Leica 75mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/1.25 review and TIPS by Thorsten von Overgaard
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2024
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After three months of use, Thorsten Overgaard reviews the extreme low-light Leica 75mm Noctilux-M ASPH f/1.25 powerhouse that has arrived in limited quantities worldwide. The most expensive Leica M lens ever released. In this video Thorsten takes you through the experiences with the 75mm Noctilux and compares it to the Leica 50mm Noctilux f/0.95 and other Leica lenses.
Video by www.darecinema.com using a Canon C300 II with 24-70/2.8 as main camera, Sony A7S II with 85/1.4 as monohcrome side camera and Canon 5D for close-ups.
For my article about the HISTORY OF LEICA, see my extremely long article about more than 100 years of history here: www.overgaard.d...
For photography and Leica definitions, see my dictionary: www.overgaard....
Thorsten von Overgaard is a Danish writer and photographer, specializing in portrait photography and documentary photography, known for writings about photography and as an educator. You are always welcome to send an e-mail to Thorsten for questions, suggestions and ideas.
Thorsten Overgaard is an independent writer and photographer who write, teach workshops and publish user reports about the equipment he uses. There is no affiliation with Leica Camera AG or any camera dealers, no free gifts, no sponsorship, no kickback and no paid content. All you see is real and based on the life of an eccentric and hard-working photographer who makes his own money, buys his own equipment and form his own independent opinions - and shares with you. Enjoy the ride.
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"So I pressed Buy and $12,500 later I had the lens the next day." Like a Danish Boss!! Love Thorsten's channel.
but he was dissapointed 'cuz he expected it to be $25k 0.95 noct and finally had do spend $12.5k of leftovers on a a few leica t-shirts and caps..
Just cool 😎 👍
I don't own a Leica, but I always enjoy your thoughts or reviews about lenses, sharpness etc. It's simple and straightforward!
I'll be honest. Leica stuff is completely out of my price range but, I learn a lot from your channel and the images just look great! There is something so timeless about the look of them.
Thank you. Timeless is a quality I rally like about pictures (including my own)
I just discovered this man, and I love him! He cuts to the quick of all the other gear review bs we see online. Basically, buy it, try it, and STFU!!!!!
Thank you :-)
Recently I bought Leica's 35mm f/1.4 lens. I also have Leica's 50mm f/0.95 lens and their 75mm f/1.2 lens. When I photograph "on the street" I would normally choose my 75mm f/1.2 lens. The only problems with the 75mm lens are that it's big, it's heavy, and, "wide open," at f/1.2, it needs to be focused very, very precisely. The beauty of Leica's 35mm f/1.4 lens is that it's small, it's light, and it has such a wide depth of field that only rarely does it require very precise focusing. For "shooting from your hip" or "shooting in very close quarters" the 35mm lens is a natural.
Every time I want to be inspired, I will re-watch Thorsten's videos. 😄
Man..... I'd love to go to your garage sale
Thanks for the overview. As someone that owns the 50mm Nocti - I can see why it would be hard to decide between the 2. This was a very good comprehensive review. Thank you Thorsten!
I like your reason for buying. Sure you have more disposable income than I do, but proportionally, I'm probably digging deeper, ... and regret none of it. 😊
With analogue Hasselblad gear, a bunch of Leicas and a studio full of Linhof, I have thought carefully about every item, with function in mind. It's all there and facilitates my needs and interests.
So yes, Thorsten, if you can, just do it.
As to the 75mm, while at the shop Leitz Park, Wetzlar, I bought an M-A body, and had enough to buy the relatively innexpensive Summarit 75 f2.4, because I wanted to get the feel of 75mm. Ok, I got it and like it, 👌
and that's while already owning 5cm and 9cm Summicrons. Shooting Portra 160 & 400, it has really worked for me, shooting @2.4 all the time, producing some of my best 35mm portraits to date. It remains as a permanent fixture on the trusty M7.
With other pressing priorities in photography/artwork, I do atleast have a 75mm Summilux on the shopping list, and why not.
