Most of my comments stem from image results not process. Beauty over utility. The Contax Zeiss manual lenses I'm refering to are the ones that made their name: 28/2, 35/1.4, 50/1.2, 85/1.2, 70-210/3.5, 180/2.8....these are legendary German lenses that to this day are unmatched by any 35mm lens system for the images they produced (IMO and the opinion of some top NY pros). I currently own Nikon Pro glass, and just previously Canon L glass including: 24/1.4L, 35/1.4L, 50/1.0L and 85/1.2 and 200/1.8L. Of those, only the Canon 35/1.4 came close...close, but no cigar.
BTW, I'm not talking about bench tests (I've yet to be paid to shoot a chart). I'm talking image beauty.
The previous German Contax lenses exhibited that certain look that defies math. Besides, in bench tests the Mamiya 645 lenses beat Contax 645, yet we Contax 645 users know the difference.
Don't get me wrong, I have N glass and get pretty good results from them (especially the 85/1.4). Not as good as before, but that is the past. I had them, sold them to go AF, and regretted it later. Now they are so valuable that I can't afford to rebuy them (Pros I know hord them).
If only I knew what I know now. That's why I shared my POV with Alex. I wish someone had done that for me.
The attached image is ruined by web upload, but it
was shot with an Zeiss 85/1.2 on an AX. The 16X20 enlargement showed every strand of the veil
razor sharp, while the out of focus areas were as creamy as Leica Noctilux bokeh. Not many lenses ever made can do both perfectly at the same time.