Leica Noctilux-M 75mm F1.25 ASPH lens
Introduction
Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens the latest Noctilux-M lens that is making its mark in the ultra-fast lens segment. It is a telephoto lens that delivers an incredibly shallow depth of field which described as hair-thin or razor-thin.
For obvious reasons, Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens will be selling at $12,795 which relatively well priced considering that its sister, Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH lens is not far behind in pricing. In fact, I had bought mine for around 13,000 USD before the price of it got “readjusted.”
Enter the Telephoto Lens
Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens is a very sophisticated lens with nine elements in six groups manufactured from “high anomalous partial dispersion and low chromatic dispersion” optical elements. Naturally, it is an aspherical lens with two aspherical elements featuring a floating element design.
The result of best German optic engineering has yielded perhaps one of the best telephoto lenses in the world. Leica camera also confirmed that the new Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens would have some advantages over its Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH lens. The statement from the company reads:
The upgraded features of the Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH open up entirely new opportunities in portrait and close-up photography, including a shallower depth of focus than that of the Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH and a close focusing distance of 0.85m, making for a reproduction ratio of 1:8.8 for even more precise isolation of subjects. Additionally, the eleven blades of its iris ensure a soft and harmonious bokeh in out-of-focus areas.
It is important to point out that even though Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens is a tad slower than the Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH lens, the advantage of longer focal length plays in favor of attaining a shallower depth of field. In effect, if the aim is to do portrait only type of photography some photographers may be tempted to go for the new Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens rather than the Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH lens.
A Better Lens
Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens is a whole new lens with a much of the optical refinements that have been attained through advanced computer-aided design and simulation technology. The result is a lens that is the forth Noctilux-M lens that continues on the tradition of lenses that have been around for decades.
In the past, only 50mm focal length Leica Noctilux-M 50mm was offered in the Noctilux -M line. Today with the addition of Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens, it is sure to make an impression on Leica Noctilux line up. In fact, Leica camera is calling the new Leica Noctilux-M line as the “new family of lenses.”
Future of Fast Lenses
Indeed, Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens is the right step in not only an optical achievement but also in building a heritage of lens line that will be remembered and revered as some of the finest lenses in the world.
It is very likely that Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens will be followed up with a fast Leica Noctilux-M 35mm lens in the near future. Of course, when it arrives there will be competition in the market. For example, Voigtlander has been producing a f/1.2 aperture 35mm lens for a long time. Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.2 Aspherical II lens is in its second generation featuring two aspherical surfaces selling at $999 USD.
Production of fast telephoto lenses is nothing new as well. For example, Canon 85mm f/1.2 L lens featured aspherical elements was produced between 1976 through 1987 available used for around 600 -700 USD on eBay. To this very day, Canon continues to produce these fast lenses.
The reason I mention these other lenses is that not all lenses are created equal. For one, Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens features superb quality and incredibly accurate color reproduction. More importantly, although some lenses from other manufacturers can be adapted to Leica M cameras, Leica Noctilux-M lens line sits at the epitome of highest quality lenses that have made a huge following for their bokeh renditions.
Quality Vs. Price
As the news announcement went out for the new Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens, there were immediate comments about its high price tag. Obviously, there were those who questioned if this new lens worth the high price that it commanded. I certainly have received over 25 calls in the last week about this lens.
Firstly, it is important to set the record straight. Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens is not for the average person who wants to own a fast lens. There are plenty of fast lenses out there for various camera systems that cost a tiny fraction of the price of this lens.
Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens is for all intents and purposes a professional lens for those discerning professionals who want absolutely the very best of optical performance. As a photographer, I don’t question the price when that small fraction of difference sets my photographs apart from the rest. If the quality and performance are what matters than investing in a Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens is a smart choice.
Secondly, it is essential to recognize that at a certain level optical performance is critical. For example, a Leica 75mm T/1.4 Summilux-C lens cost about 37,000 USD before taxes which a much sought-after cinema lens. The reason that these lenses commend such prices is that Leica camera delivers the best of optical quality when quality precedes price.
Verdict
Buying a lens like Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens is an important commitment. It is an investment in your photography as well as an investment for the future. As time would indicate as a proof, Leica lenses have a way of keeping their value and even increasing through the years. A good example would be the first generation of Leica Noctilux-M lenses which featured f/1.2 aperture now selling around 20,000 USD. 25th-year anniversary edition of Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/.095 ASPH lens is now fetching 15,900 USD. I certainly have faith in Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f1.25 ASPH lens as a great investment for the future.
