Zeiss shooters?

Ross_Curtis

Ross_Curtis

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Since buying the ZE 50mm F/2 makro planar I'm totally hooked on Zeiss glass. Not just from a optical point of view, their build quality is just in another league. It makes my L lenses feel cheap!!

I'm interested to hear from other people out there with Zeiss lenses.
What do you use?

Is anyone using all Zeiss?
This is something I'm considering having taken my first step.

Thanks.
 
You've got the bug! Better put a block on your bank account now ;)

I shoot with the Contax versions and a Canon adapter...the lenses are just gorgeous and provide fabulous image pop and colours.

My faves are the Planar 50/1.4, Planar 85/1.4, Sonnar 135/2.8, Makro-Planar 100/2.8, Vario-Sonnar 100-300 and 35-70/3.4. The Distagon 28/2.8 is great too.
 
My favourite lens is a Contax Planar 50mm f/1.4 T*. Use it on my 5D2 and E-P1. I know it is heresy and probably just my imagination but there's something about the IQ that I prefer to my Canon & Leica lenses.

Would be very tempted to go almost-all Zeiss. I'd just hang on to the 24-105 for when manual focus just won't do it.

In any case, I'd like the Contax 85mm Planar for portraits. Is it worth the money manualfocus-g?

Would also kill for the 50mm Sonnar f/1.5 - love the "look" - but that is Leica-M only and costs an arm and a leg.

By the way, have you had any success with focus confirm adaptors? If yes, which ones?
 
I've been considering the contax versions, mainly due to price. I don't know enough about these versions and don't want to buy something that isn't going to work. Are there any issues with using converters? I've heard you can buy already converted versions and some even have focus confirmation chips.

My next purchase is likely to be a 35mm version. Most likely the 35 f/2. However I'm tempted to swap my 24l for the new 1.4.
 
35/2 ZF.2 here :wave:

Stunning image quality and resolution, far better than my Nikkor version without question, although someone will be on here soon saying there is no difference ;)

Not sure that I would go to all Zeiss, I find the AF of my Nikkors more than handy when I am chasing my Grandson around.

I am considering the 25/2.8 next, whilst the 21/2.8 is rated the top dog, I have trawled through 100's of images online and see little difference between the two, but I am still considering my options.
 
85/1.4 and 135/1.8 owner here.

Sharp wide open, AF spot on, wonderful subject isolation and just generally spectacular really. Only problem is I need the flexibility of the 70-200/2.8 most of the time so they don't get used as much as they should.
 
onomatopoeia said:
85/1.4 and 135/1.8 owner here.

Sharp wide open, AF spot on, wonderful subject isolation and just generally spectacular really. Only problem is I need the flexibility of the 70-200/2.8 most of the time so they don't get used as much as they should.
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Have been really tempted to switch to Sony just to get AF Zeiss lenses.
 
Seriously happy with my Zeiss Vario Sonnar DT 16-80, the perfect walk-around for my a700 & a55. Great colours, good contrast (great for B&W shooting), seems sharp everywhere and nice bokeh.

APS-C only, and only available in Sony mount, but can't have you Canon/Nikon chaps having all the fun......

luvit :thumbs:
 
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I've got a ZM 50mm f/2 Planar. Absolutely stunning it is too. It's the sharpest and most detailed lens I've ever shot with (helped by the gorgeous Leica M9 it's on). Lovely build quality, the aperture ring is beautifully positive and the focus ring is super smooth.

And about 1/3 the price of the Leica 50 f/2 Summicron.

Couple of examples:


Broken by Tobers, on Flickr


Booked my spot by Tobers, on Flickr


Fishing by Tobers, on Flickr
 
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Ive got the 25mm f2.8, I just love its minumin focusing distance of 6cm! And the bokeh is the best of any wide angle lens in my opinion :)

I also have the Voigtlander 40mm and 58mm and they are fantastic.

Stuart
 
It's interesting to hear your views on the 25mm as this generally isn't rated as one of the top Zeiss lenses.
 
Ross_Curtis said:
It's interesting to hear your views on the 25mm as this generally isn't rated as one of the top Zeiss lenses.
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Usually by those that have not actually used it ;)

I have done a fair bit of research on the net regarding the 25/2.8 Distagon, most actual users of the lens love it, the problem arises with people testing it on a chart a few feet away from the lens.

Whilst I am sure MTF charts have their place, (the Zeiss ones for the 25/2.8 are pretty good) I prefer to see real world images. I have trawled through flickr and would suggest that you download a few of the original files from 'rondd5' (the city scenes especially) and view them full screen, I was amazed with the resolution and quality especially with the ones shot at f5.6 and f2.8, these were shot full frame, as were the close up shots from 'Jack from Paris' LINK
 
The majorty of flack gets directed towards the 50mm f1.4, I much prefer the voigtlander 58mm f1.4 to it, but your right the 25mm f2.8 has its critics!

