The most famous lens ever made … is back!

The original Leica Noctilux 50mm f/1.2 is one of the most innovative and rare lens designs in the history of photography. It revolutionized optical design by using 2 aspherical surfaces that had to be hand-ground. Light Lens Lab has just introduced their replica of the original down to the Lanthanum glass elements which are hand-ground just like the original. The Light Lens Lab is one of the most faithful replica lenses I've ever used, but at a fraction of the price of trying to get one of the originals.

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Ted Forbes
The Art of Photography
2830 S. Hulen, Studio 133
Fort Worth, TX 76109
US of A

[CalMukumoto]

I rewatched this video after owning the LLL 50mm f/1.2 "1966" for a few months. Your video is right on. Thanks for your great videos.

[terrygoyan]

I love the look this lens produces, along with the film simulations. Gorgeous! In the sixties we were much more likely to refer to film speed as ASA.
I love the freedom that high ISO gives us. I shot for years using Velvia 50 and it took some adjusting to digital and the extraordinary ISO's useable. Speed in the 60's was critical to shooting in low light. Now fast lenses are used more for the shallow DOF. It's amazing that Light Lens Lab is hand grinding the aspheric elements!

[R]

Old is old and that is why I am/have been putting together a complete set of Minolta Rokkor MC's mark 3's. Light Lens Lab look gorgeous.

[emmanueltsI]

Ted, you got me. I liked the images, design, character, rendering and ordered the lens. Will be shipped somewhen in 2024.
Will pair on my film camera and compare it with the old summilux 35 pre-asph (Canada).

[AdamMuise]

I re-watched this after finally obtaining my 1966. Once again, you were spot on Ted. This lens is so much fun that I'm thinking of selling my Leica Noctilux 50mm reissue.

[marcusoutdoors]

I love the romance of this initiative. Interestingly Voigtlander do a 50mm f1.2 which has wonderful character and is a true 50.

[tablameister]

Thanks for the video. I love my Panasonic Leica 42.5mm f1.2. For those not in the micro 4/3 system, the lens you reviewed looks to be a good option.

[IRudra]

Great video. Btw, Ken Rockwell wrote the best 50 mm lens was the Leica SUMMICRON 50 mm f/2 non ASPH… ( the best versions were v4 and 5)….

[epstar]

LLB are definitely one of the most interesting lens makers at the moment. I have two lenses on my wish list for them to remake. LLB if your reading this... please bring us the Super Angulon-M 21/4 and the Nikkor Noct 58/1.2. 🙏🏻

[tedwilson]

Great review. I love the perspective you provide. I happen to shoot Pentax - and one of the fun parts of that are all the vintage Pentax lenses from that 60's and 70's era that I can still use on my DSLR. As you suggested, because each lens from that era seems to have its own quirks and personality, I find it asks more of me to figure out the best ways to use those characteristics.

[daveandrews]

The Fujinon 5cm f1.2 was made for Leica thread mount also, along with Contax and Nikkor S. I have all three versions of the Noctilux 1.2 and they're all fantastic in there own way. Nice review, keep up the excellent work 👍

[thomasphillips]

Excellent as usual. It is always a pleasure to view your videos. This one almost gave me a heart attack. I bought a M4-P mount Everest when it first came out. I also bought a used 50 noct, I think I paid a grand for it like a book I sold both and bought a 500CM. I wish I still had them. And now you say they are worth 30-50K, good grief. Thanks again great video.

[BrandonLibby]

I learned a lot here. Thanks for taking the time to compare these two wonderful 50mm’s!

[garysong]

Another very informative and excellent video. As always you give the feel of the lens in your reviews. One thing about your reviews is you give us so many hard choices which lens to purchase. Love what LLL is doing bringing back classic hard to find lenses.

[gonzoexpress]

Great detailed review Ted. From an analogue viewpoint, there is still something lovely about older and quite affordable non-aspherical Leica lenses with Tri-x film souped in Rodinal or D76. Ideal for that old-world street and photojournalist vibe. In the end though, it's the overall power of the image itself. Contemporary high resolution lenses often have a palpable sterility about them IMHO. There's no accounting for taste though, and to each his own.

[shadowcultur]

Gorgeous. I’m happy to see more lens manufacturers seeing the trends and bringing back vintage inspired designs. The sigma classic cine set comes to mind and some contemporary voigtlanders. I love it and hope to see more.

[erichung]

I have the LLL 8-element LTM mount collapsible. It 's, by far, my most favorite 35mm not only because of its vintage look but its size. I haven't shot with my Leica Cron asph since acquriing it.

[nimbas]

I suppose it does depend on the way you look at it, but I do think your statement the most famous lens ever made, is questionable. In 1902 Zeiss patented the most copied camera lens of all time, the Tessar. Since that time millions of cameras, including smartphones, have lenses of Tessar design. There is a list as long as your arm of companies that made lenses based on the Tessar. Kodak Ectar, Minolta Rokkor, Schneider Xenar, Yashica Yashinon, Leitz Elmar, the list goes on.

[IGmeanwell]

For me the Nikkor 58mm F1.4 AF-S G was this type of lens and I added it as soon as I could find a good copy for less than Msrp to add to my wedding bag. Nikon was dragged for that lens but I think it’s gorgeous for modern users. Though my all time favorite portrait lens is a Minolta 58mm 1.2, sadly my copy has had an element misalignment from use over the past twenty years. I would love for that lens to be recreated.

[christopherwilliams]

I handled an original Noctilux a few weeks ago and saw a portrait taken on a modern digital camera with it. Well worth having a look at it you get the chance. Bokeh were stunning and plastic in a rather wonderful way.