This topic is in the 2014 archive. You can read it and like its posts here. It is read only.
Archive 2014Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
p.32 #1Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
It's not about modded A7x, philber, but real usability on bodies other than film and, say wonderful RF leica 
There are few reviews out there of Zeiss ZM 35D on Sony A7 bodies, but no reviewer mentioned M to E adapters used for their evaluation, its hard stop adjustment, usage of lens profile in RAW import/initial PP and I won't even discus questionable, for reviews purpose, post processing with 'alt' PP plugins. Many people who actually never shot ZM35D base their internet opinions, including usage on Sony A7 cameras strictly on those hardly objective tests.
Great for various samples on this thread!
http://www.kozera.ca/photos/images/_DSC9414_640.jpg
Edited on Jun 21, 2015 at 12:34 AM · View previous versions
There are few reviews out there of Zeiss ZM 35D on Sony A7 bodies, but no reviewer mentioned M to E adapters used for their evaluation, its hard stop adjustment, usage of lens profile in RAW import/initial PP and I won't even discus questionable, for reviews purpose, post processing with 'alt' PP plugins. Many people who actually never shot ZM35D base their internet opinions, including usage on Sony A7 cameras strictly on those hardly objective tests.
Great for various samples on this thread!
http://www.kozera.ca/photos/images/_DSC9414_640.jpg
Edited on Jun 21, 2015 at 12:34 AM · View previous versions
Jun 21, 2015 at 12:14 AM
p.32 #2Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
It performs really well on the A7s, seems to suffer less midzone dip wide open than the usual RF lenses.
2015-06-19_04 by Sean H Choe, on Flickr
2015-06-19_13 by Sean H Choe, on Flickr
2015-06-19_15 by Sean H Choe, on Flickr
2015-06-19_01 by Sean H Choe, on Flickr
2015-06-19_04 by Sean H Choe, on Flickr
2015-06-19_13 by Sean H Choe, on Flickr
2015-06-19_15 by Sean H Choe, on Flickr
2015-06-19_01 by Sean H Choe, on Flickr
Jun 21, 2015 at 12:33 AM
p.32 #3Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
philber wrote:
Ron, you consider the ZM 35 f:1.4 to be clinical/hard? On which camera?
Hi Philippe, sorry to not reply sooner.
I don't believe my impression is camera specific. The images in my memory are from both Sony (modded and unmodded) as well as Leica M.
It depends on the use. I don't see it that way in your usual images with it. My impression is based more on scenes similar to how I would use it: at medium to longer distances where either the background rendering towards the edges/corners gets quite nervous or strange looking (the diamond shape of OOF specular lights). Or deep depth of field image where the lens is super sharp. This is not a bad thing, IMO. But to my eyes it has a different feeling. In fact, the latter is a reason I'm very much interested in the lens (though still haven't pulled the trigger after testing one a while ago).
Ron, you consider the ZM 35 f:1.4 to be clinical/hard? On which camera?
Hi Philippe, sorry to not reply sooner.
I don't believe my impression is camera specific. The images in my memory are from both Sony (modded and unmodded) as well as Leica M.
It depends on the use. I don't see it that way in your usual images with it. My impression is based more on scenes similar to how I would use it: at medium to longer distances where either the background rendering towards the edges/corners gets quite nervous or strange looking (the diamond shape of OOF specular lights). Or deep depth of field image where the lens is super sharp. This is not a bad thing, IMO. But to my eyes it has a different feeling. In fact, the latter is a reason I'm very much interested in the lens (though still haven't pulled the trigger after testing one a while ago).
Jun 21, 2015 at 11:55 AM
p.32 #6Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
This thread needs to be on the first page IMO !
Rented this lens last month from LensRentals. A real gem of a lens, I love its rendering! Reminds me of some of the characteristics of the 100MP ZE at distance. Coming from DSLR lenses, including several ZE and CY cariants, I still can't get over how small this 1.4 lens is ! Sure, it might be bigger and heavier than other M lenses, but this one on an A7R feels so light and good!
Sharpness and microcontrast are very high (ZE lenses have me spoiled on that already, but this is on a higher level I feel). Very good sense of presence at medium to long distances and is no slouch close up either. The smearing of the edges on an unmodified A7R are visible even while focusing, but these are surprisingly recoverable to a good level in Capture One.
