Leica Vario-Elmar 35-70mm f/4

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The Leica 35-70mm f/4 (with ROM contacts), sometimes called the 'R9 kit lens', is an example of a modern high quality zoom lens with a moderate aperture. While the majority of people wouldn't even pay $200 for a run-of-the-mill autofocus f/4 standard zoom, I'd say the Leica is well worth the price, even at the going rate of approximately US$600 on Ebay. From wide open, images have a sparkle and life-likeness, like you could reach out and almost touch the subject itself.

Two quick and dirty 100% crop samples at wide open, at or near MFD:

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Two of the entries for the recent Canon Photo5 Competition (Australia)