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Archive 2017 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

moxford
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

I see lots of love for the (adapted/corrected) ZM, but not so much the ZE/ZA variants.

What am I missing, outside of build-quality?

Thanks!

-mox

Feb 27, 2017 at 05:37 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

Hi Mox,
I believe weight and size play a big role here.
The 35/1.4 (ZF.2 or ZE) with adapter weighs almost 1,000 grams compared to the 35/1.4 ZM + Hawks adapter at only 430 grams. The FE 35/1.4 ZA is the middle ground in terms of weight and size but it's still a bit unbalanced on the A7 series.

In terms of IQ, I have never tested the ZF.2/ZE version so others may comment on it. The three copies of the FE version I tried were severely decentered and I gave up on it. Bokeh was smoother a mid-distances but it didn't have the ZM micro-contrast. Corners didn't look that great at infinity but that could be due to my copies.

What I really like about the ZM 35/1.4 is the superb IQ wide open, relative compactness, 10-blade aperture and flare performance. I wish Zeiss could make a Loxia version of this lens optimized for the Sony sensor stack.

Feb 27, 2017 at 05:59 PM

moxford
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

Huge thanks for the answer and great perspective!

Feb 27, 2017 at 06:23 PM

DannyBurkPhoto
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

I like my ZE 35/1.4 quite a lot, although as Fred says, it's big and heavy. I'm following the adapted ZM thread with interest; if a Loxia version does become available at some point, I'll bite. Meanwhile, here's a sample from last week, taken with the ZE at super close range, wide open: with 12mm extension tube, the lens was nearly touching the flowers

Early snowdrops by Danny Burk, on Flickr

Feb 27, 2017 at 06:46 PM

darbo
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

I loved the 35mm 1.4 ZE - best bokeh of any of them...but way too heavy for me, so I let mine go.

Now, trying to decide between playing the FE 35mm f/1.4 ZA lottery (again) or going with the better landscape/cityscape lens in the ZM model, or even giving the very nice CV Ultron 35mm 1.7 a try. Tough choices.

Feb 27, 2017 at 07:09 PM

DavidBM
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

I think a good copy of the ZA is a better bet than ZE/F (while acknowledging that a good copy is hard to come by). Its shaper at wide apertures and has beautiful bokeh (modulo onion rings and a tiny bit if LoCa but no worse than any other) and AF is great for wide open portraits. Its very sharp across from be field stopped down, rught into corners, but the contrast is not as high as the ZM or Loxia (or likely the cv 1.7/35 though i dont know that first hand).

So I use the ZA and the Loxia, though i can see a case for the ZM 1.4 as a one lens solution.

Feb 27, 2017 at 11:24 PM

engardeknave
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

I recently looked into a number of 35mm lenses and decided to order the Tamron SP 35/1.8--really cheap used, f/1.8, low distortion. Also possibly very sharp.

DXOMark:
Tamron SP 35mm F1.8 Di VC USD (Model F012) Nikon: D800e=29mp
Sony Carl Zeiss Distagon T* FE 35mm F1.4 ZA: A7R=23mp (A7RII=36mp)
Sony FE Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 35mm F2.8 ZA: A7R=22mp (A7RII=32mp)
Carl Zeiss Distagon T 35mm f/1.4 ZF2 Nikon: D800e=23mp
Carl Zeiss Distagon T 35mm f/2 ZF2 Nikon: D800e=24mp

The A7R and D800e are basically the same sensor, but somehow I doubt these numbers are accurate. Look at those wild jumps in resolution with the A7RII. I don't think it can be shutter shock at 35mm. I guess I'll find out today when it arrives.

Feb 28, 2017 at 12:12 PM

3catsinky
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

is finding a good copy of the the Sony Zeiss 35FE a big challenge? I want one, but now am worried about getting a good one, especially buying used.

Feb 28, 2017 at 12:31 PM

philber
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

I owned and loved a ZE 35 f:1,4 on my Canon 5DII. But that was then and the ZM is a more recent design. In the interim, Zeiss have improved, their best lenses are all among the most recent ones, like the 3 Otus, the ZM 35, the Loxia 21, the ZE/Milvus 135APO. The ZE 35 had lovely bokeh, but reduced contrast wide open, which Lloyd Chambers really didn't like. Besides, being used on a 22Mp sensor is easier for a lens than on a 42Mp one, so how ell it would perform on a high pixel-count sensor I really don't know. For example, I loved the Zeiss ZE 50 f:1,4 on my Canon, but it was not acceptable on my A7RII. Besides, as Fred points out in hs excellent response, the ZM is much smaller and lighter.
As to theZA , like all its Sony-Zeiss siblings, it is not a Zeiss-designed lens, but a Sony design with some involvement from Zeiss. Different animal altogether, on which I can't comment.