On the other hand, the performance in/near the center is so good, that even in the EVF without peaking/focus mag, you can clearly see in the focus regions.
Some samples below:
1)
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-spf2JAIL6wo/VYc5OWBPiVI/AAAAAAAAQIM/eQqNmk2egfs/s1600/Walk-6318.jpg
2)Flare performance is pretty decent (to put it mildly!). There are some flare spots but the overall contrast in the image is still high. You can shoot into the sun and get some nice sun stars.
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l0xUIv0aOfI/VYc5Kkdm1cI/AAAAAAAAQGo/wFJaSxgzTIQ/s1600/Walk-6218.jpg
3)
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QjES-Y_zz3g/VYc5HS6_zNI/AAAAAAAAQF4/p7s53ApVdqA/s1600/Walk-6088.jpg
4)Plenty Sharp! Can induce moire if needed
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L-_OHLL-Q_w/VYc5Gd591TI/AAAAAAAAQIk/Qd4HW3nNpg0/s1600/Walk-6086.jpg
! Rented this lens last month from LensRentals. A real gem of a lens, I love its rendering! Reminds me of some of the characteristics of the 100MP ZE at distance. Coming from DSLR lenses, including several ZE and CY cariants, I still can't get over how small this 1.4 lens is ! Sure, it might be bigger and heavier than other M lenses, but this one on an A7R feels so light and good!
Sharpness and microcontrast are very high (ZE lenses have me spoiled on that already, but this is on a higher level I feel). Very good sense of presence at medium to long distances and is no slouch close up either. The smearing of the edges on an unmodified A7R are visible even while focusing, but these are surprisingly recoverable to a good level in Capture One.
On the other hand, the performance in/near the center is so good, that even in the EVF without peaking/focus mag, you can clearly see in the focus regions.
Some samples below:
1)
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-spf2JAIL6wo/VYc5OWBPiVI/AAAAAAAAQIM/eQqNmk2egfs/s1600/Walk-6318.jpg
2)Flare performance is pretty decent (to put it mildly!). There are some flare spots but the overall contrast in the image is still high. You can shoot into the sun and get some nice sun stars.
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l0xUIv0aOfI/VYc5Kkdm1cI/AAAAAAAAQGo/wFJaSxgzTIQ/s1600/Walk-6218.jpg
3)
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QjES-Y_zz3g/VYc5HS6_zNI/AAAAAAAAQF4/p7s53ApVdqA/s1600/Walk-6088.jpg
4)Plenty Sharp! Can induce moire if needed
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L-_OHLL-Q_w/VYc5Gd591TI/AAAAAAAAQIk/Qd4HW3nNpg0/s1600/Walk-6086.jpg
Jun 27, 2015 at 01:12 AM
p.32 #7Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
I can't post in the A7 thread any more, due to mine breaking down, and the ZM agrees with my NEX 7 more than my Otus 55, so...
Jun 27, 2015 at 01:41 AM
p.32 #8Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
^^Philippe - i checked out your flying saucer series and the motorcycle series on DS. Like the colors in the flower series but am partial to the motorcycle series. Do you have more shots of the Red Royal Enfield bike ? Pascal posted one on DS with the Q and it almost made me weep with joy! Lovely shots!
JaKo (Jack?): lovely shots from Oregon. I am headed there next week with my ZM 35 Should be interesting.
I love my ZE glass but this is on another level (same/better performance with lower weight)!
Some more shots, all wide open. (A7R + VM-E adapter).
1)Obligatory bench shot. Wish this was a different color so that it wouldn't semi-blend into the water reflecting sky blue. ..
http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6idUCdhvz7A/VYc5IwVySII/AAAAAAAAQGQ/nOswrgl29-k/w1600-h1015-no/Walk-6188.jpg
2) Conveys a good feeling of *presence* at medium distances. Can slice and highlight the focal plane very well. The background is quite far away but I have some other shots with busier backgrounds where the lens still did well (mid distance).
http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qyD24DJYXB8/VYc5Jb_FzhI/AAAAAAAAQIg/gvyA0iUzYlU/w1600-h1004-no/Walk-6194.jpg
3) Another view ...
http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pyCYcUgFrPg/VYc5JQzWuWI/AAAAAAAAQIo/a9LwhdXRf9M/w1600-h1145-no/Walk-6192.jpg
4) Stopped down performace is very good! Healthy resolution, strong black levels and very good color purity and saturation. Again, all of the usual attributes I've come to expect from Z* glass.
http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-itCF3u3klfQ/VYc5IPPFphI/AAAAAAAAQGE/w3cT5tyAHfI/w1600-h816-no/Walk-6174.jpg
In my experience, Color profiles in Capture One Pro 8 are way better out of the box for the A7R compared to LR6 and it was true for the lens+ camera combo as well.
