p.14 #1 · LensRentals: Planar T* FE 50/1.4 ZA is absolutely superb!
It seems a fair bit more contrasty and punchy to me than the 55/1.8. That's what stands out the most for me. The color & contrast at f/1.4 are really impressive.
It's clear that CA is extremely well controlled, at least relative to the 55. The bokeh is obviously quite different. The falloff is very smooth, though the bokeh itself seems more structured than the 55's bokeh (which I believe is typical for a Planar vs. Sonnar design).
I'm impressed, I'm leaning more & more towards preordering.
p.14 #3 · LensRentals: Planar T* FE 50/1.4 ZA is absolutely superb!
MrTMan wrote:
It seems a fair bit more contrasty and punchy to me than the 55/1.8. That's what stands out the most for me. The color & contrast at f/1.4 are really impressive.
It's clear that CA is extremely well controlled, at least relative to the 55. The bokeh is obviously quite different. The falloff is very smooth, though the bokeh itself seems more structured than the 55's bokeh (which I believe is typical for a Planar vs. Sonnar design).
I'm impressed, I'm leaning more & more towards preordering.
I have a similar impression from the samples so far. Great rendering with bold colors and high contrast.
IMO, it draws like a Loxia 50/2, except that it's faster and has AF. The structured transition zone and bokeh disk characteristics are the giveaway.
p.14 #4 · LensRentals: Planar T* FE 50/1.4 ZA is absolutely superb!
IMO, it draws like a Loxia 50/2, except that it's faster and has AF.
Perfect! In my humble opinion, the Loxia is a super all round 50 that you really can't go wrong with. If the new 50 is anywhere similar, like Fred says, then I can't wait to shoot it when it comes in!
p.14 #6 · LensRentals: Planar T* FE 50/1.4 ZA is absolutely superb!
Does the term 'structured' mean harsh?
Im looking at the samples on a phone so am at a disadvantage but the bright rings on the edges of the bokeh balls look to me like overcorrected SA which of course is synonymous with harsh bokeh. It might be slight, but, it looks to me like this lens may have a bias to harsh bokeh, if only slight. Time and further samples will tell.
p.14 #7 · LensRentals: Planar T* FE 50/1.4 ZA is absolutely superb!
All I can say from these samples is that bokeh is very similar to what I get from my Loxia 50/2. Clean and rounded bokeh balls at f/2 with some distinctive edge lining. I can only be sure testing them side by side though.
p.14 #9 · LensRentals: Planar T* FE 50/1.4 ZA is absolutely superb!
MrTMan wrote:
Personally I'm willing to trade a bit of smoothness in bokeh in return for more color/contrast/pop, which is what I think this lens has.
The only other planar I've used was the Touit 32. It had a crazy amount of pop, and the 50/1.4 reminds me of that.
The color and contrast could have some post-processing though. It looks like the image samples from the videos were processed in Lightroom. Are there any RAW files available?
p.14 #11 · LensRentals: Planar T* FE 50/1.4 ZA is absolutely superb!
may just walk in B&H and buy this lens Friday morning.
Hey Guy...ill throw you some $$ if you can grab one for me too!!
I'm not sure when my pre-order will ship!!
G
p.14 #13 · LensRentals: Planar T* FE 50/1.4 ZA is absolutely superb!
I am on the sidelines for this one, all I need is for one of you hepcats to tell me this lens has that special sauce, that mojo, sorta like the 85mm G Master, and I am in..... I like what I see so far....
p.14 #14 · LensRentals: Planar T* FE 50/1.4 ZA is absolutely superb!
i cxl'd this to wait and see what lenses are announced next.
it's a fantastic looking lens, but i'm thinking more about the overall kit now.
i sold the 55 / 1.8 already - but i'm not sure i need 35, 85 AND the 50 all f/1.4 - sort of close spacing for me.
i never loved the 55 / 1.8 - but i think i'd rather have its replacement be a Batis (long shot that they release one in the next year) or see if they release a 28 GM, no reason to think they are, but i could then sell the Batis 25 and Zony 35 / 1.4 and have a f/1.4 trinity at 28 / 50 / 85 which is better spacing.
i did like having a smaller kit (B18, B25, Z55) and larger kit (Z35, 85GM) with the ability to mix and match, and am not in a rush to turn it into a purely big kit.
so for now i have a gap between 35 and 85, but i'm OK w/ that.
p.14 #15 · LensRentals: Planar T* FE 50/1.4 ZA is absolutely superb!
