All the more reason to buy Zeiss ZM and CV lenses. Leica are utterly paking the p1ss with their pricing and the summarits only seem sane in comparison to the asph lenses. A summarit 35 is still double the price of the new ZM 35 2.8 (well, once it has settled in price it will be) and the same applies to the 50 summarit and Planar, which happens to be faster to boot. Considering the astounding results I get from these lenses, leica lenses are really hard to justify at their current prices. The 21 elmarit asph is over three times the price of the 21 2.8 ZM. I guess some are buying them though!
PS. Having printed hundreds of black and white negs from these lenses a few weeks ago, the contrast issue just aint there. I found myself regularly printing at grade 3 to 4 and getting beautiful prints without any issues with blown highlights. Where highlights were hot, due to extreme contrast thanks to the Afghan sun, a quick preflash sorted things nicely....and I still then employed grades 3-4. I know this is deviating slightly, but the contrast issue is often cited as a gripe against the ZMs, which may hold true for digital or trannie use, but for Mono it is not even remotely worth worrying about. These lenses are outstanding and the value for money is apparent when you see the prints. Pin sharp edge to edge, incredible clarity, smooth OOF and decent contrast. I also had no issues with poor microcontrast or plasticky skin tones...only sharp, smooth good contrast prints every single time....regardless of apertrure. And NO FLARE anywhere.
