horosu

I beg, again, to differ. Is is the sharpest? Probably (although, I haven't seen comparisons to the C-Biogon or Distagon) Does it have the smallest MFD? Yes (although other M-lenses might appear with the same MFD) Does it have the least distortion? No (the Biogons have zero) Does it vignette the least? No (the venerable Summicron ASPH has less) Does is have the most beautiful drawing? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder... So, to be clear, that was what I had in mind when I asked to "Define supremacy". Cheers!

Thank you. Does it apply to lenses/instruments that are used in an artistic endeavour ? Scratch "artistic endeavour"- to instruments, in general?

Define supremacy

Yes, I did :-). I found another copy which is better at f2 than my previous one (probably because it is 2 years younger)

I had the good fortune to have both for some time. The Summilux Steel Rim at f2 was sharper than the Cron 8 elements by some margin. At least that was true of the lenses I had. From 2.8 on they were identical

Leica M-D, Summicron 35/2 8 elements

Leica M-D, Summilux 35/1.4 v.2

Leica M-D, Summilux 35/1.4 pre-ASPH v2

Just a question from a Leica guy considering the X1DII+ 45P: manual focusing this lens is actually doable? I read a lot about the slow AF and as a Leica M shooter I prefer MF anyway....

You are partially true, although if I look at some of the work by Alex Webb or indeed others, anything but transparency comes to mind. Maybe each of us can now choose the lens that best fulfils his vision.

This is really the difference between Mandler and Karbe designs: whereas the older lenses had "personality", the ASPH designs are "transparent". Now, luckily we can choose lenses according to our needs- some may favour to "draw" a picture of the reality around us, in the same way a painter draws a painting- others may favour to "document" that same reality with maximum accuracy and in a transparent way. I, for one, find the reality (particularly the current one 😉), boring. But that's just me.

I have a C-Biogon on the MP and a Summilux pre-asph or Summicron 8 elements on the M-D. I came to the conclusion that Mandler lenses are just so much more subtle on digital sensors....

You should buy some hemodialysis machines to support their passion and maybe grow a business.....

Obviously. I mean this is an M lens, right? To be used on an M camera, surely? Including the ability to focus at 0.3 m, no?

I'd be very interested in a side-by-side comparison with the C-Biogon.