I use it on DX and its far sharper than the Nikon 24mm f2.8, but probably not as good as the nikon 24-70mm in terms of sharpness, But that is is pixel peeping, the images are certinly sharp enough for me!

the only "flaw" that I have found with it is it you blow the hilights there will be some purple fringing, but most lenses will have purple fringing the the same conditions.

The full frame reviews do report fairly soft corners, when I go full frame I will have a look at it, but I am 95% certin I will keep the lens for two resaons, The 6 cm close focusing distance produces truly unquie images, they are wonderful, Its no Marco lens it dosen't make a "copy" of the real world, its an artistic veiw!

THe second and in my veiw the most important resoan for loving this lens is the Bokeh it produces, I never really liked fast wide angle lenses bokeh in most lenes it looks "bubbly" and distracting, but the Bokeh is smooth and creamy on the 25mm,

Hope that answers your question,

These are a couple of shots from the 25mm.

flowerint.jpg


Treeint.jpg


Stuart
 
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stu_the_flat said:
The full frame reviews do report fairly soft corners

Stuart
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Have a look at that chaps images in the link I posted, not much evidence of soft corners, I can see no point in spending nearly twice as much on the 21mm, especially as 25mm is plenty wide enough for me on full frame.

Thanks for posting the images.

35/2 ZF.2 at f8

Croome_012.jpg


35/2 ZF.2 at f2

249_043.jpg
 
Ok is its confession time.... Am I the only one that gets great pleasure from attaching the lens hood?

The build quality and the "feel" of the mechanism is just fantastic! :)
 
stu_the_flat said:
Ok is its confession time.... Am I the only one that gets great pleasure from attaching the lens hood?

The build quality and the "feel" of the mechanism is just fantastic! :)
Click to expand...

Nurse :D

Have to agree the build quality is superb ... except the lens cap, my 35/2 has a Nikon one on it, the Zeiss one is awful
 
I have the Voigtlander 40mm f1.4 and its a stunning lens and the build quality is superb. I've not used Zeiss (yet) but if its better than Voigtlander I'll be very impressed.

Andy
 
I'll certainly check out these flickr images.

I've never used my lens hood due to the fact the front element is so far recessed that it's almost pointless. Having said that I'll be trying it tonight.
 
I'm sure there are exceptions, and your mileage may vary, but when I've handled Zeiss and Voigtlander side-by-side, the Zeiss have felt a step or two better quality than the Voigtlander. Even though they were probably made in the same Cosina factory. To my mind, only Leica quality matches Zeiss. My Canon L lenses (admittedly "cheap" ones) feel like plastic tat by comparison, even though the glass is superb.

Evaluating IQ is a very personal thing - I'm not talking pixel peeping here - but before I buy a lens, I always spend time on flickr looking at zillions of images by alternative lenses, even running two slideshows on the screen next to each other. Zeiss always seems to trump Voigtlander for me. Mind you, my taste isn't always mainstream - the lens I prize above all other is the 50mm Sonnar f1.5. Very flawed but such beautiful images. It's only available in Leica M mount so I won't buy it because I can't spend that much money on a lens I can't use on the 5D2. Darn!
 
the Zeiss lens is certianly heavier than the voigtlander, It gives it a feeling of quailty over the voigtlander, but on the other hand if you want to travel light you can't pack many zeiss lenses! :)

The Voitlanders are also half the coast, but as for image quailty I feel that they are both neck and neck!

Alought the 20mm f3.5 is pretty scary.
 
I have two Zeiss lenses for my blad and four for my Contax G2/ They're all bloody marvellous. :love:
 
Ross_Curtis said:
Since buying the ZE 50mm F/2 makro planar I'm totally hooked on Zeiss glass. Not just from a optical point of view, their build quality is just in another league. It makes my L lenses feel cheap!!

I'm interested to hear from other people out there with Zeiss lenses.
What do you use?

Is anyone using all Zeiss?
This is something I'm considering having taken my first step.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Hi Guys -Yep, I'm hooked on Zeiss too I think.

New to the forum and Flickr.... so have mercy on me if this post doesn't work out. But I just got myself a Zeiss 21mm 2.8 ZE and wanted to post my first shots taken with it, for any comments or suggestions. Be gentle though, these are my first and it does take some getting use to :)

These shots were taken hand held without the use of Live View on my EOS 5d Mkii.

I have to say I'm amazed at this Zeiss Lens (my first). I have a couple of Canon 'L' Lenses also, but I may have caught the dreaded Zeiss bug

Processing was done via Canon DPP and Photoshop CS3

Cheers,

DSF.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/6395716...n/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/6395716...n/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/6395716...n/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/6395716...in/photostream
 
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