p.2 #1 · Tell me about the differences between the Zeiss 50P and 50MP
AhamB wrote:
Thanks for that link! I've spent quite some time looking for that comparison in the past, but couldn't find it because I didn't remember who did the comparison. It's a nice bokeh analysis. I only didn't remember that that was the Contax N Planar, which I think is more similar to the C/Y than the Z*.
Mendenhall was early in that thread pointing out a major focus differerence. I agree with him. The comparison is unfortunately ruined by different focus. You can see it in the foreground, bottom of the frame.
p.2 #2 · Tell me about the differences between the Zeiss 50P and 50MP
An interesting and helpful thread as I am looking at adding one of these two lenses to my collection, before I jump in with both feet and the credit card, I wondered if anyone had anything else to add, maybe a few more shots with either, although I have probably viewed most shots ever taken with both.
p.2 #3 · Tell me about the differences between the Zeiss 50P and 50MP
Well, the seller bailed out, so the situation is on the back-burner. I am and have been for a while, looking out for a used MP50 so all this is filed in my archive, thanks all.
p.2 #4 · Tell me about the differences between the Zeiss 50P and 50MP
Rodluvan wrote:
Well, the seller bailed out, so the situation is on the back-burner. I am and have been for a while, looking out for a used MP50 so all this is filed in my archive, thanks all.
You and I are like inverse-twins where I'm the really good looking one. I have the MP and you have the P and your MP seller backed out and my P seller says he dropped it ...and did I mention that I'm the good looking one, just wanted to make that clear.
p.2 #5 · Tell me about the differences between the Zeiss 50P and 50MP
OneAnt wrote:
You and I are like inverse-twins where I'm the really good looking one. I have the MP and you have the P and your MP seller backed out and my P seller says he dropped it ...and did I mention that I'm the good looking one, just wanted to make that clear.
Ant.
uʍop ǝpısdn uǝʌǝ ƃuıʞool pooƃ ʎllɐǝɹ puɐ
Does that mean only one of us knows how to take decent photos??
p.2 #8 · Tell me about the differences between the Zeiss 50P and 50MP
alundeb wrote:
Mendenhall was early in that thread pointing out a major focus differerence. I agree with him. The comparison is unfortunately ruined by different focus. You can see it in the foreground, bottom of the frame.
Now that I look again, it's indeed obvious that the 50P is front-focused. That will make the difference in absolute background blur less, but IMO it has been demonstrated enough (several comparisons by Carsten) to know that the 50MP has more harsh bokeh at medium focus distances (where the strength of the 50P lies).
p.2 #9 · Tell me about the differences between the Zeiss 50P and 50MP
Yes, the 50P excels at middle and large distance, whereas the 50MP excels up close, that is a good way to summarize the general character. The 50MP can also be good at middle distances if you get enough physical separation between subject and background, or have a calm background, but getting nice rendering out of the 50MP is a lot harder for these situations that for the 50P. Stopped down a bit (maybe f/4 or f/5.6 and on), they are almost identical, the 50P maybe pulling slightly ahead in sharpness, paradoxically.
p.2 #10 · Tell me about the differences between the Zeiss 50P and 50MP
Like can be seen in my shots on the previous page, I really like it (stopped down) for landscapes. It's large DOF helps.
Another thing that I don't think has been mentioned is that the MP also has less distortion, which I like for shooting flat subjects.
That being said I also prefer the 50P in many situations, because of the character and smaller DOF. For street photography (like yours Rodluvan) for example I almost always prefer the planar.
p.2 #11 · Tell me about the differences between the Zeiss 50P and 50MP
Note that the 50P has focus shift, which can result in wrongly focused image at f/2-f/4 or so. It needs to be "learned", more so than most other lenses I own, but I find it worth it.
p.2 #12 · Tell me about the differences between the Zeiss 50P and 50MP
carstenw wrote:
Note that the foliage in the background is very far away, so the nervousness of the 50MP at certain distances doesn't show up. It has different character at different distances. I also did a comparison somewhere in the ZF/ZE/ZM thread (around 2011 04), and Samuli did some as well.
