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Archive 2015Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
p.3 #1Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
nntnam wrote:
The new 1.4/50 looks much sharper but still shows lots of CA though.
I agree, wide open there is clearly a difference between Milvus and Otus, not surprisingly really.
The new 1.4/50 looks much sharper but still shows lots of CA though.
I agree, wide open there is clearly a difference between Milvus and Otus, not surprisingly really.
Sep 10, 2015 at 08:45 AM
p.3 #2Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
Steve Spencer wrote:
Curious as to how the 100M compares to the venerable 100 Makro-Planar which was next in the queue...It looks from the data sheets like they are identical optically. Everything in the data sheets appears to be identical unless I missed something. You do get the new housing, a possibility to declick the aperture, and weather sealing, but it is heavier by about 200g 
Thank you, that helps point me in the right direction. I'm not an early adopter (not even a fast follower, maybe a laggard is a better word....) so I'll hang tight and see if the prices for the 100 MP ZE start to decline a touch.
scottsoutter wrote
I'm just pleased as punch that I sold my 85 ZE Planar a couple weeks ago.Curious as to how the 100M compares to the venerable 100 Makro-Planar which was next in the queue...
Thank you, that helps point me in the right direction. I'm not an early adopter (not even a fast follower, maybe a laggard is a better word....) so I'll hang tight and see if the prices for the 100 MP ZE start to decline a touch.
Sep 10, 2015 at 08:47 AM
p.3 #3Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
I'm very interested to see how these will optically compare to the older ZE line. However, I confess I prefer the exterior design of the older ZE!
Sep 10, 2015 at 08:52 AM
p.3 #5Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
I can't believe how big and heavy these are. The 85/1.4 is 45oz in EF mount. That's more than double what something like the Rokinon 85/1.4 weighs. I'm sure the Milvus will be a bit better optically, but holy crap...don' t think that the optical improvement will be worth the 2.4x increase in weight and 6.7x increase in price.
Sep 10, 2015 at 09:21 AM
p.3 #6Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
Jman13 wrote:
I can't believe how big and heavy these are. The 85/1.4 is 45oz in EF mount. That's more than double what something like the Rokinon 85/1.4 weighs. I'm sure the Milvus will be a bit better optically, but holy crap...don' t think that the optical improvement will be worth the 2.4x increase in weight and 6.7x increase in price.
That weight of the 85 is quite surprising. It actually weighs more than the Otus 85, and is only just a bit smaller in length and diameter. The good news is that it has a very similar design, so may have almost its performance as well. Still its size is pretty shocking.
I can't believe how big and heavy these are. The 85/1.4 is 45oz in EF mount. That's more than double what something like the Rokinon 85/1.4 weighs. I'm sure the Milvus will be a bit better optically, but holy crap...don' t think that the optical improvement will be worth the 2.4x increase in weight and 6.7x increase in price.
That weight of the 85 is quite surprising. It actually weighs more than the Otus 85, and is only just a bit smaller in length and diameter. The good news is that it has a very similar design, so may have almost its performance as well. Still its size is pretty shocking.
Sep 10, 2015 at 09:26 AM
p.3 #7Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
The B&H pre-order page has prices for the Milvus.
Sep 10, 2015 at 09:27 AM
p.3 #8Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
Jman13 wrote:
... and 6.7x increase in price.
That's not quite correct is it? The increase is more like 1.5 between the 85 Planar and the Milvus
... and 6.7x increase in price.
That's not quite correct is it? The increase is more like 1.5 between the 85 Planar and the Milvus
Sep 10, 2015 at 09:27 AM
p.3 #9Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
Tsmith318 wrote:
I'm very interested to see how these will optically compare to the older ZE line. However, I confess I prefer the exterior design of the older ZE!
Agreed. Aesthetically, the sleek brushed metal design of the classic ZE with straight lines and non-tapered hoods was beautifully simple and refined. I especially appreciated that with reversed lens hoods, they were as minimally compact as possible. I'm also a fan of the lower weight of the classic line, too.
Now if these newer Milvus designs have the smooth and precise focus rings of the Otus line, then I'd overall call it a win though. In a few cases the older design was a bit stiff.
Edited on Sep 10, 2015 at 09:29 AM · View previous versions
I'm very interested to see how these will optically compare to the older ZE line. However, I confess I prefer the exterior design of the older ZE!
Agreed. Aesthetically, the sleek brushed metal design of the classic ZE with straight lines and non-tapered hoods was beautifully simple and refined. I especially appreciated that with reversed lens hoods, they were as minimally compact as possible. I'm also a fan of the lower weight of the classic line, too.
Now if these newer Milvus designs have the smooth and precise focus rings of the Otus line, then I'd overall call it a win though. In a few cases the older design was a bit stiff.
