There is no doubt the Rodenstock 100 mm f/1.6 is "photogenic". The combination of relatively long focal length and fast speed leads to clearly defined planes of focused vs. out-of-focus detail, that make the image 'pop'. Still the lens has to be used deliberately to gain these results, they aren't immediately available just attaching the lens to a camera and poking it around in a random fashion. Also adding to its success is, in my opinion, the lack of an adjustable aperture, and the need to add or remove extension to change its magnification of detail (or if you prefer, change its focused distance).
Many of these amiable features are available in other industrial lenses as well. However, the 100/1.6 has the advantage of a quite long register (distance from rear element to film plane) as far as this kind of lens goes. Thus, one is not forced into using it only for extreme close-ups, a fact that furthers adds to its versatility.
