Since the launch of the 50 mm f/1.2 Leica Noctilux lens back in 1966, Leica has offered some of the fastest lenses in the world with the Noctilux line. Leica is now adding a third lens to the 50 mm f/0.95 and the 75 mm f/1.25 Noctilux, namely the 35 mm f/1.2 Noctilux-M. This is the first time Leica has offered a Noctilux wide-angle lens.

The design strongly resembles the 35 mm f/1.4 Summilux. With a length of 50.2 mm and a diameter of 64.6 mm, the Noctilux is slightly larger, the filter thread diameter increases from 46 to 49 mm, and the weight increases by 23% to 14.7 oz. That’s arguably a small price to pay for a lens that is half a stop faster or 50% more light-sensitive.

The high weight is due to the complex construction with ten elements in five groups, including three elements with aspherical surfaces and a floating element. The latter is designed to ensure high image quality even when focusing at short distances, as the Noctilux has a minimum focus distance of 0.5 meters instead of the 0.7 meters in the Leica M system.

As Leica’s MTF curves show, the brand-new Noctilux is significantly sharper wide open than the Summilux at f/1.4. However, since the edges of the image never become truly sharp even when stopped down, the Leica APO-Summicron-M 35 mm f/2.0 remains the better choice when the higher speed is not needed. Distortion is moderate, while vignetting of around three stops is severe, which is also typical of fast Leica M lenses where compact dimensions are prioritized to avoid obstructing the rangefinder. The camera lens is made in Germany, and production tolerances are said to be below 3 nm per millimeter.

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Editor of the original article: Hannes Brecher – Senior Tech Writer – 19783 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2018

Since 2009 I have written for different publications with a focus on consumer electronics. I joined the Notebookcheck news team in 2018 and have combined my many years of experience with laptops and smartphones with my lifelong passion for technology to create informative content for our readers about new developments in this sphere. In addition, my design background as an art director at an ad agency has allowed me to have deeper insights into the peculiarities of this industry.

Translator: Enrico Frahn – Managing Editor Accessory Reviews, Tech Writer – 6217 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2021

My fascination for technology goes back a long way to the Pentium II era. Modding, overclocking and treasuring computer hardware has since become an integral part of my life. As a student, I further developed a keen interest in mobile technologies that can make the stressful college life so much easier. After I fell in love with the creation of digital content while working in a marketing position, I now scour the web to bring you the most exciting topics in the world of tech. Outside the office, I’m particularly passionate about motorsports and mountain biking.