Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Nocturnus 50mm f/0.95 II Lens for Sony E
Related: Leica, Leica Noctilux, Meyer-Optik, Meyer-Optik Gorlitz, Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Lenses, Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Nocturnus, Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Nocturnus 50mm f/0.95 III, Sony, Sony 50mm
See my Sony mirrorless wish list and other wish lists at B&H Photo.
50mm f/0.95 II Lens for Sony E
I have the about $2999 Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Nocturnus 50mm f/0.95 II Lens for Sony E on request at B&H Photo. It is now shipping, but I am unsure of arrival data as yet.
- Sony E-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/0.95 to f/22
- Manual Focus Design
- De-Clicked Aperture Ring
- 15 AR-Coated Aperture Blades
It looks like all the right mechanical things have been done, except perhaps the rather smooth focusing ring (no texture)—though the Zeiss Milvus line has smooth rubber and that works fine. A lot depends on how it actually feels and operates.
From what I am reading, the optical design is the same as the Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95, which I reviewed back in January. What Meyer-Optik has done is deliver a completely different build around cherry-picked samples.
I am curious if an all-new rangefinder design that is 1/3 the price of the Noctilux for Leica M could possibly perform as well—or better*. It is possible, since Leica’s prices for M lenses are stratospheric with poor value being inbred at Leica and prices going up yet again next month.
That is, an all-new design that takes ray angle into account might mean something approaching a real T/1.0—I’m guessing T/1.1 if done well.
For example, f/1.2 lenses on DSLRs (so far) are really more like T/1.4 due to ray angle—not very “fast” at all. Canon even cheats and compensates for the light loss with the 85/1.2L II.
A really fast lens is great fun:
- Reader Question: Image Brightness at Full Aperture vs Stopped Down
- Wide Aperture Landscapes
- Review of the Nikon 50mm f/1.2 AIS
- In-depth review of the Leica Noctilux
- Leica 50/0.95 Noctilux Rendering Style.
* You too can experience the Noctilux feel with a Noctilux coffee mug. Fill it with coffee and it will have similar heft!
