Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

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freaklikeme
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p.1 #1 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/909191-REG/Zeiss_1999_676_135mm_f_2_0_Apo_Sonnar_ZF_2.html

$2122 with expected delivery of 2/28. Exciting stuff.

Jan 10, 2013 at 04:42 AM

neilvan
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p.1 #2 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

If it's anything like (and I imagine it will a bit better) the CZ/Sony 135mm f1.8 I would excited to...it was so nice with the a900. Great, now I regret selling it...again.

Edited on Jan 10, 2013 at 06:26 AM · View previous versions

Jan 10, 2013 at 04:54 AM

Lee Saxon
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p.1 #3 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

This is one I'll definitely be saving up for.

Jan 10, 2013 at 05:21 AM

pdmphoto
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p.1 #4 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

Zx owners will have even more to decide on now (85/1.4, 100/2, 135/2). May cause a few 100/2 owners some angst

Jan 10, 2013 at 07:18 AM

Lee Saxon
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p.1 #5 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

The 85 is a very good lens but I don't think it's in the same league as the 100 (and hopefully 135), which is to say I don't think it's tangibly better than more affordable options from Nikon, Canon, or even Sigma.

The only ones in that league for me are 15, 21, 50 Macro, & 100 Macro. I haven't tried the newer versions of the 25 and 35 though.

Jan 10, 2013 at 07:29 AM

philip_pj
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p.1 #6 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

nellivan, the MTF is available for the 135/2 and also for the ZA 135/1.8. The new lens is in another league technically. I have heard Sony had a big say in the ZAs, but the ZE/F lenses are all Zeiss, and it shows.

Here: http://lenses.zeiss.com/content/dam/Photography/new/pdf/en/downloadcenter/datasheets_slr/aposonnart2135.pdf

What may help the 100MP stay relevant is that it is a better allrounder - much closer MFD (0.44m vs .8m) and its weight advantage (660g vs 920g).

Commensurate increases in size for the new lens, especially diameter and max width. The new lens is in another league measured against the 100MP also, not even close in fact however, and many buyers spending this much tend to want the best performance along with attractive character. And I am betting it will have that Sonnar goodness, which some of us find very alluring. Could be a good time to be buying a 100MP.

The '85 brigade' do seem much of a muchness, to me too. I think a new high end ZE/F 85mm f1.8 (or f2) Sonnar would go very well.

Jan 10, 2013 at 09:08 AM

carstenw
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p.1 #7 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

I have both 85 and 100, and feel no conflict between them. I am undecided about the 135 though, really not my focal length.

Jan 10, 2013 at 09:26 AM

wayne seltzer
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p.1 #8 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

Excellent! I will compare it to my ZA135/1.8 which I converted for my 1ds3 with limited aperture control, mostly shoot wide open with it. Will be interesting to see how bokeh compares and sharpness wide open . ZA version is a beautiful portrait lens and any lens better than that should be sweet. Always wished I had the IBIS of A900 for this longer FL lens.

Jan 10, 2013 at 10:31 AM

Lee Saxon
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p.1 #9 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

135 1.8 is a great lens, no doubt. Hard to believe there's all that much room for improvement. Especially since the price difference isn't huge (yes, the 135 1.8 is AF, but it's screw drive [no expensive internal focus motor] so that probably doesn't affect price enormously).

MTF chart looks killer, though.

Jan 10, 2013 at 11:49 AM

wiseguy010
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p.1 #10 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

philip_pj wrote:
What may help the 100MP stay relevant is that it is a better allrounder - much closer MFD (0.44m vs .8m) and its weight advantage (660g vs 920g).

I agree. At this moment I don't want to replace my 100 with the new 135, because I use it a lot for Macro. This might change however if Zeiss will build a real 1:1 APO Macro 200 (or something like that). Than replacing my 100 with the 135 might certainly happen.