I do have this one comparison shot of boke amount at identical distances, 50P first, @f/1.4 and then 50MP @f/2. Note just how much more boke the 50MP has, in spite of just one stop of difference:
p.2 #13 · Tell me about the differences between the Zeiss 50P and 50MP
Yes, the 50P is flattering or romantic, and the 50MP is literal, even clinical. I wanted more magic than I got from the 50MP, which explains the qualms I was having with it originally. Eventually, after a lot of trying, I found uses for it, and decided to keep it, but I was definitely disappointed when I first got it. I expected it to be more like the 100MP, which definitely has more magic.
p.2 #14 · Tell me about the differences between the Zeiss 50P and 50MP
I'm sorry for kicking this thread back up, but since yesterday I also own both the 50MP and planar.
I bought the MP the day it came out so I know it well. They're really different.
My first quick thoughts:
- For everything in the closeup range the MP is vastly superiour. From sharpness to bokeh. The bokeh of the planar can be really ugly and nervous IMO.
- The MP is much easier to focus, because of the sharpness wide open and the larger DOF.
I already noticed this when comparing it to my 35/1.4 and 85 planar.
- The planar shines when shooting more distant subjects. It has the ability to isolate a subject much easier than the MP. Carstens car shot also shows this. This is a key feature why one could prefer the planar.
- Stopped down they're both very good. I like the larger DOF of the MP here. You need to stop the planar down more to get the same result.
- The focus ring of the planar feels much looser.
Overall I still think the 50MP is the better allround lens. It's good from (extreme) closeups to infinity. The planar is not.
You mostly buy the planar for it's look and better subject isolation.
The 50 planar reminds me a lot of my 85 planar (duh ) but the 85 has better bokeh IMHO.
p.2 #15 · Tell me about the differences between the Zeiss 50P and 50MP
The 50P has an awesome sweet spot at a few meters. The 50MP has more DoF, as you say, which can be useful for portraits and such. The boke of the 50P is often more harmonious, especially with foliage. Both have their place, but I generally prefer the look of the 50P starting at a couple of meters, and the 50MP closer than that.
p.2 #16 · Tell me about the differences between the Zeiss 50P and 50MP
carstenw wrote:
The 50P has an awesome sweet spot at a few meters. The 50MP has more DoF, as you say, which can be useful for portraits and such. The boke of the 50P is often more harmonious, especially with foliage. Both have their place, but I generally prefer the look of the 50P starting at a couple of meters, and the 50MP closer than that.
I agree, but I have to say that I'm used to the larger DOF of the MP when using it for landscapes. The 50P has to be stopped down quite a bit further to get the foreground as sharp as with the MP.
The most annoying thing about the planar is the focusing for me. With the MP I'm always certain I nail the focus... with the planar it's often guessing.
I was planning on keeping only one 50mm, but this might be too difficult.
p.2 #18 · Tell me about the differences between the Zeiss 50P and 50MP
The 50MP has no real faults for general photography, and the images here illustrate just how good it is for landscapes - dof, colour lucidity, shaping. Fine work, Jochen.
The second Citroen shows high order clarity/gloss and colour harmony, the first looks somewhat drab and insipid. We all see differently. The rear of the car looks like an afterthought in the first image, but really adds to the flow of the car's appearance in the second. To me anyway.
The MP figure is a bit over a half of one percent distortion and it shows up as a fine linearity of field.
BTW, Zeiss have just done a nice job of their lens data on their website, complete with samples from featured photographers. Here is a nice set from a guy with the 15mm, for those wishing to see examples of how to use an ultra wide angle, and that one has the same level of distortion as the Planar 50mm:
p.2 #19 · Tell me about the differences between the Zeiss 50P and 50MP
Thanks Philip!
carstenw wrote:
Interesting, I find the 50MP much harder to focus, for some reason.
Maybe because of the short focus throw (when not using it for macro shots)?
The focusplane of the MP is more defined and therefore you can see the focus better. The planars have such shallow DOF and are less sharp wide open which makes the plane of focus look more 'fuzzy' in the viewfinder.
p.2 #20 · Tell me about the differences between the Zeiss 50P and 50MP
wfrank wrote:
I know you're not asking for this and I have zero experience with the great 50MP. Still I would hesitate to switch the dreamy bokeh I find in the 50P, it's a bit like what I see in the 35/1.4. These are CY's but should be the same.
) but the 85 has better bokeh IMHO.