Skål !
Kevin.
best reviews in youtube. I am a Fujifilm GFX user but these reviews will make me buy Leica as a second camera...
Blame me when it happens ;-)
I bought a 75mm Nocti and I LOVE the photos!!! Cheers Thorsten!!!
I recently bought both lenses. Then I woke up.
Thank you for the great review and fantastic photos!
Thank you!
you already gave rhe answer which one is going to part. 50mm is better when you want to capture street life etc. the 75 is probably the best portrait lens you can buy. you also mentioned the way both lenses render and you prefer the look of the 50 i am shure.
Have you already made a decision which Noctilux you‘ll keep? 50 or 75???
High-quality review! Thank you so much.
When you do have the chance, please ask Peter Karbe, why the full frame, image stabilized, macro mode included lens of the Q possible in that size and not for the SL, and TL series. I just cannot understand. I am sure we all hoped for such lens lineup when we first heard of the SL back when it came out.
You should keep both lenses. They are both unique and bring something different. You can’t replace one with the other. They both have valuable qualities.
... So, I watched this video probably just after you posted it a year ago. Very long story short, I finally "got over it" and just went forward and purchased the 246 Monochrom today. It'll be in my hands Saturday; coupled with the 35mm Summilux f1.4. Likely will take a short drive up to San Francisco (45min) for the Monochrom's maiden voyage. Yay, me.
Good on getting forward on the project. The 35/1.4 is a great lens.
you should create more video for us :)
really enjoy your stuff when you bring them out
another great video
one of the reasons for the lack of chromatic aberration is due to the use of high grade glass used in the 75mm called "special anomalous dispersion"
Great information thank you for your insight! I love the b&w b cam footage btw great touch!
0.95, 1.0, 1.2... Noctilux Fever! lol
Cripes, even on a screen, after youtube down-reses everything, I can see the snap that the 75mm has. The quality of the pics looks incredible. That said, I am so not in the market for that lens - 75mm just doesn't figure into any kind of pictures I take. Thankfully... otherwise I'd be trying to scrape up the $12 Grand. But that is a damned impressive lens. Good review, thanks.
If it were me I would choose the 50mm.-lens, because when I look at the pictures in this video, the 50mm.-lens is the winner, because it has a cool look!
probably not ever going to own a leica anytime in the near future but always enjoyed your video. something about it that feels very sincere and real. kinda how people describe the 'leica look' :D
Excellent review. Thanks.
Yes. Both. Thank you.
Yea, if I sold my 50 1.4 today I'd actually make a profit. It's pretty awesome.
Extremely excellent.
I think the minimum focus distance limitation on the M is another factor (with AF) that helps keep form factor smaller
Hi Thorsten, thank you for the great review. I am curios to find out which one of the two lenses you decided to keep.
THANKS Thorsten, this (as always) was very helpful. As I already have the 75mm 1.4 and the 50mm 1.0, I don't think I will invest in this. I am looking forward to checking out the upcoming 35mm Noctilux when it comes out, as that is the focal length that I use most often on my M's. The 75mm Noctilux is clearly a very impressive lens, am sure that it will attract many users.
Hi, just watched this video again and I am curious which lens you decided to keep, 50mm Nocti or the 75mm Nocti? Thx.
Excellent and honest review
I guess most of us here can just dream on, but nevertheless it's an interesting and honest review, whatever the price.
Easy choice, keep the 50. If you want 75, throw it on a smaller sensor.
I enjoy your videos, they are a peek behind the bourgeois curtain for a peasant like me who only just affords to shoot last generation Fuji with old SLR OM lenses.
It’s nice though. I can’t complain.
I'm doing a video on using the 50mm on a smaller sensor.
These details are insane!!!!
