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50/2 APO vs Noctilux (M240, Orange-Bark Pine Tree)
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.
Can a stopped-down Noctilux deliver similar quality levels, especially by f/5.6 - f/8? Or does it perhaps deliver a subjectively quality that might be appealing in its own right, even if not technically at the same level as the APO-Summicron?
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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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