Feb 28, 2017 at 01:12 PM

Mirror
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

After owning the 35mm 1.4 ZM with TAP for a while and after sending back the 35mm 1.4 ZA (decentered) I landed back at my start with the little featherlight 2.8 ZA. Its just unbeatable and quite sharp already wide open. EyeAF is is on board vs. ZM with TAP. It might deliver not the 100% of the ZM but for its size and weight I am happy with its 85% performance. Actually the ZM had a bit too much contrast for my taste. For everything else I take a 24-70GM / 55 1.8 or 85GM...it depends on the project.

Feb 28, 2017 at 01:28 PM

sebboh
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

philber wrote:
I owned and loved a ZE 35 f:1,4 on my Canon 5DII. But that was then and the ZM is a more recent design. In the interim, Zeiss have improved, their best lenses are all among the most recent ones, like the 3 Otus, the ZM 35, the Loxia 21, the ZE/Milvus 135APO. The ZE 35 had lovely bokeh, but reduced contrast wide open, which Lloyd Chambers really didn't like. Besides, being used on a 22Mp sensor is easier for a lens than on a 42Mp one, so how ell it would perform on a high pixel-count sensor I really...Show more →

personally, i like the ZE 35/1.4 better for it's reduced contrast wide open vs the zm 35/1.4.

much as i wanted to love the zm (as i did my old c/y 35/1.4) it seems like more of a one trick pony to me (in your face contrast and pop).

the zm is better for landscape though, and the ZE is unusably big and heavy on a A7* imho (i think the ZA is too big too).

Feb 28, 2017 at 04:25 PM

DannyBurkPhoto
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

For lightweight use, I have a Loxia 35; I only use the ZE if I want to shoot at 1.4 (flower closeups, mostly). True that it's big and heavy, but I wouldn't consider it unusable; it's practically light compared to the 55 and 85 Oti that I also use on an A7RII

Feb 28, 2017 at 04:35 PM

Jochenb
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

philber wrote:
I loved the Zeiss ZE 50 f:1,4 on my Canon, but it was not acceptable on my A7RII.

I still love this lens today. Even on my A7RII. At F2.8 the bokeh and sharpness are great.
Wide open, close range is very soft... but that's also how it was on my Canons. 42MP makes it worse, that's certainly true but it doesn't really bother me.

Regarding the 35mm lenses that are mentioned in this thread:
I've owned most of them. My favorite rendering one of the bunch is the ZE/ZF, next comes the 1.4 ZA (I had a good copy).
What I like about the ZE/ZF is that it's not highly corrected. As a results it's soft wide open, but it has smoother bokeh. It all improves as you stop down. Nice color rendering too.
The ZM has become hugely loved on FM, but I still can't stand it's mid distance bokeh. It's very harsh compared to the ZE/ZF and ZA. This is partly because of the problems it has on the Sony sensors. I'd love to see a Loxia version of the ZM.

I strongly disliked the FE35/2.8. Very high vignetting (still at F8), harsh bokeh and weird focus behavior. Stopping down mostly results in more DOF to the foreground, hardly any to the background. Not worth it's asking price IMHO.

Mar 01, 2017 at 05:35 AM

Mirror
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

The FE35/2.8 is also an "emergency-lens" let's call it that way. It's the best lens with a A7RII during a dinner f.e. Completely discrete, compact and ultra light. I do not want to shoot with any other lens during such events. Also for street shootings it's great. Sharpness is more than acceptable wide open and yes there is vignetting but that's nothing compared to the ZM wide open! You do not pay the quite high price for the IQ but for it's unbeatable size and weight. Simply there is a lack of options @35mm@ in the prime area. I will have to wait until a 35mm GM or a 35mm Batis comes out, everything else will be more or less some kind of a compromise. (I do not want to play lottery to find a centered ZA, the ZM has no eye-AF with the TAP, for Video unusable and it is still quite a heavy combo at the end) I found my 24-70GM @35mm@ is so good I really do not urgent need a prime in this FL in the moment.

