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Archive 2022 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

nehemiahphoto
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

@DavidBM I know what you mean about the lenses rendering differently so why do people think about all the Loxia’s as a similar group, but I think it simply boils down to Zeiss colors and contrast. I think for many, more than WO performance or OOF, shooters come to and identify Zeiss images by that. It’s been that way for decades, right or wrong.

May 31, 2022 at 03:01 PM

DavidBM
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

nehemiahphoto wrote:
@DavidBM@ I know what you mean about the lenses rendering differently so why do people think about all the Loxia’s as a similar group, but I think it simply boils down to Zeiss colors and contrast. I think for many, more than WO performance or OOF, shooters come to and identify Zeiss images by that. It’s been that way for decades, right or wrong.

I guess I knew that's what they think. They might be right. And it's true that Zeiss put a bit more effort into avoiding loss of blues at the high end of the spectrum (one of the reasons their UV filters have such a steep drop off, to avoid loss of blues). But this doesn't have an overall change to the look, just slightly better discrimination in images which are taken with largely blue light.
But I'm probably more skeptical than most about claims about overall "looks" to different brands or lines. Human brains are pattern recognition machines, and in the absence of patterns, pattern creation machines, and it's very easy to see commonalities - whether in kinds of lenses or kinds of people - when we think there ought to be, even when there aren't.

May 31, 2022 at 06:12 PM

tsdevine
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

Quite a few of the CVs get polluted with magenta towards the edges and corners when shooting outdoors on high UV light days. This can sort of taint blue sky in the process, and it varies by how strong the UV portion of the spectrum is on any given shooting. Funny that a Zeiss UV filter can mostly resolve this (or another filter that shares a hard cutoff at 410nm like the Kenko Zeta/ZX II UV filter.)

DavidBM wrote:
I guess I knew that's what they think. They might be right. And it's true that Zeiss put a bit more effort into avoiding loss of blues at the high end of the spectrum (one of the reasons their UV filters have such a steep drop off, to avoid loss of blues). But this doesn't have an overall change to the look, just slightly better discrimination in images which are taken with largely blue light.
But I'm probably more skeptical than most about claims about overall "looks" to different brands or lines. Human brains are pattern recognition machines, and in...Show more →

May 31, 2022 at 08:32 PM

hanay78
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

Pros: Nice colors, nice contrast, moderate used prize, top notch manufacturing, 52 filter thread. Cons: the 35 not good behavior against the sun, the 50 not so good bokeh in some circumstances. I find both are sharp enough, but of course YMMV. Average: relatively high weight for what they are. The ZMs are much better in this sense (smaller and lighter). Question of taste: the sun-stars, I like them for night city-scapes, not so much if I have the moon in my photograph. Fazit: I am not selling. I prefer to invest my money completing my kit in other focal ranges, or for a secondary ultra light kit. I would buy again the 50. Since I like a lot to shoot against the sun I am not sure I would buy again the 35. I do not know, if the apo-lanthar 35 mucht better in this regard?

Jun 01, 2022 at 07:04 AM

Petegh
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

DavidBM wrote:
I guess I knew that's what they think. They might be right. And it's true that Zeiss put a bit more effort into avoiding loss of blues at the high end of the spectrum (one of the reasons their UV filters have such a steep drop off, to avoid loss of blues). But this doesn't have an overall change to the look, just slightly better discrimination in images which are taken with largely blue light.
But I'm probably more skeptical than most about claims about overall "looks" to different brands or lines. Human brains are pattern recognition machines, and in...Show more →

As the saying goes 'science is the best defence we have against confirmation bias'.

I'm not aware of any studies that forensically compare different lenses by analysing their colour using a spectograph; and, as you correctly point out David, people tend to forget that our eyes are connected to a brain. However, I suspect if you put a Loxia 25 vs a 24mm GM through such a test, the differences in spectral weighting would be there; what your brain does to those differences depends largely on evolution, genetics, experience etc.

I will never be able to see the way you, or anyone else, sees colour; so in that sense, the whole topic is a bit moot. If you enjoy the colour your lenses produce, that's all that really matters.

Jun 01, 2022 at 07:54 AM

MARKFER
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

For the most part we can tell the difference between an attractive person and a not so attractive person. All bias's factored in. Now is everybody going to see things identical? No. Are there trends if a large group of subjective opinions are gathers. More than likely. Same goes for color.

