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Archive 2008 · Fast MF 50mm Shootout! Pentax vs Zeiss

thrice
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Fast MF 50mm Shootout! Pentax vs Zeiss

I received my PK-EOS adapter and as such have done a little informal shootout between my two Pentax 50mm primes and my Zeiss ZF 50mm prime.

The 3 contestants are:

All 3 lenses manual focused on my 5D using happypagehk adapters with focus confirmation (largely ignored though

) I used a Canon Ee-S manual focus screen. Handheld and as such some misfocus is likely, hence these results should be considered informal but the results should give a good indication of bokeh, contrast and CA characteristics.

I shot all lenses wide open, at f/1.4 and at f/5.6. I did one closeup test and one distance (>3m) test. The Sigma I had has been sent back but we can assume it would have failed the distance test miserably.

f/1.2 Closeup
SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.2

Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4
Cannot do f/1.2

Cosina Zeiss Planar 50/1,4 $500
Also cannot do f/1.2

f/1.2 Closeup Centre
SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.2

Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4
Cannot do f/1.2

Cosina Zeiss Planar 50/1,4 $500
Also cannot do f/1.2

f/1.2 Closeup Corner
SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.2

Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4
Cannot do f/1.2

Cosina Zeiss Planar 50/1,4 $500
Also cannot do f/1.2

f/1.4 Closeup
SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.2

Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4

Cosina Zeiss Planar 50/1,4

f/1.4 Closeup Centre
SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.2

Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4

Cosina Zeiss Planar 50/1,4

f/1.4 Closeup Corner
SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.2

Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4

Cosina Zeiss Planar 50/1,4

f/5.6 Closeup
SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.2

Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4

Cosina Zeiss Planar 50/1,4

f/5.6 Closeup Centre
SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.2

Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4

Cosina Zeiss Planar 50/1,4

f/5.6 Closeup Corner
SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.2

Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4

Cosina Zeiss Planar 50/1,4

f/1.2 Distance
SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.2

Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4
No 1.2

Cosina Zeiss Planar 50/1,4
No 1.2

f/1.2 Distance Centre
SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.2

Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4
No 1.2

Cosina Zeiss Planar 50/1,4
No 1.2

f/1.4 Distance
SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.2

Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4

Cosina Zeiss Planar 50/1,4

f/1.4 Distance Centre
SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.2

Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4

Cosina Zeiss Planar 50/1,4

f/5.6 Distance
SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.2

Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4

Cosina Zeiss Planar 50/1,4

f/5.6 Distance Centre
SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.2

Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4

Cosina Zeiss Planar 50/1,4

Edited on May 27, 2009 at 01:03 AM · View previous versions

Aug 06, 2008 at 11:44 PM

thrice
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Fast MF 50mm Shootout! Pentax vs Zeiss

Just as a comment on my own tests

it seems I front focused the closeup shots with the pentax f/1.2 lens, sorry.

They're all SO CLOSE but I'd say the 50/1.4 Takumar wins (just!) at closeup (at 1.4) and the Pentax 50/1.2 thrashes the other two at distance (at 1.4).

I need to re-do the closeup test to see if the 1.2 can beat the 1.4 up close.

EDIT: I'm also pleased to add, that I have no issues at all with infinity focus and mirror clearance with the 50/1.2 on my 5D. The PK aperture lever has been trimmed and the little "fin" next to it removed though. with my Pentax 50/1.4 (m42 mount) the mirror lands on the rear element when flipping back down at infinity, but doesn't hit it on the way up.

Edited on Aug 07, 2008 at 12:06 AM

Aug 06, 2008 at 11:51 PM

Anden
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Fast MF 50mm Shootout! Pentax vs Zeiss

The bokeh of the 50 1.2 @ 1.2 is great!

A

Aug 07, 2008 at 02:59 AM

thrice
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Fast MF 50mm Shootout! Pentax vs Zeiss

F/1.2 vs F/2 bokeh comparison.

