Reviews, tests, recommendations are useful, but it depends upon what we particularly need for our work that counts IMO. It is useful to know what kind of photography the reviewer does, and what they value. In my experience, most reviews are of no help to me. In most cases, I have to figure out how I would use the lens, in particular because what I value is not necessarily what others value. For example:
While I like lenses that are fast wide-open, and also highly corrected, others say why spend the money, when they always shoot stopped down. I don’t do that. I stack wide open with fast lenses, and I also prefer highly corrected lenses that, to my eyes, look good even at small apertures. I seldom shoot in the mid-range apertures (f/5.6) that most lenses excel at in resolution. I tend to shoot at the extremes, either wide-open or quite stopped down (f/16). To my eyes, highly corrected lenses stand up at narrow apertures better than less well-corrected lenses do. It could just be me.
And I have one other comment. Every photo I take, including any I post, are just experiments on a long journey that I have been on since 1956, when I started seriously taking photos with my little Kodak Retina IIa (and its close-up lens). It is the process of photographing that I value, not just the results. I don’t take photos primarily for others to see or for even me to see. I take them because in the process of looking through fine lenses I can see something beyond the subject I am photographing, an impression in my mind that I am trying to capture, and I like that. In fact I consider that when I am into it, that I am not just looking at a subject, but am resting in the nature of the mind itself. It brings a certain clarity and lucidity I value.
As for this lens, I don’t use the Noct Nikkor as others have, for mid-range photography, but rather for close-up work, so I am exploring this in my own way. The Noct is a special lens, for a special kind photography, at least how I use it. I have a number of such exotic lenses that I use for a specific kind of close-up work. I call this “lens painting.” I don’t confuse them with mainstay lenses like the Nikon Trifecta (14-24mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm), which are general purpose lenses. I feel the Otus lenses are general purpose lenses, just much finer ones than many of the Nikkors I have. Yet, I use them for close-up work (as best I can) because I like the “micro-contrast,” color-correction, and resolution they provide.
Here is another shot I took today with the Noct and the D810.
