Hi Ardeshir, > >> But note that with most lenses, the SLR user can also shoot with both > >> eyes open. > > > > Only if you turn the camera sideways, or don't mind one eye staring > > into the back of the camera. > > Well, I for one can do it with my EOS Elan 7 quite easily, holding the > camera in the normal position. (I use my right eye to look through the > viewfinder and my left eye to view the whole scene.) Unless you have a VERY wide spacing between your eyes (or your particular SLR has a VERY offset viewfinder/lense), your "other" eye will be at least partially blocked by the camera. I have tried this with a Canon A-1, Canon F-1N, Contax RTS-III, Contax AX, Contax Aria, and Nikon F (which has a good offset to it) and none of them give me an unobstructed view. > > The M has an offset viewfinder, that easily allows both eyes to be > > open in either camera position. I'm not saying this is an advantage or > > useful or not, just that I think what you said is not true. I have > > many SLRs, and none of them allow me to shoot with both eyes open > > I don't know why you can't. As I said, I certainly can, and with no > difficulty, at that. Take a picture of your self in the mirror and post it. > > ...and I'm not sure what the lense has to do with this > > ability/inability. > > Not the lenses. But I was talking about the utility of the camera as a > whole (including the lens). Then what did you mean by saying: "But note that with most lenses, the SLR user can also shoot with both eyes open." Perhaps you did not mean what you wrote, but this, to me, clearly says indicates the lense has something to do with this ability. > >> BTW: What about the f/1.0 Noctilux? How does it compare? > > > > To what? > > To the other lenses Marc mentioned. Not sure what they are. The Noc is a great lense, but has it's disadvantages. Not so good close focus, the Summilux is a lot better (I believe 1M vs .6M or something like that). I would recommend the Summilux (the non ASPH one, as it is an old formula lense, and gives exceptional OOF rendering, like the Noc and the 75/1.4) over the Noc to most anyone unless they *really* wanted a Noc. Regards, Austin