King of the Night
The LEICA 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux-M ASPH was developed as one of the standard lenses for the Leica M rangefinder camera, and it boasts the largest aperture in the Leica lens lineup. It has earned the nickname “King of the Night” due to its ability to capture sharp images in extremely low light conditions that exceed the perception of the human eye. Even the light from street lamps can be sufficient for handheld photography with this lens.
The lens features a solid construction with a combination of aluminum and brass materials. A “floating element” design maintains high image quality even when shooting at close-up range. The focus ring feels very smooth when turned, and the aperture ring clicks nicely into place.
Bokeh
Compared to its predecessors, the Noctilux 50mm f/1.0 or Noctilux 50mm f/1.2, the Noctilux f/0.95 is sharper wide open at f/0.95. It also produces unique and distinct aesthetic effects. The bokeh of the Noctilux 0.95 is similar to that of the Noctilux 1.0, where the background light spots become oval towards the sides of images.
Introduced in 1966, the Noctilux Lens' f/1.2 aperture (total production: about 1500) was more of a technical demonstration and marketing gimmick than anything else.
Focus Throw
Noctilux 0.95 has a shorter focus throw compared to the Noctilux 1.0, which has a longer focus throw. The focus throw of a lens is measured in degrees and represents the amount of rotation needed to turn a lens’ focus ring from its MFD (minimum focus distance) to infinity.
Purple Fringing
In certain situations, such as when shooting wide open and facing strong light sources, the Noctilux lens may produce some purple fringing on a digital M camera.
My Noctilux 0.95
The Noctilux 0.95 is a highly coveted lens that many photographers dream of owning. After considering for almost two months, I finally became the owner of the Noctilux 50mm f/0.95 lens. During my decision-making process, I took into account three important factors: cost, portability, and weight.
After using the Noctilux for several months, I found that it did not fully meet my expectations. When looking through the viewfinder with the Noctilux attached, I noticed that its large diameter obstructed a significant portion of the view in the bottom right corner. As a result, I have kept the Noctilux in its box for a long time and found that the Summilux and Summicron lenses better suit my needs for street photography.
The extremely shallow depth of field at open aperture produces portraits and detailed studies of unequalled aesthetic effect. Brand Leica Lens Type Standard Compatible Mountings Leica M Camera Lens Description 8 Maximum Focal Length 50 Millimeters
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