- Leica has introduced its first Noctilux 35mm M-series lens, with a maximum aperture of f/1.2
- It joins the 50mm f/0.95 and 75mm f/1.25 to form a trio of supreme low-light lenses.
- It is available globally at launch and costs $9,650 / £7,700 (Australian prices TBA)
Noctilux lenses are legendary, ever since Leica introduced the first one 60 years ago: a 50mm f/1.2 lens in 1966, a lens that will set you back around $50,000/£30,000, if you can find one today, or you can pick up Light Lens Lab’s homage for much less.
They are supreme performers, especially in low light conditions, and the key to those abilities is in the name; Noctliux is derived from the Latin words “noctu” and “lux”, which simply mean “night” and “light”.
What makes Noctilux lenses so special? Its large apertures and light collection capabilities. And for those who have money to spend, a long-standing gap in the range has just been filled: that of the 35mm focal length.
The new Leica Noctilux-M 35mm f/1.2 ASPH lens follows the modern 50mm f/0.95 and 75mm f/1.25 optics, offering the widest aperture of any Leica lens at this moderate wide-angle focal length.
It’s packaged in a particularly compact body that’s just 50.2mm long (smaller than its 50mm and 75mm peers) and tips the scales at 14.7oz/416g.
It’s a premium choice for low-light photography, with a price tag to match: a whopping $9,650/£7,700. But judging by the buzz I’ve seen on the Leica forums, it’s a lens that many Leica fans have long wanted and have their wallets ready for.
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A dream combination for night photography
There are a growing number of 35mm f/1.2 prime lenses for various camera systems, such as Nikon’s and the recently announced Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB that I’m currently using for my Nikon camera, but none as compact as Leica’s new Noctilux-M 35mm f/1.2 ASPH.
Fitted to an M-series body, such as the Leica M11-P or the recent M-EV1 (which I hope will make critical focusing easier), you have an understated partner that will be a hit with Leica street photographers, at least those who can afford the premium price.
The Noctilux-M 35mm f/1.2 ASPH will not only have supreme performance in low light conditions thanks to its light gathering capabilities, but it also has the ability to create a very shallow depth of field, for dreamlike scenes; I can already envision the type of night street photos that will be taken with this lens. At the same time, it will also allow for faster shutter speeds, so that low-light movement can be frozen more clearly.
Close focus is just 50cm using live view, or 70cm with an optical rangefinder. Taking full advantage of this improved close focus (compared to other Noctilux lenses) will take even more advantage of the shallow depth of field.
With Leica cameras being so popular for documentary and street photography, as is the 35mm focal length, I really see a place for the Noctilux-M 35mm f/1.2 ASPH, and I expect it to be one of Leica’s most popular lenses.
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