LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50 mm f/0.95 ASPH.
1
The LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH offers a unique range of features. A noticeably (11%) higher speed has been achieved
in a body with almost the same diameter and only very slightly longer than its predecessor, the Noctilux-M 50mm f/1. At the
same time, its rendition quality significantly exceeds that of its predecessor, while retaining the typical, slightly soft reproduction
of the previous lens. Even at full stop, the LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50mm ASPH f/0.95 demonstrates excellent reproduction quality,
which only deteriorates slightly towards the edges - while the slightly smaller format of the Leica M8 models only capture less of
these areas anyway. Stopping down brings a continuous significant improvement in performance, up to an exceptional level over
the entire image field at 5.6. Even in the close-up range, this performance is largely retained thanks to a "floating element".
The strikingly low degree of vignetting for such a high speed lens is a maximum - i.e. in the corners of the image - of just 3.2
stops at full aperture in 35mm format, or around 1.5 on the Leica M8 models. Stopping down to 2 visibly reduces this light falloff
towards the edge of the image, with practically only the natural vignetting remaining. Distortion is slightly barrel-shaped and, at a
maximum of just 1%, is hardly perceptible in practice. The construction is similar to a double Gauss type and uses a total of eight
lenses to achieve this excellent performance. Of these, five are made of glass types with anomalous color dispersion (partial
dispersion) to correct color defects, while three simultaneously have extremely high refractive power. Because of their large dia-
meter, the two aspherical lens surfaces are produced by meticulous grinding and polishing. To maintain performance in the close-
up range, the rearmost element of the optical system is a "floating element", i.e. it moves independently of the rest of the mecha-
nism.
Summary: The LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH represents a unique high performance lens. It combines exceptionally
high speed with an image performance that ranks alongside that of today's leading lenses and once again extends the composi-
tion options of Leica M photography.
Lens shape
ASPH.
ASPH.
Floating element
