Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 for Leica M9/M8/M

The Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 always garners gawkers, but in fact it’s a unique lens with unique properties— see my Noctilux 50mm f/0.95 review.

If you’re a Leica M shooter with the cash, the Noctilux-M 50/0.95 is finally back in stock at B&H Photo , after a long absence.

Made with very expensive and exotic optical glasses and two aspheric elements, Leica reportedly can only make 12 of the Noctilux-M per day, and they aren’t made every day.

I shot the Noctilux-M on the Leica M9 (see my full review in DAP), and the biggest problem I found is that it’s too bright: you’ll need a 60mm 3-stop and 6-stop neutral density filters to shoot in sunlight, because the M9 has a top shutter speed of 1/4000 second, and a base ISO of 160 (its ISO 80 setting loses 2/3 stop dynamic range).