Mar 01, 2017 at 06:22 AM

stevesanacore
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

The FE 35 2.8 is certainly a great option for many reasons but it's very overpriced. Explain to me why the Sony 28 f2 is almost half the price.. But I think there is a Basis 35 1.8 coming soon, (at least I hope so). I also love the 1.4 ZM but it's also costly and manual focus is just not as practical for me. My two cents...

Mar 01, 2017 at 10:06 PM

Mirror
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

stevesanacore wrote:
The FE 35 2.8 is certainly a great option for many reasons but it's very overpriced. Explain to me why the Sony 28 f2 is almost half the price..

You are right... Only because there is no Zeiss badge, or T-Coating on the 28mm justifies not double the price but personally I prefer 35mm over 28mm.

Mar 02, 2017 at 09:24 AM

AdaptedLenses
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

Few other options... I liked the ZE 35/2. I find myself missing it most of lenses I don't have anymore and may get another. Good bokeh, not too big and tons of pop. The CY 35/1.4 I still have, it's excellent in a subtle way and won't be going anywhere. I currently have the Loxia and it's better than its detractors say. I don't get the enjoyment from shooting it that I do others though... maybe the cost to performance ratio?

Mar 02, 2017 at 03:42 PM

DavidBM
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

stevesanacore wrote:
The FE 35 2.8 is certainly a great option for many reasons but it's very overpriced. Explain to me why the Sony 28 f2 is almost half the price.. But I think there is a Basis 35 1.8 coming soon, (at least I hope so). I also love the 1.4 ZM but it's also costly and manual focus is just not as practical for me. My two cents...

I don't know how much it affects the cost, but the remarkable thing about the 2.8/35 is that it's peak performance is pretty much wide open, and it's better wide open than the 2/28 is stopped down to f2.8. It makes the little 35 very useful in a tiny package.

The downside is that it doesn't improve much stopped down; and at smaller apertures the 2/28 is at least as good.

Mar 02, 2017 at 03:57 PM

Chris_88
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

The search for the ideal 35mm prime has become somewhat like the search for the holy grail around here

.

Many FM'ers myself including want a fast and compact 35. As Fred correctly pointed out, even the TAP the 35 ZM comes closest to that ideal. I love the ZM for its reasonable size, performance wide open, flare resistance and beautiful sunstars.

If the latter two points aren't important to you, the Sonnar in the RX1 series is one of the best 35mm's available (assuming you're willing to buy the camera that is permanently attached to it).

I had both Sony 35mm's previously. The 35 2.8, while good, didn't do a lot to me and it just wasn't fast enough for my purposes. I really liked the 35 1.4. In retrospect, I'm still not sure whether it was a good idea to sell my very decent copy. Mine had one weaker corner, which at the time just annoyed me for landscape shooting. However, I really like how the Sony 35 1.4 draws. I don't look at my bokeh at 200% magnification, but the OOF areas in autumn leaf-type of shots were just really nice. Other than this one weak corner, it was also seriously sharp across the frame from around f4. Last but not least, it had a better flare resistance than many Sony lenses.

Mar 02, 2017 at 04:45 PM

Ghamauricio
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 ZM vs ZE vs ZA

Hey guys

I'm also looking for a 35mm to help me emulate some analog medium format (smooth rendering, excellent sharpness, outstanding micro-contrast/punch/texture/pop/three dimensionality/you name it) and that could be used (adapted or not) to an A7R II (tricky part: I'm gonna have it debayered and have the IR filter removed, so I don't know how it would perform without the sensor's microlenses).

The main goal is general street photography with some landscapes/cityscapes and general informal portraiture. I don't mind stopping it down for sharpness for landscapes, but it's gotta be somewhat sharp.

Now there are zillions of versions of 35mm's from Zeiss: Biogon, Distagon, even Planar. ZM, ZE, ZF, ZF.2, f/1.4, f/2 for hundreds of mounts, several different versions and years of production etc etc etc).
I know it's a little off topic, but there is also the Voigtlander 35mm f/1.7 Ultron (I don't like the rendering on the 1.2 Nokton II), so here's the question: how do I get started sorting out all that information in my head before deciding which one I'll buy?

Anywhere I can read a resumé on the Zeiss versions?
Someone can enlighten me?

Thanks guys, and have a great day!

Jan 08, 2019 at 10:11 PM

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