p.6 #1 · Zony 50mm f/1.4 Planar T* ZA VS Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM
j4nu wrote:
You can -> "A".
The lock is not needed imho, because there is a significant resistance betwen "A" and other values.
And yes, I agree MF ring is too touchy (the same as 35GM unfortunately).
Getting back to the original topic of the thread, I think the difference between the ZA and the GM is significant enough to warrant a switch .
Still would have been nice to control the aperture from the camera body. I can live with it though. It feels more natural turning the aperture ring.
Speaking of the Zeiss Planar 50mm F/1.4. This lens has 3D pop wide open. I was pretty impressed with some of my outdoor portraits the other day.
p.6 #2 · Zony 50mm f/1.4 Planar T* ZA VS Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM
princeharbinger wrote:
Still would have been nice to control the aperture from the camera body. I can live with it though. It feels more natural turning the aperture ring.
As j4nu pointed out, you can control the aperture from the camera body.
Just turn the aperture ring to “A”. And you can adjust the aperture using the camera body. Just like any lens without an aperture ring.
p.6 #5 · Zony 50mm f/1.4 Planar T* ZA VS Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM
I sold my Planar to buy the GM but I don't know if I made the right choice.
The 50 GM can make the subject "pop" from the background more easily (I think people often mix up "pop" and "3D", the Planar has more 3D, GM has more pop but it is more flat), AF and eye AF are far better and quieter (I often had some hit and miss with the Planar wide open), so the GM is more suited for subject with fast movements. The GM is also sharper with stronger contrast and smoother bokeh (even when both lenses are at f1.4).
However colors are not as good as Planar, mostly because of the Zeiss T coating (and Im not a fan of the new GMs colors, I prefer the colors of the 85mm GM), Planar has also nicer skin tone IMO. The bokeh transition is also very unnatural, very harsh, Planar is more subtle and has slightly better microcontrast, hence better 3D effect.
Colors and rendering are different. I prefer the Planar for portrait and colorfull scenes, and the GM when I want to make the subject pop from the background or when I want very shallow DOF with very smooth bokeh.
I also have the 50mm Panasonic S Pro with my Lumix S cameras. It's interesting because this lens is like a mix of the 50mm GM and Planar, contrast and sharpness are on the same level than the GM (maybe even better contrast), colors are better than GM but still not as nice as the Planar. Bokeh is quite smooth but can be a bit funky sometimes. However the AF in video is useless, It's a shame because focus breathing is very very well controled.
p.6 #6 · Zony 50mm f/1.4 Planar T* ZA VS Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Keunish wrote:
The bokeh transition is is also very unnatural, very harsh, Planar is more subtle and has slightly better microcontrast, hence better 3D effect.
That's interesting, do you have any example comprisons between the two?
I did some basic "rendering" tests and I concluded that the GM is simply smoother in how it renders the background/highlights/etc. so that's a bit surprising to me.
p.6 #7 · Zony 50mm f/1.4 Planar T* ZA VS Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM
j4nu wrote:
That's interesting, do you have any example comprisons between the two?
I did some basic "rendering" tests and I concluded that the GM is simply smoother in how it renders the background/highlights/etc. so that's a bit surprising to me.
Yes the GM bokeh is smoother, as I said the bokeh of the GM is smoother even when both lenses are at f1.4. I find the Planar has less harsh transitions from in focus to out of focus (nothing to do with the smoothness of the bokeh ), in my eye the GM rendering is more flat, a bit like the subject was added inside a background with a photo editor. This effect is not bad, it make the subject pop, my 35mm GM, 135mm GM and 50mm S Pro have more or less the same effect.
I don't have the Planar anymore, but I miss it ! I think I will try to buy it again and decide whitch one to keep (maybe I will keep both ...)
Lesson learned, never sell lenses you really like even if a new one seems better, the best is to compare them side by side before deciding to sell them.
p.6 #8 · Zony 50mm f/1.4 Planar T* ZA VS Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Keunish wrote:
Yes the GM bokeh is smoother, as I said the bokeh of the GM is smoother even when both lenses are at f1.4. I find the Planar has less harsh transitions from in focus to out of focus (nothing to do with the smoothness of the bokeh ), in my eye the GM rendering is more flat, a bit like the subject was added inside a background with a photo editor. This effect is not bad, it make the subject pop, my 35mm GM, 135mm GM and 50mm S Pro have more or less the same effect.