Only thing I noticed was a slight warm cast (especially noticeable on cloudy conditions). In LR6, I had to cool(reduce) the WB by about 400K to get it to match.
I'll post more shots tomorrow ...
JaKo (Jack?): lovely shots from Oregon. I am headed there next week with my ZM 35
Should be interesting. I love my ZE glass but this is on another level (same/better performance with lower weight)!
Some more shots, all wide open. (A7R + VM-E adapter).
1)Obligatory bench shot. Wish this was a different color so that it wouldn't semi-blend into the water reflecting sky blue. ..
http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6idUCdhvz7A/VYc5IwVySII/AAAAAAAAQGQ/nOswrgl29-k/w1600-h1015-no/Walk-6188.jpg
2) Conveys a good feeling of *presence* at medium distances. Can slice and highlight the focal plane very well. The background is quite far away but I have some other shots with busier backgrounds where the lens still did well (mid distance).
http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qyD24DJYXB8/VYc5Jb_FzhI/AAAAAAAAQIg/gvyA0iUzYlU/w1600-h1004-no/Walk-6194.jpg
3) Another view ...
http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pyCYcUgFrPg/VYc5JQzWuWI/AAAAAAAAQIo/a9LwhdXRf9M/w1600-h1145-no/Walk-6192.jpg
4) Stopped down performace is very good! Healthy resolution, strong black levels and very good color purity and saturation. Again, all of the usual attributes I've come to expect from Z* glass.
http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-itCF3u3klfQ/VYc5IPPFphI/AAAAAAAAQGE/w3cT5tyAHfI/w1600-h816-no/Walk-6174.jpg
In my experience, Color profiles in Capture One Pro 8 are way better out of the box for the A7R compared to LR6 and it was true for the lens+ camera combo as well.
Only thing I noticed was a slight warm cast (especially noticeable on cloudy conditions). In LR6, I had to cool(reduce) the WB by about 400K to get it to match.
I'll post more shots tomorrow ...
Jun 27, 2015 at 06:40 PM
p.32 #9Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
^^^ Nice shots abhijeeth!
Indeed, ZM 1.4/35 may seem like a large lens at first (mostly for Leica bodies shooters) but having switched from ZF 2/35 and even Leica-R 35 (with R to E adapter) the ZM feels just average size/weight wise.
I am really pleased with its sharpness at large apertures and background rendering at different distances/focus points. Both images below were shot at f/1.4
http://www.kozera.ca/photos/images/_DSC9925_640.jpg
http://www.kozera.ca/photos/images/20150621_0020_640.jpg
Indeed, ZM 1.4/35 may seem like a large lens at first (mostly for Leica bodies shooters) but having switched from ZF 2/35 and even Leica-R 35 (with R to E adapter) the ZM feels just average size/weight wise.
I am really pleased with its sharpness at large apertures and background rendering at different distances/focus points. Both images below were shot at f/1.4
http://www.kozera.ca/photos/images/_DSC9925_640.jpg
http://www.kozera.ca/photos/images/20150621_0020_640.jpg
Jun 28, 2015 at 01:51 PM
p.32 #10Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
Thanks Jack! In the 2nd photo, the graffiti really stands out well. This will make for one heck of a street lens IMO !
"XOXO"
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9JQo8gSz4UU/VYc5OuTV3OI/AAAAAAAAQII/c7Sjh19GA1A/s1600/Walk-6339.jpg
My resize action doesn't really do the image below justice - I have to fine tune it a bit. The original has better pop to it.
