Having already the Summilux 50 mm ASPH FLE, why did you buy the Noctilux 0.95? Is it so important to have a so fast lens?
These are two of the most common questions I receive from people use to attend my workshops and my replies are always the same:
This lens (Noctilux) is a specialist lens, because the special price, special size; it’s weight is very close to the Summilux 50 ASPH FLE Chrome version. All these characteristics put the lens in a unit category.
It’s not a sort of “I have to have it” but, if you can see the incredible added value from it’s unique performance characteristics, and these are matching your type of imagery, you must also accept a long time learning curve to get the best out of the lens. A perfect focus need more practice compared to all the other lenses but the large focus ring helps a lot even if it has a long run from 1 meter to infinite.
When to use this exceptional lens? This is something you have to decide. It’s a 50 mm at all, so, it can be used always and anywhere; don’t forget to have a ND filter (at least 3 stop down) with you, otherwise you will not be able, most of the time, with daily light, to use it a full aperture.
Going back to the questions at the beginning of this post:
I bought the Noctilux because it’s unit bokeh and performance; portraits with this lens are fabulous paint attention where to focus
I bought the Summilux for it’s exceptional characteristics and it’s portability; compact and light enough
Summilux 50 mm ASPH FLE on Leica M9P; 160 ISO, f1,4
Could you appreciate the difference between these two lenses? No doubts at full aperture, of course, less or nothing over f4 where the shots are really comparable. But these are not lenses built on to be used at f4.