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- Leica has unveiled its first M-series 35mm Noctilux lens, with a maximum f/1.2 aperture
- It joins the 50mm f/0.95 and 75mm f/1.25 to make up a trio of supreme low-light lenses
- It's globally available at launch, costing $9,650 / £7,700 (Australia pricing TBC)
Noctilux lenses are legendary, ever since Leica unveiled its first a full 60 years ago – a 50mm f/1.2 lens in 1966 – a lens which 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, and the clue to those 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 big apertures and light-gathering capabilities. And for those with the cash to splash, a longstanding 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, delivering 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 in length – smaller than its 50mm and 75mm stablemates – and tips the scales at 14.7oz / 416g.
It's a premium pick 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 Leica forums, it's a lens that many Leica fans have been wanting for some time, and have their wallets ready for.
A dreamy combination for night photography
There's an increasing 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 which 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 (with which I expect critical focusing to be easier), you have a discreet pairing that is 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 supreme performer in low light thanks to its light gathering capabilities, 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 photos that will be made with this lens. At the same time it will also enable faster shutter speeds, so 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. Making the most of this improved close focusing (versus the other Noctilux lenses) will further harness shallow depth of field.
Given Leica cameras are so popular for documentary and street photography, as is the 35mm focal length, I really do 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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