I actually prefer the f/2 shot as it has enough isolation but doesn't lose too much detail in the flower. This lens has wonderful soft bokeh.

f/1.2

f/2.0

Canon loves to clip those reds don't they

luckily the detail can usually be recovered in PP.

Edited on Aug 07, 2008 at 03:57 AM

Aug 07, 2008 at 03:56 AM

Anden
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Fast MF 50mm Shootout! Pentax vs Zeiss

The bokeh is smooth but not smeared and that makes it useful to add dimension in the photo.

I still prefer the 1.2... :-)

A

Aug 07, 2008 at 04:21 AM

biotar
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Fast MF 50mm Shootout! Pentax vs Zeiss

Regarding the 1.2's cornerperformance it seems that this lens suffers somewhat from field curvature. The corners don't just seem soft but rather out of focus.

The 1.4 takumar has a somewhat weaker performance at distance wide open, this is in line with my own experience. I like its colour best though

The zeiss performance at 1.4 has the edge. Beyond that the performance of the lenses is close.

On the whole, my sentiments go out towards the 1.4 takumar for the look, although the zeiss does seem to perform somewhat better in terms of resolution. Also the zeiss' contrast seems lower on the distance photo's (which is a good thing IMO). It is possible however that the distant photo's are underexposed with both takumars

Thrice, great shootout! thanks

Aug 07, 2008 at 05:49 AM

thrice
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Fast MF 50mm Shootout! Pentax vs Zeiss

biotar wrote:
Regarding the 1.2's cornerperformance it seems that this lens suffers somewhat from field curvature. The corners don't just seem soft but rather out of focus.

The zeiss performance at 1.4 has the edge. Beyond that the performance of the lenses is close.

It is possible however that the distant photo's are underexposed with both takumars

Thrice, great shootout! thanks

Hey biotar, I can't quite tell from my limited shots thus far whether the 1.2 has any field curvature, I will do some flat shots when I can.

I did testing in the Sigma marmite bokeh thread that showed the 50/1.4 Takumar beats the Zeiss in closeups.

The exposure of all 3 images at distance is almost identical, surprisingly the zeiss has 1/2000s at f/1.4 while the Pentax's are 1/1500s. I probably metered off a slightly brighter part of the plant.

F/1.4
Pentax 1.2

Pentax 1.4

Zeiss 1.4

F/5.6
Pentax 1.2

Pentax 1.4

Zeiss 1.4

Edited on Aug 07, 2008 at 06:25 AM

Aug 07, 2008 at 06:22 AM

biotar
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Fast MF 50mm Shootout! Pentax vs Zeiss

Might be that the takumar photo's were taken in slightly more overcast weather.
I can imagine the takumar beating the zeiss, but rather at 5.6 than 1.4. In these photo's the zeiss seems to perform better wide open. Especially at distance. It is however a known phenomenon that the takumar is weaker at distance.

Aug 07, 2008 at 06:31 AM

thrice
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Fast MF 50mm Shootout! Pentax vs Zeiss

Yeah the Zeiss wins at distance over the takumar 1.4, but the pentax 1.2 at f/1.4 beats the Zeiss.

I took the shots within a seconds of each other, carrying two of the lenses in my jumper pockets and switching without putting the camera down, so weather is the same

I'd say the zeiss is a touch faster than f/1.4 in reality.

Aug 07, 2008 at 06:38 AM

Cableaddict
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Fast MF 50mm Shootout! Pentax vs Zeiss

Thrice,

I don't have a strong opinion yet, (I would have preferred a different subject, somehow) but wanted to commend you on the effort.

Nicely done, and thanks!

I wish folks would post more comparisons like this. I realize they take time, but it's soooo much more illuminating than the standard "look at what this lens can do" posts.

Edited on Aug 10, 2008 at 01:41 PM

Aug 10, 2008 at 01:41 PM


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