Impressive f/1.2 Maximum Aperture
The calling card of the Noctilux series, this lens is distinguished by its impressively bright f/1.2 maximum aperture. This is Leica's brightest 35mm lens yet, making it well-suited to low-light use, for selective-focus portraits, and other subjects that are benefitted by a unique shallow depth of field look.![]()
- Bright f/1.2 design helps isolate subjects using shallow depth of field; this fast design also excels in low-light conditions.
- Distinct Noctilux rendering portrays subjects with cinematic atmosphere surrounded by soft, circular bokeh thanks to an 11-blade diaphragm.
- This lens joins the 50mm f/0.95 and 75mm f/1.25 to complete the Noctilux trio.
Versatile 35mm Focal Length![]()
- This is the first Noctilux lens with a 35mm focal length, offering a wider field of view compared to the existing 50mm and 75mm Noctiluxes, for a natural perspective that includes more background information and context than the narrower focal lengths.
- The fast design still allows the lens to be selective but the wide-angle focal length makes the lens more suitable for traditional reportage, street, and environmental portraiture applications.
Precision Glass Molding Technology
Contributing both to the lens's small size and impressive image quality, this Noctilux-M 35mm f/1.2 utilizes Precision Glass Molding (PGM) technology to create a more efficient and exacting optical design.![]()
- Optimized for high-resolution M cameras, this lens provides the sharpness and resolution for the latest image sensors while still retaining the character and handcrafted quality associated with Leica optics.
- PGM technology is used to shape the three aspherical elements with finer tolerances for better control over various aberrations, higher micro-contrast, and smoother, more natural bokeh.
- Additional elements are made using highly refractive glasses for improved color clarity with virtually no chromatic aberrations.
- Floating element design also ensures consistent image quality throughout the focusing range.
Manual Focus Control and Physical Design![]()
- This is the first Noctilux lens to feature extended close-range focusing down to 1.6' (50 cm); compared to the conventional 2.3' (70 cm) of most rangefinder lenses, this additional range suits working with close-up subjects at a maximum magnification of 1:11.6.
- To make use of the added 1.6' to 2.3' focusing range, an M camera with an EVF, an accessory Visoflex EVF, or live view monitoring from the camera's rear LCD must be used; optical rangefinders only provide accurate focusing control to 2.3'.
- Despite being the fastest 35mm lens Leica has produced, this lens still manages to be relatively compact and lightweight—it measures 2" long, 2.5" in diameter, and weighs 14.7 oz.
- Built-in extendable lens hood shades and protects the front element to reduce lens flare and ghosting. Additionally, the front of the lens is threaded to accept 49mm screw-in filters.