Shooting the NEW Leica Noctilux 50mm f/1.2 on the Leica M10-R

Shooting the new Leica Noctilux 50mm f/1.2 ASPH on the Leica M10-R. In the video I share my shooting experience and lots of sample images.
Watch in 4K to avoid video compression artefacts.
See here my first video on the new Leica Noctilux 50mm f/1.2:
• NEW Leica NOCTILUX 50m...
Music: epidemicsound.com

[@annenominous7220]

Thanks! it is a great lens for sure, but what really stood out to me was your video making skills. Informative, watchable, interesting, keep up the good work!

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks Anne, very kind words.

[@GastonShutters]

Picked up mine today. Love it so far. Focus throw seems longer than what I’m used to but I like it because it makes it easier to refine focus open wide

[@genobambino]

From what I’ve seen, including your videos, this lens has the juiciest rendering of any of the Leica 50mm lenses to date.

[@Gravitys-NOT-a-force]

Thanks very much. That was very interesting. I have the 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux, and before watching your video I had never given any thought to the advantage - which you mention - of shooting at f/1.4 or f/2.0 over f/0.95. Now, when shooting in low-light conditions, I will have to consider how much context I need - if any. Thanks again.

[@mathphotographer]

Thank you, it might be sometimes good to just "indicate" what the background scene is about, to give viewers an impression but not more than that, because you want your subject in the foreground to be clearly separated from the background.

[@HanZuyderwijk]

Great video once again. Thank you Math! I am also curious to see the results on the M10-R. If you have the lenses available, could you compare it to the 50 Summulix and 50 Noctilux 0.95?

[@philippebernard8987]

great idea

[@leicaman2213]

can you take some at night and low light at 1.2

[@dummatube]

Like you I totally fell for these incredibly beautiful chrome and silver Leica cameras and lenses and I have used and supported them in my commercial photography work since the 1980's. Unfortunately the digital models always let us down on location. When we were working on a big "Castles of Europe" assignment and our two (new) M10 cameras died Leica was having a weekend off and wouldn't help! Fortunately Nikon helped us out and gave us a full loaner kit! We stayed with Nikon, sold all the Leica gear and also started working with Fujifilm (which we all love). Sadly, "Pretty is not always professional". To us working professionals Leicas are now only seen as 'investments' - typically for rich doctors and dentists and not as 'cost effective' production tools! Thanks for your wonderful videos. David Myers, Digital Masters Australasia - Australia's first Digital Photographic Imaging Bureau established in 1991 (and, yes, I am still drooling over your silver M10-R regardless).

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks David for your comment and sharing your experience, really sorry to hear that Leica did not play out well for your professional shootings. I never had an issue with Leica gear, but clearly, if you need on spot replacement and service, other brands might be more spot-on and help immediately. Nikon and Canon as well as Sony have their pro service and get you replacements immediately if you signed-up for pro services and get in trouble in the field.

[@chapsibnnoel3626]

Greetings. I really appreciate the detail ‘deep drive’ that your reviews provide. I would appreciate your insight wrt a purchase that I’m considering. I currently own the Lux 50 1.4 asph. I am giving serious thought to buying the Noct 50 1.2 asph to mount predominately on my M9 and, not as frequently, on my M10 M. In your opinion, am I going to get a dramatically different rendering from the Noct 1.2 over the Lux 1.4. Especially when I think stopping them down will render near identical images. I look forward to your response. PS: I did purchase the Noct 75 1.25 following your review. Thank you, Doc Chaps

[@autodidact537]

Is the silver version of this lens noticeably heavier & would the black one be a better choice for day to day usage?

[@mathphotographer]

I do not have the comparison but think their weight is about the same if not exactly the same.

[@autodidact537]

@@mathphotographer After a search online the only thing I could find was that the silver version is brass & the black one is aluminum. So like other M lenses the black version is more for using & the silver one is for collecting.

[@Peter-df1br]

Thanks for the video. I'd be curious how this Leica f1.2 compares to the Voigtländer 50/1.2 VM Nokton ASPH.

[@stefanofassone6686]

I was just thinking the same, it would be very interesting to see a comparison. I must say that I am not that impressed from what I've seen on this test: I was expecting better look/more sharpness from this stellar combo....

