Leica Announces the Noctilux-M 50 f/1.2 ASPH.
- Jay Goodrich
- February 19, 2021
- 2:29 pm
Bringing Back the Past - Noctilux-M 50 f/1.2 ASPH.
Leica has recently announced the return of the Noctilux-M 50 f/1.2 ASPH., a lens that they produced from 1965 to 1975. Seems like every step forward, we take a step back to what we knew was amazing.
The release of this lens gives Leica M shooters yet another, very capable, and somewhat pricey, addition to their already extensive line of 50mm glass. A few years ago we got to shoot the Leica M10 at Lucas film with one of Leica’s APO-SUMMICRON-M 50mmf/2 ASPH. lenses, and to this day yearn for a Leica M10. The M10, like this lens is just a part of photography history that needs to be owned if money were no object.
The re-release of the NOCTILUX-M 50 F/1.2 ASPH. gives Leica photographers 4 choices in 50mm lenses. With a price tag of $7695.00 US, the NOCTILUX-M 50 F/1.2 ASPH. is significantly less than Leica’s flagship NOCTILUX-M 50mmf/0.95 ASPH. which tips the five digit price point of $12,495.00 US.
The Why
There are two reasons for this lens. One, the f/1.2 aperture is a low-light beast, allowing photographers to shoot with lower ISOs, yet still get natural light exposures. Two, a lens bokeh that truly only speaks Leica.
If you shoot Leica and want to spend a lot of money, but not an insanely large amount of money, the Noctilux-M 50 f/1.2 ASPH. is a more than capable beast–that is also part of photographic history. B&H Photo has them available for purchase now.