Wild open, manual focusing is very touchy with Noctilux. Especially for action shoots (one guy walking among a group for example). That's why I'd rather opt for a Sigma art 85mm on a SL2 rather than a Noctilux 75. Moreover, one can wonder if F/4 is not a better option for portraits. So my choice will be the light and awesome 50AA with a M rather than Noctilux 0,95.
hahahah love the way you wrap up everything "don't know why you'd ask me about that because I already did buy one." hahahaha The most real! Recently purchased a summilux black chrome to pair with our sony gear. Slowly wanted to make our way towards leica :)
Thank you for the lovely video. After having purchased the 50/0.95 I didn't have the budget to purchase the 75/1.25 so I recently purchased a used 75/1.4. It's an amazing lens and renders images very similar to the 50/0.95. I plan to shoot it using a CL to get a 105mm equivalent perspective. My question for you is which one did you decide to keep the 50 or 75 Noctilux?
Used to own a 75F2 APO. Fantastic lens.
Thanks Thorsten. After more than 1,5 year, have you finally decided to keep the 75 Noctilux? Just wondering :)
Manual focus lens are always a compromise between weight, size and above all price. The Leica M mount lenses and the Zeiss Otus series don't compromise.
Hey Thor! Awesome video. Which one did you keep?
Great presentation
How does it compare with the 75mm Sumicron
This man is my hero.
Great overview. Think I'd rather have a wider field of view of the 50mm.
Nice review and a honest opinion, if I ever hit the lottery I will buy one for sure ;-) Thanks for the tip rather buying then watching 1000 reviews .
I truly respect Leica for their business model. Just slap a number and they by it. But you have to become Leica in the first place
By the way, this video looks beautiful, I love the mix of monochrome and color - it is also sharp as a tack and for 4k it flows without stuttering at all on my internet link which is unusual for most 4k - really a superbly shot and edited video - cheers!
Thank you!
I got mine the last month here from Leica Malaysia . The 75mm 1.25 Noct. is Killer.
Congratulations :-)
I have both the 50mm and the 75mm Noctilux lenses. If I go out shooting on 'the street,' I will always choose the 75mm Noctilux. I can't even imagine my buying a 28mm or 35mm lens for 'street' photography. Unless I'm indoors I just don't use my 50mm.
Am also a long lens person. More if a 90 - 100 mm shooter. My widest lens is a 50 mm lol.
I just love the perspective of the longer lenses
The streets of today are just to crowded for wider lenses. To many cars, bins, street lights, street signs, etc, etc.
@@j.k5654 , the secret to shooting the 75mm f/1.2 Noctilux lens 'wide open' is to use an EVF for focusing and to shoot multiple shots of your subject in quick succession. You can't do that with a film camera unfortunately.
@@mattflynn6328 , Leica's 35mm f/1.4 lens is still sharp enough that, on the street, you can still shoot another person from a comfortable distance, but a longer lens - like the 75mm f/1.2 Noctilux - makes shooting from a comfortable distance a lot easier.
Thank you for a very helpful review
Thank you!
I’m diggin the brassing on your lenses, you wring them out :)
Hi, the purple suppression would be a no brained for me. I would go for the 75 ;-)
I just come here to remember what a failure I am.
Product meant for millionaires. Exclusive and a marvel of engineering feat. For 99% of photographers, it's back to our normal Nikon,Canon or Sony gear
Hello Thorsten and thank you for sharing this fantastic video. Would you be so kind to tell me about the monochrome b-cam that you use, is it a built-in camera profile this monochrome effect? It really looks great
Very informative video! I would keep the 50mm and sell the 75mm. On most of your lenses, do you not use UV filters to protect the front lens element? If I had a lens that showed wear on the barrel like your 50mm does, the front element would be scratched up if I used it without some protection.
That's likely how it will be. I don't use UV filters because the optical glass is stronger than the UV glass, so scratches is not that big of a concern. If it happens, Leica can fix the front glass (it's hand-made anyways, so all minor adjustments can be done). On most lenses I use a lens shade to take the bumps and bangs.
Definitely keep the 50mm the character is just so unique and special.
