[Ian Grant]

Actually as long as you're talking about post WWII (coated) lenses, good contrast is more or less a given. Give a ca. 1950 135mm Graflex Optar (A Tessar type, renamed single coated Wollensak Raptar) a try, they're superb.

We are in the 35mm sub forum but what's being said is still valid, and thats from experience.

However there are exceptions like the Hoya lenses. I had a 28mm and flare was horrific, I had a Sigma 24mm before that and it wasn't much better.

On the oyher hand LF lenses were always professional so coatings of all types were a league ahead.

Ian