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The name Noctilux is used by Leica to designate their camera lenses with the widest maximum aperture. Lenses with that name have been in production since 1966. So far all Noctilux lenses have been made for the Leica M mount.

History

The name Noctilux is a combination of Nocti, which is derived from the word nocturnal, while Lux is Latin for light.^[1]^[2]

Description

The Noctilux lenses have the largest maximum apertures in the Leica range. With various models having f-numbers of f/0.95 or f/1.0 or f/1.2 or f/1.25 as its maximum aperture. It is also the heaviest of all of Leica's lenses.^[1]

Market position

The Noctilux is the most expensive lens in the Leica lens range.^[1] It is followed by the Summilux.

List of Noctilux lenses

For the Leica M mount

Name	Focal length	Year	f-number	Filter size	Weight
Noctilux 50 mm f/1.2	50 mm	1966 – 1975	f/1.2	49 mm	470 – 515 grams
Noctilux-M 50 mm f/1^[3]	50 mm	1976 – 2008	f/1.0	60 mm	584 grams
Noctilux-M 50 mm f/0.95 ASPH.^[4]	50 mm	2008 – present	f/0.95	60 mm	700 grams
Noctilux-M 75 mm f/1.25 ASPH.^[5]^[6]	75 mm	2017 – present	f/1.25	67 mm	1055 grams
Noctilux-M 50 mm f/1.2 ASPH^[7]	50 mm	2021–present	f/1.2	49 mm	405 grams