In case of Noctilex 75mm has better image quality than 50mm 0.95 . I have gotten 75mm f2 Apo. which is too heavy for me.
Amazing lens. Bucket list for sure.
Thanks Thorsten for the very comprehensive review.
Why not use the Leica Magnifier? Seems there is not a lot of downside, and if you don't use one, much of the rangefinder view is unused.
Second, (and not that I would use the tripod mount), did Leica make it Arca-Swiss compatible? If not, they should have. Who screws a camera or lens onto a tripod these days?
I find that the rangefinder works well as it is, so I never used any of the 1.5X or other magnifiers for the viewfinder.
J'utilise plus désormais le Noctilux 75mm/1.25 que le Noctilux 50mm/1.0 pour les portraits. Je suis assez surpris par le 75mm, qui je trouve garde encore des perspectives naturelles (pas trop tassées) par rapport à un 85mm.
Great work!
Nice, but expensive. If you don't need the two steps below 2,0, the 75/2.0 will do the job. Cool review and easy to get the message.
Yes, the 75/2 is very underrated.
I know that getting an in-focus shot 'wide-open' with the 75mm or 50mm Noctilux is almost impossible without using the EVF attachment. That's fine, but with the EVF attached and 'Live View' ON your battery will quickly drain if you're not careful. My problem is that in bright sunlight it is not always obvious the you have Live View ON. I think Leica should provide, say, a small blue (?) light on the top or back of the camera to let users know that Live View is ON.
On the Live View, you sort of have to feel the click when it turns on. There's a rhythm to it; when it goes ona nd when it goes off. If you look down at the camera you can usually see the light inside the EVF and know it os on, that's what I do to check it if I am in doubt.
On focusing the 75/1.25 without EVF, I find it surprisingly easy to focus it with the rangefinder. Everything in you tell it can't be accurate, but it is. You put on the EVF and you can zoom in and see it's in focus, but the EVF also adds a delay so you often (or the subject) muves slightly between focusing and exposure, and then the focus isn't precise anymore. I find that using the rangefinder, taking the chances and work fast is pretty reliable. Do it, without checking anything till you get back home on the big screen, and see how it works!
@@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard I think I've begun to turn Live View ON when I need it and then to turn it OFF as soon as I'm done. Still, to me it seems like a minor flaw in the M10 to KNOW when you've turned the camera itself OFF but NOT know for sure whether or not you've turned Live View OFF at the same time.
I’m gone buy both.
That's the spirit!
I have this lens and I have to disagree on fringing. Shooting wide open at f/1.25 in harsh lighting condition there is noticeable green/purple fringing. However, it’s nearly perfect at f/2.
On which camera do you have the fringing?
@@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard On the M11 and m10-r.
@@ZainDoMore I would suspect on the M11. Hadn't thought about how it would work on the M10-R. On M10-P I would expect it is nothing, or at least less.
Keep them both, otherwise you will have regrets. New subscriber. Love your channel.
$12,800 to take photos of cafe doors, chairs, other photographers, and other Leica cameras and lenses. Pair this with an M10 and you've got the perfect (modest) $20K street photography kit, free of the purple fringing that obviously makes all other systems completely unusable. Nevermind all your shots will probably be B/W.
Lol
what lens you kept and what lens you let go ?
Noctilux 75: M - sensor native | SL - sits like a charm | CL - 114.75 mm
If you order the least expensive NDS filter on-line, say, - like the one you have - it may come with a knurled edge. The Leica NDS filter is more expensive, but it's NOT knurled and will look a lot more natural and 'Leica-like' on your $12K Leica lens.
I got intrigued by Peter Karbe saying that they can get rid of the purple fringing, but that would take some other things out of the picture that they prefer to keep. What are those 'other things'?
I published an interview on that here:
www.overgaard.dk/Leica-75mm-Noctilux-f-1-25-review-and-sample-photographs-Page-2.html#Peter%20Karbe%20Interview
Basically, the 50/0.95 would get bigger and heavier. The other solution is to make it an f/1.4 or so, which is not a viable option of course :-)
very inspiring... I travel the world but no time to take a single shot
Which one did you sell in the end, Thorsten? The 50mm oder the 75mm Noctilux?
