Fred Miranda wrote:
I've never returned a new Leica lens or body to a Leica store. Once it's opened, they won't give you a full refund? Thinking back, I bought the Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux Steel Rim brand new, and the focus rotation was sticky and the rangefinder wasn't aligned. I had to send it all the way to Leica Germany...definitely a rough experience.After almost a month, they gave me a new one which was perfect though.
I recall the early SSR's had the initial problems you mentioned, and also had issues with the vented hood. By the time I got mine in March 2024 (it had a build date of November or December 2023) they had solved those issues and also started including the new vented hood that replaced the original one I think you got.
My SSR has been perfect since day one. Maybe the lesson here for people drooling over the 35 nocti is to wait a good 6 months or longer to see how things shake out with it. I also wouldn't be surprised if some of the early buyers of the 35 nocti decide for one reason or the other to sell it, in which case the buyers who wait may get a good deal on it.
Me personally: after initially getting all hot and bothered by the 35 nocti, the passion has cooled and I'm not hopping on the 35 nocti train, at least for now. Instead I'm receiving tomorrow from B&H the Voigt 40/1.2 version 2. I'll see if it scratches the f1.2 itch I got when the 35 nocti was announced, especially since I've already got the cron 35 APO and 35 SRR which, for me right now together with the new Voigt, constitute all the 35's I want/need.
Fred Miranda wrote:
I've never returned a new Leica lens or body to a Leica store. Once it's opened, they won't give you a full refund? Thinking back, I bought the Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux Steel Rim brand new, and the focus rotation was sticky and the rangefinder wasn't aligned. I had to send it all the way to Leica Germany...definitely a rough experience.After almost a month, they gave me a new one which was perfect though.
If one wants a full refund (not a repair/replacement) then you had better not break the seal. That is the safest way to do it IMHO.
I sent an M11D back seal intact too since I decided it was not worthy of me. They fixed the FW after a month or more, but by then it was out of my hands.
If anyone now has the 35 Noct as well as the 35 FLE II, can the Noct focus as quickly w/o the focus tab? I tried focusing my FLE w/o using the focus tab and found it slow and difficult as well not to move the f/stop- and both designs are similar.
Perhaps the FLE II is better suited for action, and the Noct is better suited for more deliberate and slower setups?
stgrove wrote:
If one wants a full refund (not a repair/replacement) then you had better not break the seal. That is the safest way to do it IMHO.
I sent an M11D back seal intact too since I decided it was not worthy of me. They fixed the FW after a month or more, but by then it was out of my hands.
Yes, I just checked their US return policy. If you break the seal, they'll take it back (within 14 days), but may charge a 15% restocking fee. Buying from B&H would usually get you a full refund, but right now only Leica stores have them, and they're really hard to find.
I am very close to buy the new 35mm Noctilux for my SL3. Later I plan to get a M... So I really like 3D-Pop when shooting wide open and the very special not clinical look if you know what I mean. Is this lens delivering? I know, I should rent it, but thought to ask you here for some experience. Has it quite a lot of character? Would you recommend it over the Summilux 1.4?
just FYI regarding 3D pop: I was going to get the 35 nocti but changed my mind for reasons already expressed. In place I just got the voigt 40/1.2 version 2, took it out yesterday and was pleased with the foreground/background separation and what to my eyes seems like 3D pop, for a tenth of the price of the 35 nocti.
brick33308 wrote:
just FYI regarding 3D pop: I was going to get the 35 nocti but changed my mind for reasons already expressed. In place I just got the voigt 40/1.2 version 2, took it out yesterday and was pleased with the foreground/background separation and what to my eyes seems like 3D pop, for a tenth of the price of the 35 nocti.
Buy the AF Sigma 35/1.2 MkII L-mount and a MF Voigtlander 35/1.2 ; next the M camera, possibly the Summilux M. Only after these steps weigh up buying the 35/1.2 Noctilux.
brick33308 wrote:
just FYI regarding 3D pop: I was going to get the 35 nocti but changed my mind for reasons already expressed. In place I just got the voigt 40/1.2 version 2, took it out yesterday and was pleased with the foreground/background separation and what to my eyes seems like 3D pop, for a tenth of the price of the 35 nocti.
I saw your more extensive set in the Leica images thread... but the LoCA! Sounds like for 10x more the Noctilux controls this much, much better. But you already have the 35 Cron APO, which would be the ultimate choice for aberration corrections. I guess it will depend on how much visibly noticeable LoCA bothers you.
rscheffler wrote:
I saw your more extensive set in the Leica images thread... but the LoCA! Sounds like for 10x more the Noctilux controls this much, much better. But you already have the 35 Cron APO, which would be the ultimate choice for aberration corrections. I guess it will depend on how much visibly noticeable LoCA bothers you.
LOCA shmoka, I couldn't care less
Seriously, that image was shot against bright sun. Exactly where is the LOCA and why is it a problem in this image?
