alexey_merz

I believe that the Leica R 50/1.4 tested was the old version. A new one

is out and it is substantially better, probably the best available. And

at the price it had better be.

I use the Summilux ASPH (the f/1.4 version) and agree wholeheartedly

with the above comments. It's said (by Erwin Puts, among others) that

the f/2 has somewhat more even performance across the field while the

f/1.4 is a tad better at the center. I agree with Paul that it blows

the Nikkor 35/2 into the weeds at wide apertures - and the Nikkor is

not a shabby lens by any standard. So the advice is to shoot it wide on

slow film. You'll be amazed by what these lenses can do handheld. I

have 20X24 enlargenents from kodachome 64 and velvia slides that were

shot offhand in available light. They look like they were shot with a

645 on a tripod.

<p>

Alexey