[@aadvanderwell8602]

Peter Morch Leica put so much money in getting their lensquality to the highest order so the price is extraordinary high. They know that most of their customers buy their products anyway. Regardless if they will use them or not. Main importance is that they can talk with their fellow Leica owners about how bla bla bla their latest product perform insted of making pictures with their leica gear afraid it will worm out their pricey gems. Fact is that the one or two % improvement in quality is hardly visible or printable. Do you think that al te iconic masters of photography like Henri Cartier Bresson and many others give a Damn about aspherical apo lenses or not. They were interested in the CONTENT of their pictures and the moments of human emotion and beauty reflecting out of their work

[@Peter-df1br]

​@@aadvanderwell8602 I understand that small improvements in Leica lenses do not always make much of a difference in photo quality. 50mm is not one of my frequently used focal lengths so my question with regards to the Leica 50mm f/1.2 vs. the Voigtländer 50/1.2 VM Nokton ASPH is performance/image quality for the price. There is quite a difference in price between the two, $7,700 vs $1,000 and I doubt there is a $6,700 improvement in quality. Voigtländer has been around for a while as well. Also, do I use zoom lenses a lot? Nope! Would I buy the mid range Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f/2.8-4 ASPH for $5,500? Nope! Bought the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art for $1,100 instead. It was even reviewed favourably recently on this site. I think it's a terrific lens. I use a SL2 and will I go out in bad weather with my M lenses? Nope! That's why I bought the Sigma. One does not need to have OEM lenses for a camera brand to be happy. There is a big difference between spending money and throwing it away....especially if usage for the item is low. I am not a collector but I do have a 'curiosity' with comparing lenses. That was the premise of my original post about the two 50mm /1.2 lenses.

[@aadvanderwell8602]

Peter Morch My idea too. I'm reviewing Voigtlander glass allready for some time and think too that it is a trustful brand that has a long history! My main camera system is Nikon, with the D800E in the center, already since the 60ties, they never have let me down. THX for your very informative answer! Good luck🍀

[@ofeykalakar1]

@@aadvanderwell8602 you mean longer history- by about 100+ more years than Leitz

[@benoitpiret9065]

0.95 or 1.2? which is the best?

[@Sniper5354]

8:19 If 0.95's bokeh is too blurry to indicate what's happening in the background, just stop down one click to f/1.2

[@dfj555]

Is this lens a good match for the Leica M11?

[@mathphotographer]

Absolutely! :)

[@reisenshin991]

This silver one’s price is going rocket high in China, for 700,000yuan(108,000$) now. Totally insane.

[@timothyho1138]

The normal Leica lens cap is intentionally made larger so that you can see that the cap is still on the lens through the viewfinder. For this special lens and this price, I think that Leica should make a specific cap for the hood just like what they did for the square hoods.

[@fatgrouch]

Don't you think it's time for LEICA to release a new EVF with higher resolution for M digital cameras ?

[@Paul-jb6rk]

Well that won’t come until the M11 is released whenever that may be. 2021 could be the year. Who knows?

[@mathphotographer]

100% agree.

[@mcmcx5514]

Leica will never implement EVF on a M camera. They have already made it clear. Having EVF defeats the whole point of buying M. Just buy Leica Q or get Fuji.

[@fatgrouch]

@@mcmcx5514 Leica has made a EVF for the M , but it needs to be upgraded with higher resolution. It already existed, used and loved by some M users.

[@RS-Amsterdam]

Buying an extra Sony lens cap makes this Noctilux lens unacceptable expensive !

[@mathphotographer]

Lol - you are sooo right :)

[@kent-haraldjohansen4992]

@@mathphotographer do you have an issue with using a black lens cap on a silver lens?

[@mathphotographer]

As shown in the video: I currently use that black lens cap on the silver chrome Noctilux to avoid mounting/dismounting the lens hood all the time. And I want this special glass to be protected. But it looks like a weird "patchwork" to combine a Sony lens cap with this Leica lens :) Will find a better way soon ...

[@boonnisaedthanyaworaanan5280]

Please compare sharpness with Noctilux 0.95

[@aadvanderwell8602]

Boonnisaed Thanyaworaanan: it's: Leica is money money money. They will buy our stuff anyway

[@mathphotographer]

Will look into it.

