[Leica] A brief personal review of the Nokton 50mm f1.1 and a couple of pictures

[mark at whitedogs.co.uk (Mark Pope)]

Ernie,

thanks.  The play on the Zeiss is an odd phenomenon.  I wonder why that 
happens?
I have read a few complaints about problems with focus, but I'm not sure 
how many posters have actually used the lens in anger.  Moreover, I 
think too few people actually expect instant success nowadays and so if 
they don't get it without putting in a little effort, they blame the 
equipment.
Your point about bracketing the focus is well-made.  Any problems with 
my images are much more likely to be a problem with me now that I'm 
approaching 50 and need varifocal spectacles!

A couple of months ago, I discussed the issue of focusing the lens 
accurately with Frank Dernie when we met for lunch.  We agreed that when 
using the lens wide-open, just the act of recomposing after focusing is 
probably enough to affect the critical focus (say when focusing on a 
person's eye).  Add a touch of subject movement and a little 
photographer movement and you have instant focus shift!

I also think that digital has made many of us (myself included) far too 
critical - it's easy to reject a shot after having decided that it's not 
critically sharp when viewed at 100% on a monitor when in fact if it was 
  printed, the result would probably be plenty good enough to pass muster.



Mark Pope,
Swindon, Wilts
UK

Homepage               http://www.monomagic.co.uk
Blog                   http://www.monomagic.co.uk/blog
Picture a week (2010)  http://www.monomagic.co.uk/index.php?gallery=paw/2010
Picture a week (2009)  http://www.monomagic.co.uk/index.php?gallery=paw/2009
                (2008) 
http://www.monomagic.co.uk/index.php?gallery=paw/2008


charcot wrote:
> Mark - enjoyed the article.  I just got back some XMAS pictures shot on 
> Kodachrome 64 with the 1.1
> 
> Like all lenses of this ilk you need to be very deliberate in your 
> focusing.  Some were spot on and others you could see the focus point 
> was behind the subject.  I've decided that the MUST have shots that one 
> may have to do a bit of bracket focusing.
> 
> One note that may only apply to the bodies that the 1.1 is used on is 
> that my Zeiss Ikon body there is a bit of rotational play but on the M8 
> there is NONE.
> ernie
> 
> Mark Pope wrote:
>> Fresh from the Swindon Procrastinatorium, I give you a brief review of 
>> the Nokton f1.1 lens, with a few test shots which you may or may not 
>> have seen.
>>
>> The review is here... http://www.monomagic.co.uk/blog/?p=218
>>
>> Best wishes
>>
>> Mark
> 
> 
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