planar were better but more expensive
Give him hell, he’s a yes boy.
The Cooke Triplet could also qualify for this title. The most authentic way to get a film look is to shoot film. Adox CHS 100 is a classic 1950's emulsion that is orthopanchromatic. Develop in a divided D23 solution.
And there were Noct Nikkor, Hologon, Sonnar, Biogon, Summilux etc. ...
The Fujinon 5cm f1.2 was made for Leica thread mount also, along with Contax and Nikkor S. I have all three versions of the Noctilux 1.2 and they're all fantastic in there own way. Nice review, keep up the excellent work 👍
Great detailed review Ted. From an analogue viewpoint, there is still something lovely about older and quite affordable non-aspherical Leica lenses with Tri-x film souped in Rodinal or D76. Ideal for that old-world street and photojournalist vibe. In the end though, it's the overall power of the image itself. Contemporary high resolution lenses often have a palpable sterility about them IMHO. There's no accounting for taste though, and to each his own.
Great video. Btw, Ken Rockwell wrote the best 50 mm lens was the Leica SUMMICRON 50 mm f/2 non ASPH… ( the best versions were v4 and 5)….
LLB are definitely one of the most interesting lens makers at the moment. I have two lenses on my wish list for them to remake. LLB if your reading this... please bring us the Super Angulon-M 21/4 and the Nikkor Noct 58/1.2. 🙏🏻
Your film sims are incredible. Super fun/useful to go through them at the start of editing an image.
Glad you like them!
I have the LLL 8-element LTM mount collapsible. It 's, by far, my most favorite 35mm not only because of its vintage look but its size. I haven't shot with my Leica Cron asph since acquriing it.
I learned a lot here. Thanks for taking the time to compare these two wonderful 50mm’s!
Excellent as usual. It is always a pleasure to view your videos. This one almost gave me a heart attack. I bought a M4-P mount Everest when it first came out. I also bought a used 50 noct , I think I paid a grand for it like a book I sold both and bought a 500CM. I wish I still had them. And now you say they are worth 30-50K, good grief. Thanks again great video.
Thank you Ted, I was already lusting for one of these, but your video has increased that desire.
I handled an original Noctilux a few weeks ago and saw a portrait taken on a modern digital camera with it. Well worth having a look at it you get the chance. Bokeh were stunning and plastic in a rather wonderful way.
I re-watched this after finally obtaining my 1966. Once again, you were spot on Ted. This lens is so much fun that I'm thinking of selling my Leica Noctilux 50mm reissue.
This is a hopelessly pedantic point, but 1966 is the mid-20th century, not the mid-19th century.
I love the look this lens produces, along with the film simulations. Gorgeous! In the sixties we were much more likely to refer to film speed as ASA.
I love the freedom that high ISO gives us. I shot for years using Velvia 50 and it took some adjusting to digital and the extraordinary ISO's useable. Speed in the 60's was critical to shooting in low light. Now fast lenses are used more for the shallow DOF. It's amazing that Light Lens Lab is hand grinding the aspheric elements!
For me the Nikkor 58mm F1.4 AF-S G was this type of lens and I added it as soon as I could find a good copy for less than Msrp to add to my wedding bag. Nikon was dragged for that lens but I think it’s gorgeous for modern users. Though my all time favorite portrait lens is a Minolta 58mm 1.2, sadly my copy has had an element misalignment from use over the past twenty years. I would love for that lens to be recreated.
I love the Nikon 58 1.4G also - such a great lens. I never understood the criticism. That lens has a gorgeous look to it.
Id agree. I use the 58mm f1.4 as my primary street portraiture lens. it has a real sweet spot when used for half length portraits, giving a unique look that doesn't come over when you read spec sheets.
somewhere online there is a comparison between de modern Nikon afs 58 1,4 and the old 5,8cms f1,4 (Pre Ais). I have the old one and it spends very little time in the cabinet (it has a "strange" optical design, more asymetric (like Biotar maybe) clearly a transition from the bright ones for telemetric cameras (mainly Sonnars), to the "modern" derivatives of the Planar, like this Leica).