Edited on Sep 10, 2015 at 09:29 AM · View previous versions
Sep 10, 2015 at 09:28 AM
p.3 #10Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
joakim wrote:
Jman13 wrote
... and 6.7x increase in price.Compared to the Samyang it is 6.7x more is what he was saying
Sep 10, 2015 at 09:29 AM
p.3 #11Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
I must say, so far, I don't "get it". Why should Zeiss feel that repackaging existing lenses, albeit with improved coatings and weathersealing, and with much nicer focusing throw, is worth a full reissue with hoopla and much extra weight and cost?
Sep 10, 2015 at 09:29 AM
p.3 #12Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
joakim wrote:
Example on flickr with Milvus 50/1.4 wide open here and you find links to comparison shots with the classic 50 Planar and 55 Otus there also.
Wow, the Otus is really hell of lens! Not only the sharpness, but for me it's the skin tones rendering, which really stands out! I had same feeling after an local Zeiss event, where I've shot Otus 85, Planar 2/100 and APO-Sonnar 2/135. When I firstly reviewed the shots at home on calibrated monitor, Otus files immediately pop out from the crowd. Now I really understand, what Zeiss means by medium format quality with Otus line...
Example on flickr with Milvus 50/1.4 wide open here and you find links to comparison shots with the classic 50 Planar and 55 Otus there also.
Wow, the Otus is really hell of lens! Not only the sharpness, but for me it's the skin tones rendering, which really stands out! I had same feeling after an local Zeiss event, where I've shot Otus 85, Planar 2/100 and APO-Sonnar 2/135. When I firstly reviewed the shots at home on calibrated monitor, Otus files immediately pop out from the crowd. Now I really understand, what Zeiss means by medium format quality with Otus line...
Sep 10, 2015 at 09:30 AM
p.3 #13Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
Did my little write-up on my site and asked Zeiss a few questions. These are snippets I posted on my site:
With this move, Zeiss is retiring those lenses in its existing ZE/ZF lens lines that have focal lenghts similar to those in the new Milvus line, with the exception of the Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 and the Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4, since their technical design differs substantially from the new Milvus editions, according to Zeiss.
Asked whether the company is still planning to announce another Otus and one or more Loxia lenses this year, as expected, Zeiss merely said that “there will be another announcement this fall.”
You're welcome...
Edited on Sep 10, 2015 at 09:32 AM · View previous versions
With this move, Zeiss is retiring those lenses in its existing ZE/ZF lens lines that have focal lenghts similar to those in the new Milvus line, with the exception of the Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 and the Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4, since their technical design differs substantially from the new Milvus editions, according to Zeiss.
Asked whether the company is still planning to announce another Otus and one or more Loxia lenses this year, as expected, Zeiss merely said that “there will be another announcement this fall.”
You're welcome...
Edited on Sep 10, 2015 at 09:32 AM · View previous versions
Sep 10, 2015 at 09:32 AM
p.3 #14Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
hiepphotog wrote:
No floating... But a lot more E/LD and ASPHAre you sure? That would be an odd choice as they have added floating elements to all the recent releases of the ZE/ZF and they tend to only report it in the brochure and never in the data sheets. For the 50 ASPH definitely makes sense, but I could live without it for the 85, but more anomalous partial dispersion glass would definitely be welcome in both. The 50 has 3 more elements and 2 more groups (but does not share the Otus partial distagon design, it seems to be a modified double gauss that looks a bit like the FE 55 f/1.8, so a bit of Sonnar to this planar), so one would hope those extra elements left room for some APD glass and a ASPH or two.I think the ad info from BHphoto would be quite reliable. The Makro clearly show that they have floating elements design.
The new 50/1.4 has 4 LD elements and 1 ASPH (vs. the old one without any of those). It's actually a "Distagon" design
. This is probably as good as the Sigma Art 50.
The new 85/1.4 has 7 LD elements (old one has none).
The Zeiss brochure does list both of these as have a "floating elements" design however. So in addition to all the special glass in these new 50 and 85 they also have a floating element. And you are right, the new 50 is much more of a distagon type design (like the Otus 55) than a Planar or Sonnar. In the brochure they even call the 50 a distagon and the 85 a Planar, so the 50 f/1.4 is a huge departure for the ZE/ZF, but the 85 is very different too.
Steve Spencer wrote
hiepphotog wrote
Steve Spencer wrote
Any report on whether the 50 and 85 planers now have a floating element? All the other one's released already did in the ZE/ZF incarnation. Just adding that should allow the 50 and 85 to have much better close range performance. They were two of only a small number of ZE/ZF lenses without a floating element.The new 50/1.4 has 4 LD elements and 1 ASPH (vs. the old one without any of those). It's actually a "Distagon" design
. This is probably as good as the Sigma Art 50.The new 85/1.4 has 7 LD elements (old one has none).
