Log N − log  S distribution of the REFLEX II clusters. The solid step function shows the log N − log  S-function for the observed flux, F_X, and the dashed function the flux corrected to an aperture of r₅₀₀. The solid line shows a power law function convolved with a flux dependent flux error and fitted to the data by means of a maximum likelihood method. The underlying power law function has a slope of 1.36( ± 0.07).