[@9Biloela99]

Wonderful

[@lionsbussum]

Dear Math, thank you for your review. I am on the list for the black version, but when i see the images of the ladies in the restaurant, i find the shots at F1.2 not sharp at all. I am concerned wether i like this blurry image. I want a noctilux, but not the weight. Therefor a F0.95 will never be something for me. Too heavy. That's why i though this lens would be something for me with ca. 400gr. At F5.6 the lens is really sharp as you show. I am confused what to do.

[@mathphotographer]

Hi Erik, the lens is reasonably sharp, don't worry. I get everything I want out of that lens in post. But it is not the sharpest lens in my Leica M-lens portfolio. The Apo-Summicron-M 50mm is considerably sharper, still the sharpest lens I am aware of in the M-lens line-up. The reason is that Leica aimed at a true remake of that classic Noctilux as close as possible (clearly improved but a true remake) with replication of that dreamy old-school Leica look that classic lens has from decades ago. Means, Leica's focus in constructing that lens was not to achieve highest possible sharpness. Having said that, I do not think that the Noctilux 0.95 is much sharper at f/1.2 a bit maybe, but not by a lot. I need to test this out, have not done a comparison yet. For the black version you are not in a hurry, maybe collecting some more impressions by the various tests is a good idea and then purchase it when you are fully convinved. It is very expensive, also in black, so take you time for your decision :)

[@lionsbussum]

@@mathphotographer Thank you Math for your answer. I am having good contact with my local Leica dealer and they told me that i can try out the lens before making a decision. So that i will do for sure. But i understand that i will not change this lens for my beloved 50mm summilux F1.4. This is just an other type of lens. I will let you know.

[@Paul-jb6rk]

Do you own this lens or is it a review sample?

[@iambeautiful8190]

review sample he got for free to keep, like does that all the time, just apply for the reviewer application on their site.

[@iambeautiful8190]

I am kidding ofc, I have no idea :)

[@mathphotographer]

I own it. Original true collector's piece. Got tempting offers to sell it again but would NEVER SELL it :)

[@samstory5591]

Wow the performance is rough. It has bad chromatic aberration and is incredibly soft. It looks fine at 1.7 but at that point get the summilux asph and have perfect performance at 1.4

[@jonase5457]

You're too kind, this is an unimpressive lens compared to soviet rangefinder lenses (and you didn't mention the harsh focus falloff, busy bokeh and severe vignetting). Factoring the price it's absolutely horrible.

[@dummatube]

Sorry Math but my Fujinon 33mm F1.4 (49.5mm equivalent) on my 40MP Fujifilm X-T5 absolutely kills this performance, has multiple auto focus modes, ACCURATELY records the real f stop in the metadata and is a fraction of the price - even paired on a RELIABLE pro camera!

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks for sharing, the Fuji-X is an excellent system and, of course, much more affordable.

[@nocommentnoname1111]

I don't understand why Leica does not corporate an electronic viewfinder into the optical viewfinder like Fuji.

[@marckyokay]

That little pinch lens cap from Sony looks good even on the silver lens, it's round and black JUST LIKE the glass and internals of the lens... don't see a stylistic problem in using it with the silver hood on... it's not like using black leatherette handgrips on green leatherette Safari Ms 😉

[@mathphotographer]

Lol - you will never let that wrongly colored handgrip on green Safari go, right? Liked your comment like always, stay safe & healthy!

[@floriansellmann4464]

The pictures are kind of disappointing if you consider the price. No sharpness wide open, lot of glow/halos and strong CA.

[@ignacymat]

images from this lens reminds me of EF50L. Noctilux F1 blew me away with the rendering, 0.95 was somehow dull and boring (even 1.4 lux was better), but this - it's not sharper than 50L and doesn't produce more pleasing look. nice review btw.

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks!

[@dgoullet1]

Very nice. Do you have a flickr or Instagram account?

[@RobertFalconer1967]

Leica desperately needs an updated Visoflex with better resolution and a faster refresh rate.

[@mathphotographer]

FULLY AGREE !!!