I don't have the Planar anymore, but I miss it ! I think I will try to buy it again and decide whitch one to keep (maybe I will keep both ...)
Lesson learned, never sell lenses you really like even if a new one seems better, the best is to compare them side by side before deciding to sell them.
Ok, I got the opposite impression regarding transition .
In general, I stopped considering the ZA especially smooth once I've seen photos from the Nokton and later on - the GM.
p.6 #9 · Zony 50mm f/1.4 Planar T* ZA VS Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM
One thing not often spoken of is this: lens makers follow fashion, often to a excessive degree. They also have the power to push their ideas onto the unsuspecting market for their products, through the generally accepted notion in a tech society that 'new is always better'. And they check out each others' lenses constantly. It's a form of fashion cartel.
And they want you to want 'better' so you can be in the club of those in the know. This is why all high end mainstream lenses get released with much ballyhoo - YT videos, gushing PR articles, and more. (Except for fringe guys who don't care, like Cosina.)
So new lenses renderings are their idea on where things should go. We (collectively) may and often do have different ideas of what works best, and what produces the best images. Ever wondered why lens sales counts are so hard to find?
p.6 #11 · Zony 50mm f/1.4 Planar T* ZA VS Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Had both for 5 months because I could not decide which one to let go. Ultimately sold my Zeiss to a good friend for peanuts, $500, had it for 2 years and loved it. Wound up keeping the GM because of the “ precision “ optically, not that the Zeiss did not have that, but my GM is clinically sharp on my RiV. That said I love my GM…….But……I MISS THE HECK OUT OF THAT ZEISS LENS😂😂
The “pop” and “Character” ,many who have owned the Zeiss lenses understand, was/is what I miss. Don’t get me wrong, the GM is a GM, but the Zeiss had a sort of “classic new” look to it. Anyone on the fence who really likes their Zeiss need not stress. Just my 2 cents from someone who owned both. Happy shooting Photo Fam.
p.6 #12 · Zony 50mm f/1.4 Planar T* ZA VS Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM
I had the ZA and loved it…couldn’t imagine what the GM could do better. Then I saw the GM available at the same time I had a little cash and pulled the trigger. It was sublime, so I sold my ZA.
Looking back, I was impulsive and feeling like I had over indulged, so I sold the ZA. Had I been more patient or smart, I would have sold something else and kept both the GM and ZA because they are so different and each so good.
The GM has unparalleled bokeh and sharpness, even at f/1.2. However, it has much more DoF than the ZA, which is great for portraits but mixed for other shooting. The GM has subtle colors, while the ZA is baudy and saturated…I often had to REDUCE saturation in LR for that lens. The ZA is more realist, the GM more impressionist. They actually complement each other very well…they are not at all the same.
Had I been smarter, I would have sold either my Leica M 50/2 or Canon 85/1.2 instead. Both of those are also great, but I use them far less than I would have the ZA, if it was still in my bag.
Do I regret buying/keeping the GM? Absolutely not. Do I wish I still had the ZA too? Definitely. If the GM had never existed, would I have been content with the ZA? I totally was….but it DOES exist…hence the struggle.
p.6 #13 · Zony 50mm f/1.4 Planar T* ZA VS Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM
j4nu wrote:
You can -> "A".
The lock is not needed imho, because there is a significant resistance betwen "A" and other values.
And yes, I agree MF ring is too touchy (the same as 35GM unfortunately).
Getting back to the original topic of the thread, I think the difference between the ZA and the GM is significant enough to warrant a switch .
I get that, but I've become a fan of "touchy" There are occasions on which I want to move the focus ring with the pinky of my right hand (those occasions where I'm holding something with my left) or in some other way be able to move it without the good solid orthodox grip. The touchy ring will move, a helicoid or a less touchy FBW won't.
I also have some shots against CV65 to compare sharpness at infinity, but I'd need to find them .
I'm in the happy camp of those who are happy with most changes in the GM (vs ZA) :
* sharpness-wise they are very close, maybe a small win for the GM, but the smoothness/transition difference is visible imho in GM's favor
* as mentioned by others, the GM is more subtle, while the ZA is more contrasty (that famous Zeiss microcontrast I guess ). I do prefer the GM in this regard, as I mostly shoot people with it. Also, the ZA is somewhere "in-between" in that area, as it's quite far from Batis' line colors and contrast IMHO
* CA correction is similar I think, but ZA is a bit better IMHO
* AF is better on the GM, no question
* lens body, again I prefer the GM: buttons, switches + not bare metal
* size/weight is basically the same
* 1.2 vs 1.4 .
p.6 #15 · Zony 50mm f/1.4 Planar T* ZA VS Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM
j4nu wrote:
* as mentioned by others, the GM is more subtle, while the ZA is more contrasty (that famous Zeiss microcontrast I guess ).
