Leica Noctilux 35mm f/1.2 – braucht man das wirklich?

Leica Noctilux-M 35mm f/1.2 ASPH. — Review Summary

The reviewer used the lens for several weeks on a Leica M11, primarily photographing around Berlin. His overall impression was highly positive: it is a beautifully made, capable 35mm lens whose main distinction is not just its f/1.2 aperture, but also its particular rendering and smooth transition from sharpness to blur.

Main Features and Handling

• Specifications: 35mm focal length, f/1.2 maximum aperture, approximately 400g, 50mm long, and a 49mm filter diameter.
• It has a built-in lens hood and a cap that fits securely with the hood retracted.
• The minimum focus distance is 0.5m. On a rangefinder M, focusing is coupled only down to 0.7m; closer focusing requires the camera display or another compatible focusing method. A small resistance marks the transition around 0.7m.
• The focus and aperture rings felt very smooth. The reviewer found the lens’s size and weight manageable on an M camera, though it is somewhat front-heavy.

Image Quality and User Experience

• Sharp in the center at f/1.2, with performance weakening toward the edges and more noticeably in the corners.
• Vignetting is visible wide open, reduces around f/2.8, and is gone by f/4.
• Its standout quality is a gradual, harmonious transition from sharp to out-of-focus areas. The reviewer found this gave images a pleasing sense of depth, especially at subject distances of roughly 1–3m.
• Background blur is soft, sometimes with a slight swirl. Out-of-focus highlights are fairly round in the center and become more cat-eye-shaped toward the edges.
• Chromatic aberrations are well controlled, though visible in very high-contrast situations.
• The lens handles backlighting well. Some flare is possible, but the reviewer saw less than with lenses such as the Steel Rim and Voigtländer Nokton Wide.
• Overall, he described the rendering as modern and well-corrected while retaining a distinctive, smooth character.

Comparisons

Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH.

The reviewer considers the Summilux an excellent 35mm lens and a strong alternative. It is smaller and lighter—about 300g and 46mm long—with a 46mm filter thread, a screw-in hood, and a minimum focus distance of 0.4m. It costs about €2,650 less.

The difference between f/1.2 and f/1.4 alone is small and was not, in his view, a sufficient reason to choose the Noctilux. His preference for the Noctilux came from its smoother blur and more gradual transitions; he found the Summilux’s bokeh less settled and its transitions more abrupt. He says the choice comes down to preferred rendering.

Leica 50mm Noctilux f/0.95

Unlike the 50mm f/0.95, which can appear soft and glowy wide open, the 35mm Noctilux is already centrally sharp at maximum aperture rather than behaving like a “two-in-one” lens.

Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.2

The reviewer did not compare the two directly. He noted their similar headline specifications and a substantial price difference—the Voigtländer was described as costing around €1,100—and left a performance comparison for a possible future video.

Drawbacks and Practical Considerations

• The price is €8,950, according to the video, and availability is limited; buying one may require finding a dealer with stock.
• It is larger and heavier than the Summilux, and has visible wide-open vignetting and weaker edge and corner performance.
• On a rangefinder M, its 0.5m close-focus capability cannot be used through the rangefinder alone.

Verdict

The reviewer calls it a magnificent, attractive lens with a versatile focal length and everyday-usable size and weight. He recommends it to photographers who value its particular smooth, dimensional rendering and can justify the price and availability constraints.

If the goal is simply a high-performing 35mm lens, the less expensive Summilux is also an excellent choice. The Noctilux’s extra cost is best justified by a preference for its image character, not merely its half-stop advantage.

Reviewer’s Perspective

There is one reviewer. He praised the Noctilux’s build, handling, central sharpness, depth rendering, controlled aberrations, and backlight performance, while emphasizing its price and limited availability. His Summilux comparison is based partly on archived images rather than a direct, same-scene test.