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Archive 2014Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
p.28 #1Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
JaKo wrote:
(...) based on his informal opinion of pre-production version of CV 35/1.7 it supposed to be indistinguishably close to Lux 35 FLE and even Zeiss 1/4/35.
Very interesting. I'm not sure how a lens can be close to both the Leica and the Zeiss at the same time - but I take it as a good thing understanding it will not be like the old CV 35/1.7 which I never really liked that much. Now I tried the CV lens on ยต4/3 cameras only and that may very well have contributed to my opinion (thinking it was a little boring and not very sharp).
So, I'm looking forward to learn more about the new CV when it arrives. For once a rumor that is interesting!
(...) based on his informal opinion of pre-production version of CV 35/1.7 it supposed to be indistinguishably close to Lux 35 FLE and even Zeiss 1/4/35.
Very interesting. I'm not sure how a lens can be close to both the Leica and the Zeiss at the same time - but I take it as a good thing understanding it will not be like the old CV 35/1.7 which I never really liked that much. Now I tried the CV lens on ยต4/3 cameras only and that may very well have contributed to my opinion (thinking it was a little boring and not very sharp).
So, I'm looking forward to learn more about the new CV when it arrives. For once a rumor that is interesting!
May 26, 2015 at 01:42 PM
p.28 #2Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
Jonas, my guess is that it may be in between Leica/Zeiss drawing with slightly increased contrast? Dono, but the lens will be released soon and some will compare it to the old(er) CV 35/1.7 and mentioned M and Z lenses.
It's possible that people at CV designed it based on Leica look (just as few other lenses from their recent releases) with a touch of Zeiss punch. That would be one very interesting primary or alternative/backup 35mm lens considering its small size, weight and damn sexy look in chrome.
Again, not sure about his findings but I am sending you PM with links to his [unofficial] images and comments on CV 35
'The some old song'
http://www.kozera.ca/photos/images/_DSC9436_640.jpg
It's possible that people at CV designed it based on Leica look (just as few other lenses from their recent releases) with a touch of Zeiss punch. That would be one very interesting primary or alternative/backup 35mm lens considering its small size, weight and damn sexy look in chrome.
Again, not sure about his findings but I am sending you PM with links to his [unofficial] images and comments on CV 35
'The some old song'
http://www.kozera.ca/photos/images/_DSC9436_640.jpg
May 26, 2015 at 05:46 PM
p.28 #3Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
Tom Abrahamsson has been shooting with a pre-production CV 35 1.7 Ultron M for a while and has posted examples on his Flickr group for that lens:
https://www.flickr.com/groups/2741869@N21/pool/
I suspect this new version will be very contrasty and sharp but with a harsher bokeh rendering as compared to the more classic rendering of the original version.
Size difference between new and old:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rapidwinder/15073105997/in/pool-ultron
https://www.flickr.com/groups/2741869@N21/pool/
I suspect this new version will be very contrasty and sharp but with a harsher bokeh rendering as compared to the more classic rendering of the original version.
Size difference between new and old:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rapidwinder/15073105997/in/pool-ultron
May 26, 2015 at 06:08 PM
p.28 #5Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
This lens could be quite interesting. However, I will wait to see more samples as many of the CV lenses have slightly harsh bokeh and copious amounts of CA with some lenses.
May 26, 2015 at 09:15 PM
p.28 #6Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
JaKo wrote:
Ron, there is a local, Vancouver based photog who evaluates Zeiss and Voigtlander lenses and based on his informal opinion of pre-production version of CV 35/1.7 it supposed to be indistinguishably close to Lux 35 FLE and even Zeiss 1/4/35.
Shooting with both Lux 50 asph and latest CV Nokton 50/1.5 I believe the CV may be very good. We'll see it soon.
Yes, I forgot to check in on Tom A... Tariq - thanks for the links!
It's difficult to tell from grainy film scans, but some of the nearer distance wide aperture images look pretty reasonable, IMO (in terms of bokeh quality). One thing I don't like about the 35/1.2 is it has field curvature and it's quite difficult to shoot it near wide open and get two people standing side by side in focus. If you focus on one, the other will be soft. So you have to put the center of the image between the two and figure out how the field curvature will curve. Not so much a problem on an EVF camera, but annoying when shooting RF. This is an aspect of the ZM that really appeals to me. Based on one of Tom A's bookshelf test shots, it would seem the 35/1.7 should be reasonably flat field.
Glad to read from his comments that the lens should be available soon. Will be curious to see how the final design differs from his preproduction version.
