cyra wrote:
is this the Zakuto? Which one? 2.5 or 3 fold? Do you like to work with it, or is it rather a bother to put it on and take it off? Do you use it for macro only or for other uses as well. I was thinking of getting one for a while, but I am not sure wheter I will use it that much in the end. What is your opinion?
thanks,
cyra
No, it's the hoodman loupe.
Previously I bought a quite cheap hood loupe on eBay which includes the rubber band to attach the hood to the camera. It has the same design as hoodman. The minus point of that hood as it easily get fogging when the humidity changed.
But too bad I lost it at the zoo.
Too long to wait if I bought a new one from eBay while I really need it at that time, I bought the hoodman, and I bought a black rubber band on the department store
At first it was not easy and quick enough to attach the hood with the rubber band but gradually you can do it very fast and easily. And it's easy enough to release the rubber band if I want to use the camera viewfinder.
I use it all the time for critical shots, especially if I use f/1.2 to f2 lens for portrait or close-up & medium shots due to the very very shallow DOF.
Otherwise I just trust the AF-confirm chip or if the adapter doesn't have it I just trust my eye using the viewfinder and use the hood just for previewing the images in broad daylight.
Greggf wrote:
Hi Carsten...
Yeah, I'm looking (asking) if anyone knows if there is an optical difference between the two. Is one better than the other? Sharper? I'm looking at buying one or the other...trying to see which I should get. I have heard that the AEG might be sharper? I know that the MMJ version of the CY 35 1.4 is supposed to be sharper? Just curious as to which I should get??
If someone had an AE version which was sharper than the MM version, there might have been some copy variation in play. Generally the newer Contax lenses are at least as good, if not better. I would opt for the newer version.
As always, Carsten, you're a big help Thank you...
has anyone compared the Contax 85/1.4 against the ZF/ZE 85/1.4?
I rented the ZE 85 1.4 last year. Unfortunately, I was kinda underwhelmed with it....but I was strictly looking at wide open usage!! I think had I realized that had I stopped down a bit, the lens would have been fantastic!! Oh well...
I have a chance to pick up an MMJ version at a great price...so I think I will.
I am familiar with the ZF85, and quite like it, but two things make me hesitate: the rumour that Zeiss is updating it, and the existence of the Contax 85, whose performance I am not familiar with. I would love to hear from anyone who has tried both versions of the 85 and can compare.
I had compared the Contax 85 MMJ, AEG and the Zeiss ZF version. Right now I don't have the pictures at hand, but I will look up for them.
As I remember my copy of the AE version was the worst of the three. Not that bad, AE version had a smoother bokeh, but at pixel peeper level there was a difference. There was nearly no difference for me between the MM and ZF version.
I sold the ZF and could do some test shots of my MM and AE version lenses.
Some factual differences:
- The ZF(.2) will have some focus shift on a Nikon body, the Contax will not if you focus stopped down.
- The ZF has 9 aperture blades, which is beneficial for bokeh and diffraction stars. Contax has 8, giving more geometric bokeh and only 8 pointed diffraction stars instead of 18.
AhamB wrote:
Some factual differences:
- The ZF(.2) will have some focus shift on a Nikon body, the Contax will not if you focus stopped down.
- The ZF has 9 aperture blades, which is beneficial for bokeh and diffraction stars. Contax has 8, giving more geometric bokeh and only 8 pointed diffraction stars instead of 18.
Thanks Benjamin. I will add that the older Contax seems easier to focus, despite the ZE's integrated 'focus aid'. However the hood on the newer 85 is much nicer that the Contax adapter/numbered hood system. That and I like having exif...
Helimat..looked at your gallery that you provided. Thank you. Curious, though, you said MMG...is that the same as MMJ, or different?
How is your copy of CY 85 wide open? How about the ZE wide open? I rented the ZE last year along with the Siggy 85 1.4, and was much more impressed with the wide open performance of the Sigma vs the ZE! As I stated earlier, though, I kinda wished I had stopped down just a little on the ZE to really see what the lens can do!! I'm looking forward to the CY 85 1.4 MMJ I just bought from a fellow FM'er. If it's as good or better(should be??) than my Rokinon 85 1.4(which I do really like!) I will be really happy!
Gregg
PS: I'd keep the Contax 85/1.4 (MMG) and sell the ZE. I dunno about the 85 specifically but I've done what investigating I can with other lengths Zx vs. C/Y and the C/Y ones are usually (always?) more colorful, less CA, and just as sharp/zeiss-like. Also the C/Y ones currently fetch a slightly lower price.
photoe, I am curious to see how many ZE lenses you have, yet no 25 or 28. Is there a particular reason for this?
I have "only" the 1.4/35, 2/35, 1.4/50 and 1.4/85 in ZE Mount. The other lenses are all ZF adapted to EOS mount.
I tried the Distagon 2.8/25 but the 2.8/21 was much better for my wideangle and IQ needs. I sold today my ZE 2/28 and will also sell the 2/35. Since I got the 1.4/35 ZE I haven't used the 2/28 and 2/35, it's my favorite lens right now. I'm stunned every time I see portraits of my kids taken with this lens.
I found my Planar 85 comparison shots between the AEG, MMJ and ZF lenses. These shots are taken with my 550D, cropped from the center.
Photos...thank you for the comparison....unfortunately, I'm not at home, so trying to see the difference on my DROIDX screen just doesnt cut it!!! In your estimation, which did you like better? Sharper? Best honey? I imagine, that they can't be all that different?!! I just got, what I consider, a really fantastic price on an 85 MMJ version! Most prices on Evilbay were really steep!
Has anyone compared their version(whichever one) against the Samyang/Rokinon version yet?
Gregg
However the hood on the newer 85 is much nicer that the Contax adapter/numbered hood system. That and I like having exif...