@@theartofphotography The 50mm f/1.4G was around $500 when the 58mm f/1.4G was released at around $1600. People said the price made little sense when the 50mm was so much less expensive. But considering the prices of the 24mm f/1.4G, 35mm f/1.4G, and 85mm f/1.4G, the 58mm basically matched them. These people are also oblivious to the phrase, "has a gorgeous look to it". I am also oblivious to the phrase, but watching what you show and say, I can at least pretend to appreciate it. 😂
That lens quality goes beyond sharpness is a hard lesson to learn in the information age, as the vast majority of reviewers gush charts and data with little to no reference to the subtle art of character. It's why the Batis lenses are so very excellent while perhaps not winning the sharpness leaderboard.
Thank you for demonstrating the differences. I have a Noctilux 50/1.0 from the early 70s as well as a Noct-Nikkor 58mm/1.2 and like playing around with them to spot the differences.
Thanks for another excellent video. I'm inspired to go out and shoot with my 1966 Super Takumar 55mm f/1.8 tomorrow!
I just bought the 25mm f2.0 TT Artisans lens for my Fuji cameras and I'm so glad I did as it reminds me of the 35mm f2.5 Voigtlander lens I used to have. It's just like a little jewel and I want to put it under my pillow at night.
Waiting for one to come in the mail
since oct 2023, it has brought my old a6000 back to life.
before i used the 40 f2 (my fav.on leica m) for a few yrs (up to 2021?);
a bit "long"60 but stretch the lousy battery a lot when not feeding af lens.
Just put in the full deposit for the first batch of preorders! Excited to get the lens, hopefully very soon!
OH, dear, talk about drooling. What a lovely bit of glass. How I am envious. Thank you so much.
Excellent review! I enjoy shooting with vintage MF lenses. Recently acquired a Synoptic (Mr. Ding) M mount 50mm 1.1 based on the early Noctiluxes and am having a great time with it. Gud Licht y'all!
Lovely bokeh and shallow depth of field. Love it.
Very nice review and photos.
I recently picked up Leica’s Noctilux-M 50 mm f/1 and f/1.2 re-issue lenses. They’re both interesting and different. Also, there’s no mistaking either of them for the new Leica Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4.
I plan to get the Leica Noctilux-M 50 mm f/0.95, and will look into getting a Light Lens lab 50 mm f/1.2. It’s fun having a wide range of lenses to choose from.
That was a really great review! Thx!
Cheers so much I love the look 😊❤
Nice indeed. It would be great to know if the Voigtländer 50 f1.5 Heliar is a comparable „character“ lens as the LLL 50 1.2
Great video (as always). Thx!
Love it! Wish I could afford one… such gorgeous look!
I'm hoping they get around to making some of the rare Takumars and Fujis. The stuff they are doing for Leica mount lenses is impressive.
1966! Didn't know the noctilux was that old, i just assumed it was an expensive lens that camera nerds are drooling over.
Ted, you got me. I liked the images, design, character, rendering and ordered the lens. Will be shipped somewhen in 2024.
Will pair on my film camera and compare it with the old summilux 35 pre-asph (Canada).
I've already pre ordered, but they project end of 2024 for delivery!
Thanks for the video. I love my Panasonic Leica 42.5mm f1.2. For those not in the micro 4/3 system, the lens you reviewed looks to be a good option.
cracking lense … wish I had kept mine!
Hey Ted, just want to give a shout out for your profiles. Ironically I bought them recently prior to seeing this video. They are very well done and outshine other Kodak/Fuji emulation profiles I’ve purchased. Well done and the discount makes them a bargain.
Great review. I own the Light Lens Lab 35mm 8 element. Its rendering is beautiful and the construction is up to Leica standards. They have a 28mm ASPH listed on the LLL site, really hope they end up making it.
