Those reds may have more to do with the Canon 5DII, and the lighting, than the Zeiss HFT 35/1.4. Concerning the triangle aperture, it doesn't matter wide open.
Anden wrote:
The optics are more or less the same as I understand it. The Rollei has 3 aperture blades...
After some research (interesting thread ), seems that Rollei started in the '70s to make lenses under Zeiss license in Germany, then in Singapore as well. Besides the obvious aperture difference, Rollei used their own coating formula. For proof, coating reflections are quite different (reddish for Rollei). I have no idea which one is better. Another trivia: HFT stands for High Fidelity Transfer.
Now looking to get one before you guys make the price of this beauty go insane ...
wayne seltzer wrote:
I like the 2nd one better as it has more 3-d than the first one and grandpa's face is a little too dark for my tastes and thus my eyes get drawn towards his lighter shirt.Love the look from this lens.
Thank you for your comment Wayne. I agree that the shot of my grandpa is a bit dark. It was a shot from the hip. I like his expression.
bluetsunami wrote:
So this particular Zeiss is the Rollei HFT? (are there any other types)? Reason I ask is because I've seen the Rollei Zeiss HFT 1.4/35 go for $400 on ebay (which seems like a steal for the quality of lens ones getting). Is there a Contax version and how do they compare?
This is the older version of the Rollei Zeiss HFT 35/1.4. Metal grip.
Anden wrote:
Two portraits from today.
Both at f/1.4.
1. Grandpa
2. Brother
Really like your grandpa pic. It makes want to get...
...Canon EF 35/1.4 L again. Not that grandpa pictures necessarily needs autofocus but for my small constantly moving kids it certainly helps me getting more keepers. Miss 35 mm @f/1.4
AlexTokyo wrote:
After some research (interesting thread ), seems that Rollei started in the '70s to make lenses under Zeiss license in Germany, then in Singapore as well. Besides the obvious aperture difference, Rollei used their own coating formula. For proof, coating reflections are quite different (reddish for Rollei). I have no idea which one is better. Another trivia: HFT stands for High Fidelity Transfer.
Now looking to get one before you guys make the price of this beauty go insane ...
Grandin wrote:
Really like your grandpa pic. It makes want to get...
...Canon EF 35/1.4 L again. Not that grandpa pictures necessarily needs autofocus but for my small constantly moving kids it certainly helps me getting more keepers. Miss 35 mm @f/1.4
I have a superb copy of the Canon 35/2 for times when I need AF.
But if I win the lottery I will have both a Zeiss and a Canon 35/1.4...
For kids AF will help.
Empire wrote:
Then again, I wonder if it could be possible to put the aperture out of the contax into a rolei and get the best of both worlds!
I have not had problems with the aperture shape. I shoot mostly wide open indoors and stopped down outside. If you shoot a lot at say 2.8 the triangular oof areas might be disturbing.
So Anden how do you find the sharpness and CA perfomance of yours when stopped down past 5.6? I'm not particularly thrilled with my contax when it's stopped down. it doesns't hold up to 100% near as well as I'd like - looks a little nervous. Maybe mine needs a CLA, although its uuuuber nice from wide open to 2.8.
Oh and as for the the colours, I noticed a warmth to skin tones and a particular and refined way of handling reds and other warm tones that no other lens has ever given me on the same camera (5D). It was the first time I've seen nice reds out of a canon
There just seems to be extra 'depth' in the warm colours..
), seems that Rollei started in the '70s to make lenses under Zeiss license in Germany, then in Singapore as well. Besides the obvious aperture difference, Rollei used their own coating formula. For proof, coating reflections are quite different (reddish for Rollei). I have no idea which one is better. Another trivia: HFT stands for High Fidelity Transfer.
Not that grandpa pictures necessarily needs autofocus 
but for my small constantly moving kids it certainly helps me getting more keepers. Miss 35 mm @f/1.4