Which Sonnar?

[meven]

Zeiss C Sonnar 1.5 50mm is probably the best lens for Black n White "classic soft wide open look".

The is a focus shift issue which you need to get used to which can get you great results. Basically, "focus on the ears to get the eyes" method.

Compared to Lux pre-ASPH, Sonnar is alot cheaper. More bang for buck.

Sonnar is at least 3 lens rolled into one. If you read read reviews you will know why. At different apertures, Sonnar exhibits different characteristics. Wide open it is a "classic" lens, but at smaller aperture it becomes very sharp modern lens.

Sonnar is also small form factor. It is small. Not a big ass heavy lens.

I highly recommend it if you want a 50mm, especially if you want to do BlacknWhite.

I'm not really a fan of Sonnar for color photo.

I beg to differ, the C Sonnar is amazing for colour photo! It renders very vibrant and vivid colours. I use mine mainly for colour shots.

 

[wongsan]

High Alert: someone selling canon 50f1.5 sonnar on ClubSNAP

 

[gommy]

Finally found this little test series that I did one Saturday morning. Back then, didn't have the Simlar50f1.5 & Jupiter3 yet.

ZeissOpton50f1.5 @f1.5 + 100% crop


CZJ50f1.5 @f1.5 + 100% crop

 

[gommy]

Canon50f1.5 @f1.5 + 100% crop

 

[gommy]

The Nikkor varies among the different copies that I have seen in the "glow" factor. This Japan copy seems to glow more than the Tokyo copy which hardly exhibits any "glow" at all.
Some like the glow, some don't. But I like it for its dual signatures: once you stopped down the lens just one stop, the "glow" disappears.
Some fantastic "glow" can be seen in this old thread.

Nikkor50f1.4Japan @f1.4 + 100% crop


Nikkor50f1.4Tokyo @f1.4 + 100% crop

 

[gommy]

For the Topcor (half-Sonnar) & Tanar (Sonnar?) shots, coincidentally somebody removed the cover to the ice-cream display shelf on the left, so the rendition of the "green" shelf appears different from the other lenses.

Topcor50f1.5 @f1.5 + 100% crop


Tanar50f1.5 @f1.5 + 100% crop

 

[k3mistry]

very nice...where do i look for the zeiss sonnars? I know there is quite a high chance to get fakes..

 

[The Dry Box]

I would have jumped at the chance for the vintage sonnar at bns if I haven't already made up for mind for the zm version... It's a real good deal now at 550.