Sharpness is king and character is overrated. Micro contrast is a slider in most image processing software.
Character is what you rave about when you realize your costly Leica lens semi sucks compared to an optic costing a quarter as much.
I have 9 CF Blad lenses. They’re nice but not necessary state of the art even in the day. The 500 Tele Apotessar has more chromatic issues than my vintage Takumar 300f4.
Sharpness is king and character is overrated. Micro contrast is a slider in most image processing software.
Character is what you rave about when you realize your costly Leica lens semi sucks compared to an optic costing a quarter as much.
I have 9 CF Blad lenses. They’re nice but not necessary state of the art even in the day. The 500 Tele Apotessar has more chromatic issues than my vintage Takumar 300f4.
There I said it. Flame me. You know I am right.
The beauty of the Zeiss “character lenses” is that they are all sharp enough to make large prints with and yet still possess those great characteristics ( colour, contrast, nice sharpness falloff ) that just add to the beauty of the print. If one needs to look at sharpness at 100% or more to find a difference, then they are into measurebating and not photography.
rob_ww wrote:
I am tempted to add the Batis 135 to get a complete set. But do I need it and will I use it, or do I just want to complete the set
rob_ww wrote:
I am hoping the 135 lives up to its reputation in my hands. In fact, the biggest challenge will be with me as the operator -- adjusting to the longer focal length after many years of working with shorter lenses!
I found myself pondering the same questions when I was buying the lenses for my Batis-blog. I was missing the Batis 18 & Batis 135 and I knew I would definitely want the 18, but was a bit unsure about the 135. In my mind the 135 seemed to be a medium telephoto lens which one will use to 'reach targets that are basically too far away'. Therefore I didn't see it as interesting. But for the sake of completing the Batis lens family, I decided to take it anyway.
Actually working with the 135 I quickly found it to be, a bit challenging, but also the most interesting of the Batis family. The reason is this: with the usual focal lengths I've got more or less an idea how to use them and I have my own manners which made them more or less 'tried to true' focal lengths. The 135 was totally new for me and required a new way of seeing things, which I found very refreshing; like I would be starting photography all over again and there is a lot of new ground to explore. Sure the 135 is more difficult to use than say a 35, mainly because you have think at much larger scale, but it rewards one with pictures that are different from other usual focal lenghts.
For portraits there's no going back to 85. Somehow the 135 just feels perfect (and 85 feels like a compromise). It's not just telecompression of facial features, but the 135 has such a natural look in it when it comes to portaits. For sceneries the 135 often adds a bit of a compression which makes things look interesting as it layers people, buildings, streets etc. And one doesn't have to use the 135 'to grab things further away', you can use it like any prime lens and isolate different slices from reality. As you might read between the lines the 135 has really become one of my favourite focal lengths, and even if it's more challenging to use, it is also more rewarding when one makes it work.
sirimiri wrote:
I (still) have both. The 15 ZM does change length by say a millimeter or so, it's not 100% "internal focus" as some might think. Image quality? It was most definitely designed in the film era, Cornerfix was helpful when I used it on an M9-P.
The 85 Sonnar is a joy to use, great focus throw, good haptics. Image-wise, I can't say it's a mythological lens, yet it gives good and somewhat unique results, on an M body. I'm shocked what people ask for the damned lens hood alone, these days.
Interesting.
The used prices are indeed extreme, but I guess, a small production run and collectors' interest will do that. You certainly made a smart choice to hang onto those lenses. I don't know about the 15, but the 85 seems like a good investment.
tsdevine wrote:
And I got the last Loxia 85 from Adorama, they were running $150 instant rebate on their closeout. Hopefully it's a well centered copy....
The Loxia 85 is my favourite landscape lens of all time, and definitely in the running for favourite lens of all time. It's blisteringly sharp, everywhere at every aperture. I think you'll really enjoy it, congrats!
Sharpness is king and character is overrated. Micro contrast is a slider in most image processing software.
Character is what you rave about when you realize your costly Leica lens semi sucks compared to an optic costing a quarter as much.
I have 9 CF Blad lenses. They’re nice but not necessary state of the art even in the day. The 500 Tele Apotessar has more chromatic issues than my vintage Takumar 300f4.
There I said it. Flame me. You know I am right.
I think when people refer to character they're referring to a look achieved SOOC without any processing. At least that's my take because otherwise, yes, with PP I can get my Sony files to look like Nostalgic Neg or Classic Chrome Fuji files no problem.