Fred Miranda wrote:
All I can say from these samples is that bokeh is very similar to what I get from my Loxia 50/2. Clean and rounded bokeh balls at f/2 with some distinctive edge lining. I can only be sure testing them side by side though.
Considering the Loxia is a Planar design and Planars are not considered optimum or ideal bokeh quality, if going for smoothness.
I would expect if the new 50/1.4 has similarities to Planar rendering, you'll see a more structured background, all else being equal. As always with rendering, it's going to boil down to personal preferences.
I had a quick scan through the stills in those videos and do think the lens has some Planar rendering similarities. By no means a bad thing. Just another flavor from which to choose.
p.14 #16 · LensRentals: Planar T* FE 50/1.4 ZA is absolutely superb!
If I can get a Loxia 50 look and performance with AF than I'm ahead of the game. And this focal length for me at least I could use the AF. I'm bidding on a big gig that this lens would be perfect for. A fast 50 AF would not hurt with the grandkids either.
Fred Miranda wrote:
All I can say from these samples is that bokeh is very similar to what I get from my Loxia 50/2. Clean and rounded bokeh balls at f/2 with some distinctive edge lining. I can only be sure testing them side by side though.
p.14 #17 · LensRentals: Planar T* FE 50/1.4 ZA is absolutely superb!
Just checked my B&H account, and it tells me my FE 50 1.4 is shipping today! Yesssss!! I'll get to try it before our camping trip next week!!
Never mind grabbing one for me Guy!!
G
p.14 #18 · LensRentals: Planar T* FE 50/1.4 ZA is absolutely superb!
It is actually in stock right now... In other words, it didn't get sold out during the pre-order period. After the initial impulse of getting this lens, I started to think that focal length-wise it is too close to my beloved 35mm f/1.4. The 35mm lens plays nicely with the 85mm GM while the 50mm is too close to the GM. So, it looks like I am skipping this one. I reserve the right to change my mind in the not too distant future though
p.14 #20 · LensRentals: Planar T* FE 50/1.4 ZA is absolutely superb!
AGeoJO wrote:
It is actually in stock right now... In other words, it didn't get sold out during the pre-order period. After the initial impulse of getting this lens, I started to think that focal length-wise it is too close to my beloved 35mm f/1.4. The 35mm lens plays nicely with the 85mm GM while the 50mm is too close to the GM. So, it looks like I am skipping this one. I reserve the right to change my mind in the not too distant future though
Joshua - i'm right there with you - i sold my 55 / 1.8 to buy the Planar but then decided to wait to see if one of two things happens: a Batis 50 or a 28 GM - i could see my kit going in 1 of 2 directions (both starting with Batis 18):
a) 28, 50, 85 - all @ f/1.4
b) Batis 25, Batis 50, 35/1.4, 85/1.4
(a) is fewer lenses (b) provides a smaller sub-kit.
With my luck, neither a Batis 50 nor 28 GM is going to be released in the next several years and i'll have to live with a gap between 35 and 85.
But i was thinking about a 3rd option for a kit:
Batis 18, Batis 25, Zony 50 Planar, 70-200/2.8 GM
The good news is that the 50/1.4 looks like a fantastic lens for those who have a kit that it makes sense for.
Building a kit like this is on the one hand frustrating, like trying to solve a Rubik's cube - i can never get more than 2 or 3 sides complete without busting another side - but on the other hand, it's nice to try different focal lengths and renderings - it keeps the experience and results interesting along the way.
