Nocticron

Panasonic Leica DG Nocticron 1:1.2/42.5 Aspheric / Power O.I.S.
Maker Panasonic
Lens mount(s) Micro Four Thirds
Technical data
Type tele prime
Focus drive stepper
Focal length 42.5 mm
Focal length (35mm equiv.) 85 mm
Crop factor 2
Aperture (max/min) f/1.2 / f/16
Close focus distance 0.5 m
Max. magnification 0.1
Diaphragm blades 9, circular
Construction 14 elements / 11 groups
Features
Ultrasonic motor  Yes
Weather-sealing  No
Lens-based stabilization  Yes
Macro capable  No
Unique features aspheric / dual image stabilisation
Application portrait / night shots
Physical
Max. length 77 mm
Diameter 74 mm
Weight 425 g
Filter diameter 67 mm
Accessories
Lens hood included
Case included
History
Introduction 2014

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

Still life with parchment and book in candle light, taken with a Nocticron with F-number 1.2, with ISO speed 200 and with an exposure time of 1.3 seconds (equates to an exposure value of -1). The illuminance level on the parchment was below 1 lux.

Nocticron prime lenses are offered 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 (end of 2016) it is still the fastest Micro Four Thirds lens with image stabilisation and autofocus.[3] The optical image stabilisation of the lens can even be combined with the opto-mechanical image stabilisation systems of some camera bodies of the 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]

The Nocticron lenses allow a fast lens-body communication for autofocussing with its rather silent stepper motor, due to the large aperture size also at low light conditions.[7]

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). With the parameters given in the table in all camera systems the photographer will get the same depth of field, diffraction limitation and motion blur:

Image sensor format 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 31 mm 0.85 100
MFT 42.5 mm 1.2 200
APS-C 57 mm 1.6 360
Full frame 85 mm 2.4 800
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nocticron.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Taken with Nocticron 42.5mm.

References

  1. ↑ Howard Cornelsen : New Leica Lens for Micro 4/3, The online Photographer, 2 August 2013, retrieved 23 October 2015
  2. ↑ Panasonic formally launches Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm F1.2 ASPH, dpreview.com, 6th January 2014, retrieved 23 October 2015
  3. 1 2 William Brawley: Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH POWER OIS LEICA DG NOCTICRON (Tested), SLRgear Review, 16 January 2014, retrieved 23 October 2015
  4. ↑ Gordon Laing: Leica Nocticron 42.5mm f1.2 - verdict and scores, cameralabs.com, January 2014, retrieved 23 October 2015
  5. ↑ Panasonic issues lens firmware updates to enable Dual I.S. with Lumix DMC-GX8, dpreview.com, 10 August 2015, retrieved 23 October 2015
  6. ↑ Update Contents for H-NS043, support.panasonic.com, 5 August 2015, retrieved 23 October 2015
  7. ↑ Gordon Laing: Leica Nocticron 42.5mm f1.2 review, cameralabs.com, January 2014, retrieved 12 November 2016
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