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ka0ikCWF4ug/VYc5NQeQ7HI/AAAAAAAAQHk/fNEx0TXz5Uc/s1600/Walk-6294.jpg
"XOXO"
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9JQo8gSz4UU/VYc5OuTV3OI/AAAAAAAAQII/c7Sjh19GA1A/s1600/Walk-6339.jpg
My resize action doesn't really do the image below justice - I have to fine tune it a bit. The original has better pop to it.
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ka0ikCWF4ug/VYc5NQeQ7HI/AAAAAAAAQHk/fNEx0TXz5Uc/s1600/Walk-6294.jpg
Jun 28, 2015 at 11:14 PM
p.32 #12Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
Are any of you guys with this lens got your name down for the new A7rII? Id love to know how the new sensor behaves with it. Great photos by the way ! :-)
Jul 09, 2015 at 06:01 PM
p.32 #13Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
photomadnz wrote:
Are any of you guys with this lens got your name down for the new A7rII? Id love to know how the new sensor behaves with it. Great photos by the way ! :-)
I'm looking to pick one up, I'm sure it will do very well with the A7rII, hard to find much to complain about with this lens.
2015-07-07_07 by Sean H Choe, on Flickr
2015-07-07_04 by Sean H Choe, on Flickr
2015-06-27_13 by Sean H Choe, on Flickr
2015-06-27_01 by Sean H Choe, on Flickr
Are any of you guys with this lens got your name down for the new A7rII? Id love to know how the new sensor behaves with it. Great photos by the way ! :-)
I'm looking to pick one up, I'm sure it will do very well with the A7rII, hard to find much to complain about with this lens.
2015-07-07_07 by Sean H Choe, on Flickr
2015-07-07_04 by Sean H Choe, on Flickr
2015-06-27_13 by Sean H Choe, on Flickr
2015-06-27_01 by Sean H Choe, on Flickr
Jul 09, 2015 at 07:35 PM
p.32 #14Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
I have an A7R II coming as well, and expect that the coupling will be synergistic. As it happens, my A7R needed reparing, so I was back to using a NEX 7 for a couple of weeks, and the ZM fit that camera very nicely too...
Jul 09, 2015 at 10:51 PM
p.32 #15Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
'...and why do we have to walk through the back alley again?'
http://www.kozera.ca/photos/images/20150711_0045_640.jpg
http://www.kozera.ca/photos/images/20150711_0046_640.jpg
http://www.kozera.ca/photos/images/20150711_0048_640.jpg
http://www.kozera.ca/photos/images/20150711_0045_640.jpg
http://www.kozera.ca/photos/images/20150711_0046_640.jpg
http://www.kozera.ca/photos/images/20150711_0048_640.jpg
Jul 11, 2015 at 10:58 PM
p.32 #18Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
^^^ Gracias gents!
I usually post here all WO shots but here is x-post at f/8
http://www.kozera.ca/photos/images/_DSC9543_1600.jpg
I usually post here all WO shots but here is x-post at f/8
http://www.kozera.ca/photos/images/_DSC9543_1600.jpg
Jul 11, 2015 at 11:53 PM
p.32 #19Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
I'm the happy owner of 35zm,before i bought it I didn't know that this badboy comes without hood
true zeiss cost little fortune so the question,is there any 3rd party replacement for lower cost?
Thanks
true zeiss cost little fortune so the question,is there any 3rd party replacement for lower cost?
Thanks
Jul 19, 2015 at 05:55 AM
p.32 #20Zeiss ZM 35 1.4
Mac313 wrote:
I'm the happy owner of 35zm,before i bought it I didn't know that this badboy comes without hood
true zeiss cost little fortune so the question,is there any 3rd party replacement for lower cost?
Thanks
Any 49mm, $10 aftermarket hood would work. For those using a rangefinder, a vented option would be better than the overpriced hood that is sold for this lens (according to Sean Reid) as it will not block as much of the finder view. This would be a good option for instance:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051Y5BP4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage
I'm the happy owner of 35zm,before i bought it I didn't know that this badboy comes without hood
true zeiss cost little fortune so the question,is there any 3rd party replacement for lower cost?
Thanks
Any 49mm, $10 aftermarket hood would work. For those using a rangefinder, a vented option would be better than the overpriced hood that is sold for this lens (according to Sean Reid) as it will not block as much of the finder view. This would be a good option for instance:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051Y5BP4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage
Jul 19, 2015 at 07:40 AM