Nocticron
Nocticron („Night-time“ from latin nox, noctis „night“ and ancient Greek kronos „time“[1]) is the brand name of optically corrected Leica lenses with an extreme speed of f/1.2. Because of the large aperture size it is possible to take images with relatively short exposure time or in available light situations.
Market position
Nocticron lenses are slower than Noctilux lenses (f/0,95 or f/1,0) and faster than the Leica-lenses with the brand name Summilux (f/1,4), Summicron (f/2,0) und Elmarit (f/2,8).
Description
Nocticron lenses are offered (October 2015) as exchangeable lenses for the Micro Four Thirds system (MFT). At photokina 2012 the model Lumix Leica DG Nocticron 1:1,2/42.5 mm ASPH[2] was announced, and it is available since 2014.
The lens has a focussing as well as an aperture ring, it is relatively large and heavy, and it is not water or dust proof. At the moment (October 2015) it is the fastest Micro Four Thirds lens with image stabilisation or autofocus.[3] The optical image stabilisation of the lens cannot be combined with the opto-mechanical image stabilisation systems of all bodies of the camera system (Dual Image Stabilisation = Dual I.S. ).[4] The ‘’Dual I.S.’’ mode can be used only if the firmware of the Nocticron has version 1.2 or higher.[5][6]
The anti-reflective coating of the telephoto lens with 1.7 times normal focal length has 14 lenses in 11 groups, two of them aspheric and another with extremly low dispersion. The front lens is made of extremly high refracting glass. The Nocticron has an excellent image quality.[3]
- Nocticron 1:1.2/42.5 mm with maximum and with minimum aperture
-
Maximum aperture (F-number 1,2) -
Minimum aperture (F-number 16)
Lenses with the model name attribute DG are made by Panasonic under licence.
Comparison
Compared to other camera systems with differing normal focal lengths, and therefore different image sensor sizes, the following equivalent values apply to lenses with appropriate properties as the Nocticron 42,5 mm 1,2 within the Micro-Four-Thirds system (MFT):
| Image sensor format | Normal focal length of the camera system (diagonal angle ≈ 47°) |
Focal lengths at the same angle of view ( diagonal angle ≈ 29°) |
F-number at the same depth of field |
ISO speed at the same exposure time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon CX | 18 mm | 31 mm | 0.85 | 50 |
| MFT | 25 mm | 42.5 mm | 1.2 | 100 |
| APS-C | 33 mm | 57 mm | 1.6 | 180 |
| Full frame | 50 mm | 85 mm | 2.4 | 400 |
External links
References
- ^ Howard Cornelsen : New Leica Lens for Micro 4/3, The online Photographer, 2 August 2013, retrieved 23 October 2015
- ^ Panasonic formally launches Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm F1.2 ASPH, dpreview.com, 6th January 2014, retrieved 23 October 2015
- ^ a b William Brawley: Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH POWER OIS LEICA DG NOCTICRON (Tested), SLRgear Review, 16 January 2014, retrieved 23 October 2015
- ^ Gordon Laing: Leica Nocticron 42.5mm f1.2 - verdict and scores, cameralabs.com, January 2014, retrieved 23 October 2015
- ^ Panasonic issues lens firmware updates to enable Dual I.S. with Lumix DMC-GX8, dpreview.com, 10 August 2015, retrieved 23 October 2015
- ^ Update Contents for H-NS043, support.panasonic.com, 5 August 2015, retrieved 23 October 2015