Thanks to all the kind feedback on the above image! What I really love with the ZE 21 is the sharpness wide open and that the DOF is surprisingly large at that aperture. As long as the shutter speed in long enough there's a good chance to get great shots even in difficult locations and with high ISO settings.

@Luka: the first image is my favorite, I especially like the tone. The second and third are very interesting because I needed a while to recognize that it is the same location in both...
@Jako: impressive detail in your shot!
@Wilhem: I always love the Zeiss 85 for those portrait shots, a very recognizable style! Regarding your last shot: it represents my dilemma with the ZE 35 very good: I like the separation of foreground and backgroud and also the contrast (pushed in PP?), but interestingly not the bokeh. Maybe it's because of the distance from lens to foreground and from foreground to background. I have seen lots of shots from this lens and the bokeh is very often a hit or miss. On your image on the last page (dog) the bokeh is awesome and I don't know of another 35mm lens that could render this equally good.

Thank you Ulff

100MP

Ulff: The train photo is an excellent idea. Great creativity!

Luka - Love the clarity in that first image!

Just some randomness from this afternoon.

Thanks for kind comments!

Ulff wrote:
@Wilhem: I always love the Zeiss 85 for those portrait shots, a very recognizable style! Regarding your last shot: it represents my dilemma with the ZE 35 very good: I like the separation of foreground and backgroud and also the contrast (pushed in PP?), but interestingly not the bokeh. Maybe it's because of the distance from lens to foreground and from foreground to background. I have seen lots of shots from this lens and the bokeh is very often a hit or miss. On your image on the last page (dog) the bokeh is awesome and I don't know of another 35mm lens that could render this equally good.

Thanks!

I completely agree about the 35/1.4. It can have a dreamyness and a distinct medium-format feel when three major components iare present. Remove one and then it's usually gone:
1) Subject separation
2) Zeiss contrastyness (yes it is slightly enhanced here)
3) "dreamy" bokeh

Here it failed on the third point. Despite this, a car shot (similar distance) can house all those three. As the dog shot does (closer distance to subject, closer bokeh/bg). That wonderful shot is not mine unfortunately :-), I assume you mean Jochens. I think you're spot-on that distance to background is central, the detail level of it, and to that I would also add lightness. It's a bit too light on that image, and probably too detailed.

BTW, I think the 50P shares some of the 35/1.4 characteristics, but a focal length of 35 makes the 35/1.4 succeed with it more often.

- - -

Great stuff again akul, #1 really makes that 100MP shine.

OneAnt wrote:But it wasn’t his presence that I was frightened of, it was his advice.

So, what was it? Sell the 21/2.8 Distagon and get the 25/2 instead?

dcjs wrote:
OneAnt wrote:But it wasn’t his presence that I was frightened of, it was his advice.

So, what was it? Sell the 21/2.8 Distagon and get the 25/2 instead?

Go easy ...you just made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. The 21 is the devil's lens ...you dont sell it, you just dont dare.

You should've saved that one for your 666th post Ant, isn't too far off

@Ulff: One of the reasons I chose the 35/1.4 ZE instead of the C/Y (or rollei) was the bokeh. IMHO the ZE/ZF does indeed have the best bokeh of any 35mm lens on the market.
The C/Y or Rollei will give you more "3D" pop, but the bokeh often looks too harsh for my taste. Matter of taste/preference.
Between the C/Y and Rollei I prefer the C/Y. The triangular bokeh of the Rollei (when stopping down) really isn't my cup of tea.
My main complaint about my ZE is its size and weight.

35/2


Hungover in the Sun by letsgetaway, on Flickr

21


The Coming Storm by letsgetaway, on Flickr

-Ulff, your train (subway?) photo is really striking. Strong composition and nice and graphical.
-Jochenb, the set with the couple and their sick dog is beautiful and very touching. Btw. I agree, my ZE 35/1.4 is also very sharp wide open.
-Wilhem, really like your portraits! Nicely done.
-OneAnt, fascinating photo as always.

Wilhelm, simply perfect shots, they are brochure worthy, really show off the contrast and rendering of the Zeiss. But... shouldn't your 35mm shot be disallowed from this thread? *Cough*contax*Cough*...

Unless you bought yourself another 35?

25 f2 zf.2 / D4

OneAnt wrote:

D700. Zeiss 50/2 Makro-Planar
.....

Ant.
ɹǝpun uʍop puɐl ǝɥʇ ɯoɹɟ

Ant, not always understand what you say but your photo pretty much says everything. outstanding and Powerful.

5D3 + 25f2@f5 iso 1600 because of polariser to " cut through the glass " raw developped through DPP, no extra PP ...
The 25f2 is an awesome museum lens !

too many good shots to mention individually. Great pics from Ant, Luka and Bob just to name a few.

Picture This! wrote:
too many good shots to mention individually. Great pics from Ant, Luka and Bob just to name a few.

+1

Hexonxonx -> Incredible render with no accentuation

Thanks FrançoisXavier !
I own the 21f2.8 - 35f1.4 - 35f2 - 50P - 85P and I must say I find it to be the best of the lot in the 3Dness, colors, microcontrast departments

Zf100

21/2.8