zeiss Planar T*...are they worth the money?

symmetricalOCD

symmetricalOCD

Suspended / Banned
Messages
478
Name
Ben
Edit My Images
Yes
would any of you recommend the Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 ZE?

I have recently got the Canon EOS 5D so am after the lens mentioned above, anyone got this lens or had experiences with it?

I don't know whether to get a brand new Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 ZE or a vintage one second hand one...

they seem expensive new, are they worth £500 when I could get an older second hand zeiss with EOS adaptor, oh and I don't want auto-focus
 
I wouldn't spend on Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 as its not great on full frame compared to other Zeiss lenses but its another story if can afford Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 50mm f/2...;)
 
If you're looking for corner to corner sharpness at wide apertures then this probably isn't the lens for you. Build quality, focus ring feel, bokeh and colours are all excellent and may be worthy of the price but resolution across the whole frame would be a negative for a lot of people.

The 50/2 is far better optically but the focus ring throw is biased heavily towards macro distances and not ideal for more general usage.

Bob
 
I am thinking of getting the 50/1.4 ZF.2 next, having researched and viewed hundreds of images I am at a point where I actually prefer the look from the 50/1.4 to the 50/2, however I am still considering.

The 50/1.4 and 50/2 serve two different purposes, and each will produce a different look to the image, many of the die hard Zeiss fans own both.

Most reports on the 50/1.4 mention focus shift, which may or may not be an issue, whenever I have actually spoken with someone using the lens they say that it is not a problem.

There is a thread here with some images from it LINK
 
thanks for your help guys, I was impressed by the images in the link, it's even better than I imagined...I'll have a look at the makro f/2 images to compare. The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 seems like a good alternative too...for now I'm still looking into it
 
If you want manual focus and are willing to use an adapter I have a Leica R (SLR not rf) Summicron 50mm f2 in mint condition advertised on the For Sale board.
 
no - not any better than what else is avalable

symmetricalOCD said:
would any of you recommend the Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 ZE?

I have recently got the Canon EOS 5D so am after the lens mentioned above, anyone got this lens or had experiences with it?

I don't know whether to get a brand new Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 ZE or a vintage one second hand one...

they seem expensive new, are they worth £500 when I could get an older second hand zeiss with EOS adaptor, oh and I don't want auto-focus
Click to expand...
 
Martyn... said:
I am thinking of getting the 50/1.4 ZF.2 next, having researched and viewed hundreds of images I am at a point where I actually prefer the look from the 50/1.4 to the 50/2, however I am still considering.

The 50/1.4 and 50/2 serve two different purposes, and each will produce a different look to the image, many of the die hard Zeiss fans own both.

Most reports on the 50/1.4 mention focus shift, which may or may not be an issue, whenever I have actually spoken with someone using the lens they say that it is not a problem.

There is a thread here with some images from it LINK
Click to expand...

well if money was unlimited I'd get both...I have orderd the f/1.4 from digital rev over the weekend! no turning back now! :thumbs:

can't wait to get it!
 
The Planar is an excellent lens, and has superb rendering (I use the old Contax version, but it's very similar to the new version).

The lens is pin sharp corner to corner on full frame when shot at infinity...this is where Zeiss lenses are generally optimised for. I have shot this against my Canon 50/1.8, using a standard test chart. The Canon lens won by a mile for CA and corner performance based on that test at close distance. But when shooting at longer distances, the Zeiss won by a mile.

The one thing that the Carl Zeiss will give you that other lenses in this range won't, is a superb rendering with pop. I have tried around 20 50mm lenses and nothing comes close, although I suspect the Leica 50/2 is equally brilliant in this respect.

Few samples:


Photo #10 - Muppets at York Christmas market by ManualFocus-G, on Flickr


Offering a ride by ManualFocus-G, on Flickr


Reptiles at Marwell Zoo (2) by ManualFocus-G, on Flickr

big_1032__MG_7072_1.jpg


1032_1600_9_1.jpg


big_1032__MG_8237_1.jpg
 
The 50mm 1.4 suffers from focus shift at f2.8 I think.
I subscribed to Diglloyd for about £30 for the year. In depth reviews from a pro who was been using Zeiss for several years. Expensive to subscribe, but it has saved many many ££££ssss on not buying the wrong lens. i was looking at the 50mm 1.4 until i read about FS. Just had delivery of Carl Zeiss Planar Ze 35mm f2. It is superb. Easy to focus than my CZ 85mm 1.4 planar ZE which I bought before reading the diglloyd reviews which have lots of pictures for comparison against nikon and canon so YOU can make your mind up.
I intend to sell my 85mm and get the CZ 100mm f2. i am not in any way connected with zeiss or diglloyd just an ordinary joe trying to make these expensive decisions whilst getting past the hype. Lovely lovely lenses though, rendition, colours, bokeh on the 35mm f2 not as good as the 35mm 1.4 but easier to focus than the 1.4 and lighter. However the 1.4 deals with CA better and is a lot more expensive. And so it goes on...
 
manualfocus-g said:
The Planar is an excellent lens, and has superb rendering (I use the old Contax version, but it's very similar to the new version).

The lens is pin sharp corner to corner on full frame when shot at infinity...this is where Zeiss lenses are generally optimised for. I have shot this against my Canon 50/1.8, using a standard test chart. The Canon lens won by a mile for CA and corner performance based on that test at close distance. But when shooting at longer distances, the Zeiss won by a mile.

The one thing that the Carl Zeiss will give you that other lenses in this range won't, is a superb rendering with pop. I have tried around 20 50mm lenses and nothing comes close, although I suspect the Leica 50/2 is equally brilliant in this respect.

[/IMG]
Click to expand...

Thankyou for all your contribution with real life examples, it's been very helpful . It was basically between the Lecia 50/2, 50/2 makro planar and the 1.4 Planar and in the end after looking at a silly amount of photos the 1.4 won (plus couldn't afford the makro lol) I do a lot of live music photography so the zeiss should be great for that....

Have you ever used it for a stitched panorama landscape shot? this is one of the things I'd like to try with it, also have you ever used it with flash? I know that defeats the object of having the lens but just curious
 
I don't use flash at all I'm afraid, but here's a rather large panorama I stitched in New York...you need to view the bigger version on Flickr for full effect (which is actually only half the size of the real file!):

6808886175_5e354f8c2e_b.jpg
[/url] Manhattan - HUGE panorama! by ManualFocus-G, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top