Michael,
How would you compare the Noct with the 55mm Otus?
I don’t think of them in terms of comparison. The Noct Nikkor is a specialty lens, while the Zeiss Otus 55mm is an all-around useful lens… for me anyway, in the work I do.
The Noct, so far in my use, is very, very delicate. It is fussy about focus and compares in my mind more with the CRT Nikkor or the El Nikkor APO 105mm.
The Noct is not that well corrected and artifacts definitely are easy to come by. I am only using it close-up and midrange, and so far it has told me that I am going to have to learn how to use it. Large stacks don’t do well, however a single-shot with the lens, with a couple of stacked layers to bring out a focus area or two works great. Again, the word “delicate” comes to mind, at least as to what’s required of me.
I can say that this is a unique lens. I have no other lens that demands I proceed so very carefully and with as light a touch. This means that once I figure out how I want to use it, I probably will want to have it with me, along with the various Zeiss Otus-type lenses that I like very much.
So, the Noct is classed with the CRT-Nikkor, the El Nikor APO 105, the Printing Nikkors, and some of the Painterly Lens that I am exploring. However, I am very impressed, so far. I am glad I sprung for it, even though it meant selling off lenses that I like but seldom use.
It is mid-winter here, so I have few things natural to photograph, but here is another shot with the Noct and the D810 that I just took.
