Leica Noctilux Book

In 1966, Leica unveiled the Noctilux 50 f/1.2 at Photokina in Cologne. It was the first lens with two aspherical element surfaces made in series production, a first among lens manufacturers worldwide. Each lens was made by hand, and fewer than 2,000 were produced. The Leica Noctilux Book marks the 60th anniversary of the lens family and follows it from that first aspherical design to the newest wide-angle variant.

This English hardcover runs 240 pages with 195 images, bound in silver with foil stamping. Most of the book is given to the lenses. Each Noctilux model appears with product photography, historical context and example images made with that lens. The chronology runs from the original 50 f/1.2 to Dr Walter Mandler's f/1 successor, developed in Midland, Canada, which was the only Noctilux without aspherical surfaces. It continues with the Noctilux 50 f/0.95 ASPH., which broke the f/1 barrier, and the Noctilux 75 f/1.25 ASPH., the first in the series at 75 mm. The last chapter covers the Noctilux 35 f/1.2, the first Noctilux at 35 mm.

Five chronological chapters trace aspheric technology from its beginnings to today's production, covering production equipment, prototypes and R&D details. Two interviews take the reader inside Leica's optics development. Peter Karbe, Senior Managing Expert in Optics, recounts the history of aspheric lenses. Dietmar Stuible, Head of Optics Development at Leica Camera AG since 2021, explains the "mechanical intelligence" of M-Lenses.

Six international photographers contribute photographic projects that show the Noctilux's range: Ana María Arévalo Gosen, Alisa Martynova, Jason Roman, François Rousseau, Paolo Roversi and Satoru Watanabe. More image series show the distinct rendering of the different Noctilux models.

The appendix makes the book a working reference. It includes an index of all M-Lenses, an overview of special Noctilux models, and portraits of the main figures in Leica optics development. The book is aimed at collectors, Noctilux owners and anyone interested in the history of photographic optics.

Scope of delivery: one shrink-wrapped Leica Noctilux Book, English edition.