👍🏼
My copy of the Elcan is really bad. Focus ring is a loose and the lens rattles a bit 🙁
Thanks once again for information on the LLL 50 1.2. I’ve placed my deposit. I took your advice on the 50 F2 Cooke Panchro and have been enjoying it immensely. Perfect on the M Monochrom and stylish on the M10R. I was thinking about either the Leica .95 or 1.2 recreation, but finding an original 1.2 was my grail search. Thanks for your many educational videos.
Love what LLL is doing.
I don't know if it is possible but I hope they are successful enough that they can expand and see if it is possible to produce some autofocus versions. My understanding is that AF motors may change the optical recipe, but the entire industry is crying out for vintage glass with AF. I've had to try gizmos such as Fotodiox's AF adapter for MF glass (my beloved Takumar 50/1.4(8e) to get something going like this, and of course it is not ideal. I do realise that AF for some defeats the point, but I think there is enough of a market that many would be over the moon to get something even 90% close to the original charm with AF.
Back in the day, the Summilux was the hot lens, then the f/1 noctilux came out, and the f/1.2’s were not appreciated. My camera store offered me a sweet deal on a used one acquired through a divorce settlement. Fell in love with its unique signature, it was glued to my M4 for years, stored in a wrinkled paper bag till it was stolen. A sad day. Buying a clone is like purchasing a blow up doll of your first Love.
Thanks for your review Ted. I’ve pre ordered the aluminium/ Black Paint version
After 45 years in photography, I have never EVER seen a blind assessment of a negative/digital file (this applies to hifi too!) Blind wine tasting yes... but absolutely NOT with photographic kit.
I’ve been SOOO wanting to pre-order this lens. I looked at the Noctilux-M 50/1,2 reissue, and have used the modern (now almost and old design) 0.95 Noctilux and the 75 and 90 Lux from Leica. The 75 is my favorite of the bunch, then the 90. The reissue from Leica has some interesting characteristics but seeing that I have used and own a number of actual vintage Lenses from the 50s, 60s and even 40s… it was just a little too modern for me. I like the weight of it. I like everything else about it, except where it really counted for an almost 8K lens; the rendering. I had a friend that had the 70s-80s Noctilux f1.1 and I liked it, but I was always curious about the original. I think LLL has done some amazing work here! The whole idea of replicating a lens is actually replicating the process, THIS MAKES SO MUCH SENSE. I love my friends in Wetzlar, I wish they would have taken the time and energy to do the work LLL is doing with their own Noctilux. As soon as I figure out my EOY expenditures I will likely put the down payment on a preorder. If it has the build quality to stay with my Leica BC Summilux 50, then it will stay in my kit and move on to the kids. I think it’s a hoot to have so many options now. So many!!
Well said Bil - I think you'd dig this version a lot.
@@theartofphotographygood
2500 seems really attractive next to 50k
Just checked their retail price. It's around USD2,000. For that kind of money I wouldn't buy a replica of anything. If I spend that kind of money on another 50mm (I already have the 50 Summilux, Summicron DR, Apo Lanthar, Nokton 1.2 and others), it will be the Voigtlaender Nokton 1.0.
It is Wonderful !
Ok, I preordered it. Great video.
I preordered one, looks great! I think I would get great images with this lens on a M11....Thanks for the video Ted!
I found this video viry interested i really injoy it watch it twice i love the looks of the photographs shown i. This video i recently got two lieca lenses and i was very impressed with the results the tones n kooks are just inoperable. Thanks for making and sharing this video. Lots inspiration in it video well done.
Cooke Triplet was the game changing lens.
Interesting lens, nice video!
Wish they go a step further and remake the Noctilux 50/1.0 which I think had the most interesting background rendition and spherical aberrations of the Noctiluxes. If not that, a "1956", a remake of the Canon 50/1.2 LTM rangefinder lens would also be amazing!
The Noct comes alive on a mirrorless camera.
That does not surprise me.
I do a lot of my photography with a Konica 57mm F1,4 and recognized the look, from this.
