At the risk of boring everyone, would someone please describe again what they consider the best use of the Noct Nikkor.... please. It sounds wonderful, but I am trying to imagine how I might use it, since I am mostly a close-up photographer... but I am thinking of branching out.
Michael,
may I share my very personal view about this lens.
Let's start with the rational side of things - that is usually the easier decision:
Today, there is no *need* to own the Noct. 40 years ago, when the first version came out, times were different. Film speed couldn't go up like today, so each part of the optical chain had to contribute to the light gathering exercise. Today, with modern sensors, any discussion about f1.2 vs. f1.4 lenses due to improved light gathering might be an enjoyable discussion in the pub, but not more. The Coma correction then set the Noct apart from the "mainstream" lenses then. Today, the mainstream lenses are much better corrected - even coma. And yes, the Noct has very smooth bokeh.
Let's move over to the emotional side:
There is something special with this lens which is hard to describe. Probably the best way it could be described, would be with the words "how it draws". It will not happen everytime, but if the context is right (i.e. available light photography in a city during the night), images have a "plasticity" which is imho a bit special in this focal range. You will not find this difference in all scenarios. Shooting test charts, the Noct wouldn't bode particularily well vs other 50mm lenses. Don't get me wrong on this. The Noct is a good lens, but I would not justify this lens via test chart analysis.
Of the many modern lenses, the AFS 58mm/1.4 is in my opinion the closest what you can get on this image "drawing" part. The AFS 58mm is rather "soft" versus other 50/55mm lenses, but I think this is needed to "render" a scene differently. As the capabilities of lenses are often overlapping, you might probably be able to use other lenses to make them perform like that, but the *unique* thing of the Noct (and AFS 58mm) for me is: It is rather the default result than the exception - which influences your personal mood and assessment about the emotional *value* of the scene you just captured.
I.e. Sometimes I don't even care if I would be able to find with *scientific accuracy* some indications where the lens didn't perform perfectly, but you rather enjoy the holistic impression and the mood this image "presents" to you.
To sum it up:
I your subconscious self don't "want" it, your conscious self probably don't "need" it
But you might take a very deep look at the AFS 58mm/1.4G
rgds,
Andy
Below is an image with the Noct and the D800E. Taken during a short night walk in Nicosia/Cyprus a few years ago. (unprocessed, just resized)
Here is a 100% crop. Imho, not bad for a 30+ year old lens on the 36 MP D800E (please consider, ISO 400, 1/50s and handheld)
