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MTF for Leica 28mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL ASPH
MTF can be measured from a real lens, or computed from a lens design. Leica uses computed (fake!) MTF which therefore means the graphs are fantasy MTF graphs assuming perfect (impossible) actual lenses. As compared to an actual physical lens. Long experience with a lot of Leica M glass shows that real lenses rarely if ever are fully symmetric across the field, nor do they perform as well as computed charts suggest. Making matters worse, the graph ignore the major degrading effects of required distortion correction.
Speaking purely to what the MTF charts claim (computed MTF, not measured, no accounting for distortion correction), central sharpness wide open at f/2 shows world class micro contrast across the frame. While it declines into the corners, the sharpness even in the far corners is a good as most lenses get at their best aperture. The reality is far different once the astigmatism and distortion correction are accounted for, as shown here.
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