[@leemartin2978]

I think it was a rebadged version of someone else’s anyway ? Maybe Olympus, who I think have now gone ? or been bought out

[@RobertFalconer1967]

@@leemartin2978 Yes, it's made by Olympus. And, no, Olympus is not gone, but they sold their camera division to a Japanese holding company.

[@HansRutenbrecher]

The Sony lens cap on a 7000$ Limited Leica lens is literally the most cursed thing I have seen today.

[@iambeautiful8190]

for pricing on a Limited edition Leica lens as 50mm 1.2 :D please check again :)

[@HansRutenbrecher]

@@iambeautiful8190 holy 16000 dollars :D omg my bad That i underestimated it haha

[@mathphotographer]

Pragmatic for the time being to protect the lens, better solution to be figured out as said in the video. Lots of people already provided their advice how to get this better. I fully agree with your statement, weird combo! :) Bad taste. But pragmatic and gets the job "protection of glass" done.

[@Bobbiey]

Sony cap for Leica, such a disgrace to Leica

[@WingMan1964]

Thorsten Overgaard does not use lens caps.

[@mathphotographer]

This is clearly his own decision :) TO is a great "old-school" Leica shooter, I enjoy his content million-times. But nowadays we protect our glass :)

[@andywe7524]

A Sony Lens cap on the most expensive Nocti - und das ohne mit der Wimper zu zucken. :-)

[@mathphotographer]

Pragmatiker :) Ich suche noch nach einer besseren Lösung :)

[@ronitsingh85]

Lens performance will definitely disappoint many out there as this is the same lens formula present in the original. Noctilux 50mm f0.95 is sharper than this for sure and a comparison would be fun indeed. This lens is special and certainly can be enjoyed to ones hearts content, its made just as good if not better than the original, brass construction on the silver version, and takes great images, its like a classic car made now the same way it would have been done 50-100yrs ago, the charm, beauty and character would certainly be appreciated.

[@mathphotographer]

Thanks for your comment and agree, the aim of Leica was not to create the "sharpest lens on Earth" but the closest but improved remake of that classical and so much desired lens :)

[@ronitsingh85]

@@mathphotographer congratulations on your purchase! This is indeed a most coveted lens, I would get it to make some serious $$$ from it to further fund my leica obsession :-)! Crazy what people out there are wanting to pay for one now that its all sold out! I own the 25yrs of leica vienna noctilux 50mm f0.95 that is done in the same fashion as this interms of the aperture and focus ring design. 50pcs were only made to sell on their own and the other 50 paired with a leica film camera. So yeah, if one can enjoy the performance of vintage lenses from the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s, this should not be inferior at all. made by Leica with they state of the art manufacturing capabilities I am sure it outperforms the original to some degree!

[@filibertkraxner305]

I'm sorry to say but you missed the mark with this review. This is a reissue of a vintage Leica lens, with all its optical faults. It is not perfect, not even close. Which is exactly its appeal: its unique character, warts and all. Personally, I couldn't live with the lack of critical sharpness (close to) wide open. I'll ignore the lense's other faults but you know what they are. Should have been more honest about them.

[@mathphotographer]

The lens is "as is" ... like the other Noctilux lenses. For me it is "perfect" in what it does, and for many others who wanted to buy it but did not get it, it seems to be "perfect" too. Where you clearly have a point is that Leica often polarizes: There are the ones who love it and pay any price for it and there are the ones who think it is over-priced and not worth to be compared with other brands. The fact by how much the lens was demanded shows at least that I am in good company :) In any case, thanks for your comment and I fully respect your view.

[@filibertkraxner305]

@@mathphotographer Well you clearly love the look it provides, and that's all that counts. Just shouldn't have called it perfect in the review. Of course you are not the only one who loves this specific look, which is made clear by how fast the lenses are selling. It's great Leica are offering it now, since they made so few originally. Just not for me. I do shoot Leica M, mind you ;-)

[@mathphotographer]

Good and fair point!

[@ronaldsand3000]

If you carefully use a quality satin silver spay paint on the Sony lens cap - problem solved

[@mathphotographer]

Spraying ... :) really? Cool comment!

[@GKhanKutar]

This lens and the body deserve much better photo results.

[@perryvalton4245]

I don’t really see any special with image quality? am I missing something.