The Konica is also a 1960 design, on ebay I've seen some Konica M-Hexanons.
Seems like Konica did a limited run of 50mm 1,2 lenses with Leica M mount, have you ever seen one ?
They are stupid expensive, so I won't ever buy one, but I would be interesting to know how good or bad they are !
There is a Konica 50f1.2 M mount for sale at Camera Exchange in Melbourne
@@oppositeaccountdave9430 Oh, and stupid expensive as well 🙂
Yes okay this one BUT what about the 1:2.0 21mm Zuiko offered by Olympus somewhere during end seventies … with exceptional couloring quality really exceptional
I like looking through the lens.
Ted, Fyi. In regard to your mention of the 51.2 mm actual focal length of the Leica lens. Back in the early 80's I had a friend deep into stereo photography. He used Leica's and had to buy two of everything. (Imagine that budget!) He found out that the Leica lenses were not all the focal length marked. They varied a bit from lens to lens. But If you took off either the front or back ring, the actual factory bench measured focal length was hand engraved inside. So Leica was testing every lens by hand.
Absolutely
I just got my Voightlander 50mm f1.2 on sale for 899 from Cameraquest and I get that vintage look and am as happy as can be.
At 9:11 you can see some very rough and clear "onion rings" (traces from the tool that mills the mold)
Nice one mate beautiful lens make your film looks available for luminar i will buy them! great vid.
Recently, there are 2 copies of Leica Noctilux 50mm 1.2 (1966 version) lens. The original lens is the most expensive lens, and it has crazy re-selling price over USD50000 in the 2nd hand markets. Few years ago, Leica re-issued this lens with new material with the price of USD 4000. The new Chinese lens maker, Light Lens Lab. recreates this lens with similar old glass with the price of USD 1650 in China. The outlooks and glass structure of 2 copy lenses are made identically as the original Noctilux. However, the performance of Leica re-issue lens is far behind from original lens. The new Chinese copy delivered similar feeling from the original one with higher resolution output.
I just bought a 1950's 400mm German lens in M39 mount. It is huge, and I will try it out with an adaptor to digital.
@8:25 love the Indri bottle - great choice!! :-)
Your video made me buy one.
I definitely prefer character lenses over modern clinical lenses. So much photography just ends up looking the same in terms of lens rendering. As a photographer who owns a Sony, the choice is a bit more limited if I want native lenses without an adapter and I do use a Voigtlander 40mm as my main lens. What Light Lens Lab are doing is really great but I doubt they'd make any lenses other than M mount.
I love what LLL is doing- how would you compare this look to the SPII you raved about? They both seem like very cool lens choices
Ted. I’d also like to know how the two lens compare. I’m considering a purchase of the SPII after your review
They’re both fantastic - 2 very different looks though. I bought the SPII - still one of my favorites.
I would love to see you talk about some of the incredible lenses being made in Japan by MS-Optics. Mr. Miyazaki handmakes these lenses in a small shop in Chiba. You'll see JCH has been a main source of these, most likely due to him bridging the language barrier with an English speaking market. I've got one of these lenses and it hasn't been taken off my M11 since I bought it over a year ago.
See, I like the reinterpretation of vintage styles with modern technology. One of my favorite recent lenses is the TTArtisan 27/2.8. I don’t know that it reproduces any particular old 40mm lens, but the combination of vintage style heavy vignette and extreme cats eye to the extent of often swirling bokeh, with modern autofocus and aperture control really works for me. My dream would be a modern-convenience Biotar design, to get that Helios 44 look with a contemporary size and ease of use. Or if Canon were to use the formula from something like an old 50mm Serenar lens from their rangefinder past, but in a modern RF mount with autofocus and so forth.
But a big part of that isn’t just the technology of manufacture, but the technology of use. It’s one thing to make a manual focus lens that has slightly old characteristics. There are lots of those, with differing levels of accuracy to old optical designs. But few that bring truly modern electronic handling.
This remake noctilux has more character than the Speed Panchro Cooke 50mm remake.
