Fujiukian wrote:

"When you get the itch of a Leica lens you really can鈥檛 justify buying one ......"

You missed out "on purely technical / optical performance terms"

Photography, and particularly in the Leica space, is an emotional process where by people who can afford it like to make themselves feel better by being part of a more exclusive set.

I am not criticising this at all, its a choice many people make and extends their choice of wrist watch, clothes etc etc. But it is a choice based on emotion.

They, the person, may even take a better image because of their emotional reaction.

I can add to this also, that I shoot Leica because i became very particular about what I wanted from my gear. Otherwise I could just take the same pictures with a Sony. this also extends to lenses. The way an Ultron renders the photo vs the way a Summaron renders a photo isn鈥檛 the same. And it鈥檚 not such a small difference to be seen only under a microscope. It鈥檚 an obvious difference. The use and handling of the lens is also very different.

Even there鈥檚 not a lot of difference between the Ultron and the Summicron/Elmarit there is in fact a difference in handling and feel of the lens. It just doesn鈥檛 feel the same. And I know that sounds like nonsense but, we are talking about people who decide to shoot a $10,000 rangefinder. The feel and use and experience is paramount.

all these things come unto consideration.

that being said it鈥檚 a testament to the little Ultron II that buying the Leica alternatives starts looking like diminishing returns.