Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site

New Feature: SMS Notification alert

New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist

FM Forums | Leica & Alternative Gear | Join Upload & Sell

2 3 … 9 10 end

Archive 2011 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

FlyPenFly
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

I'm getting rid of all my Nikon stuff since I ordered a NEX7 and I also have a A850. I'm also getting rid of my X100 when it gets to close shipping time for the NEX7. That'll leave a 35mm hole in my lens lineup.

I currently have a Zeiss ZF.2 35mm F2 (been using it on a D7k) that I've been thinking of selling and picking up the Samyang 35mm F1.4.

I could either convert via Leitax my Zeiss 35mm F2 or I could buy a Samyang 35mm F1.4 in alpha mount and pocket $350. What do you guys think?

Does the Samyang have auto-aperture on Alpha mount?

Thinking about it, it seems the F1.4 of the Samyang would give me more capabilities in both low light and in more interesting composition options if I need shallower DoF.

However, the Zeiss 35mm F2 seems to be well regarded for micro-contrast and strong 3D. Although thinking about it, maybe its imperceptible to most people on a blind taste test.

Which way would you go?

Aug 26, 2011 at 07:26 AM

edwardkaraa
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

The Samyang doesn't have auto anything with the alpha mount.

By the way, I also have a 35mm hole in my line up, but I plan to close it by getting a Nex 7 and 24/1.8. This would also allow me to have 2 bodies and minimize lens changing.

Aug 26, 2011 at 07:31 AM

FlyPenFly
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

I thought you had the Sony 35mm F1.4 and were happy with it?

Yeah, the 24mm F1.8 is definitely something to consider but I would like a lens I could use both on whatever Sony FF option comes out next year as well and the A850.

Aug 26, 2011 at 07:38 AM

xbarcelo
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

Have you considered the Minolta 35/2? It's a great lens and definitely much smaller than the Samyang (I guess that Tariq will say that's much worse, as he showed in a previous thread). I'm happy with mine… If you're patient, you could get one at a decent price on the bay

Aug 26, 2011 at 07:48 AM

denoir
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

FlyPenFly wrote:
However, the Zeiss 35mm F2 seems to be well regarded for micro-contrast and strong 3D. Although thinking about it, maybe its imperceptible to most people on a blind taste test.

It's not. About 90% of people here can tell a Zeiss lens from a Canon lens in a blind test. In a forum (POTN) frequented by people new to photography the accuracy was about 80%.

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/983404

Aug 26, 2011 at 09:16 AM

FlyPenFly
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

denoir wrote:
It's not. About 90% of people here can tell a Zeiss lens from a Canon lens in a blind test. In a forum (POTN) frequented by people new to photography the accuracy was about 80%.

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/983404

Yeah I saw that comparison! Thanks Denoir.

I was thinking about that comparison between perhaps the most contrasty modern Zeiss the 100mm Makro and the Nikon 105mm F2.5 where it seems few people guessed correctly. Perhaps that is just a very good Nikon and in web sizes it's not as apparent.

Looking at the Samyang thread, I'm really curious if people could tell the difference between that lens and the Zeiss 35mm F2 if they're shot at the same aperture. The Samyang thread is pretty impressive but part of that I'm sure is the quality of the photography of the posters in this forum.

Aug 26, 2011 at 09:23 AM

denoir
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

Side by side comparisons, sure. How easy it is to tell will also depend on the scene.

For instance if you compared a Zeiss 35/2 Distagon and a Zeiss 35/2 Biogon and shot wide open at a few meters distance without having any busy background they would be difficult to tell apart. On the other hand stopped down and near infinity it would be easier. Wide open close up and especially if you included some specular highlights you'd have to be blind not to see the massive differences.

And those are two Zeiss 35/2 lenses. I'm not familiar with the Samyang, but it would be reasonable to assume that there is a larger difference between Zeiss and Samyang than between Zeiss and Zeiss.

FlyPenFly wrote:
I was thinking about that comparison between perhaps the most contrasty modern Zeiss the 100mm Makro and the Nikon 105mm F2.5 where it seems few people guessed correctly. Perhaps that is just a very good Nikon and in web sizes it's not as apparent.

You are thinking of this?
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/944413/0

Well, the hit rate wasn't bad. Most people did tell them apart but two 100 mm lenses are going to be much more difficult to tell apart in any case than two 35mm lenses. Wide angles are more unique as they are more difficult to construct and require complex designs which in turn usually result in a distinct signature.

Edited on Aug 26, 2011 at 09:41 AM · View previous versions

Aug 26, 2011 at 09:29 AM

philber
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

You could get a Zeiss ZA 24 f:2.0, either new or used, and use it native on your 850, then get the new A-mount to E adapter, and use it as a 36mm on yor NEX 7. That is a proper twofer.

Aug 26, 2011 at 09:36 AM

FlyPenFly
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

If I didn't already have the 21mm ZF.2 Zeiss and 28mm C/Y Zeiss both Leitax'd, I'd look harder at the 24mm ZA.

Aug 26, 2011 at 09:55 AM

RustyBug
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

denoir wrote:
And those are two Zeiss 35/2 lenses. I'm not familiar with the Samyang, but it would be reasonable to assume that there is a larger difference between Zeiss and Samyang than between Zeiss and Zeiss.