Have to chime in for posterity. I was and am a Zeiss fan even though for many things I’ve moved on.I first used the ZE version
On Canon with a 21, 35, 50, an 100mm Macro Planar which I loved but should have never sold. Then owned a large family of ZM lenses that I bought for my Zeiss Ikon film M mount rangefinder. Mistakenly sold the body and then the lenses when they didn’t adapt well to Sony. Picked up the 21mm, 35mm, and 50mm Loxia versions but just a couple of years ago traded my 21mm. Another mistake. My final collection was the Batis ones I bought with the 18, 25, 40, 85, and 135. Sold all but the 40mm and replaced with GM lenses but recently bought the 25 and 85 used here at a great price. Have those focal length all covered but just like them and the price was tough to pass up.
Just a adventure I had with a Loxia 85. I had a nightmare scenario where it fell out of my bag on the hard cement from about 3 feet. I had a tiny non-Loxia lens hood on it that protected the physical damage, the hood was dented and scuffed. It's a heavy piece of glass, but it is really nicely built. No damage to centering, the lens, the focus mechanism. Perfect, so I would imagine I got lucky but it is a quality built item. I can attest.
I had the ZE 15, 21 and 35/2, sold all but the ZE 15. I have various C/Y mount Zeiss that I still have (C/Y 35-70, 100-300) as well as a 90/2.8 G. Now I have the Loxia 21, 25, and 85 and the Batis 18, 25, 40 and 135. I may try to snag a Batis 85, but will probably go the used route for that, like you did.
Who knows what the future holds, maybe winds will shift and Zeiss will jump back in at some point. I haven't seen any mass sales, maybe the Adorama closing out Zeiss stills lenses was something Adorama decided to do, not driven by some end of production guidance from Zeiss.
swldstn wrote:
Have to chime in for posterity. I was and am a Zeiss fan even though for many things I’ve moved on.I first used the ZE version
On Canon with a 21, 35, 50, an 100mm Macro Planar which I loved but should have never sold. Then owned a large family of ZM lenses that I bought for my Zeiss Ikon film M mount rangefinder. Mistakenly sold the body and then the lenses when they didn’t adapt well to Sony. Picked up the 21mm, 35mm, and 50mm Loxia versions but just a couple of years ago traded my 21mm. Another mistake. My final collection was the Batis ones I bought with the 18, 25, 40, 85, and 135. Sold all but the 40mm and replaced with GM lenses but recently bought the 25 and 85 used here at a great price. Have those focal length all covered but just like them and the price was tough to pass up.
I will miss them from the marked for sure....Show more →
I like that he opens the article with an image of my favorite Zeiss lens, that sadly awaits a never coming firmware update to solve the dreadfull magnified view issues on the A1 (and I only have a mild affliction...)
Yeah, the magnified view issue really needs to be fixed. If Zeiss can't fix it via a firmware update, and if it's only something Sony could fix, it would be nice if Zeiss pushed Sony on it.
Ultimately I just wish it would get resolved.
ChrisMak wrote:
Some additional discussion on the topic. In short: Zeiss is committed, but to what? It at least is not clear to photographers.
I like that he opens the article with an image of my favorite Zeiss lens, that sadly awaits a never coming firmware update to solve the dreadfull magnified view issues on the A1 (and I only have a mild affliction...)
Words are cheap, deeds are precious. What people do tells you so much more than what they say. If they have not done what they should, they do not want to do it. They know they can afford to ignore their (former) customers. Honesty and honour are in very short supply these days. They have a reputation to manage, after all. And the truth is often inconvenient so they work around it.
This article appears to be the latest Zeiss response:
–Joachim Kuss, Head of Communications for the ZEISS Consumer Markets Segment:
"We cannot speak for independent dealers or why anyone would be interested in spreading such a rumor.”
"While we understand that the photographic community has questions we need to answer..."
“First, ZEISS is not leaving the photo lens market,” Joachim explains when we ask about what the company is doing for photographers, specifically not using their smartphones. “While we understand that the photographic community has questions we need to answer, we do not see the benefit of spreading rumors. We cannot speak for independent dealers or why anyone would be interested in spreading such a rumor.”
"We’ve understood that Zeiss hasn’t had a standing press relationship with much of the photographic press in many years. To that end, the mothership contacted us to clear any reports about the company exiting the photo industry. After we received a tip from the Fred Miranda forums, we decided to write an article formulated from that and much of the information that we had received over the years from Zeiss and former Zeiss employees. But Joachim Kuss, Head of Communications for the ZEISS Consumer Markets Segment, contacted us from Germany along with Marisa Weis, Head of Category Management Imaging and Brand Partnerships at ZEISS.
They both tell us that Zeiss is not leaving the photo industry. Further, they acknowledge that there are doubts about the company within the photo industry."
