I have nothing but glowing reviews for the Nikkor 50mm f2 on my S2. I think it's a brilliant lens, and most commonly I shoot it with fomapan 400 done in Xtol.
The VC lenses of that generation got the fogging in cemented pairs that can't be serviced before or after. That's the problem - it's the cement itself that they used. They will either fog or not and if they do, then there is nothing that can be done so far as I am aware to repair the damage.
I have owned an M, M2 (with 35mm frameline built in), M4, M5, and a couple SPs (both of which I still have). If you need 28mm and are averse to using an accessory finder (although I highly recommend the accessory viewfinder, as it is much preferable to built-in 28mm framelines, in my opinion), then I would definitely look for the Nikon SP. I looked for a few months before finding one that was clean and working properly. Of course, within a few weeks of buying that one, I found a cleaner example and now own two. Both of mine are later versions with titanium curtains. You need to be sure that the one you get has a decent rangefinder patch; many are very faded to non-existent. You can remedy this somewhat by placing a piece of colored gel over the viewfinder, but it's better to start off with a decent RF patch. The benefit of the Nikon SP is having all of the framelines from 28 to 135, available in the viewfinder. Be aware, however, that the 28 and 35mm lines are in a fixed separate VF window, without parallax correction. Therefore, if you use 28mm a lot of the time, I think it's still better to get an accessory viewfinder. I would go with a Leica M2 which already has the 35mm lines, then get a 28mm external finder for those times I want 28. I didn't get on with the M4, as I thought the VF looked too congested with multiple framelines at once. I loved the M5, but again, no 28mm lines.
Another stellar lens (IMHO) is the CV SnapShot 25mm. I had one on my Bessa L for years and LOVED it! I can see it being addictive on a Ic.
That lens and a Ic would be a fantastic combo, that's true. However, I already own the 21mm Color Skopar, so 25mm sits a bit weirdly between that and the 28mm, and it'd be a bit hard to justify spending the money on it.
"Sometimes", but not always in ways you might expect: For example, some of the Trinovid binoculars have a lovely, single-wheel focusing mechanism which is a delight to use, though optically, you might be able to find better for less $.
If you don't mean something, if you don't care aobut it, why say it?
Godfrey, I meant what I said. It doesn't seem we actually disagree about anything. No harm, no foul.
So: disparage Leica for producing special editions for those who want special editions, and deny that Leicas are actually cameras to be used and make photographs with by pointing to the special editions. Sweet, you have 'em coming and going.
Why does it matter to you? Today's Leica is a luxury brand: It's their niche in the marketplace, and they do it pretty well. I don't see it as my duty to serve as unofficial spokesman for Leica or any other brand, unless I have a stake in it. I also think you are choosing to ignore Leica Camera AG's own messaging, which presents the cameras as something more than mere photographic tools.
So you won't mind if I do pay attention to said messaging, and share my interpretation of what's going on? I'm intrigued by why I prefer certain products and brands over others, and to what extent I've been influenced by others without even knowing it. Can't help it, I recently read Martin Lindstrom's 2011 book Brandwashed, and feel I'm seeing much of it being played out before my eyes.
