'X' marks a new low spot....

From the British Journal of Photography:

"Leica has very strict standards when making lenses," says Sykes )(Panasonic UK)

"For the X line, we're using digital technology to get the same quality.

This would not have conformed to Leica's standard"

Quite.

Leica's approach is optical quality. Panasonic's is to churn out extremely mediocre lenses, compensated for by oodles of software correction.

That's what 'using digital technology' means - they produce a lens that, on a non-software equipped camera, would perform like a beer bottle, then use software correction to tray and turn a sow's ear into a silk purse.

Ever seen an uncorrected 14mm shot from the 14-140? - it makes vertical walls bend like something seen on a bad acid trip!

Hardly surprising that Leica won't get involved with the new 'X' lenses.

http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/2104725/panasonic-goes-lenses