[Leica] Zeiss Normal 50mm f/2 Planar T* ZM

[tgray at 125px.com (Tim Gray)]

On Tue  6, Oct'09 at 12:01 PM +0430, Wendy Thurman wrote:
> Does anyone have any experience with the subject lens?  I am in the market
> for the Summilux 50/1.4 but it is "Out of Stock" on B&H's website and I
> felt, that at the price of $692, it would be hard to go wrong with the 
> Zeiss
> as an interim normal lens (and future backup).

I've not used the ZM 50/2, but I did have the most recent Leica 50/2 and the 
ZM 35/2.  While the aperture/focusing on the Leica felt a little smoother, I 
can't say that was because it was made better.  I liked the ZM 35/2 more 
than the Leica 50/2.  I know it's a different focal length, but if the ZM 
50/2 is anything like there 35/2, I'd say it's well worth the $692 you might 
pay for it. Better yet, buy it used and sell it if/when you buy a 50/1.4, 
and you might not lose any money at all.  I bought my Summicron for less 
than $600 and had no problems getting the same price for it when I sold it.

 From what I hear, the ZM 50/2 is an excellent lens.  It's very flare 
resistant, which the Summicron was not.  Though, to be honest, I ended up 
selling both the Summicron and the 35/2 for a 50 Summilux ASPH and haven't 
regretted it once.