Nocticron

Panasonic Leica DG Nocticron 1:1.2/42.5 Aspheric / Power O.I.S.
MakerPanasonic
Lens mount(s)Micro Four Thirds
Technical data
Typetele prime
Focus drivestepper
Focal length42.5 mm
Focal length (35mm equiv.)85 mm
Crop factor2
Aperture (max/min)f/1.2 / f/16
Close focus distance0.5 m
Max. magnification0.1
Diaphragm blades9, circular
Construction14 elements in 11 groups
Features
Ultrasonic motorYes Yes
Weather-sealingNo No
Lens-based stabilizationYes Yes
Macro capableNo No
Unique featuresaspheric / dual image stabilisation
Applicationportrait / night shots
Physical
Max. length77 mm
Diameter74 mm
Weight425 g
Filter diameter67 mm
Accessories
Lens hoodincluded
Caseincluded
History
Introduction2014
Cutaway of a Leica Nocticron 42,5 mm f/1.2

Nocticron („Night-time“ from latin nox, noctis „night“ and ancient Greek kronos „time“[1]) is the brand name of Leica lenses with an extreme speed of f/1.2. Because of the large aperture size and its image stabilisation system it is possible to take images with relatively short exposure time especially in available light situations. Together with the high number of nine diaphragm blades the lens creates a strong and pleasant bokeh.

Market position

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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) and Elmarit (f/2,8).

Description

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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.

Leica lenses with the model name attribute DG are made by Panasonic under license.

The lens has a smooth focusing ring as well as a clicked aperture ring. It is relatively large and heavy, and is not water or dust proof.

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 extremely low dispersion. The front lens is made of extremely high refracting glass. The Nocticron has an excellent image quality.[3]

The Nocticron lenses allow a fast lens-body communication for autofocusing with its rather silent stepper motor, due to the large aperture size also at low light conditions.[4]

Image stabilisation

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As of March 2023, while there are other f/1.2 autofocus lenses,[5] it is still the fastest lens with both 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.).[6] The ‘’Dual I.S.’’ mode can be used only if the firmware of the Nocticron has version 1.2 or higher.[7][8]

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The following images show some extraordinary capabilities of the Nocticron such as at low light, at high speed, for strong bokeh or with image stabilisation.

Comparison

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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 angle of view, 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 and
diffraction limitation
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
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References

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  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, 6 January 2014, retrieved 23 October 2015
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ Gordon Laing: Leica Nocticron 42.5mm f1.2 review, cameralabs.com, January 2014, retrieved 12 November 2016
  5. ^ "Shop Camera Lenses: Zuiko Lenses & Lens Kits | Olympus Cameras, Audio & Binoculars".
  6. ^ Gordon Laing: Leica Nocticron 42.5mm f1.2 - verdict and scores, cameralabs.com, January 2014, retrieved 23 October 2015
  7. ^ Panasonic issues lens firmware updates to enable Dual I.S. with Lumix DMC-GX8, dpreview.com, 10 August 2015, retrieved 23 October 2015
  8. ^ Update Contents for H-NS043, support.panasonic.com, 5 August 2015, retrieved 23 October 2015