- Leica has unveiled its first M-series 35mm Noctilux lens with a maximum f/1.2 aperture
- It combines the 50mm f/0.95 and 75mm f/1.25 to form a trio of superb low-light lenses
- It’s available globally at launch and costs $9,650 / £7,700 (Australian pricing TBC)
Noctilux lenses have been legendary ever since Leica unveiled the first a full 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 tribute for much less.
They are superb performers, especially in low light, and the clue to these skills 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? Their large apertures and light-gathering abilities. And for those with money to splash, 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 and delivers the widest aperture of any Leica lens at this moderate wide-angle focal length.
It’s packed into a particularly compact body that’s just 50.2mm in length – smaller than its 50mm and 75mm stablemates – 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 clamor I’ve seen on the Leica forums, it’s a lens that many Leica fans have wanted for some time and have their wallets ready for.
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A dreamy 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 currently use for my Nikon camera, but none as compact as Leica’s new Noctilux-M 35mm f/1.2 ASPH.
Mounted on an M-series body, such as the Leica M11-P or the newer M-EV1 (with which I expect critical focusing is easier), you have an understated pairing that’s set to be a hit with Leica street photographers, at least those who can afford the premium price tag.
Not only will the Noctilux-M 35mm f/1.2 ASPH be a superb low-light performer thanks to its ability to gather light, but it has the ability to create a very shallow depth of field, for dreamy scenes – I can already visualize the kind of night street shots that will be made with this lens. At the same time, it will also enable faster shutter speeds, so that movement in low light can be frozen with greater clarity.
Close focusing is as little as 50cm via live view, or 70cm with an optical rangefinder. By making the most of this improved close focusing (compared to the other Noctilux lenses), you’ll further take advantage of shallow depth of field.
Since Leica cameras are so popular for documentary and street photography, like 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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