The Close-Up Face of the Noct Nikkor

[Michael Erlewine]

It has taken me a little while to adapt this incredible lens to my wishes, but I am getting there. Here is a photo taken with the Nikon D810 with the Noct, ISO 64, and stacked lightly using Zerene Stacker.

The idea here is to stack a couple of areas, in this case two, and to leave the rest for bokeh. This was not done wide open because wide-open the Noct has razor-thin DOF, almost too thin to stack. But I am happy with this approach and confident I will find still others. It represents a different take on using the Noct Nikkor.

I must agree with those who feel this is a special. It is worth every penny.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Congratulations on your new lens and the excellent results you are able to make it deliver for you

I noticed you have a different stacking strategy for this lens and apparently that is a wise move.

[Frank Fremerey]

Your first results are promising. This seems to be the real deal now. Cannot wait to see field work when weather condition become better.

[Erik Lund]

I concur, really pleasing, crisp and nice
I like the lens best at around f/1.8 - f/2.5 I actually added the extra half click stops to mine,,,

[Michael Erlewine]

Another shot with the D810 and the Noct, with some stacking, Zerene Stacker.

[Frank Fremerey]

Magical flow in the leaf part...

your pictures make me happy 100 times a day whenever I pick up
my phone. Your pictures are there as BG every day for many months
now. Thank you for making my life more pleasent!!!!

[MILLIREHM]

Very fine shot
and lens of course ;-)

[stenrasmussen]

A different but great use of the Noct Michael!
I will have a Noct in soon for testing/comparison to my NeoNoct.

[Michael Erlewine]

Another Noct stack, D810, Zerene Stacker

[Frank Fremerey]

I feel this lens fits perfectly into your daily meditation!

[Erik Lund]

It doesn't get much better than this! Thanks Michael

I must say that I'm impressed by the D810 vs my old workhorse the D3X, quite a leap in sensor quality - The natural feel and color tones/graduations are amazing!
I'm pleased I upgraded,,,

So much for highly corrected lenses - The reason Nikon lens designers chooses a balanced optical design; Abrasions, Bokeh vs Sharpness is quite obvious for everybody reading these Noct_nikkor and the 58mm AFS G 1.4 threads by now,,,

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Wonderful results Michael! Your new stacking strategy pays off big time and produces stunning results! Well done!!

[Michael Erlewine]

It doesn't get much better than this! Thanks Michael

I must say that I'm impressed by the D810 vs my old workhorse the D3X, quite a leap in sensor quality - The natural feel and color tones/graduations are amazing!
I'm pleased I upgraded,,,

So much for highly corrected lenses - The reason Nikon lens designers chooses a balanced optical design; Abrasions, Bokeh vs Sharpness is quite obvious for everybody reading these Noct_nikkor and the 59mm AFS G 1.4 threads by now,,,

The D3x first introduced me to the value of real blacks; the D810 improves on this with the ISO 64.

As for APO (highly-corrected lenses), I love them, but I also love the unique lenses that have a special draw, like the Noct, the CRT-Nikkor, the El Nikkor 105 APO, and some of the industrials.

I think you meant to write 58mm, not 59mm.

[Ron Scubadiver]

Textures are incredible.

[HCS]

I'm pleased I upgraded,,,

Hold the phone ... you've upgraded?? Away from your D3x??

All fun aside, great stuff Michael. It seems that the path you've taken to move to lighter stacks with less "perfect" lenses. I also like the results very much, moving from the technical immaculate deep stacks to the more artful shallow stacks. Beautiful.