Archive 2006 · New Zeiss lenses have extreme resolution!
jjlphoto Offline • • • • • [X]
p.2 #1 · New Zeiss lenses have extreme resolution!
Emanuele_C wrote:
Excuse my ignorance, but I've a (may be silly) question: is there the possibility to employ a Zeiss Ikon lens onto a Canon body? Is there a special purpose adapter to do this?
Thankyou and ciao!
Emanuele
The Zeiss Ikon M Mount lenses are rangefinder lenses, and hence are designed to sit very close to the film plane as there is no need to clear a mirror assembly. M mount lenses present problems when used on a DSLR as the mirror has to be held up, and the lens inserted. I believe Mark Welsh used a Voightlander lens on a DSLR and it seemed like a real pain based on his desciption of how he did it.
However, using Contax Zeiss CY Mount SLR lenses on a Canon DSLR has huge benefits.
p.2 #2 · New Zeiss lenses have extreme resolution!
I'm having trouble figuring out what makes these Zeiss/Nikon lenses so good. As far as I can tell, they're not using aspherical elements, and they're basically a a standard design. Furthermore, Zeiss's published MTF charts (on their website) do not indicate anything particularly exciting about resolution/contrast.
I'd love to see a 50/1.4 ASPH lens from anyone (Zeiss, Leica, Canon, Nikon... heck, even Sigma!) because that would actually enable signficantly superior performance. Canon made a great 55/1.2 ASPH lens (30 years ago!) that was the best standard lens in the world, and probably still is. If Zeiss has magically managed to make these spherical lenses meaningfully better than their predecessors, I'd sure like to know what they did...
p.2 #3 · New Zeiss lenses have extreme resolution!
AppleCanon wrote:
I'm having trouble figuring out what makes these Zeiss/Nikon lenses so good. As far as I can tell, they're not using aspherical elements, and they're basically a a standard design. Furthermore, Zeiss's published MTF charts (on their website) do not indicate anything particularly exciting about resolution/contrast.
I'd love to see a 50/1.4 ASPH lens from anyone (Zeiss, Leica, Canon, Nikon... heck, even Sigma!) because that would actually enable signficantly superior performance.
There's an old rule of thumb that says that an aspherical element merely replaces two
spherical elements. Aspherics allow a compact (and sometimes cheaper) design, but
they do not guarantee a performance that could not be achieved otherwise.
Mar 04, 2006 at 06:46 AM
jjlphoto Offline • • • • • [X]
p.2 #4 · New Zeiss lenses have extreme resolution!
Zeiss does use aspherical elements in some lenses, but does not publish it as boastfully as one would think.
p.2 #7 · New Zeiss lenses have extreme resolution!
Graham: Nobody in its own mind will deny that Zeiss has good quality optics. Both, the 50mm f1.4 and the 85mm f1.4 Nikkors are also excellent optics and I question if you will see the differences. I will not for sure.
I honestly do not see the reasons to buy Zeiss lenses to fit Nikon cameras. Nikkor lenses are made by Nikon for their cameras, you do not have to make any adjustments to fit a Nikon camera with a Nikkor lens. They were made for each other and you should obtain maximal quality from that combination.
Nikon will discontinue the production of AIs manual lenses which will make them cheaper in the used market.
Hopefully you noticed the new Zeiss lenses to fit Nikon are not AF. Many persons, including me, need AF so these Zeiss lenses are less desirable for us.
Stick with Nikon; you will be better off.
William Rodriguez
Miami, Florida.
p.2 #11 · New Zeiss lenses have extreme resolution!
It appears to be somewhat of a refinement on the Contax design. Very slightly different with a little better performance -- at least according to the Zeiss MTF's and data sheets. I suspect it will be somewhat better as well in areas not covered by the data sheets (CA, for example). We'll have to wait for some side by side tests to know for sure.
Pondria wrote:
Is the new ZF Planar 85/1.4 any different than the version in the Contax mount ? The latter is not something that you should lose your sleeps.
p.2 #12 · New Zeiss lenses have extreme resolution!
camerapapi wrote:
Graham: Nobody in its own mind will deny that Zeiss has good quality optics. Both, the 50mm f1.4 and the 85mm f1.4 Nikkors are also excellent optics and I question if you will see the differences. I will not for sure.
I honestly do not see the reasons to buy Zeiss lenses to fit Nikon cameras. Nikkor lenses are made by Nikon for their cameras, you do not have to make any adjustments to fit a Nikon camera with a Nikkor lens. They were made for each other and you should obtain maximal quality from that combination.
Nikon will discontinue the production of AIs manual lenses which will make them cheaper in the used market.
Hopefully you noticed the new Zeiss lenses to fit Nikon are not AF. Many persons, including me, need AF so these Zeiss lenses are less desirable for us.
Stick with Nikon; you will be better off.
William Rodriguez
Miami, Florida....Show more →
Hi William, no offence intended but your post seems a little naive. The fact that Nikon lenses are used on Nikon bodies does not guarantee 'maximal quality' at all. Plenty of Nikon or Canon lenses have been bettered by third party equivalents. This forum is full of evidence of that. Besides, I am a Canon body user so the argument becomes moot.
p.2 #13 · New Zeiss lenses have extreme resolution!
John
Totally agree with your comments. Zeiss knows how to build lenses as well as anyone on the planet. Leica is rightfully praised for the ability to achieve at full aperture what others only hope to dream for an 5.6 or above, but Zeiss has color rendering that is second to none.
We both own many of the finest of both. I think the issue is not Zeiss Vs Leica but the best of all worlds available on one single body. I use my Zeiss, Leica and Nikon lenses on the 1DsMkII with outstanding results on all. I feel privileged to be able to get the best of all worlds on one body. I thank Canon for providing what may ultimately be the workhorse body of the industry.
Find the best of all lenses to suit your shooting style and make the images of your imagination.
p.2 #14 · New Zeiss lenses have extreme resolution!
RE availability: according to a press release (march 16):
"To guarantee global availability of the Zeiss Ikon system, ZF-lenses and lens accessories, Carl Zeiss will simultaneously offer an online ordering facility on the Internet, which will be available at www.zeiss.com/photo from April 3, 2006."
