If anyone has experience with both lenses I'd appreciate any input re: portraits shot wide open or close to it. Eye sharpness, BG bokeh, color, contrast. thanks in advance-
I think the first thing to really consider is how much you value handling, because for me that’s where these two lenses are dramatically different.
IMO, the Leica V4 Noctilux f/1 ranks as one of the worst-handling Leica lenses I’ve owned. I don’t care what kind of amazing beauty the lens is capable of producing—I hated using it. I really can’t say it any more bluntly than that.
It always felt oddly fragile in my hands, and I just never enjoyed carrying it around. It’s one of those lenses where the output can be special, but the actual experience of getting that output took away from it for me.
Flip that over to the 50mm f/1.2 reissue and it’s a completely different story from a handling perspective. The best way I can describe it is that it feels like a slightly larger black-chrome Summilux. Minus the silly hood, it’s a very nice lens to use and something I’d have no problem leaving on the camera and carrying around all day.
Rendering-wise, though, the 1.2 is definitely the more vintage of the two (IMO)
The f/1 also has beautiful OOF rendering and, to my eyes, is a little sharper and more defined in the center wide open. But it’s absolutely not a modern-looking lens. It’s a classic Mandler design with a very distinct signature of its own. The bokeh is beautiful, often dramatic, and has that unmistakable Noctilux character that makes the lens so special.
The 1.2 is still 100% the more vintage-feeling of the two—lower contrast, less sharpness, more glow, and generally a softer presentation. It sounds crazy saying that when you’re comparing it to a Noctilux f/1, but the 1.2 really does take another step backward in terms of optical correction.
So for me, it comes down to this: the f/1 gives you that beautiful, unmistakable Mandler Noctilux rendering with more definition in the center, while the 1.2 pushes even further into a softer, lower-contrast, vintage look—and does it in a package that is dramatically nicer to actually carry and use.
Again this is my opinion! I know there are a few F/1 lovers that love it in practical use!!!!!
Entry and Exit price here is simple though- Play with both and sell the one you don't for what you paid for it!
Unfortunately, I've almost stopped using Noctilux lenses—they're just sitting on the shelf until better times come. Sometimes I use them to photograph my relatives. When traveling or even just for walks around the city, I take lightweight and comfortable lenses weighing up to 300 grams.
I've got both. Wide open the 1.2 reissue has a pronounced field curvature and the truth is, you want the object of the focus dead center. While it can be said that wide open, nothing is truly sharp anything off center is decidedly less sharp. I find that contrasty points of focus (i.e eyelashes or eye on a portrait) render VERY nicely wide open, it just has to be in the center. This all becomes less pronounced as you stop down and by f4 you have a modern, sharp and contrasty lens edge to edge.
The F1 has far less field curvature wide open and a wider zone of relative sharpness compared to 1.2 It might be a touch less sharp that the f1.2 wide open but the wider field often makes it preferred by me over the 1.2 (really, it's just different). It too quite sharp by f4, even by modern standards.
The form factor of the f1.2 is far superior to the f1, the f1 is chunky and heavier but I generally favor the f1.
My f1.2 would be let go to a reasonable offer. My f1 is staying put.