Jack, the CV 50/1.5 should be very similar to the Lux ASPH centrally, with only slightly busier background blur. However, the Lux ASPH has much better outer zone performance stopped down only a bit. The CV needs to be stopped down to f/8-11 for relatively comparable results. It tends to purple fringe at wider apertures in high contrast areas (pretty typical of every higher speed CV lens I've tried/owned).
Ron, there is a local, Vancouver based photog who evaluates Zeiss and Voigtlander lenses and based on his informal opinion of pre-production version of CV 35/1.7 it supposed to be indistinguishably close to Lux 35 FLE and even Zeiss 1/4/35.
Shooting with both Lux 50 asph and latest CV Nokton 50/1.5 I believe the CV may be very good. We'll see it soon.
Yes, I forgot to check in on Tom A... Tariq - thanks for the links!
It's difficult to tell from grainy film scans, but some of the nearer distance wide aperture images look pretty reasonable, IMO (in terms of bokeh quality). One thing I don't like about the 35/1.2 is it has field curvature and it's quite difficult to shoot it near wide open and get two people standing side by side in focus. If you focus on one, the other will be soft. So you have to put the center of the image between the two and figure out how the field curvature will curve. Not so much a problem on an EVF camera, but annoying when shooting RF. This is an aspect of the ZM that really appeals to me. Based on one of Tom A's bookshelf test shots, it would seem the 35/1.7 should be reasonably flat field.
Glad to read from his comments that the lens should be available soon. Will be curious to see how the final design differs from his preproduction version.
Jack, the CV 50/1.5 should be very similar to the Lux ASPH centrally, with only slightly busier background blur. However, the Lux ASPH has much better outer zone performance stopped down only a bit. The CV needs to be stopped down to f/8-11 for relatively comparable results. It tends to purple fringe at wider apertures in high contrast areas (pretty typical of every higher speed CV lens I've tried/owned).
May 27, 2015 at 03:14 AM
p.28 #7Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
rscheffler wrote:
Glad to read from his comments that the lens should be available soon. Will be curious to see how the final design differs from his preproduction version.
From what I have read of Tom's remarks, the design difference between the pre-production version he is using and the final version is only the filter thread size, nothing optically.
Glad to read from his comments that the lens should be available soon. Will be curious to see how the final design differs from his preproduction version.
From what I have read of Tom's remarks, the design difference between the pre-production version he is using and the final version is only the filter thread size, nothing optically.
May 27, 2015 at 04:58 AM
p.28 #8Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
I hope it turns out to be a great performer. I will wait it out on this one though... The ZM35/1.4 is near perfect (just a bit too big though) for my needs and every CV lens I have bought in the past I ended up selling. However, performance vs $$ is very good with CV lenses and that is one of the main draws....
May 27, 2015 at 08:02 AM
p.28 #9Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
Gary Clennan wrote:
I hope it turns out to be a great performer. I will wait it out on this one though... The ZM35/1.4 is near perfect (just a bit too big though) for my needs and every CV lens I have bought in the past I ended up selling. However, performance vs $$ is very good with CV lenses and that is one of the main draws....
The CV lenses have gotten much better in my experience over the past few years. Even when comparing early serial number lenses to later ones of the same lens, often the later lens will be better. I saw this recently with the CV 35 1.7 in fact (late serial vintage) which had noticeably less CA.
I hope it turns out to be a great performer. I will wait it out on this one though... The ZM35/1.4 is near perfect (just a bit too big though) for my needs and every CV lens I have bought in the past I ended up selling. However, performance vs $$ is very good with CV lenses and that is one of the main draws....
The CV lenses have gotten much better in my experience over the past few years. Even when comparing early serial number lenses to later ones of the same lens, often the later lens will be better. I saw this recently with the CV 35 1.7 in fact (late serial vintage) which had noticeably less CA.
May 27, 2015 at 10:50 AM
p.28 #10Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
Ron, agree, similarities between Lux 50 and CV Nokton are mainly centrally and at close-mid distance wide(ish) open. CV Nokton is not a stop down/infinity tool, and it perhaps wasn't designed to be such.
Lux 50 smokes Nokton in this area, but not too many get Lux primarily for f/8 infinity work
Back to ZM 35D
http://www.kozera.ca/photos/images/_DSC9296_640.jpg
Lux 50 smokes Nokton in this area, but not too many get Lux primarily for f/8 infinity work
Back to ZM 35D
http://www.kozera.ca/photos/images/_DSC9296_640.jpg
May 27, 2015 at 11:46 PM
p.28 #11Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
Very nice Jack.
I'd like to see Zeiss follow up the 35/1.4 with a 50/1.4 or f/2 with similar optical prowess so that there would be a real RF alternative to the 50 Lux ASPH and 50 APO.
