Zeiss look? - FM Forums

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

Visit the FM Store · Image Upload · Buy & Sell
FM Forum Rules

FM Forums | Alternative Gear & Lenses | Join Image Upload

2 3 … 8 9 end

Zeiss look?

Cam Woo
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #1 · Zeiss look?

What exactly is the "Zeiss look" that is frequently described here? Can it be replicated in post processing?

Oct 10, 2009 at 05:42 PM

Tri Tran
Offline
Buy and Sell: On

p.1 #2 · Zeiss look?

some zeiss lenses produce excellent micro contrast, which gives the pictures a 3-D feel. Sometime the subject seem to pop out of the plane.

Oct 10, 2009 at 06:21 PM

mMontag
Online
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #3 · Zeiss look?

Zeiss look - start with the Admirable Blur thread - go to page 86 - lens index - open up a few of the Zeiss images - also the Alt Image thread.

Can it be replicated? - personally - I'd rather let the rendering of the lenses speak for themselves than to play around in post.

Oct 10, 2009 at 06:46 PM

you2
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #4 · Zeiss look?

Generally speaking the zeiss lens give very good tonal rendition (I guess this might be the same as microcontrast or perhaps contrast). That is subtle changes in colour show up. This is best illustrated in pictures of flowers or reflections or similar where subtle shades are very visible in the images.

Oct 10, 2009 at 07:06 PM

ashrafazlan
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #5 · Zeiss look?

I've just bought a ZF 35/2, and from the snapshots i've taken so far (a day!) I can see that this lens gives me extremely high micro contrast, smooth gradation to oof areas, punchy colors and smoooooth tonal values

Oct 10, 2009 at 07:52 PM

iNero
Offline
Buy and Sell: On

p.1 #6 · Zeiss look?

Few examples can be found here on Page 2.

Zeiss Samples

Edited on Oct 10, 2009 at 10:03 PM · View previous versions

Oct 10, 2009 at 09:12 PM

Paul Yi
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #7 · Zeiss look?

One of the best lens for the Zeiss taste I've tried is the C/Y Planar 100/2.0

Here is one of the pictures I posted on Alt Gear Forum.
Micro contrast, 3-Dness....whatever you call it is there ...I think.

Oct 10, 2009 at 10:01 PM

philber
Online
Image Upload: On

p.1 #8 · Zeiss look?

Two examples shot today, and very different from the previous posters', of the "Zeiss look"

2008 © philber

Exif information
Model	Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Date	2009:10:10 16:11:29
Original date	2009:10:10 16:11:29
Exposure time	1/125 sec
Focal length	50mm
Focal number	f/5.0
ISO speed	100 ISO
Exposure compensation	0.0

Exif information
Model	Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Date	2009:10:10 16:18:04
Original date	2009:10:10 16:18:04
Exposure time	1/125 sec
Focal length	85mm
Focal number	f/3.5
ISO speed	100 ISO
Exposure compensation	0.0

Oct 10, 2009 at 10:19 PM

trumpet_guy
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #9 · Zeiss look?

you2 wrote:
Generally speaking the zeiss lens give very good tonal rendition (I guess this might be the same as microcontrast or perhaps contrast). That is subtle changes in colour show up. This is best illustrated in pictures of flowers or reflections or similar where subtle shades are very visible in the images.

This is the CZ 35-70/3.4 Vario-Sonnar on 30D. I like the tones in this one.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

I also like the rendering of this portrait: CZ 85/2.8 Sonnar on 5D.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

And finally, this ambiguously focused shot from the 30D, using a CZ 50/1.7

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Oct 10, 2009 at 11:47 PM

Jim Schemel
Offline
Buy and Sell: On

p.1 #10 · Zeiss look?

The 3D look is what especially appeals to me as well as the color that the zeiss lenses are able to achieve.Also the precision focus ring is what allows you to compose your shots the way you want the picture to look.You are not worried about lock focus recompose etc., of course all mf lenses allow you to do this but the Zeiss precision makes it very enjoyable

-Jim

Here is a shot the i took today with my Sonnar 85 T* that is no longer for sale because of beautiful shots like this Taken wide open at f2.8 on 5D

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Oct 11, 2009 at 12:02 AM

Lotusm50
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #11 · Zeiss look?

ashrafazlan wrote:
I've just bought a ZF 35/2, and from the snapshots i've taken so far (a day!) I can see that this lens gives me extremely high micro contrast, smooth gradation to oof areas, punchy colors and smoooooth tonal values

Yes indeed. A fabulous lens.
Here's are a couple examples from the ZF 35/2 converted to B&W

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Oct 11, 2009 at 12:49 AM

Jman13
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #12 · Zeiss look?

I'll also nominate the 85/2.8 Sonnar for wonderful 'Zeissness'. Wonderful color saturation, microcontrast out the wazoo, and sharp as heck. Decent bokeh too. The 50/1.7 Planar might be the sharpest lens I've ever used...that thing could absolutely cut glass...but the bokeh left a lot to desire (but had huge contrast and color pop).

85/2.8 sonnar wide open:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

100% crop:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Oct 11, 2009 at 02:10 AM

mawz
Online
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #13 · Zeiss look?

