Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/06/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]
on 6/29/00 12:01 PM, Bergman, Mark A. at mabergm@nppd.com wrote:
> I got to look at this lens this weekend in Kansas City (the Cosina Nokton 50
> 1.5) and was told that the lens is not rangefinder coupled. The clerk
> wasn't terribly knowledgeable but I could not see how it would be. Is it
> rangefinder coupled? Anybody using it? I have a 50 Summicron now and have
> been toying with the idea of splurging for the Summulux for awhile now (at
> least 3 or 4 years anyway). I just can't convince myself that I really need
> the extra stop.
The Nokton certainly is rangefinder coupled. There's no difficulty with
this: it just has a helical cam on it like lots of screw lenses do. The
difference between screw and M lenses is in the mount, not the rf coupling
cam.
Opinions differ on the Nokton, I think. I bought and subsequently sold one.
I thought it was a fine lens in many respects, sharp as a tack wide open,
contrasty, well built, etc. However, I didn't like the way it rendered the
out-of-focus parts of the image, which is why I sold it and bought a mid 60s
Summilux instead, which I've been delighted with.
It all depends what you want out of a 50/1.4. If it's purely the extra
speed, the Nokton is great for the money. If absolute sharpness is your main
criterion, the Nokton is a nose ahead. If smooth gradation and great-looking
bokeh is your bag then I'd definitely go for the lux. If you buy a Exc +
chrome sixties version with clean glass you won't end up paying an arm and a
leg, and it will hold its value.
In the end I don't think either lens is 'better' than the other, they're
just very, very different... odd really, for two nominally identically
optics. I know BD is a big fan of this lens, and I wouldn't argue with him
for a moment... we just judge lenses by different criteria I think. I
personally tend to use the 50/1.4 wide open most of the time, with a tiny
part of the image in focus and most of the image out-of-focus. Consequently,
the way that blur looks ('bokeh') matters a lot to me. YMMV.
- --
JB