Jun 01, 2022 at 08:07 AM

DavidBM
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

Petegh wrote:
As the saying goes 'science is the best defence we have against confirmation bias'.

I'm not aware of any studies that forensically compare different lenses by analysing their colour using a spectograph; and, as you correctly point out David, people tend to forget that our eyes are connected to a brain. However, I suspect if you put a Loxia 25 vs a 24mm GM through such a test, the differences in spectral weighting would be there; what your brain does to those differences depends largely on evolution, genetics, experience etc.

I will never be able to see the way you, or...Show more →

I completely agree that you'll see differences between the Loxia 25 and the GM24; both are great lenses but the L25 has contrast and sparkle that the GM24 doesn't for sure, which is partly what makes the GM24 so great for enviro portraits, and the L25 for landscape (though both are very campable of either of course). And I think the L25, or at least my copy, is a little cooler as Zeiss lenses often are (though if you create RAW lens profiles for your lenses, they will all have the same colour)

I was thinking more about generalities rather than specifics "all loxias look the same", or even "all Sony or Zeiss look the same" or have family resemblance. It's true that in terms of colour balance pre-profile this is sometimes a bit true for lenses of the same era - companies try to colour match a bit. But in terms of overall look, I think it's often not true at all - especially not of the early versus late Loxias (or early versus late GMs for that matter)

Jun 01, 2022 at 10:41 PM

lensfan
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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

One of the first images taken on Loxia 2/35 at f2 in harsh sunlight. Dat glow!
Very different experience pixel peeping at 300% images from A7R IV compared to CV APOs which can shoot at f2 without thinking.

https://i.ibb.co/0Q34QxL/DSC08037.jpg

Sep 29, 2022 at 09:20 PM

Gunzorro
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

The sample shot seems pretty over-exposed for my taste. Seems nearly one stop over-exposed to me -- not the problem of lens. I don't know your aperture either -- if you are using a fairly wide aperture you are likely to get some slight flare, but nothing worrisome, just reduce highlights somewhat. I usually shoot at f5.6-8.0 with the Loxia 35, but don't worry about f2.0-2.8.

I usually do PP on my images (not just Loxia -- reducing the brightest large areas and increasing shadow detail, while judiciously increasing saturation and contrast.

Sep 30, 2022 at 01:12 AM

vdo1
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

philip_pj wrote:
A sign you are under attack by 'the psychology of the new' is people who wax lyrical about their new lens but cannot explain what it offers over what aready exists at the high level of available lenses

The newer ones seem to have AF, while not being any less sharper or slower.

Sep 30, 2022 at 07:47 AM

lensfan
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p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

Gunzorro wrote:
The sample shot seems pretty over-exposed for my taste. Seems nearly one stop over-exposed to me -- not the problem of lens. I don't know your aperture either -- if you are using a fairly wide aperture you are likely to get some slight flare, but nothing worrisome, just reduce highlights somewhat. I usually shoot at f5.6-8.0 with the Loxia 35, but don't worry about f2.0-2.8.
This was taken at f2. It was quick and dirty point and shoot shot. Not even sure if my hands were steady. I made few pictures with L35 so far - but this one shows the pattern I see the best: definite glow at wide apertures, especially f2. In rough light - its a glow. When light conditions are more forgiving - little to mild haze. Color aberrations are not on par with recent lenses, I guess due to old Biogon design.
At f5.6-8 the sharpness is there but not as good as latest CVs.
Working with both rings on L35 is more satisfying even compared to some other latest CV's glass, including 35/50 APOs and 1.2/40. As well as CV 1.4/58 which I returned due to insane aberrations on A7R IV body.
Optically this L35 is probably the worst lens I own but I will definitely keep it as I love playing with its rings - so smooth and lite.
I enjoy handling L35 and considering if I should get L21 in addition to my GM24 and CV 1.8/21 Ultron - it would be my first Distagon ever but still not sure if it makes sense.

Sep 30, 2022 at 09:13 AM

anthony_l
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p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

I pull out the loxias when I'm travelling. The 35mm and 50mm are different focal lengths and quite nice for street photography. I've also got a fuji x100t on long term loan from a friend. I don't mind that camera, but all the talk about how fuji slows you down and makes you focus on the camera, composition or whatever, I already get through using the loxias on a sony a7iii body.

The loxias and their MF are a very manual experience. The aperture ring clicks 'just right' and I have iso shutter speed on other dials ready to go.