Buying it for your photography use is perhaps the most prudent of all investments because it will help you to see your photographs in a whole new light. As the razor-thin shallow depth of field isolates the subject from the background, you will be pleasantly surprised with how wonderful your photographs began to look so much better.
I, for one, have already placed my order for the new Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens. If your finances allow you it is the perfect way to reward yourself or someone you care about.
Here are my favorite links for Leica Noctilux lenses. You can find great prices below for Leica Noctilux lenses. By clicking them you are helping Leica Review to remain as an independent review site.
Leica Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH lens
Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH. Lens (Silver) (NEW)
Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH. Lens (Black) (NEW)
Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH. Lens (USED)
Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.0 Lens (USED)
For my upcoming 2018 photography workshops, here are the links
We offer numerous workshops around the world specializing in Leica cameras and lenses. You are invited to take part in one because what you gain from a dedicated a photography workshop for Leica cameras and lenses. The tips and techniques you will learn in these workshops will take your photography to the next level also will stay with you for a lifetime. We look forward to hearing from you.
I have provided the official company announcement at the end of this article along with the best way to order Leica Noctilux-M 75mm F1.25 ASPH lens for the fastest delivery.
Thank you
OZ YILMAZ
Leica Review Team
Leica Camera Pushes Photographic Boundaries With the New Leica Noctilux-M 75 mm f/1.25 ASPH Lens
True to the Noctilux legacy, the new lens boasts impeccable speed and exceptional imaging performance
November 29, 2017 – For more than 50 years, the name ‘Noctilux’ has been synonymous with exceptional speed and outstanding optical design. Today, Leica Camera announces the newest addition to their lens portfolio – the Leica Noctilux-M 75 mm f/1.25 ASPH. Coupled with exceptional imaging performance and unique bokeh, its hair-thin depth of focus isolates subjects with extreme precision, ideal for portraits with an unmistakable “Leica look”.
A legacy of excellence
The first lens of the Noctilux family, the Leica Noctilux 50 mm f/1.2, was announced at Photokina in 1966. While the original lens innovated with revolutionary optical properties, ongoing developments led to the launch of two additional generations of the Noctilux in 1975 and 2008. The additional lenses were developed under the premise of further pushing the envelope for imaging performance, each with a faster aperture than its predecessor. All Noctilux-M lenses to this day are special for their rendering and aesthetic when shot wide-open, yielding a three-dimensional “pop” that separates its subjects from the background like no other lenses. The out-of-focus areas behind the subject is smooth and pleasing to the eye, giving a lovely soft background even in the darkest of lighting scenarios.
Together with the Leica Noctilux-M 50 mm f/0.95 ASPH., the Leica Noctilux-M 75 mm f/1.25 ASPH. is the co-founder of a new family of lenses. The two current members of this family are both distinguished by their extreme maximum aperture and exceptionally high performance at all apertures, even wide open, and lend themselves to the creation of timeless images marked by a distinctive and revered Leica aesthetic.
Superior imaging performance
The upgraded features of the Noctilux-M 75 mm f/1.25 ASPH. open up entirely new opportunities in portrait and close-up photography, including a shallower depth of focus than that of the Noctilux-M 50 mm f/0.95 ASPH. and a close focusing distance of 0.85m, making for a reproduction ratio of 1:8.8 for even more precise isolation of subjects. Additionally, the eleven blades of its iris ensure a soft and harmonious bokeh in out-of-focus areas.
To guarantee this extraordinary imaging performance, the nine elements in six groups that make up its optical design are manufactured from glasses with high anomalous partial dispersion and low chromatic dispersion. Two of the elements are aspherical, and reduce other potential aberrations to a hardly detectable minimum. The use of a floating element within the complex focusing mechanism guarantees a constantly high level of imaging performance throughout the entire focusing range of the lens – from its minimum focus distance to infinity.
When shooting at maximum aperture, the exceptionally shallow depth of field of the Noctilux-M 75 mm f/1.25 ASPH. can be easily focused in when an electronic viewfinder such as the Leica Visoflex. Additionally, the Leica M-Adapter L transforms the Noctilux-M into an excellent lens to use in conjunction with the Leica SL. When the lens is mounted on the Leica SL, the 4.4 megapixel resolution of the camera’s EyeRes® electronic viewfinder enables particularly comfortable and extremely precise focusing.
The Noctilux-M 75mm f/1.25 ASPH. features the convenience of an integrated lens hood, which can be extended or retracted in one simple twist. The lens is complemented by a tripod adapter for safe and secure mounting of the lens on a tripod.
The Leica Noctilux-M 75 mm f/1.25 ASPH will be available at Leica Stores, Boutiques and Dealers at the beginning of 2018.
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