[@frank.li.1234]

It’s not top notch quality of course compared with modern lenses, but people love the taste out of this lens and the history behind it

[@b.boogie9456]

that lens can't hold a candle on the RF 50 1.2L and it only cost $2300, Leica your ship is sinking, you shoot at 5.6 aperture to find out if it's sharp, the RF can do landscape at 1.2..Two happiest days of my life, the day I got it and the day I sold it.

[@kenji1840]

ホントこういうの見ると、ライカはもはやモノクロ以外興味湧かないわ。

[@aadvanderwell8602]

The only right way to perform an honest test result is to shoot all the pic's made with the 50mm F1.2 asph also with another 50mm leicalens. Lets say with an S.lux F1,4 asph. Or even a S.cron 50 mm F2. Only than you dan compare the right way. Another impossability occurs by showing all results through all the monitors and iPads of the viewers of this video. Only 1 to 1 showing all results 'in the flesh', is the RIGHT WAY to present your testresults. I bet that the results of the S.cron F 2 will be 'MUCH better than the remake 50mm F 1.2 asph. Try it out and see yourself. By the way, You may expect that Leica should have found a perfect solution in making a proper lenscap with perfect locking clips build in, Insted of the oversized cap included. For that high price.

[@insomnia09]

1/60 s on a 40 MP sensor, great idea

[@ernestattara]

the original lens is much better IMHO...

[@mathphotographer]

Would love to look at the original, but no chance. I do not have $60'000+ for a 2nd hand lens :)

[@iDigress77times]

"Suitable for social media." Wow, Leica users really out here buying incredibly expense lenses for "Social media." hahahahaha

[@mathphotographer]

The crop, my friend, the deep crop still looks highly useable on social media, A4-prints, etc. :)

[@ruudkuiper5515]

It is not mandatory to use a lens cover, it is the most unimportant part of a lens system. I think it's an amateurish approach to proclaim that!

[@mcmcx5514]

No reason to buy this. Better to just get 0.95 Noctilux or F1 if you like that swirly bokeh.

[@frank.li.1234]

Congratulations on grabbing this once in a lifetime opportunity to buy it with retail price... it’s now selling for 1.175m usd on eBay...

[@mathphotographer]

Insane price, really! Are you sure and can you post a link? :)

[@crispin8888]

@@mathphotographer Advertised but not necessarily selling. Just opportunistic.

[@Bar_fly]

Overprice Kamera and Lens

[@iambeautiful8190]

am I the only one to think this lens is a crap? Photos look like you were drunk taking them and are full of motion blur, but when you zoom in they don't look like it was a motion blur but like 1.2 is not sharp at all... and depth of filed is not a reason if you compare it to the RF50mm 1.2. Same goes for CA.... from what I saw, summilux looks a better lens.

[@DavidBrookover]

I agree. CA is terrible and lots of (hopefully for Leica`s sake) motion blur. Glad I own Zeiss Otus lenses. No comparison.

[@filibertkraxner305]

Nope, I agree. People seem to miss the point that this is a vintage lens re-edition: it is not up to modern day Leica quality! Get something current instead.

[@mathphotographer]

Remake of a CLASSIC lens which was so over-demanded that many people did not get it when they tried to order it :) The lens provides a very special "look" which takes you decades back in Leica history - which makes that lens so attractive. Remember what I said in the video: Leica's intention was to design and manufacture this lens as close as possible to the original historic lens.

[@kabaottoemulsion1869]

Ummmmmm, I am sorry but I am not that impressed. Images are not as good as Chinese ones.... I think Design is not modern Leica??? Not as dreamy as older Noct 1.2 or 1.0. Or Canon 0.95 and other cine L39 Sm lenses..... Ummmmm

[@mathphotographer]

Leica did not plan to create the sharpest lens in the world with this one, they wanted to get an improved but close as possible remake of the classic lens with the same dreamy and special look :) It is reasonably sharp though, not as sharp as a 50mm Apo-Summicron but sharp enough for everything you want to set in scene.

[@Anonymous-iw4hx]

@@mathphotographer i also think its wrong to say the lens has any sharpness wide open, but of course its the original lens design and it wasnt the goal to make it the noctilux ever