Oct 02, 2022 at 06:55 PM

Gunzorro
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p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

hanay78 wrote:
Since I like a lot to shoot against the sun I am not sure I would buy again the 35. I do not know, if the apo-lanthar 35 mucht better in this regard?

It would be nice to see a proper visual comparison between the Loxia 35 and CV 35 APO. I know the CV 40E is superior for contrast and sharpness, and even "sun-stars", but I still like the Loxia for its size and weight and its general Zeiss IQ.

A similar design to the Loxia or CV in 28mm would be more interest to me.

Oct 04, 2022 at 01:56 PM

Gunzorro
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p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

lensfan wrote:
This was taken at f2. It was quick and dirty point and shoot shot. Not even sure if my hands were steady. I made few pictures with L35 so far - but this one shows the pattern I see the best: definite glow at wide apertures, especially f2. In rough light - its a glow. When light conditions are more forgiving - little to mild haze. Color aberrations are not on par with recent lenses, I guess due to old Biogon design.
At f5.6-8 the sharpness is there but not as good as latest CVs.
Working with both rings on L35 is...Show more →

Yes, get the Loxia 21! Prices are exceptionally low on the B&S board. That, and the Loxia 25, are the two best Loxia, IMO.

Oct 04, 2022 at 01:59 PM

ChrisMak
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p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

Gunzorro wrote:
Yes, get the Loxia 21! Prices are exceptionally low on the B&S board. That, and the Loxia 25, are the two best Loxia, IMO.

The Loxia 25 is still my favorite 25mm lens, and has survived the Nikon Z24mm f1.8S lens, and also the Sony 35mm GM that is sold, but the Loxia 25mm remains. I have to say though, that the Loxia 50 that I re-purchased, is also a superb lens on the A1. The colors are simply beautiful for landscapes and cityscapes, it has great carity, and it is plenty sharp and detailed. I now travel with the A1 and Loxia 25/50 pair.

Oct 04, 2022 at 03:16 PM

Bijltje
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p.2 #16 · p.2 #16 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

Question for the "still" loxia users.

When trying the 35 sigma f2 in a store for my A9 I also tried the 35 loxia. First time using a loxia.

I still want a AF lens so it won't be a alternative for the sigma, but I really liked the loxia it so was thinking about adding a used 50 and/ or 35 loxia.

Thing is I have next to sony also a Leica set. Including the 35 cron ASPH and the 50 cron (v5). And a adapter to use them on the sony.

In my mind the Loxia can fit next to these because of the connection having the automatic zoom in when you touch the focus. I really don't like the pushing the button.
Next to that the leica's can focus from 0.7m while the loxia's can go closer.
And not to forget I sometimes miss the look I got from my ZM lenses which I all sold changing for leica's.

I would like to know if whats the experience of others using both. Am I just blinded to much by the low prices of the used loxia's, or is it really a nice addition?

Oct 05, 2022 at 02:13 PM

philip_pj
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p.2 #17 · p.2 #17 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

'It would be nice to see a proper visual comparison between the Loxia 35 and CV 35 APO.'

Tora did a nice job of exactly this, continues over the page too, see in particular the bokeh performance of the very well-corrected CV lens:

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1695782/26

Oct 05, 2022 at 06:46 PM

lensfan
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p.2 #18 · p.2 #18 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

Got L21 - love the colors and how everything is under control under very harsh light.
https://ibb.co/z2PMxgQ

Oct 11, 2022 at 02:38 PM

chiron
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p.2 #19 · p.2 #19 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

Oct 11, 2022 at 06:37 PM

tuomkok
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p.2 #20 · p.2 #20 · Anyone still using loxia 35/50

I am using Loxia 21 very often. In fact, since I acquired 24-70mm GM II the 21mm have become even more important to me. An excellent landscape lens. I also want to keep my kit small(ish). Hiking with both 16-35mm and 24-70mm is too much. Either it is 16-35mm plus 55mm or 85mm, or 21mm and 24-70mm. For tele I anyway want to have Batis 135 or 100-400mm GM.

This discussion is a good reminder. I have neqlected my Loxia 35. It is still a very nice lens, but I have 35mm GM which is every was as nice, and technically better and much more versitile thanks to af and brighter max aperture.

We are spoiled with so many good lens options in FE system. Especially the 35mm focal length is very crowded.

Oct 12, 2022 at 06:49 AM

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