There are leaked images of the new Zeiss Otus ML 35mm f1.4. The lens is expected to be announced during CP+ Show at the end of February.
The premium MF lens will not be for all but will find its audience.It would be interesting to see the performance.
A new versions of premium f1.4 35mm lens coming from Zeiss and Sigma. It is good to see new high end options in my favourite focal length while the pocket screams😉
Crap. Well, here comes 35 number six for me. And there goes my last excuse for not buying the 85. If they follow this up with a 25, I'm going to have to buy a bigger bag.
Cosina announced Otus ML 35/1.4 today for April release (no specific date given yet). The official Japan price is same as for 85/1.4, so more expensive than 50/1.4.
Cosina hasn't announced the release date (for Japan) yet, but I believe it will be close to the end of the month (end of April that is). Perhaps some other markets might get it a couple of weeks earlier (as happened at least with 50/1.4).
I did make some trade-ins to cover most of the cost and I placed a reservation at Map Camera a couple of weeks ago, so I should get one as soon as they get released here.
Juha Kannisto wrote:
Cosina hasn't announced the release date (for Japan) yet, but I believe it will be close to the end of the month. Perhaps some other markets might get it a couple of weeks earlier (as happened at least with 50/1.4).
I do find it really surprising how little hype there is about these ML lenses. I feel like the are pretty much just falling flat, despite Zeiss trying to market them to be more approachable.
Alan Parker wrote:
I do find it really surprising how little hype there is about these ML lenses. I feel like they are pretty much just falling flat, despite Zeiss trying to market them to be more approachable.
I agree, I really thought the ML line would be getting more traction. Admittedly, I am still undecided on picking up the 35mm Outs ML myself. On one hand, it hits everything I would want in a Zeiss MF lens. Zeiss rendering, fully Metal build quality like the ZF2 lenses, Otus level optics, smaller sizer, lighter weight, and lower price. On the other hand, if I am going to add another 35mm to the mix, it sounds much more practical to add the Sigma 35mm f1.2 or Nikon 35mm f1.2. I don't have any f1.2 AF lenses, and my only AF 35mm prime lens is about 12 years old now. Even more tempting to me is to put that money towards the Sony 28-70mm f2, as I have found myself using primes less, especially my MF primes. Part of me can't help but feel that modern photography tech is relatively quickly changing how people take photos and what they expect out of their gear.
Alan Parker wrote:
I do find it really surprising how little hype there is about these ML lenses. I feel like the are pretty much just falling flat, despite Zeiss trying to market them to be more approachable.
It's like the camera with no viewfinder but Lightroom on the screen: Zeiss aren't really connected to the world of enthusiasts shooting still images.
The 50mm ML lens showed a lot of CA and as I recall it this was discussed way more than possible good things about the lens. Being heavy and expensive and not really doing what one expects from a Zeiss APO lens it now is a lens never talked about.
The new 35mm ML is heavy and expensive and Zeiss tries to make people think they want it when in reality the OTUS lenses are for few enthusiasts only.
I may be wrong but I've never heard the 50ML is getting sold in large quantities. I'm sure it will be the same with the 35mm.
I’m not sure why anybody expected these lenses to make a splash. Bigger, heavier, and more expensive by a factor of 2 to 3X than most people are willing to spend on a similar auto focus lens.
Whatever marginal gains you may get in IQ are easily offset by everything else.
Like I said verbatim in the original thread, who is asking for these?
Sadly, the name Zeiss is largely a running joke in the industry now.
Jonas B wrote:
The 50mm ML lens showed a lot of CA and as I recall it this was discussed way more than possible good things about the lens. Being heavy and expensive and not really doing what one expects from a Zeiss APO lens it now is a lens never talked about.
The new 35mm ML is heavy and expensive and Zeiss tries to make people think they want it when in reality the OTUS lenses are for few enthusiasts only.
I may be wrong but I've never heard the 50ML is getting sold in large quantities. I'm sure it will be the same with the 35mm. ...Show more →
I am torn on the 50mm ML CA wide open. It's fair to point it out and talk about, but I feel like it got more attention than it deserved from people who would never buy the lens. Many f1.4 or faster lenses have CA wide open that reduces when stepping down. It's probably part of why most APO lenses are f2 not f1.4. In this case, though, since it's an expensive 2k+ MF lens, many more people than normal came out to complain about it. Yet when a $200 lens comes out with bad IQ most people ignore it and don't comment about it because what do you expect for $200.
Personally, the main reason the 50mm ML didn't tempt me is 50mm is not a focal length I use often enough on its own. But if I get the 35mm ML, a focal length I do use quite a bit more, there is a good chance I will eventually get the 50mm ML to go with it. It's definitely not the IQ keeping me away.