The Zeiss brochure does list both of these as have a "floating elements" design however. So in addition to all the special glass in these new 50 and 85 they also have a floating element. And you are right, the new 50 is much more of a distagon type design (like the Otus 55) than a Planar or Sonnar. In the brochure they even call the 50 a distagon and the 85 a Planar, so the 50 f/1.4 is a huge departure for the ZE/ZF, but the 85 is very different too.
Sep 10, 2015 at 09:32 AM
p.3 #15Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
Steve Spencer wrote:
No floating... But a lot more E/LD and ASPHAre you sure? That would be an odd choice as they have added floating elements to all the recent releases of the ZE/ZF and they tend to only report it in the brochure and never in the data sheets. For the 50 ASPH definitely makes sense, but I could live without it for the 85, but more anomalous partial dispersion glass would definitely be welcome in both. The 50 has 3 more elements and 2 more groups (but does not share the Otus partial distagon design, it seems to be a modified double gauss that looks a bit like the FE 55 f/1.8, so a bit of Sonnar to this planar), so one would hope those extra elements left room for some APD glass and a ASPH or two.I think the ad info from BHphoto would be quite reliable. The Makro clearly show that they have floating elements design.
The new 50/1.4 has 4 LD elements and 1 ASPH (vs. the old one without any of those). It's actually a "Distagon" design. This is probably as good as the Sigma Art 50.
The new 85/1.4 has 7 LD elements (old one has none).The Zeiss brochure does list both of these as have a "floating elements" design however. So in addition to all the special glass in these new 50 and 85 they also have a floating element. And you are right, the new 50 is much more of a distagon type design (like the Otus 55) than a Planar or Sonnar. In the brochure they even call the 50 a distagon and the 85 a Planar, so the 50 f/1.4 is a huge departure for the ZE/ZF, but the 85 is very different too.
Yep, see my post above yours...
hiepphotog wrote
Steve Spencer wrote
hiepphotog wrote
Steve Spencer wrote
Any report on whether the 50 and 85 planers now have a floating element? All the other one's released already did in the ZE/ZF incarnation. Just adding that should allow the 50 and 85 to have much better close range performance. They were two of only a small number of ZE/ZF lenses without a floating element.The new 50/1.4 has 4 LD elements and 1 ASPH (vs. the old one without any of those). It's actually a "Distagon" design
. This is probably as good as the Sigma Art 50.The new 85/1.4 has 7 LD elements (old one has none).
Yep, see my post above yours...
Sep 10, 2015 at 09:33 AM
p.3 #16Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
philber wrote:
There is also a new Loxia and a new Otus.
It is confirmed ? this year ?
No 1:1 on Milvus 2/100M ?
But the lineup seems great
but they are big and heavy .. must be good build quality and very good glass
There is also a new Loxia and a new Otus.
It is confirmed ? this year ?
No 1:1 on Milvus 2/100M ?
But the lineup seems great
but they are big and heavy .. must be good build quality and very good glass
Sep 10, 2015 at 09:42 AM
p.3 #17Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
philber wrote:
I must say, so far, I don't "get it". Why should Zeiss feel that repackaging existing lenses, albeit with improved coatings and weathersealing, and with much nicer focusing throw, is worth a full reissue with hoopla and much extra weight and cost?
Well, this sort of repackaging if people go for it might well lead to nice profits. I don't see the prices as that extreme either. The ZE 100 MP is now $300 more, so a price increase but not an insane one considering you get weather sealing and the de-click feature and perhaps a slightly be focus throw (the other was so good though it is hard to imagine this as better). Yes the 50 and 85 f/1.4 lenses are considerably more expensive, but they look to be much better lenses too. The new 50 and 85 also let's Zeiss compete more effectively on price with still what looks to be excellent performance with Canon and Nikon. The 50 is still just $1,200 and I am betting its performance will at least compete with the Sigma Art and be substantially better than the Canon and Nikon offerings. The 85 looks to be the second best performing 85 (losing only to the Otus) and at $1,800 even though it is huge I think it is quite the bargain. So, I think these new lenses will sell quite well, and the price increase on the old ones is understandable. Personally what annoys me is how big all these lenses are, but I still think they will be compelling to a number of people interested in top quality lenses.
Edit: The new Milvus lenses that are just rehoused are not more expensive than the old ZE/ZF line. They are listed at the same price and B & H has a $300 price reduction for the old ZE/ZF line. So you get weather sealing, the declick feature, better coatings, and a weight increase (and often a size increase, but see the 21mm it is actually shorter as a Milvus but fatter and weighs more).
Edited on Sep 10, 2015 at 11:33 AM · View previous versions
I must say, so far, I don't "get it". Why should Zeiss feel that repackaging existing lenses, albeit with improved coatings and weathersealing, and with much nicer focusing throw, is worth a full reissue with hoopla and much extra weight and cost?
