As mentioned in several threads lately, Zeiss announced the 50/2 and 100/2 ZE's. I can't link directly to the press release, with some clicking it can be found here. Here's a quote -
Isolate Stunning Details With the New ZEISS Macro Lenses OBERKOCHEN/Germany, 04.12.2009.
Carl Zeiss has again applied its expertise in lens manufacturing to enable photographers to create wonderfully expressive images. With two new macro lenses, the Makro-Planar T* 2/50 and the Makro-Planar T* 2/100, both now also available with EF bayonet, Carl Zeiss expands its existing ZE line of lenses. Owners of EOS camera models can now create detail-rich macro images that allow sharpness and unsharpness to be deployed as creative elements as they choose. These highly light-sensitive, versatile lenses are also perfect as standard focal lengths for portraits or still life photography.
Even in tricky situations such as dusk, the Makro- Planer T* 2/50 and T* 2/100 ZE create distortion- free images thanks to their extraordinary light intensity of 1:2. Whether capturing an insect resting on a flower or the dampness on a piece of fruit, these lenses allow a degree of sharpness that was hitherto impossible. Even with a maximum aperture opening and a low focal depth, the desired image can be easily isolated from its disruptive surroundings.
Both macro lenses render objects in close-up on a scale of 1:2. To enable such detail, these lenses include Carl Zeiss’s acclaimed “floating elements” design. This special lens alignment enables high optical performance across the entire focusing range, from 0.24 m to infinity. The Makro-Planar T* 2/50 and Makro-Planar T* 2/100 are already available with F bayonet (ZF) and K bayonet (ZK). The Makro-Planar T* 2/50 is also available as a ZF.2 version. Both lens systems are optimized for analog and full-format digital SLR cameras.
The Makro-Planar T* 2/50 ZE is available in December 2009 at a recommended retail price of € 965,55 (excluding VAT)*.
The Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZE will be available from beginning of 2010 at a recommended retail price of € 1.385,71 (excluding VAT)*.
I'm sure the price will be about whatever the ZF.2's are in the US. The original 100/2 ZF is $1450 at B&H; the 50/2 is ZF.2 is $1280. A mint Contax 100/2 is ~$900+, plus the adapter and Contax accessories - it adds up quickly too. With some careful shopping on Ebay with a 10% bing.com kick-back plus the 2-4% Ebay bucks (depends if they are running promo), one can net the new ZE's at 12-14% less than the prices posted at the on-line stores.
John Black wrote:
I'm sure the price will be about whatever the ZF.2's are in the US. The original 100/2 ZF is $1450 at B&H; the 50/2 is ZF.2 is $1280. A mint Contax 100/2 is ~$900+, plus the adapter and Contax accessories - it adds up quickly too. With some careful shopping on Ebay with a 10% bing.com kick-back plus the 2-4% Ebay bucks (depends if they are running promo), one can net the new ZE's at 12-14% less than the prices posted at the on-line stores.
The new price for the ZF.2 100/2, IIRC, is over $1700.
and the bing.com ebay cashback is back down to 8%.
Even in tricky situations such as dusk, the Makro- Planer T* 2/50 and T* 2/100 ZE create distortion-free images thanks to their extraordinary light intensity of 1:2.
1:2 is not a light intensity, and further it is odd to relate an F-number to distortion.
Both lens systems are optimized for analog and full-format digital SLR cameras.
In other words, there is nothing particularly analog or digital about the designs.
I'm sure a few things just got lost in the translation. I know what they mean, even if the words aren't exactly right. It's certainly better than some of the Nihonglish I've seen.
At 1385 euros it might actually come in at a better price than I expected. The ZE 21mm f/2.8 is listed on Zeiss site as $1,549 euros and sells at B & H for $1,540, so the ZE 100 f/2 macro could easily be in the $1,400-$1,500 range and maybe even $1,375.
dickb wrote:
The price seems very high for a lens with such a considerable amount of CA.
I think that issue is way over sold. The amount, when can get get it to show, is not out of the ordinary, it only appears in extreme situations, and mostly when wide open at f2.0 -- an aperture that competing products don't even reach.
As for the price. Zeiss is selling these as fast as they can make them. The second hand price is only barely below the new price, so it is clear that there are a lot of people that disagree. You can choose to focus on one issue that might show in 1% of normal image making (and for the most part can be corrected), or you can focus on class-leading sharpness, contrast, even wide open at 2.0 (unattainable elsewhere), exemplary Zeiss color, 3-D qualities, and pop in 100% of your images. It seems like the market is focusing on the later keeping this a very popular and sought after lens -- even considering it's price, which really is reasonable.
dickb wrote:
I fear the Voigtlaender's 125/2.5 price will rise even more yet.
Yes. With the price of the Zeiss ZF and ZE 100/2 increasing to over $1700, it is clear that quality alternatives in the market will also rise. The Voigtlaender's 125/2.5 is a fine lens and a good alternative. Quite frankly, I wonder why Cosina hasn't re-started production of these, like they have with a few other SL series lenses. They are selling used for 50% more their original new price. So there is money to be made with the lens. If they don't want to compete with their Zeiss products, they should just produce the lens in mounts that you can't get the Zeiss lens in -- like the Sony/Minolta mount (where there is no exceptional macro options)
It has been a long wait for the release of the MP's.
Been lusting the ZE 50/2 MP for awhile.
Sony boys, eat your heart out!
I guess we are now awaiting the ZE 35 1.4 release in January.
This only matters if the 35 f:1.4 is outstanding wide open. Because, if you need to stop it down one stop, then you get a 35 f:2.0, and that one is quite sharp wide open...
