Zeiss ZF User List & Discussions

[archon75]

Thanks for the enlightment

 

[sf_kang]

I hear the ZF Distagon 18mm/f3.5 are in. Anyone had a chance to try them out on a Nikon FX body? Any comments? Price? Image quality? Handling?
Fred

 

[jnet6]

not sure anyone has read this before? Review for Zeiss lenses.
http://www.ppmag.com/web-exclusives/2007/04/pro-review-zeiss-zf-lenses.html

 

[yyD70S]

Any alternative to

http://diglloyd.com/diglloyd/infos/ZeissZFLenses/index.html

is always welcomed.

Thanks.

not sure anyone has read this before? Review for Zeiss lenses.
http://www.ppmag.com/web-exclusives/2007/04/pro-review-zeiss-zf-lenses.html

 

[proteonXPR]

Yes & No.

I understand Nikon has disabled all non pro bodies to use manual AIS lenses. So D70, D80, D40 etc cannot meter or show AF confirmation unless lens comes with a chip. so only the Voigt 58 1.4 with the chip can be used on lesser Nikon DSLRs. ZF will not show metering or AF info with lessser DSLRs.

But ZF will work fully with semi pro and pro bodies ( D300 to D3x ). Cos the user can assign lens focal length and max aperture to Nikon F-AIS lenses and the camera body will then allow full metering and AF confo.

dot will still be there.. d40 dot still have on manual len

 

[FortyNine]

dot will still be there.. d40 dot still have on manual len

seems nikon did not disable it fully :bsmilie:

 

[weekh]

Heads up!

I shot an Olympus OM 28mm lens next to the ZF25. I'm so surprised that the OM comes very close to the ZF in terms of sharpness!

And the price is dirt cheap at around $100. You may consider buying this lens instead of filter.



Taken at f5.6:

100% Center crop:

100% corner crop:

 

[FortyNine]

Heads up!
I shot an Olympus OM 28mm lens next to the ZF25. I'm so surprised that the OM comes very close to the ZF in terms of sharpness!
And the price is dirt cheap at around $100. You may consider buying this lens instead of filter.

Saw your other Oly pics as well. They're amazing! Are these shot with 5DmkII ?

 

[weekh]

Saw your other Oly pics as well. They're amazing! Are these shot with 5DmkII ?

Yes. Shot with 5D2.
Not sure if there's adapter to fit om lens to nikon though.

 

[FortyNine]

Yes. Shot with 5D2.
Not sure if there's adapter to fit om lens to nikon though.

Nope. OM flange distance a few mm shorter than Nikon. Only Canon can use everything :bsmilie::bsmilie:

Hearing the 21mm is the legend. Perhaps can use that in place of the ZF 21

 

[weekh]

Nope. OM flange distance a few mm shorter than Nikon. Only Canon can use everything :bsmilie::bsmilie:

Hearing the 21mm is the legend. Perhaps can use that in place of the ZF 21

I've the OM 21mm f3.5. Not bad but no where near the Contax Zeiss 21mm. The price is also not that cheap. Will be interesting to see how the new CV21 compare against the OM and ZF.

 

[selamatlzh]

Dear cz bros,

I was not aware of this thread till 3 days back. I was recently poisoned by czrus.

Walkabout shots mostly with 28/2, 35/2 and 50/1.4 yesterday.

http://liang.sg/20090307/

 

[gohaj]

anyone has intention to buy ZF Distagon T* 21mm f/2.8?

 

[digitalxd1]

anyone has intention to buy ZF Distagon T* 21mm f/2.8?

Count me in.!!
I really want to buy this lens....
I already sold my Nikon 14-24mm F2.8

 

[digitalxd1]

my Lunch today

Nikon D3X + Zeiss 50/2 Macro

 

[mogwai]

my Lunch today

Nikon D3X + Zeiss 50/2 Macro

lunch looks so much better through CZs...

 

[viceroy666]

Anyone got the latest price for 50mm f2 and 85mm f1.4?

 

[snapshots22]

I hope one of the ZF users here could help me, I'm facing a huge dilemma, whether to get the 35 f2 distagon or the makro-planar 50 f2.

I had a nikkor 50 f1.8 and hated it because it wasn't sharp. Then I had a nikkor 35mm f2 which i liked, but found it not much different from my 25mm f2.8 nikkor.

Money is kinda tight now, and I can only afford to buy one Zeiss for probably a while, at least this year, so I really don't want to make the wrong choice!

Before considering Zeiss, I was thinking of getting an af-s 60mm macro nikkor to supplement my 24 and 35 primes. I've just sold my 35mm and now am wondering if I should get just the makro-planar 50 f2, or get the 35 f2 distagon and maybe get the af-s 60mm macro later on.

Honestly speaking, I'm looking for the most versatile prime I can find, and I'm leaning towards the makro-planar, seeing all the great sample pics posted here. But am concerned as reviews have said its slow focusing in the sense that the focusing throw is 300 degrees.

I've also purchased diglloyd and i still can't decide so I hope that my fellow CS'ers can help me out here.

I mostly do still life, abstracts and occasionally street shots. Nothing that really requires fast focus much, but of course its reassuring to know that I won't miss shots.

Last question, wats the keeper rate for those with the makro-planar? I've seen reports where people say its hard to focus without a focusing screen for the 100 ZF. Easier with the 35mm, but so far haven't come across anything about the 50mm and ease of manual focus.

Thanks for reading thru my extremely longwinded post and I'll be very appreciative of any input i can get.

Thanks!

 

[Leong23]

Last question, wats the keeper rate for those with the makro-planar? I've seen reports where people say its hard to focus without a focusing screen for the 100 ZF. Easier with the 35mm, but so far haven't come across anything about the 50mm and ease of manual focus.

Thanks!

Using 100mmf2 without focusing screen need time to get used to it, especially if you are shooting wide open and using full frame camera.

The first time i'm using it, there are a lots of images will slight miss focus and had to use the AF assist to confirm the focusing. With practice, now i can shoot wide open without using the AF assist without much problem.

 

[snapshots22]

Thanks, I think then the 50mm would be easier. On FX, which would u recommend first if u had to choose one over the other? 35 distagon or 50 makro-planar?