"Nicholas O. Lindan" wrote:
A Leica is just a nice thing to have, it is beautifully
built, nice to hold, makes a nice sound ... but it takes
the same picture.

Takes the same picture? That isn't the case.

What is probably true is that you cannot tell much difference between
a Leica M lens *at f/8* and a Canon, Nikon, Minolta or Pentax lens at
f/8. But compare the lenses wide open and there is a world of
difference between the results; several of the current range of Leica
M lenses actually perform at their best wide open.

For example, the Leica M 24mm f/2.8 ASPH has a higher resolving power
at f/2.8-4.0 than any other brand of commercially available 24mm lens
at *any* aperture. The 21mm f/2.8, 35mm f/1.4 and f/2, 50mm f/1.0 and
f/1.4, 75mm f/2, 90mm f/2 and 135mm f/3.4 (all ASPH lenses) are also
superlative performers when used wide open.

With most brands of lens there is an imperative to use the lens at its
"sweet spot" wherever possible, because optical performance drops away
very rapidly as you open up beyond f/8 or so. But with modern Leica M
glass, you can effectively shoot at whatever aperture you need and get
outstanding results.

Note that these comments do not apply equally to Leica R glass,
especially in focal lengths of less than 50mm. Despite that, Leica R
wide angle lenses are still significantly superior in optical
performance to those from Canon, for example, which explains the
extreme popularity of Leica R to Canon EF mount adapters.