Keep both!
I doubt that the 75mm can have an aperture wider than 1.25. The mount size is the restriction here. That’s what Peter said in one of his interviews.
When will the garage sale happen. Still wanting to have a noctiluxü might be a bargain esp if your beaten 50ü that will be wow coming from you ü
Nice review as usual. I regret being slow on your cron apo. Haha.
that 40mm f/2 ended up being the lens i use the most
7:57 What happened to that background? oO Like the edge of the building... Do I need those green and red 3D glasses for this? xD
why don't you use lens caps?
what did you end up keeping ?
50/0.95
Thorsten, you ramble a great deal in your videos...
But he has that great Danish accent that makes the rambling very pleasant to listen to! (at least to an English-speaking American) lol
I find that comparing two different focal lengths, just because they share a name and an aperture higher than 1,4, is kind of odd. The 75 is a short telephoto and the 50 is the standard focal length for a lot of people. If you have a lot of space in front and in the back of your subject, you can move around and get almost the same shot. But in many cases you have to use the telephoto to get a closer shot, ie stage photography. The other way around, sometimes your movement is restricted backwards, so you have to use a wider lens, to get the shot. So the two lenses are incompatible. So compare different short telephotos. The same goes for other focal lengths.
keep both
On page EN (English) 23 of the 75mm Noctilux instruction manual there is the recommendation/warning (?): "In the case of freehand shots, always hold the combination of camera and lens with both hands, i.e. with one hand under the lens. When carrying the equipment with just one hand, always hold the equipment by the lens." Wasn't the M10 - if not earlier M cameras - designed to support the weight of the 75mm Noctilux? I was somewhat shocked to see those recommendations.
I wouldn't worry too much about that text. It's not going to fall off, but what I think they are concerned about is that the weight might bend the bayonet so the focus goes off.
I think it would be good to know exactly what "Leica" was thinking when they inserted those recommendations in the 75mm Noctilux instruction manual. You say "I wouldn't worry too much about..." That's not a very satisfying response.@@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard
@@Gravitys-NOT-a-force You can ask Leica. Write to Customer Service and ask. But first, think it over. When you carry the camera, you use a carrying strap that is attached to the camera, and the lens 'hangs' from the camera. When focusing and balancing, the natural and usual handling is with two hands. If you apply a handgrib to the Leica M, you may get accustomed to let the camera hang in a hand by the handgrip; and that is likely the one situation where it could stretch the bayonet.
Leica will never say you can dip the front of an L-mount lens in water, even you can. Why would they risk saying that, instead they will say it is 'weather sealed' and recommend you wipe raindrops off.
Somebody thought it over too hard and inserted that paragraph in the manual.
I have experienced an R film camera where the bayonet had to be adjusted because it was slightly off. If it was having a 400mm on it, using the big 35-70 f/2.8 extensively on monopod, or somebody hit the front of it, or it was pressure from being in a travel bag, if it was the previous owner who caused it, or what happened ... nobody will know. Only time I ever had a bayonet adjusted on any camera, so it was quite special.
In practical terms, Leica doesn't gain anything from making that warning. What they usually do when they get things in for service is that they make a sound judgment of what is needed and what is should cost, or if it is a service repair at no cost. They would do that with or without that writing. In the past Leica have replaced sensors and all sorts of things for people who dropped it, had accidents or behaved stupid - and sometimes when it was something they hadn't foreseen that a camera should be able to withstand.
It's an over-thingking of things. It's like saying "Don't leave keys on the sensor" . It's true, but it's not a very relevant advice to waste ink on printing.
@@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard thanks very much for that very thorough reply. :-)
By the way, I DID buy the 75mm Noctilux, and I've been very happy with it. I've consciously decided to try not to think about the cost of the lens but to simply enjoy it.
