Leitz & Leica Noctilux 50mm Lenses - Jo Geier
The Noctilux. One of the most known Leitz lenses and probably the holy grail of many Leica photographers. Until today 6 versions of the 50mm Noctilux have been manufactured which we would like to show you in this blog post. Minimal design changes, different filter sizes, various lens hoods, slightly different engravings. In addition Leica released a Noctilux-M 1.25/75mm lens in 2018 which we will cover in a future blog post.
The first lens for 35mm available to the public containing two aspherical lens elements. From 1966 to 1975 only approximately 2500 units of the 1.2/50 lens were completed.
There were three series of prototype lenses made before production began, numbers 0000659 to 0000663, 0000725 to 0000734 and 0000767 to 0000770.
Silver chrome Noctilux 1.2/50mm prototypes are known to exist with half click-stops without name engraving. Black prototypes are known to exist without half click-stops.
Product Code:
11820 – Black Noctilux 1:1.2/50 mm
12503 – Metal Lens Hood
Silver Chrome Noctilux Prototype sold by igavel in 2007.
The second type, the Noctilux 1/50mm, was introduced in 1976 and replaced the first version. A completely new version with increased speed of f/1.0 designed by Walter Mandler (Ernst Leitz Canada – ELCAN). In total Leitz produced four versions of this lens.
The first version (V1) with E58 filter size up to serial number 2919656.
12519 – Lens Hood E58
Leitz Noctilux 1/50mm E58 V1
The second version (V2) with E60 filter size.
12539 – Lens Hood E60. Serial number 2919657 – 3220708.
Leitz Noctilux-M 1/50mm E60 V2
The third version (V3) with E60 filter size but clamp-on lens hood. Starting with serial number 3220709. 12544 – Lens Hood E60
Product Code: 11821 – All 3 versions
Leitz Noctilux-M 1/50mm E60 V3
The fourth version (V4) engraved LEICA with E60 filter size and built-in lens hood.
Product Code: 11822
Leica Noctilux-M 1/50mm E60 V4
The current peak version is the Noctilux-M 0.95/50mm Asph. with built-in lens hood and is available in black or chrome finish.
Product Code:
11602 – Black
11667 – Silver Chrome
Leica Noctilux-M 0.95/50mm Asph. Black
The latest addition to the Noctilux line by Leica is the re-issued „retro-design“ Noctilux-M 1:1.2/50 mm in either black or silver chrome finish, released in 2021.
Product Code:
11702 – Silver Chrome Noctilux-M 1.2/50mm
11686 – Black Noctilux-M 1.2/50mm
Leica Noctilux-M 1.2/50mm Asph. Black
The silver chrome Noctilux-M 1.2/50mm is only made in a limited edition of 100 pieces and is already highly sought after.
If you have any of the above lenses for sale we are very much interested. Thank you.
