Noctilux

The name Noctilux is used by Leica to designate their camera lenses with the widest maximum aperture. Lenses with that name have been in production since 1966. So far all Noctilux lenses have been made for the Leica M mount.

History

The name Noctilux is a combination of Nocti, which is derived from the word nocturnal, while Lux is Latin for light.{{Cite book |title=Leica M Typ 240 Expanded Guide |last=Taylor |first=David |publisher=Ammonite Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-1781450390 |location=United Kingdom}}{{Cite web |url=http://leica-review.com/leica-noctilux-50mm-lens-history/ |title=Leica Noctilux 50mm Lens History |date=2017-10-03 |website=LEICA REVIEW |language=en-US |access-date=2020-01-03}}

Description

The Noctilux lenses have the largest maximum apertures in the Leica range. With various models having f-numbers of f/0.95 or f/1.0 or f/1.2 or f/1.25 as its maximum aperture. It is also the heaviest of all of Leica's lenses.

Market position

The Noctilux is the most expensive lens in the Leica lens range. It is followed by the Summilux.

List of Noctilux lenses

;For the Leica M mount:

class="wikitable"
Name ! Focal length ! Year ! f-number ! Filter size ! Weight
Noctilux 50 mm {{f/\|1.2}} \|50 mm \|1966 – 1975 \|{{f/\|1.2}} \|49 mm \|470 – 515 grams
Noctilux-M 50 mm {{f/\|1}}{{Cite web \|url=https://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/50mm-f1.htm \|title=LEICA 50mm f/1 NOCTILUX (1976-2008) \|website=www.kenrockwell.com \|access-date=2019-11-27}} \|50 mm \|1976 – 2008 \|{{f/\|1.0}} \|60 mm \|584 grams
Noctilux-M 50 mm {{f/\|0.95}} ASPH.{{Cite web \|url=https://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/M-Lenses/Noctilux-M-50mm-f-0.95-ASPH \|title=Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH. // M-Lenses // Leica M-System // Photography - Leica Camera AG \|website=us.leica-camera.com \|access-date=2019-11-27}} \|50 mm \|2008 – present \|{{f/\|0.95}} \|60 mm \|700 grams
Noctilux-M 75 mm {{f/\|1.25}} ASPH.{{Cite web \|url=https://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/M-Lenses/Noctilux-M-75-f-1,25-ASPH \|title=Noctilux-M-75-f-1,25-ASPH // M-Lenses // Leica M-System // Photography - Leica Camera AG \|website=us.leica-camera.com \|access-date=2019-11-27}}{{Cite web \|url=https://www.dpreview.com/products/leica/lenses/leica_noctilux-m_75_1p25_asph \|title=Leica Noctilux-M 75mm F1.25 ASPH: Digital Photography Review \|website=www.dpreview.com \|access-date=2019-11-27}} \|75 mm \|2017 – present \|{{f/\|1.25}} \|67 mm \|1055 grams
Noctilux-M 50 mm {{f/\|1.2}} ASPH{{Cite web \|title=Noctilux-M 50 f/1.2 ASPH // M-Lenses // Leica M-System // Photography - Leica Camera AG \|url=https://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/M-Lenses/Noctilux-M-50-f-1.2-ASPH \|access-date=2021-02-02 \|website=us.leica-camera.com}} \|50 mm \|2021–present \|{{f/\|1.2}} \|49 mm \|405 grams

class="wikitable"

Name

! Focal length

! Year

! f-number

! Filter size

! Weight

Noctilux 50 mm {{f/|1.2}}

|50 mm

|1966 – 1975

|{{f/|1.2}}

|49 mm

|470 – 515 grams

Noctilux-M 50 mm {{f/|1}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/50mm-f1.htm |title=LEICA 50mm f/1 NOCTILUX (1976-2008) |website=www.kenrockwell.com |access-date=2019-11-27}}

|50 mm

|1976 – 2008

|{{f/|1.0}}

|60 mm

|584 grams

Noctilux-M 50 mm {{f/|0.95}} ASPH.{{Cite web |url=https://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/M-Lenses/Noctilux-M-50mm-f-0.95-ASPH |title=Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH. // M-Lenses // Leica M-System // Photography - Leica Camera AG |website=us.leica-camera.com |access-date=2019-11-27}}

|50 mm

|2008 – present

|{{f/|0.95}}

|60 mm

|700 grams

Noctilux-M 75 mm {{f/|1.25}} ASPH.{{Cite web |url=https://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/M-Lenses/Noctilux-M-75-f-1,25-ASPH |title=Noctilux-M-75-f-1,25-ASPH // M-Lenses // Leica M-System // Photography - Leica Camera AG |website=us.leica-camera.com |access-date=2019-11-27}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.dpreview.com/products/leica/lenses/leica_noctilux-m_75_1p25_asph |title=Leica Noctilux-M 75mm F1.25 ASPH: Digital Photography Review |website=www.dpreview.com |access-date=2019-11-27}}

|75 mm

|2017 – present

|{{f/|1.25}}

|67 mm

|1055 grams

Noctilux-M 50 mm {{f/|1.2}} ASPH{{Cite web |title=Noctilux-M 50 f/1.2 ASPH // M-Lenses // Leica M-System // Photography - Leica Camera AG |url=https://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/M-Lenses/Noctilux-M-50-f-1.2-ASPH |access-date=2021-02-02 |website=us.leica-camera.com}}

|50 mm

|2021–present

|{{f/|1.2}}

|49 mm

|405 grams

References

External links

{{url|https://en.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/M-Lenses/Noctilux-M-50mm-f-0.95-ASPH/50-years-of-the-Leica-Noctilux-M|Official Leica Noctilux-M}}
{{url|https://www.overgaard.dk/leica-50mm-Noctilux-M-ASPH-f-095.html|Thorsten Overgaard: Leica Noctilux, King of the Night}}
{{url|https://www.dpreview.com/articles/9759698807/leica-noctilux-overkill-or-necessity|Leica Noctilux: Overkill or Necessity}}

Category:Leica lenses

Category:Photographic lenses