Good review. Thank you. What cameras and lenses were used to film this video? I really like the production value of this video.
Darecinema.com uses a Canon C300 as main camera and Sony A7 for the bw (and a Canon 5D for the closeups).
I couldn't agree more. Very nice video production. I especially like the BW clips. Do you know which lens was used on the Sony A7?
Can you compare these lenses to the Fuji 56 1.2, that lens is just magical.
Completely off topic... but: what is the brand/model of your glasses? Like them a lot! Would you share?
It's www.bpllcdev.com (model Woody 50-20-148 MLT)
Magic Of Light Thank you!!!!
i can definitely afford that leather pouch in the box i just need 6 more months to save up.
unless I'm mistaken it's easier to correct optical issues like purple fringing or chromatic aberrations in longer focal lengths (+50mm) but harder to eliminate them on shorter focal lengths. That might be the reason why you don't see it on the 75mm but it may not be possible to remove it in the 50mm.
Yes, that's what the lens designer Peter Karbe said. There's no purple fringing because it's a 75mm
Its a simple question to answer for me as I dont like shallow DoF so no I dont want a Noctilux. Leica M Nocts are quite special and uinique because they are low glass; 7 elements for the 50mm and 9 for the 75mm. I wont buy lenses with more than 10 elements.Crop sensor Nocts are universally awful having up to 20 lens elements; that means light scattering and loss at 40 surfaces and it really shows. Apart from the extra weight the glass adds, it also destroys microtones which are what I seek in a prime lens; I dont like sharp flat fields I want volume and 3D pop. This is what I get from my low glass Leica, Olympus, Panasonic and old Nikkor and Zeiss primes. Of course more lens elements make for cheaper lenses, they are easier to machine manufacture. THis is why the Leica Nocts are so expensive; it is also why the amazingly cheap TL 35mm f1.4 has 14 elements; it isnt on my shopping list, I will stick with my lovely 23mm f2 and the marvellous 10 element 16-56mm zoom which is the only zoom I have ever bought that resolves like a prime. M lenses are marvellous because they are low glass and compact and to correct such lenses without extra elements is very expensive. One can only marvel at Leica Nocts there isnt anything like them really ;-)
Good information. Yes, if you don't like shallow Dept of Field, there goes the Noctilux.
You want 3D pop, but don't like DoF. Easy to please! I understand your argument. Scattering and light loss that "really shows" when comparing photos taken under exactly the same controlled conditions? I didn't realize so many artists were concerned with splitting hairs like that. Microtones, oh boy.
Would love to know where he teaches!
Here's the schedule: www.overgaard.dk/thorsten-overgaard-seminar-calendar.html
Which is the best straps for Leica M?
Mine 🙂 See at www.alwayswearacamera.com ... But there are many different straps from different companies. I like Rock'n'Roll Camera Straps also, and Artist & Artisan of Japan
@@MagicOfLight_ThorstenOvergaard Interesting comparison. I own the 0.95 Noctilux. An awesome lens indeed. Will give the 75 Noctilux a try soon. Thank you Thorsten to also mention our straps. Greetings from A&A Japan. Enrico
@@watashiwa6634 Thank you 🙂
“A piece of fantastic something”
The un-unboxing section is great.
It's not and un-boxing ;-)
I know. It's not an un-boxing. But it's a good un-unboxing ;->
Is it easier to focus on the M10 rangefinder than the 240? The rangefinder on my 262 feels small, I guess I would not use it for something longer than 50mm if I were to shoot wide open.
The M240 rangefinder is easer to use than the M9, and the M10 has improved even more. You can't point your finger to something specific, it's just the collective experience of many (including myself) that it's become more accurate to focus.
You *can* focus a 75mm and 90mm on a 262. A great deal of focusing is to believe it can be done and don't think too much about it. Just do it. Much like walking down the stairs. If you start thinking too much about how your feet can know where to go, you will stumble or fall :-)
Magic Of Light
Great! Maybe I'll go and get myself a 90mm elmarit right away!