Scientists today encourage us not speak of magic or miracles, but to wonder at the magic of reality itself. Can a lens be magic? You can see why photographers might be so tempted to see their favourite lenses. Roger Hicks makes no apology for considering magic as a property of a lens, at least in company of other more measurable traits like speed. Perhaps magic is the surplus left over when all measuring has been done, but you still can't put your finger on it. My Carl Zeiss C Sonnar 50mm is magic. For me.
The dinky and venerable Zeiss C Sonnar 50mm lens