Description
When Leitz presented the Noctilux-M 1.2/50mm in 1966, the company in Wetzlar was speaking very cautious about "the first serial lens with aspherical lens surfaces" not knowing what a classic this lens would become for the factory.
The Noctilux-M 1.2/50mm, produced only from 1966 to 1973, was equipped with two aspherical elements which had been ground by hand and offered for its time an almost outstanding and unseen image performance for a high opened 35mm photography lens. Consciously desigend in the optical calculation for an unusually good contrast reproduction already, a somewhat lower resolving power than in the case of the Summilux-M 1.4/50mm, for example, had been accepted. Since the main application area was in available-light photography and the professional photographer of the 1960s and 1970s had not yet available such a highly opened lens, the constructive development approach of the Noctilux-M 1.2/50mm was very welcome and offered no reasons for criticism.
However, what helped the Noctilux-M 1.2/50mm to achieve its legendary reputation was not the optical quality nor the fact that the lens with only 1,745 produced pieces belongs to the most scarcest Leica lenses, but the hardly to be described with words and incomparable way in which the Noctilux-M 1.2/50mm renders and reproduces colours.
The tonal value separation, nuance, and smoothness in which the lens reproduces colour has no rival and one finds no second lens of this quality. Even the 1975 built Noctilux-M 1.0/50mm can hardly match the subtle and unique colour reproduction of its predecessor.
The offered Noctilux-M 1.2/50mm comes from 1968 and is in unchanged original condition! It comes including original lens hood (order number 12503) as well as front and rear covers. The condition is both technically and cosmetically very good what is for a lens which was used primarily by professional photographers is quite remarkable.
This legend among the Leica lenses and such a classic of modern optical design should not be missing in any collection. Whether as an extraordinary highlight or as a tool used from time to time to create photographs which exude a uniqueness and magic which can not be described with words.
Total production: only approx. 1.745 units!
Rarity: R8
Rarity forecast: R8