The appeal of the 50 Lux ASPH to me is its dual functionality of wide aperture near distance rendering as well as overall high technical performance, particularly at far distances. You can use it to shoot landscapes wide open and get surprisingly good across-frame results (some mid zone dip), or stop it down a bit to tighten up performance even more. While I have a collection of RF 50mm lenses, the Lux ASPH is the one I use most of the time because it's such a well rounded performer.
I'd like to see Zeiss follow up the 35/1.4 with a 50/1.4 or f/2 with similar optical prowess so that there would be a real RF alternative to the 50 Lux ASPH and 50 APO.
The appeal of the 50 Lux ASPH to me is its dual functionality of wide aperture near distance rendering as well as overall high technical performance, particularly at far distances. You can use it to shoot landscapes wide open and get surprisingly good across-frame results (some mid zone dip), or stop it down a bit to tighten up performance even more. While I have a collection of RF 50mm lenses, the Lux ASPH is the one I use most of the time because it's such a well rounded performer.
May 28, 2015 at 12:07 AM
p.28 #12Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
rscheffler wrote:
Very nice Jack.
I'd like to see Zeiss follow up the 35/1.4 with a 50/1.4 or f/2 with similar optical prowess so that there would be a real RF alternative to the 50 Lux ASPH and 50 APO.
The appeal of the 50 Lux ASPH to me is its dual functionality of wide aperture near distance rendering as well as overall high technical performance, particularly at far distances. You can use it to shoot landscapes wide open and get surprisingly good across-frame results (some mid zone dip), or stop it down a bit to tighten up performance even more. While I have...Show more →
I definitely would love see that as well. Being Zeiss, I have no doubt the ZM 50/1.4 would be bigger and heavier but with a much flatter field curvature and a busier bokeh compared to the Lux 50.
Very nice Jack.
I'd like to see Zeiss follow up the 35/1.4 with a 50/1.4 or f/2 with similar optical prowess so that there would be a real RF alternative to the 50 Lux ASPH and 50 APO.
The appeal of the 50 Lux ASPH to me is its dual functionality of wide aperture near distance rendering as well as overall high technical performance, particularly at far distances. You can use it to shoot landscapes wide open and get surprisingly good across-frame results (some mid zone dip), or stop it down a bit to tighten up performance even more. While I have...Show more →
I definitely would love see that as well. Being Zeiss, I have no doubt the ZM 50/1.4 would be bigger and heavier but with a much flatter field curvature and a busier bokeh compared to the Lux 50.
May 28, 2015 at 07:05 PM
p.28 #13Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
That would be my guess too. It could be an f/2 to keep size better in check. I would be OK with that.
The 50 Lux ASPH though isn't silky smooth bokeh all the time. You still need a decent amount of subject/background separation. If it's a medium distance subject without much separation, the background can go pretty funky in a bad way. And the outer zone tends not to blur away as smoothly as the middle. It also has some SA at near distances unless stopped down a bit, despite being a floating element design.
If a ZM 50/1.4 is a bit busier with rendering, it might be more uniformly so. But I would probably use it more for landscape type shots where I want better flatness of field where the Lux ASPH can suffer a bit in the mid zone area, unless stopped down somewhat. Hence a reason I'm contemplating the 50AA, though its price likely will keep it out of reach for some time.
The 50 Lux ASPH though isn't silky smooth bokeh all the time. You still need a decent amount of subject/background separation. If it's a medium distance subject without much separation, the background can go pretty funky in a bad way. And the outer zone tends not to blur away as smoothly as the middle. It also has some SA at near distances unless stopped down a bit, despite being a floating element design.
If a ZM 50/1.4 is a bit busier with rendering, it might be more uniformly so. But I would probably use it more for landscape type shots where I want better flatness of field where the Lux ASPH can suffer a bit in the mid zone area, unless stopped down somewhat. Hence a reason I'm contemplating the 50AA, though its price likely will keep it out of reach for some time.
May 28, 2015 at 07:17 PM
p.28 #14Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
Ron, if you're interested in the 50AA, check out eBay right now. There is a BIN in the US for a ridiculously low price. Right now is a good time to buy Leica with the overstock in China and the 12% off.
May 28, 2015 at 07:41 PM
p.28 #15Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
You can count me in for this zm 50/1.4
However I have the feeling zeiss will not be making any new zm designs, at least not in the near future, unless the 35/1.4 turns out to be a huge success.
However I have the feeling zeiss will not be making any new zm designs, at least not in the near future, unless the 35/1.4 turns out to be a huge success.
May 28, 2015 at 08:48 PM