May not be as obvious a difference as one would think. If the two Zeiss lenses are quite different optical designs, and if the Samyang does a good job of copying/mimicking ONE of those designs, the differences can be much less apparent between the Zeiss and a copy, than between two Zeiss with intentionally different designs.

I'm not suggesting that the Samyang will be on par with the Zeiss under close scrutiny ... just good imitators keep getting better all the time. Just look at the commotion that their 85 caused among 3D/micro-contrast fans.

Vivitar has been quite good at copying designs for a very long time.

As it turns out ... I'm thinking about the 35/2 vs. my current 35-70/3.4 ... I'll likely not go the Samyang route, but I will take a look at it to note why I'd be paying more for the slower Zeiss.

Aug 26, 2011 at 10:01 AM

edwardkaraa
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

FlyPenFly wrote:
I thought you had the Sony 35mm F1.4 and were happy with it?

Yeah, the 24mm F1.8 is definitely something to consider but I would like a lens I could use both on whatever Sony FF option comes out next year as well and the A850.

That's right, I was very happy with the 35G, but I recently decided to keep a Zeiss only line up, for the sake of color and drawing style uniformity. The Sony lenses draw very differently from the ZA. So I sold all my Sony lenses: 20, 35, 50, 100.

Now I've got the 24, 85 and 135. The 35 gap will be filled with the 24/1.8 on the Nex 7 soon enough.

Aug 26, 2011 at 10:25 AM

denoir
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

RustyBug wrote:
May not be as obvious a difference as one would think. If the two Zeiss lenses are quite different optical designs, and if the Samyang does a good job of copying/mimicking ONE of those designs, the differences can be much less apparent between the Zeiss and a copy, than between two Zeiss with intentionally different designs.

Actually we already have an answer to that, sort of:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1013201

It's the Rollei Zeiss 35/1.4 vs Samyang and the Zeiss 35/1.4 is very different from the Zeiss 35/2.. but still..

Aug 26, 2011 at 10:38 AM

Peire
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

I tried Samyang 35/1.4 vs ZF 35/2 that I have.A very impressive lens,great sharpness wo nice performance in low light,tempting f1.4,but I prefer the Zeiss for it's still better micro contrast which results in nicer colours/much more pronounced 3D effect to my eyes.This difference is particularly visible in landscapes/close ups.

Aug 26, 2011 at 10:38 AM

RustyBug
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

denoir wrote:
Actually we already have an answer to that, sort of:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1013201

It's the Rollei Zeiss 35/1.4 vs Samyang and the Zeiss 35/1.4 is very different from the Zeiss 35/2.. but still..

I was referring a bit more to the diff between the distagon & the biogon you mentioned ... but you're point is also noted.

Found this in the link you provided though ... the OP might find it interesting, in case he forgot.

FlyPenFly wrote:
Wow lots of ca on the highlights on the samyang.

Aug 26, 2011 at 11:44 AM

denoir
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

Kent, yeah I know you meant Biogon vs Distagon. This was more relating to the Samyang being good at copying designs thing.

Aug 26, 2011 at 11:46 AM

RustyBug
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

Gotcha.

Aug 26, 2011 at 12:46 PM

wayne seltzer
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

I don't see the Samy 35/1.4 being that close to Z* 35/2 or C/Z 35/1.4 to Z* 35/1.4 in drawing style. The Samy is a great value lens but IMHO the Zeiss lenses have qualities which make them better and worth the extra $ if you have it. If you need 1.4, I would go with a new ZF 35/1.4 Leitaxed for Alpha as its smooth bokeh, very low CA, slightly more enhanced color over the ZF 35/2. Only con is its FC on landscape type shots which may or may not bother you.
@Edward, I wonder if the new Zeiss 24/1.8 will be good enough in the corners stopped down for you after seeing the MTF graphs in the NEX 7 thread?

Aug 26, 2011 at 01:27 PM

edwardkaraa
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

Wayne,

From the published MTF, I'm not particularly worried about the corners. There is a resolution dip in zone B but not excessively so.

Also as you know, Zeiss MTF are measured (or in ZA's case, calculated) at infinity. Usually the corner performance is much better at close distance where the field curvature actually enhances the three dimensional rendition.

Anyhow, according to the MTF, the ZA 24/2 has abysmal corners, but I have discovered a trick to obtain perfect corners at infinity and f/5.6, so no, I'm not really worried

http://www.sony.jp/ichigan/products/SEL24F18Z/images/prod/m/y_SEL24F18Z_MTF.jpg

http://www.sony.jp/ichigan/products/SAL24F20Z/images/prod/m/y_SAL24F20Z_MTF.jpg

PS: in case you're curious about my trick, it's -5 AF microadjustment when shooting at infinity.

Aug 26, 2011 at 01:52 PM

FlyPenFly
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

Hah, I should have remembered that comparison.

I think I'll go ahead and stick with my Distagon and pick up the Leitax kit for it.

Aug 26, 2011 at 03:57 PM

RustyBug
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Zeiss 35mm F2 vs Samyang 35mm F1.4

Does that make the going rate for ca around $350 and one f-stop?

ca is a pretty big turn-off for me as well.

Is there anything in the Leica camp that should be considered for the 35/2 range before Leitaxing your ZF?

Aug 26, 2011 at 04:16 PM

1 2 3 … 9 10 end
FM Forums \| Leica & Alternative Gear \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 3 … 9 10 end

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.