Overall, the Zeiss look comes down to:

Neutral but punchy colour.
High microcontrast
Fast transition between in and out of focus areas
lowered contrast in oof areas.

The last 2 are the primary basis of the '3D' look

Oct 11, 2009 at 03:17 AM

John Black
Offline
Buy and Sell: On

p.1 #14 · Zeiss look?

I'd also add that T* coatings tend to cut the highlights better, thus fewer clipped clouds, etc.

Oct 11, 2009 at 05:07 AM

philber
Online
Image Upload: On

p.1 #15 · Zeiss look?

I think there is another reason for the"Zeiss look". It is the talent of the guys who shoot these lenses

. For obvious reasons, when there are decent, good and even some great lenses with AF available from Canon, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, only dedicated shooters will "bother" to buy expensive, heavy MF lenses instead. Or buy used Contax lenses, slap an adapter on, do a little filing if required, and deal with stop-down metering.
So what you are seeing on this thread (and others like it) is not primarily the product of these excellent lenses, but great ability from the people holding the cams (yours truly excepted, of course).

2008 © philber

Exif information
Model	Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Date	2009:09:12 11:23:25
Original date	2009:09:12 11:23:25
Exposure time	1/1000 sec
Focal length	135mm
Focal number	f/5.6
ISO speed	100 ISO
Exposure compensation	0.0

Oct 11, 2009 at 06:11 AM

bluetsunami
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #16 · Zeiss look?

Not to mention that the "Zeiss look" makes for great Black and White conversions

Sure you lose the nice color rendition but the contrasty rendering makes for great B&W images.

Oct 11, 2009 at 06:24 AM

calvininjax
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #17 · Zeiss look?

Philber,

You do yourself an injustice. Of all the splendid photographs on this thread, the one of the monument in France, forgive my ignorance for not recognizing it or its location, epitomizes the Zeiss look -- the colours, rendition and especially the 3-D effect.

My own humble efforts, and I stress the word humble because at times I struggle with manual focusing on my Canon 40D even with the Ef-s focusing screen, can be seen at http://calvininjaxfotos.wordpress.com/. I apologize for not including examples with this post but I cannot afford the subscription.

Despite many disappointing results, when I do occasionally get it right, at least to my eyes, all those failures don't seem quite so frustrating.

Edited on Oct 11, 2009 at 06:59 AM · View previous versions

Oct 11, 2009 at 06:39 AM

pdmphoto
Offline
Buy and Sell: On

p.1 #18 · Zeiss look?

mawz wrote:
Overall, the Zeiss look comes down to:

Neutral but punchy colour.
High microcontrast
Fast transition between in and out of focus areas
lowered contrast in oof areas.

The last 2 are the primary basis of the '3D' look

It's not really about OOF areas. Even with everything in focus the Contax 28/2.8 has a definative look. This on the 5DII at f/6.7:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Edited on Oct 11, 2009 at 06:56 AM · View previous versions

Oct 11, 2009 at 06:55 AM

philber
Online
Image Upload: On

p.1 #19 · Zeiss look?

Ah, but, Calvin, whoever said that humility could not go hand in hand with talent should take a look at your blog...

Oct 11, 2009 at 06:56 AM

calvininjax
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #20 · Zeiss look?

For the moment, I will stick with humility and leave real talent to others. Maybe one day I will achieve both.

Oct 11, 2009 at 07:14 AM

PeterGlaso
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #21 · Zeiss look?

A couple of ZF 100/2, on the D700:

Oct 11, 2009 at 07:39 AM

montespluga
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #22 · Zeiss look?

bluetsunami wrote:
Not to mention that the "Zeiss look" makes for great Black and White conversions.

as other stated, its not just one think that provide the Zeiss look, pop or 3 D; it's a combination of color rendering as well as a dedicated tonal °separation°, especially in the shadows (3/4 tones to black), while keeping fine details and remaining smooth.

A image having these attributes will look 3 D, as in photography, space is created by light and shadows. If the tonal separation is flat, the image will look flat...

Oct 11, 2009 at 08:02 AM

Makten
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #23 · Zeiss look?

John Black wrote:
I'd also add that T* coatings tend to cut the highlights better, thus fewer clipped clouds, etc.

That would mean lower transmission, which isn't a good thing.

I believe you've missunderstood the function of coatings.

Oct 11, 2009 at 08:32 AM

belsha
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #24 · Zeiss look?

May I add: rather cool color cast and very high contrast in general (and not only micro-contrast).

Because of this, Zeiss picture often hardly need any post-processing, they just pop out there. But they can be a problem with dynamic range: in high contrast situations, you will see clipped highlights and black shadows.

Oct 11, 2009 at 09:26 AM

philber
Online
Image Upload: On

p.1 #25 · Zeiss look?

Peter, is your ZF 100/2 the current macro lens? And when people refer to the Zeiss 100mm f:2 MM, is it the same?

Oct 11, 2009 at 01:51 PM


FM Forums \| Alternative Gear & Lenses \| Join Image Upload 1 2 3 … 8 9 end