still experimenting. this in itself is a whole universe :) I really love the helios m44 and I am very much looking forward to the smc takumar I bought recently. I really crave imperfection, character, not bloodless flare resistance and flawless edge to edge sharpness

Same here! Imperfection creates perfection. I think that a lot of photographers aim for most crisp looking photo, but yet to me that lacks emotion or character. Idk how to explain it.