Any experience with Zeiss 85 f/1.4 vs. Nikon 85 f/1.4 AF-D?

Wail

Wail

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I am thinking of getting one of these two and was wondering if anyone has had any experience with the Zeiss?

Zeiss is about the same price and weight of the Nikon .. I am not too bothered about the lack of auto-focus or ease to resell (Nikon should be easier as it has a bigger market).

What I'd like to hear is with respect to image quality, as I'd be using this for portrail mainly.

Thanks for any feedback.
 
I have a 35mm Zeiss Flektogon and its probably my favourite lens. I dont use it too much, but its still my favourite for the colour it renders and the ability to focus whilst almost stood on the subject.
The link you give states the lens is in canon fit, so you'll need some sort of adaptor. The 35mm I have is M42 with an EOS adaptor on it.
 
Thanks ... I know Zeiss makes some of the best glass but not too sure if this is much better than the Nikon?

The only differences, from reading what I've found, are ... minimum focusing distance is 15cm better with Nikon, filter thread of the Nikon is 77mm which is the same as that on the 24-70AF-S, 70-200AF-S and 17-35 .. so, that will save me the need to buy yet another CP.

But these are silly reasons to overlook the Zeiss.

Oh, and the link .. it shows all three models (Nikon AI-S, Pentax, and Canon EOS mounts).

Again, thank you for your input.
 
The Nikkor is such a stupidly good lens that the Zeiss would have to be very special indeed.

The AF is also worth having IMO - it's fast enough and the DOF at f1.4-f2 so narrow that you'll need to be very accurate with anything but a static subject.

The Nikkor:

3376657534_f4fbf84f9a_o.jpg
 
Thank you Radiohead ... my thoughts exactly!

I've only read one good report after another about the Nikon 85/1.4, and have seen some amazing shots. It's not called the "cream machine" for nothing! So, I figured the Zeiss has to be border-line magical to compete, more so as it is manual focus.

Hence why I'm asking.
 
It's a tough one - I can't recall anyone with a bad thing to say about the 'Cream Machine', Nikon Cafe is worth asking though.

One comment from there:

'You may have seen that I contemplated trading my creamer for the Zeiss flavor 85/1.4. I have been shooting exclusively with the ZF 35/2, 50/2, and 100/2 for a while, with the majority of my work done with Leica M8 and M7 the last few years. I'm not sure I even put the nikon 85 on my D3 since getting it last year. So I decided to take a few test shots of the wife this morning at 1.4 and.....wow, I forgot what an outstanding lens this is. There's no way I'll let it go, nor do I see how any 85/1.4 could better it.'
 
The recent price rises put paid to my hopes of a brand new 85mm f/1.4 (:razz:). So in the meantime I picked up a Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S....if the optics are similar in the AF version it'll be one stunning lens!
 
Radiohead said:
It's a tough one - I can't recall anyone with a bad thing to say about the 'Cream Machine', Nikon Cafe is worth asking though.

One comment from there:

'You may have seen that I contemplated trading my creamer for the Zeiss flavor 85/1.4. I have been shooting exclusively with the ZF 35/2, 50/2, and 100/2 for a while, with the majority of my work done with Leica M8 and M7 the last few years. I'm not sure I even put the nikon 85 on my D3 since getting it last year. So I decided to take a few test shots of the wife this morning at 1.4 and.....wow, I forgot what an outstanding lens this is. There's no way I'll let it go, nor do I see how any 85/1.4 could better it.'
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I am a member at Nikon Cafe, and follow some threads there with great interest. One of which is about the Zeiss Macro Planar. As a matter of fact, it's that thread that made me decide on getting the 100/2 MP even though it doesn't give 1:1 macro magnification ..

Would you please post a link to which thread, at the cafe, you got that quote from.


sdb123 said:
The recent price rises put paid to my hopes of a brand new 85mm f/1.4 (:razz:). So in the meantime I picked up a Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S....if the optics are similar in the AF version it'll be one stunning lens!
Click to expand...

Yup, these price increases are really a bother .. and have hurt just about everyone. The thing that's making me bite the bullet and buy at these times (prices will fall) is that I am going back home where I will not be able to get these lenses with ease. So, it's like a squirrel stocking up for winter.

Also, I am going to see if I can have the stuff I buy shipped to me in Saudi and hence not pay the VAT. That would be a big saving; but I have to check on the legality of that.

On the subject of your 85/1.4 AIS; would you mind linking me to where you bought it from. Also, how do you rate that lens ... have you compared it to the Cream Machine?
 
Wail said:
I am a member at Nikon Cafe, and follow some threads there with great interest. One of which is about the Zeiss Macro Planar. As a matter of fact, it's that thread that made me decide on getting the 100/2 MP even though it doesn't give 1:1 macro magnification ..

