EXCERPT page containing first few paragraphs. 2023-12-06 16:42:20
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50/2 APO vs Noctilux (M240, Dana Meadow / Kuna Peaks)
June 2013 lens sample, which suffered from poor flare control.
The Leica 50mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH is perhaps the most highly corrected lens in the Leica M lineup, but its character at wider apertures (f/2 and f/2.8) is substantially different than the Noctilux: vignetting, correction of aberrations, and general bokeh all differ. And of course the Noctilux offers two more stops of light gathering power.
The foregoing qualities might be decisive factors on their own, but for those contemplating the 2013 50/2 APO ASPH, the question arises: can a stopped-down Noctilux deliver similar quality levels specially in the f/5.6 - f/11 range? That would make the Noctilux a large and heavy but useful all-rounder.
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Diglloyd Guide to LEICA contains in-depth coverage of Leica M system cameras and lenses, with additional coverage of Leica M Monochrom, Leica Q.
Special emphasis is placed on Leica M lenses and certain Zeiss ZM lenses.
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- Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
- Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.
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(not to scale)
