It's the "old Summilux 35" , a design that dates to 1960 and was practically unchanged for 30 years or so: plainly speaking, it is not a lens that is up to the quality image standards people are accustomed
today : if you use it wide open or near (and if one buys a 35 f 1,4, I suppose is for using it at max aperture) you easily observe :
- Lens flare
- Vignetting at the corners (of course, more on film than on M8, and probably unsignificant on your Epson RD)
- A less than good sharpness
But, for Leica gear lovers, it's anyway a fine item to have: is deliciously compact and nice, with a very elegant and smooth mechanics; I have one of the very first production (1.765.xxx, chrome, with the old OLLUX hood) and simply will never sell it, though the prices are rather high (in Europe, in the range 700 - 1000 Euros, depending on finishing, condition, version...).
So, my advice is very simple: if you want a superluminous 35 TO USE, is better to look elsewhere: apart he costly Summilux ASPH, there are a pair of Cosina Voigtlander 35s (f 1,4 and f 1,2, this really a very interesting lens) surely better than old Summilux. Things are different if you put yourself in a collector/user mood: the old Summilux 35 is anyway a little gem to have, and is usable with satisfaction, if you don't pretend to shot always at f 1,4 or 2...