Would you please post a link to which thread, at the cafe, you got that quote from.
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The Planar 100 is a stunning lens.

That quote is from http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?p=2454821#post2454821 and more discussion of the Zeiss or Nikkor here http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?p=2455179#post2455179
 
Thank you very much :thumbs:

Off to check them out :)
 
Ah yes, these two threads that you've linked :p .. I am subscribed on them and follow them closely. It's that thread on the Zeiss 100 that made me decide on buying it.

It seems that everyone is tooting the Nikon 85/1.4 and no one is fond of the Zeiss counterpart :shrug:

I guess I'll give the Nikon another closer look :)

Thank you for the links and feedback .. it's been very informative.
 
Wail,

if you buy the stuff and ship it to Saudi, then on your return, provided you have personal belongings with you, you should be ok. The VAT element on a UK lens being brought in by a UK citizen?

I was in the Mercantile marine and bought a fair bit of stuff in HK, mostly hi fi - never had to pay duty on it coming home. Provided it isn't trunks and trunks worth of kit! So one trip I would buy an amplifier, next trip a pair of speakers.....never got stopped.

Grays of Westminster, while they demand top prices, their goods are absolutely top notch. I was quoted Exc + on the f2 DC - there isn't a mark on it, only a bit of a crease in the lid of the box.......hardly a reason to downgrade the condition report. Perfect lens, good price saving on new.
 
I'll second Grays but doesn't look like they have any. In fact neither do Ffordes, Surrey Photography or Aperture (Surrey in particular is worth an eye on as his stuf is always absolutely mint).
 
Lensflare / Radiohead,

Thank you both for the input.

About sending to Saudi. When I bought the 200-400VR (bought it in Saudi), I enquired about bringing it to UK and was told that I have to pay VAT since I am currently a UK resident. Hence, I never had the lens brought over .. it's happily waiting for me at home (in Saudi).

However, as I am about to leave UK and move back home, am moving in the next couple of weeks, I can now have the items I want sent direct to there and save myself the 15% VAT, which is a substantial saving :thumbs:

As for Grays, I always check their web site to see what they have in stock (new and 2nd hand) as I've always heard good things about them.

May be it's prime time to give them a call :thinking:; but I think I'll give my local store a call first, to see if they can get it for me. I much rather support my local store .. no offence meant towards anything with Grays.

Again, thank you for all the input .....

By the way, Radiohead .. getting back to read the threads on the Zeiss only made me come across another lens (Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 T* Distagon) which is said to be miles ahead of the Voigtlander 20/3.5 Color Skopar SL II Aspherical! I was waiting for the Voigt. to be available and may be get one .. now you've got me thinking of the Zeiss .... may be it's time I stop reading to what you have to say before I end-up mortgaging the house :p

But, truly, thank you for the feedback :)
 
Radiohead said:
3376657534_f4fbf84f9a_o.jpg
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That's a wonderful image Radiohead. Superb :) The fact that you've got both girls in focus with that depth of field is amazing in itself.

Zeiss make great lenses, there's no doubt. I had an 85mm f/1.4 T* on a Contax 137. But I couldn't honestly say it was any better than anything from Japan. It's the shallow depth of field and bokeh you get that really makes them look so special, but Nikon and Canon can do that too!

Same goes for most West German lenses, some of them massively expensive. Over-hyped. If they had Kenko written on them or something similar, nobody would want to know.

But if the Zeiss brand has that certain magic that works for you, then go for it. But there's nothing they can teach Nikon about how to make good lenses ;)
 
Just bought a used Zeiss 85mm .

A stunning lens.

It is so good that I'm seriously thinking of buying the new Zeiss 21mm ZE.
 
Although a slightly different design, I have the CZ85/1.4 for Sony (on FF).

Although this is a lovely lens with wonderful colours and bokeh, if I shot Nikon I'd not think twice about picking up the Nikon 85/1.4

These lenses are amazing shot wide open, but the shallow DOF, I personally would struggle with MF (or should I say, would get less keepers).

Maybe if the Nikon wasn't so highly rated you might consider the CZ, but if you are just 'nick picking' which one is slightly better than the other, it's a non brainer for the AF.
 
Seaboarder said:
Just bought a used Zeiss 85mm .

A stunning lens.

It is so good that I'm seriously thinking of buying the new Zeiss 21mm ZE.
Click to expand...

Congratulations on a good catch .... personally, I ended up getting the Nikon 85/1.4 and am loving it.

Frankly, I wish I can go the whole of 2010 without buying any more lens; it's taking a huge toll on my bank account.
 
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