Very surprising, I'm pretty sure my ZA was less contrasty than my 50mm GM, and the lens was not affected by the recall. My 35mm GM is also more contrasty than the ZA I've used.
p.6 #16 · Zony 50mm f/1.4 Planar T* ZA VS Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Thank you guys for your true words. I was searching for those real life experiences. I find myself wanting the 50GM, but still loving that 50 1.4 so much that its hard to let it go. I am super happy with that lens. But Sony GAS is hard these days ^^
Grenache wrote:
The ZA is more realist, the GM more impressionist. They actually complement each other very well…they are not at all the same.
Joseph Fig wrote:
…I MISS THE HECK OUT OF THAT ZEISS LENS😂😂
The “pop” and “Character” ,many who have owned the Zeiss lenses understand, was/is what I miss. Don’t get me wrong, the GM is a GM, but the Zeiss had a sort of “classic new” look to it. Anyone on the fence who really likes their Zeiss need not stress. Just my 2 cents from someone who owned both. Happy shooting Photo Fam.
Keunish wrote:
I find the Planar has less harsh transitions from in focus to out of focus (nothing to do with the smoothness of the bokeh ), in my eye the GM rendering is more flat, a bit like the subject was added inside a background with a photo editor. This effect is not bad, it make the subject pop, my 35mm GM, 135mm GM and 50mm S Pro have more or less the same effect.
I don't have the Planar anymore, but I miss it ! I think I will try to buy it again and decide whitch one to keep (maybe I will keep both ...)
Lesson learned, never sell lenses you really like even if a new one seems better, the best is to compare them side by side before deciding to sell them. ...Show more →
p.6 #17 · Zony 50mm f/1.4 Planar T* ZA VS Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM
I had a same situation. Sold my Zeiss 35mm and 50mm to rush forward 35GM and 50GM. Then i miss the Zeiss 3D popup of main character so much so i sold the 35GM to buy back Zeiss 35F1.4 . The 35GM and 50GM picture are flat, especial the 35GM is very flat. Yesterday i bough back the Zeiss 50F1.4 too. Then now i have both 50GM and Zeiss 50F1.4 , i don't know if i will sell the 50GM or not, because the Zeiss 50mm had a weak point that it not very sharp compare to the 50GM.
p.6 #18 · Zony 50mm f/1.4 Planar T* ZA VS Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM
justbenice wrote:
I had a same situation. Sold my Zeiss 35mm and 50mm to rush forward 35GM and 50GM. Then i miss the Zeiss 3D popup of main character so much so i sold the 35GM to buy back Zeiss 35F1.4 . The 35GM and 50GM picture are flat, especial the 35GM is very flat. Yesterday i bough back the Zeiss 50F1.4 too. Then now i have both 50GM and Zeiss 50F1.4 , i don't know if i will sell the 50GM or not, because the Zeiss 50mm had a weak point that it not very sharp compare to the 50GM.
Yes, apparently that is the price to pay. The 35GM images are indeed very "flat" compared to images from several Zeiss lenses.
I am myself still trying to decide whether to buy back all three Loxia lenses I had in the past (already bought back the Loxia 25) and sell the 35GM, simply to get the depth and liveliness back in the images. I'd even sacrifice f1.4 and AF for it.
The 35GM does have its qualities beyond stupendous resolution though, it has a rich palette of colors and is not sterile at all. But compared to Zeiss lenses, yes, the bokeh is rather lifeless and the images can look very flat, which is hard to put up with if you have used Zeiss lenses a lot.
Zeiss appears to be history though when it comes to Sony E, their Loxia lenses don't work right on the A1, and I have written them three emails, but only get nonsense response, or no response at all. So they don't seem to care.
p.6 #19 · Zony 50mm f/1.4 Planar T* ZA VS Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM
This is an interesting topic, I mean I also sometimes get the "flat" vibes from some lenses.
I'm really not convinced it's only the lens fault though, rather than the conditions I shot in that day.
I'm really torn on 35GM being flat, I guess there are days where I see e.g. Sigma 35/1.2 delivering "nicer" pictures but then sometimes when I compare the two directly, there's barely any difference...
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