Thanks! I decided after more research to get the 21mm APO F2 for my SL3 first. I am sure this glass together with my 75mm APO F2 a great combo... I will rent the rent the 35mm 1.2 with the EV1 here in Germany and take a longer test-tour soon. This decision needs to be made wisely. However I shoot so much with my Q3 28mm and I am so happy. Need quite a lot of arguments for the Noctilux...
I'm glad to see so many posted images taken with the 35 nocti wide open. My thoughts (which I'm kinda reluctant to share for fear that I'll be accused of hating on the lens which I assure you I'm not) are: wide open, rendering of OOF areas is beautiful and the images have a dreamy 3D quality with beautiful smooth falloff from center focus to periphery. But, and I hope this doesn't get me in hot water, with the exception of a couple of images posted by IMAGEPOWER above, almost all the images posted thus far in this thread are not tack sharp in the center. That's not a bad thing for certain Leica glass (and indeed desireable when, for example, I'm shooting my 35 steel rim reissue or 50 pre asph wide open, in which cases I am purposely avoiding a modern clinical look). However for a lens that is said by Leica as well as many of the reviewers as being tack sharp in the center focus area when shot wide open, I personally would be disappointed if I bought this lens and that was my experience shooting it wide open.
Just speculating, I don't think this is a lens defect, and rather I think it's a function of the high level of resolving power of the lens coupled with shooting technique issues such as insufficient shutter for handheld shots, or failure to accurately dial in focus. It reminds me when for a very brief time I dipped my toe into the Fuji GFX 50 pool and had huge trouble getting tack sharp images except when I shot that camera on a tripod.
I'm glad to see so many posted images taken with the 35 nocti wide open. My thoughts (which I'm kinda reluctant to share for fear that I'll be accused of hating on the lens which I assure you I'm not) are: wide open, rendering of OOF areas is beautiful and the images have a dreamy 3D quality with beautiful smooth falloff from center focus to periphery. But, and I hope this doesn't get me in hot water, with the exception of a couple of images posted by IMAGEPOWER above, almost all the images posted thus far in this thread are not tack sharp in the center. That's not a bad thing for certain Leica glass (and indeed desireable when, for example, I'm shooting my 35 steel rim reissue or 50 pre asph wide open, in which cases I am purposely avoiding a modern clinical look). However for a lens that is said by Leica as well as many of the reviewers as being tack sharp in the center focus area when shot wide open, I personally would be disappointed if I bought this lens and that was my experience shooting it wide open.
Just speculating, I don't think this is a lens defect, and rather I think it's a function of the high level of resolving power of the lens coupled with shooting technique issues such as insufficient shutter for handheld shots, or failure to accurately dial in focus. It reminds me when for a very brief time I dipped my toe into the Fuji GFX 50 pool and had huge trouble getting tack sharp images except when I shot that camera on a tripod....Show more →
Nothing looks sharp on that forum- Those files are heavily compressed. I look at photos I have uploaded and its all the same. Ones I know for a fact are tack sharp.
Look at rendering and feel- Don't judge sharpness.
I don't know about that but I do know that the mods are incredibly picky about strictly enforcing a max resolution of 2.73 MB of posted images. Heaven help you (as I well know) if your images goes over that limit by even 1MB
I'm glad to see so many posted images taken with the 35 nocti wide open. My thoughts (which I'm kinda reluctant to share for fear that I'll be accused of hating on the lens which I assure you I'm not) are: wide open, rendering of OOF areas is beautiful and the images have a dreamy 3D quality with beautiful smooth falloff from center focus to periphery. But, and I hope this doesn't get me in hot water, with the exception of a couple of images posted by IMAGEPOWER above, almost all the images posted thus far in this thread are not tack sharp in the center. That's not a bad thing for certain Leica glass (and indeed desireable when, for example, I'm shooting my 35 steel rim reissue or 50 pre asph wide open, in which cases I am purposely avoiding a modern clinical look). However for a lens that is said by Leica as well as many of the reviewers as being tack sharp in the center focus area when shot wide open, I personally would be disappointed if I bought this lens and that was my experience shooting it wide open.
Just speculating, I don't think this is a lens defect, and rather I think it's a function of the high level of resolving power of the lens coupled with shooting technique issues such as insufficient shutter for handheld shots, or failure to accurately dial in focus. It reminds me when for a very brief time I dipped my toe into the Fuji GFX 50 pool and had huge trouble getting tack sharp images except when I shot that camera on a tripod....Show more →
Your samples of the CV 40/1.2 Nokton on the other thread look really sharp and the rendering is gorgeous. That "pop" you're talking about is exactly what this lens is known for. Here's one with the 40/1.2:
Fred Miranda wrote:
Your samples of the CV 40/1.2 Nokton on the other thread look really sharp and the rendering is gorgeous. That "pop" you're talking about is exactly what this lens is known for. Here's one with the 40/1.2:
wow that literally pops off my Apple Studio Display. That is EXACTLY the rendering I was hoping to see from the 35 nocti but haven't see so far.
So glad I came across your comments on the 40/1.2.
Sounds like for 10x more the Noctilux controls this much, much better. But you already have the 35 Cron APO, which would be the ultimate choice for aberration corrections. I guess it will depend on how much visibly noticeable LoCA bothers you. 
