thank you for putting up with me, Cindy. i know other people go through it as well, but i feel not unlike a dog chasing after its tail :bugeyes:
when back and revisited several images from various lens i tested since i really am, finally, comfortable with the camera. came to a few conclusions...
i was far more impressed with the CV lenses than i was at first. still not for me because i can't get over the focusing sticks.
the Noctilux will remain something i will dream about -- even though i know i'll never be able to afford it.
i think i was too harsh on the way the Cron focuses because the images are pretty stunning (i tried a third version).
the 50 Sonnar does indeed have a dreamy bokeh, probably somewhere between a Noctilux and my Lux. and quite sharp stopped down (though the Cron won overall, but it may just be the off-focusing of the lens i tried). it makes me wonder if the Zeiss 35 is anywhere close, even though it only is an f2.
the late pre-asph 35 i was testing is indeed quite sharp. i need to try it yet again as most of the images were a bit too contrasty for my taste, but it may be me as i tend to shoot difficult light. (and i do love contrast -- i just hate to be stuck with it. perhaps i'm not, still need to figure out how forgiving the RAW files are. and part of it may be me, still uneducated in so many important fundamentals.)
finally, that elusive glow coupled with the sharpness may be something that only the 50 Lux has...
i'll be away from the camera (which has practically slept with me for two weeks) for a few days as i tackle reality for the next few days. clear my head a bit and the like. now if only i could stop dreaming about lens. i am obsessed indeed.
time to step back and let my tail heal.