Well, this sort of repackaging if people go for it might well lead to nice profits. I don't see the prices as that extreme either. The ZE 100 MP is now $300 more, so a price increase but not an insane one considering you get weather sealing and the de-click feature and perhaps a slightly be focus throw (the other was so good though it is hard to imagine this as better). Yes the 50 and 85 f/1.4 lenses are considerably more expensive, but they look to be much better lenses too. The new 50 and 85 also let's Zeiss compete more effectively on price with still what looks to be excellent performance with Canon and Nikon. The 50 is still just $1,200 and I am betting its performance will at least compete with the Sigma Art and be substantially better than the Canon and Nikon offerings. The 85 looks to be the second best performing 85 (losing only to the Otus) and at $1,800 even though it is huge I think it is quite the bargain. So, I think these new lenses will sell quite well, and the price increase on the old ones is understandable. Personally what annoys me is how big all these lenses are, but I still think they will be compelling to a number of people interested in top quality lenses.
Edit: The new Milvus lenses that are just rehoused are not more expensive than the old ZE/ZF line. They are listed at the same price and B & H has a $300 price reduction for the old ZE/ZF line. So you get weather sealing, the declick feature, better coatings, and a weight increase (and often a size increase, but see the 21mm it is actually shorter as a Milvus but fatter and weighs more).
Edited on Sep 10, 2015 at 11:33 AM · View previous versions
Sep 10, 2015 at 09:46 AM
p.3 #18Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
johnvanr wrote:
With this move, Zeiss is retiring those lenses in its existing ZE/ZF lens lines that have focal lenghts similar to those in the new Milvus line, with the exception of the Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 and the Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4, since their technical design differs substantially from the new Milvus editions, according to Zeiss.
So the line up for DSLR will be
15/2.8 - Classic but quite new
18/3.5 - Classic
21/2.8 - Milvus
25/2.0 - Classic
25/2.8 - Classic
28/2.0 - Classic
35/1.4 - Classic
35/2.0 - Milvus
50/1.4 - Classic
50/1.4 - Milvus
50M/2.0 - Milvus
55/1.4 - Otus
85/1.4 - Classic
85/1.4 - Milvus
85/1.4 - Otus
100M/2.0 - Milvus
135/2.0 - Classic but quite new
What did I miss
Edited on Sep 10, 2015 at 09:51 AM · View previous versions
With this move, Zeiss is retiring those lenses in its existing ZE/ZF lens lines that have focal lenghts similar to those in the new Milvus line, with the exception of the Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 and the Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4, since their technical design differs substantially from the new Milvus editions, according to Zeiss.
So the line up for DSLR will be
15/2.8 - Classic but quite new
18/3.5 - Classic
21/2.8 - Milvus
25/2.0 - Classic
25/2.8 - Classic
28/2.0 - Classic
35/1.4 - Classic
35/2.0 - Milvus
50/1.4 - Classic
50/1.4 - Milvus
50M/2.0 - Milvus
55/1.4 - Otus
85/1.4 - Classic
85/1.4 - Milvus
85/1.4 - Otus
100M/2.0 - Milvus
135/2.0 - Classic but quite new
What did I miss
Edited on Sep 10, 2015 at 09:51 AM · View previous versions
Sep 10, 2015 at 09:49 AM
p.3 #19Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
Steve, as ever, you make total sense. But the weight? Don't you think it will keep quite a few people buying less of a boat anchor? Right now, I have 2 heavy lenses in my bag, plus one middleweight, and a A7RII. That is already very heavy for an everyday bag. When the third heavy lens comes (I have no WA right now), I don't know if my bag and/or I can hold up. So Milvus weights are.... intense...
Sep 10, 2015 at 09:51 AM
p.3 #20Zeiss Milvus are out: new range of DSLR lenses!
Jman13 wrote:
I can't believe how big and heavy these are. The 85/1.4 is 45oz in EF mount. That's more than double what something like the Rokinon 85/1.4 weighs. I'm sure the Milvus will be a bit better optically, but holy crap...don' t think that the optical improvement will be worth the 2.4x increase in weight and 6.7x increase in price.
Double the weight of the Nikon 85/1.4, as well. If it approaches the Otus optically but at a more competitive price, then some people would be willing to make the tradeoff. Not me, however.
I can't believe how big and heavy these are. The 85/1.4 is 45oz in EF mount. That's more than double what something like the Rokinon 85/1.4 weighs. I'm sure the Milvus will be a bit better optically, but holy crap...don' t think that the optical improvement will be worth the 2.4x increase in weight and 6.7x increase in price.
Double the weight of the Nikon 85/1.4, as well. If it approaches the Otus optically but at a more competitive price, then some people would be willing to make the tradeoff. Not me, however.
Sep 10, 2015 at 09:59 AM