sweet lens

I have a Zeiss Ikon Contax llla made in 1950.
It is a mechanical marvel.

The normal lens, technically, is not as good as most run of the mill SLR lenses you can buy today. A lens is a mathematical thing and today’s lenses are designed on computers whereas they used to be designed by hand. Slide rules served as the best tool for calculations and funds for optical research were harder to come by. Experience played a bigger role.

Today they can design lenses that are noticeably sharper and have few if any optical flaws.

So why take pictures with a 55 year old camera? Because the lens has something that cannot be designed into a new lens. The lens has character.

I am always surprised at how much I like many of the pictures I take with this Contax. A picture might lack something in sharpness but makes up for it with character.

Your results do not need to be perfect. They are often better if they show character.