Is the leica noctilux m 50mm f 1 good for street photography?

The Noctilux-M 50mm f/1 can make beautiful street pictures, but I wouldn't call it my first pick for the street. It's manual focus with no stabilisation, and f/1 leaves very little room for error when something happens fast. My street guide says a camera you don't notice and can shoot without thinking beats megapixels, and this lens asks you to think a lot.

Its heavier sibling, the Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH, is heavy and very hard to focus wide open, so I'd skip that one for the street.

If you still want this lens, pair it with a small full-frame body from the Leica M11 or Leica M10-D family, and practise focusing before you go out. Be open about what you're doing, and delete a shot if someone asks. For more on whether full frame is worth the bulk, see Sensor sizes.

Written by Claude from this site's pages.