Leica Is Celebrating 60 Years of Noctilux With a 240-Page Book
Leica is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Noctilux lens family with the launch of a book that is centered on the optical achievement over the years. “From the first series-produced Leica lens with aspherical surfaces to the newest wide-angle variant, this book tells the story of how an audacious idea became a legend,” Leica says.
The original Noctilux was introduced at the now-defunct Photokina trade fair in 1966. Leica describes this lens as one that sought to capture light at night (hence the name), going past where other lenses had reached their limits. Leica says the new book, titled Noctilux, documents the evolution of this lens called “king of the night” and the six decades of research and development it underwent.
“For the most part, the book concentrates on the lenses themselves. Introduced in 1966, the Noctilux 50 f/1.2 was the first in the range: two aspherical element surfaces made in series production — a first among lens manufacturers worldwide. Each lens was painstakingly made by hand, and less than 2,000 units were produced,” Leica explains.
“The successor model, developed by Dr. Walter Mandler in Midland, Canada, was the only lens in the series to do without aspherical surfaces: seven classically polished elements and one special glass sufficed to achieve a speed of f/1. The Noctilux 50 f/0.95 ASPH. then dared to cross a magical line that had always seemed unreachable: it broke the f/1 speed barrier. The Noctilux 75 f/1.25 ASPH. brought the 75 mm focal length to the series for the first time – perfectly calibrated for portrait photography. The last chapter belongs to the Noctilux 35 f/1.2, the first Noctilux with a focal length of 35mm.”
The remaining chapters in the 240-page book cover the development of aspherical technology from its inception to production today as well as interviews with those in the Noctilux research laboratory. It also includes photo essays by Ana María Arévalo Gosen, Alisa Martynova, Jason Roman, François Rousseau, Paolo Roversi and Satoru Watanabe. The book also includes an overview of all M-mount lenses in Leica’s history.
“The book launch will take place on November 27th 2026 in Wetzlar during the Leitz Photographica Auction. To mark this occasion, Leica Camera AG will also be opening the exhibition ‘60 Years of Noctilux’ in the foyer on the eve of the auction: five past and current Noctilux lenses, as well as photo material, make the series’ history tangible beyond the book’s pages,” Leica concludes.
The book will be available starting November 27 at all Leica Stores (physical and online) as well as the LFI Online Store for $75.
Image creditsLeica
