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You can preorder the Light Lens Lab 50mm f/1.2 ASPH "1966" straight from Light Lens Laboratory
The initial Leica Noctilux 50mm f/1.2 is among the most ingenious and unusual lens styles in the history of photography. It revolutionized optical style by using 2 aspherical surfaces that had to be hand-ground. Light Lens Laboratory has simply introduced their replica of the original to the Lanthanum glass elements which are hand-ground just like the original. The Light Lens Lab is among the most devoted reproduction lenses I have actually ever utilized, but at a fraction of the rate of attempting 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
United States of A.
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Yup – I remember when color film topped out at 25 ISO.
It’s impressive that ISO 100 was high at one time while some cameras have a base ISO that’s higher 😮
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.
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.
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.
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.
Just put in the full deposit for the first batch of preorders! Excited to get the lens, hopefully very soon!
From when colour photography was probably at it’s best in the fifties, If I could afford one it would be sweet. Never mind.!
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.
In the nostalgia for old lenses, no one seems to remember how the photographers of the time were in a constant battle against mush. These vintage looks are at least partially based on a lack of sharpness. In the era before stabilized lenses and sensors, even 400 speed film wasn’t enough to help. I prefer modern tech! I remember the days of a shot being ruined by a lack of sharpness. I remember needing to fight against mushy lenses. I don’t have much interest in going back to those days.
The mushyness was due to the film not the lens.
I love the romance of this initiative. Interestingly Voigtlander do a 50mm f1.2 which has wonderful character and is a true 50.
In comparing the two lenses, do you use a lens profile for the Light Lens 50?
Having owned and used several Noctilux. I see the Canon 400mm f2.8 as being revolutionary. Those first early AF version with IS just give a certain look in digital. The newer versions are to razor sharp. If I’m shooting a sports event near sunset I’ll use the older 400mm.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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’m a guy who owns about 100 vintage lenses, so I’m excited to see lens makers going back to basics and reproducing the older designs. I’m not a Leica shooter (too expensive for me), so I don’t plan to buy this lens. But I did get the TTArtisans 100mm M42, which is the Trioplan design.
Imperfect manual lenses makes photography fun.