Roger Hicks
Veteran
Sometimes you want "character" rather than a technically better lens. I'll never let the Summar go although the Summicron DR is silly-sharp and the red scale Elmar is both smaller and about 100x more resistant to flare. The Summar just gives the right results in the right conditions; Leitz used to sell it as having a "plastic" effect. This word meant something quite different in this context - more like "scuplted" - in the 1930s.
I agree totally. So must a lot of other people, or old Leica lenses wouldn't cost as much. But there's 'character' I like, and 'character' I don't (Summarons, for a start).
Cheers,
R.