This topic is in the 2014 archive. You can read it and like its posts here. It is read only.
Archive 2014Zeiss 21 mm f/2.8 goes to war... Museum
p.1 #1Zeiss 21 mm f/2.8 goes to war... Museum
Last week I was in Munich as a tourist, stopped at Foto Gregor just to enjoy their display and they had a whole series of second-hand, pristine looking ZE lenses: 21, 25, 35 f/2, 35 f/1.4, 50, 85 and 100. Totally unexpected!
After pondering for a whole day about it, I went back and got the 21 mm for 1050 euro. It's my first manual focus lens ever.
Yesterday I went to one of my favorite place, a military museum in Full (Switzerland). I visit the place a few times a year, know it very well and got plenty of pictures to compare. Here some results. All shots were hand-held (tripod isn't allowed), I am still not 100% conformable manual focusing, but with a wide-angle and around ƒ/4.0 I felt I had enough error margin.
G-13 M-78125 by Massimo Foti, on Flickr
LTL-H M-7543 by Massimo Foti, on Flickr
Chenillette Renault UE by Massimo Foti, on Flickr
After pondering for a whole day about it, I went back and got the 21 mm for 1050 euro. It's my first manual focus lens ever.
Yesterday I went to one of my favorite place, a military museum in Full (Switzerland). I visit the place a few times a year, know it very well and got plenty of pictures to compare. Here some results. All shots were hand-held (tripod isn't allowed), I am still not 100% conformable manual focusing, but with a wide-angle and around ƒ/4.0 I felt I had enough error margin.
G-13 M-78125 by Massimo Foti, on FlickrLTL-H M-7543 by Massimo Foti, on FlickrChenillette Renault UE by Massimo Foti, on FlickrJul 20, 2014 at 06:25 AM
p.1 #3Zeiss 21 mm f/2.8 goes to war... Museum
Congratulations on your purchase, Massimo! It didn't take you long to make it sing! When I had one, I used it as follows: f:5.6, focus to infinity, and pull focus back just a little. That way, everything was in focus from 2m to infinity. I called it my P&S mode. See if that works for you...
Jul 20, 2014 at 06:53 AM
p.1 #4Zeiss 21 mm f/2.8 goes to war... Museum
Thanks philber. I had read about your "P&S mode" before and kept it in mind yesterday 
I was between f/3.5 and 4.0, because I wanted to be sure I was fast enough to avoid any blur (thinking back, I was over concerned about it). I started from infinity, pulling it back a little until I've got the focus confirmation beep. It worked pretty well, then, again, with such DOF it wasn't too challenging.
I was between f/3.5 and 4.0, because I wanted to be sure I was fast enough to avoid any blur (thinking back, I was over concerned about it). I started from infinity, pulling it back a little until I've got the focus confirmation beep. It worked pretty well, then, again, with such DOF it wasn't too challenging.
Jul 20, 2014 at 07:15 AM
p.1 #5Zeiss 21 mm f/2.8 goes to war... Museum
Cool looking museum. That overhead crane looks like it came from the factory that built some of these machines. And the unpolished concrete floors with oil/hydraulic fluid leaks really enhances the feel of the shop floor.
Jul 20, 2014 at 07:16 AM
p.1 #6Zeiss 21 mm f/2.8 goes to war... Museum
Awesome lens! I'm envious. Nice work here, looks like an amazing place to visit.
Jul 20, 2014 at 08:22 AM
p.1 #7Zeiss 21 mm f/2.8 goes to war... Museum
rattymouse wrote:
Awesome lens! I'm envious. Nice work here, looks like an amazing place to visit.
I assume most, if not all the other Zeiss lenses could still be available at the shop:
http://www.foto-gregor-gruppe.de/muenchen/shop/specials.asp
For people that would like to know more about the Museum:
http://www.militaer-museum.ch
Awesome lens! I'm envious. Nice work here, looks like an amazing place to visit.
I assume most, if not all the other Zeiss lenses could still be available at the shop:
http://www.foto-gregor-gruppe.de/muenchen/shop/specials.asp
For people that would like to know more about the Museum:
http://www.militaer-museum.ch
Jul 20, 2014 at 10:02 AM
p.1 #8Zeiss 21 mm f/2.8 goes to war... Museum
I don't find their used page. Do you have a link? I am looking for the 25/2 ZF.2...
Jul 20, 2014 at 11:17 AM
p.1 #9Zeiss 21 mm f/2.8 goes to war... Museum
As far as I know they don't list the second-hand stuff on the web, but I may be wrong.
I suggest you call them.
Hope it will help.
I suggest you call them.
Hope it will help.
Jul 20, 2014 at 11:36 AM
p.1 #10Zeiss 21 mm f/2.8 goes to war... Museum
Ah, I see now that you said ZE... I guess I'll keep looking. Anyway, I need to sell some other lenses before buying...
Jul 20, 2014 at 11:52 AM
p.1 #11Zeiss 21 mm f/2.8 goes to war... Museum
Great find at the museum, Massimo - congratulations! You seem to have done a nice with your manual focus. That lens is a real winner. I recently purchased one just love it. Enjoy!
Jul 20, 2014 at 04:15 PM
p.1 #12Zeiss 21 mm f/2.8 goes to war... Museum
carstenw wrote:
Anyway, I need to sell some other lenses before buying...
Been there...
Anyway, I need to sell some other lenses before buying...
Been there...
Jul 20, 2014 at 04:21 PM
p.1 #13Zeiss 21 mm f/2.8 goes to war... Museum
AMX-13 M-78207 by Massimo Foti, on Flickr
Universal Carrier by Massimo Foti, on FlickrJul 21, 2014 at 12:59 AM
p.1 #14Zeiss 21 mm f/2.8 goes to war... Museum
jcolwell wrote:
carstenw wrote
Anyway, I need to sell some other lenses before buying...You left there?
Jul 21, 2014 at 04:43 AM
p.1 #15Zeiss 21 mm f/2.8 goes to war... Museum
carstenw wrote:
Anyway, I need to sell some other lenses before buying...
jcolwell wrote:
Been there...
carstenw wrote:
You left there?
Sometimes, yes. Not often.
Anyway, I need to sell some other lenses before buying...
jcolwell wrote:
Been there...
carstenw wrote:
You left there?
Sometimes, yes. Not often.
Jul 21, 2014 at 05:01 AM
p.1 #16Zeiss 21 mm f/2.8 goes to war... Museum
A final round of pictures with:
American tank:
M3A1 Stuart by Massimo Foti, on Flickr
Czech/Soviet:
OT-62 by Massimo Foti, on Flickr
Swedish:
Ikv 91 by Massimo Foti, on Flickr
American tank:
M3A1 Stuart by Massimo Foti, on FlickrCzech/Soviet:
OT-62 by Massimo Foti, on FlickrSwedish:
Ikv 91 by Massimo Foti, on FlickrJul 22, 2014 at 12:26 AM