I shot a vintage nocti for many many years. First thought when I saw this (didn't know it was a recreation) was "this doesn't look like a nocti".
Mid 19th Century?
wow. someone talking about gear And takes good photos!! A rare find.
Can't wait to get mine. One question - the Leica is using modern technology - by inference on your comments about it, they are not using the same type of glass as their original?
Correct. The Leica version uses modern glass materials, modern coating and molded aspheric elements. It’s a great lens, but it’s a modern version of the original.
Ted, happy new year.
Have you tried the Canon 135mm f2 EF?
9 leaf shutter, beautiful bokeh. Crazy shallow dof.
Of course is a Leica lens, I have a panasonic that came with Leica lens and the bouquet is out of this world
Lens envy!
Great review ! Would love to see a side by side comparison with The Voigtlander 50mm 1.2 .
I love my Voigtlander 50mm 1.2! Great lens.
@@frankgharrisiv It is indeed !
Great review! Does it come in different colours in the future? silver or even Time Limited edition in weathered Brass?
i had never heard of these blokes! wow. maybe i’ll finally pick up an m11P with the light lens 35f2
Nice sir ❤
This Leica Lens is the price so Expensive but so Excellence Lens!
definitely, "older' lenses can give stellar results on the top digital cameras. but not all lenses. 1/ SLR lenses, and should be retro focus. RF and TLR are not suitable. Beware the registry and angle of acuity. 2/ Not all SLR lenses will render colours accurate for a digital imager. I have found Leica lenses to have a distinct magenta bias. Only a few older lenses will have sufficient resolution. Best brands I have used so far are Zeiss, Rollei, Konica. 3/ Old lenses are not autofocus. You will need a camera body engineered for quick manual focus. 4/ Learn to read MTF charts. 5/ go to Flickr to see the results of many different types of old lenses on new cameras.
Now we’re in wish mode, how many of us here are still waiting for an updated version of the Epson RD-1? 😀
I'm not that picky, old Leica or new Leica lens and I'm very happy : )
Ted - your channel is fantastisch and a big inspiration. I am now very intrigued by those LLL lenses and try to decide between the f1.2 noctilux and the f2 speed panchro. Any vintage light you can share to help the decision? Best - Frank
I cannot wait to receive mine, 2nd batch near end of 2024.
I got a call from Popflash, and my lens is in! Nicely early. Cannot wait!
In comparing the two lenses, do you use a lens profile for the Light Lens 50?
“Back in the 19th century”?
Great video as always, Ted. Lens aside, can you tell me more about the eyepiece you have on your M11?
I had a custom eyepiece made with my left eye prescription as I have an astigmatism that makes focusing a challenge. I got it made from Walter Leica.
@@theartofphotographyg🎉🎉🎉🎉
Oh… Leica… with a marketing philosophy identical to the companies that sell diamonds with no intrinsic value for thousands of dollars.
Very interesting Video! Have you by any chance ever used a Konica Hexanon 57mm f1.2? I would be interested in what you think about it in comparison. Thanks!
02:45 you surely mean 20th century
Let's make vintage lens more available. Proceeds to make it not so available.
Great to see someone else that’s captured Robert’s House.
Has anyone done a "remake" of the Pancolar? A favorite of mine; love what lens does. Unfortunately, as with many early auto-aperture lenses, the spring loaded aperture blades are borked on my copy.
Repairs will happen of course, but it's a valid excuse to shop for what I don't really need, too. 😀
Thank you for the informative video! I need to ask a question about Leica lens adapters. Recently I tried to use a vintage 50mm lens on modern dslr. The one I have is nikon d610. So I find adapter from M39 to f-mount, but i did not work. The focus was not appearing in any length but in 3-4 sm from the lens, which was far from the minimum focal length of the lense given from the manufacturer. I will be very pleased to find solution, advice or any practical opinions. Thanks for your time!
Btw it was leitz 50/2.0 summicron lense...🙂
Will the presets work with Lightroom on my iPad