Jan 10, 2013 at 05:50 PM

Toothwalker
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p.1 #11 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

Lee Saxon wrote:
135 1.8 is a great lens, no doubt. Hard to believe there's all that much room for improvement. Especially since the price difference isn't huge (yes, the 135 1.8 is AF, but it's screw drive [no expensive internal focus motor] so that probably doesn't affect price enormously).

I don't know the 135/1.8, but believe there is room for improvement anyway. Improvements are of all times.

In the Contax days, I considered the P100/2 to be my best lens. The MP100/2 is a noticeable improvement in terms of raw optical performance. The new AS135/2, in turn, outperforms the MP100/2, although the latter lens still has better correction of lateral chromatic aberration. Clearly the APO designation of the new lens concerns longitudinal CA. In comparison with the P135/2 for Contax, the improvement offered by the AS135/2 is astronomical.

I never understood why so many people rate lenses with a 10 in the review section of FM. Apparently they are under the impression that further improvements are not possible. However, improvements are of all times. I will skip the ApoSonnar and just grab the SuperApoSonnar in the new Zeiss lens line.

Jan 10, 2013 at 07:38 PM

Lee Saxon
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p.1 #12 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

wiseguy010 wrote:
...if Zeiss will build a real 1:1 APO Macro 200 (or something like that)...

Personally I'd prefer a 1:1 extension tube for the 100/2. The lack of it is making me lean towards a more expensive Leica 100/2.8.

Jan 10, 2013 at 08:08 PM

TSY87
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p.1 #13 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

oh man... decisions decisions....

Jan 10, 2013 at 08:26 PM

hiepphotog
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p.1 #14 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

Toothwalker wrote:
I never understood why so many people rate lenses with a 10 in the review section of FM. Apparently they are under the impression that further improvements are not possible. However, improvements are of all times. I will skip the ApoSonnar and just grab the SuperApoSonnar in the new Zeiss lens line.

Hear, hear. Hopefully the new ultra performance Zeiss would have the SAS

. To me, the new Sigma 35/1.4 signals the coming of a new era for higher optical standard. What I have seen so far from the Distagon 55/1.4, it has both sharpness and creamy bokeh, unheard of so far for a fast 50. Progress is inevitable.

Jan 10, 2013 at 08:28 PM

carstenw
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p.1 #15 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

Sharpness and creamy boke is the exact description of the Leica Summilux-R 50mm f/1.4 E60.

Jan 10, 2013 at 08:30 PM

wiseguy010
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p.1 #16 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

Lee Saxon wrote:
wiseguy010 wrote:
...if Zeiss will build a real 1:1 APO Macro 200 (or something like that)...

Personally I'd prefer a 1:1 extension tube for the 100/2. The lack of it is making me lean towards a more expensive Leica 100/2.8.

For ZF there is one: Nikon PN-11. I used that, but I found it very inflexible. The area of focus was very limited.

Jan 10, 2013 at 09:29 PM

carstenw
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p.1 #17 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

You can also grab one of those Vivitar 2x Macro TCs and remove the glass from it. End result: an extension tube with focusing. I have one of these and it is great, full aperture functionality on Nikon if you assemble it right.

Jan 10, 2013 at 11:00 PM

Lee Saxon
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p.1 #18 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

wiseguy010 wrote:
For ZF there is one: Nikon PN-11. I used that, but I found it very inflexible. The area of focus was very limited.

Oh good idea! I didn't think of that.

By area of focus you mean depth of field?

Jan 11, 2013 at 12:46 AM

Jman13
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p.1 #19 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

I have no doubts the Zeiss will be a better lens than Canon's 135mm f/2L, but considering how good the Canon 135/2 is, will it be better enough to justify paying more than double the cost and losing AF?

Jan 11, 2013 at 02:03 AM

jhinkey
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p.1 #20 · Zeiss 135/2 APO available for pre-order at B&H

Hopefully this will get Nikon to release their patented 135/1.8G lens . . .

Jan 11, 2013 at 03:14 AM

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