RoamingScott wrote:
I’m not sure why anybody expected these lenses to make a splash. Bigger, heavier, and more expensive by a factor of 2 to 3X than most people are willing to spend on a similar auto focus lens.
Whatever marginal gains you may get in IQ are easily offset by everything else.
Like I said verbatim in the original thread, who is asking for these?
Sadly, the name Zeiss is largely a running joke in the industry now.
Outside of Leica, Zeiss probably has the best build quality in the game. IQ wise, there is something to the "Zeiss look" that no other lens company fully replicates. People are still enjoying MF lenses like the Voigtlander lenses. The original Otus lenses are still highly regarded by many to this day. I may be completely wrong, but I think if the ML line had been released in 2022 instead of 2025, the reaction would have been quite different.
DWOfPaul wrote:
Outside of Leica, Zeiss probably has the best build quality in the game. IQ wise, there is something to the "Zeiss look" that no other lens company fully replicates. People are still enjoying MF lenses like the Voigtlander lenses. The original Otus lenses are still highly regarded by many to this day. I may be completely wrong, but I think if the ML line had been released in 2022 instead of 2025, the reaction would have been quite different.
"If the market was totally different, this product would have been received totally differently"
Yes, I agree
The shift has been towards cheap, small, and light, mostly because the IQ hasn't suffered all that much in this latest batch of Chinese glass. Yes, the Otus is the bomb proof option, but people are looking for the disposable options right now. Bought a tank of gas lately?
RoamingScott wrote:
"If the market was totally different, this product would have been received totally differently"
Yes, I agree
The shift has been towards cheap, small, and light, mostly because the IQ hasn't suffered all that much in this latest batch of Chinese glass. Yes, the Otus is the bomb proof option, but people are looking for the disposable options right now. Bought a tank of gas lately?
It's wild how much the photo market has changed in the last 3 years. I feel it's even a bigger change than when we initially went from DSLR to Mirrorless. Sure, the mirrorless transition kicked it all off, but the first mirrorless cameras and lenses were nowhere near as game changing for the most part as the gear we have gotten in the last few years. Then add in how many more lens manufacturers have joined and are making decent to good lenses, and the market has totally changed.
I do have to wonder, though, how many people are buying Voightlander lenses and Chinese AF lenses. For the most part, I feel like these are two different market segments.
As for gas, thankfully, in my area, we are still not as high as we were in 2022, but it's getting too close for comfort.
I can tell you with certainty, based on my involvement in multiple circles, that the same crowd that enjoys Chinese AF lenses as entry/gateway glass see Voigtlander as "high-end" and aspirational and often have at least one. These people are not spending over $1000 on a lens.
DWOfPaul wrote:
I am torn on the 50mm ML CA wide open. It's fair to point it out and talk about, but I feel like it got more attention than it deserved from people who would never buy the lens. Many f1.4 or faster lenses have CA wide open that reduces when stepping down. It's probably part of why most APO lenses are f2 not f1.4. In this case, though, since it's an expensive 2k+ MF lens, many more people than normal came out to complain about it. Yet when a $200 lens comes out with bad IQ most people ignore it and don't comment about it because what do you expect for $200.
Personally, the main reason the 50mm ML didn't tempt me is 50mm is not a focal length I use often enough on its own. But if I get the 35mm ML, a focal length I do use quite a bit more, there is a good chance I will eventually get the 50mm ML to go with it. It's definitely not the IQ keeping me away. ...Show more →
I agree.
We pay attention to different things.
With the Viltrox 50/2 AIR we talk about how nice it is, zero CA. The build quality and other details aren't discussed that much, what do we expect fro the price.
Talking about, for example only - here we have hundreds of lenses, the FE 24-50/2.8 G we don't speak about the images quality or the build quality but rather about what it can be used for. It's a good zoom lens and that's it.
Talking about a heavy, expensive MF APO lens we have to mention the CA. The other parameters should be more or less flawless and so there isn't much to discuss. It can also be noted that the lens very seldom is mentioned at all.
DWOfPaul wrote:
NB: from another post: I do have to wonder, though, how many people are buying Voightlander lenses and Chinese AF lenses. For the most part, I feel like these are two different market segments.
I have sold the TTArtisan 40mm f2 due to poor build and image quality. I have the Viltrox 50 AIR and the 85/2 EVO. At the same time I also have the CV 50/2 APO and the CV 50/1.2 and a lot of other lenses. I will buy the Viltrox 35/1.8 EVO APO. It's a mix.
