I went the CV 125 f/2.5 Macro APO-Lanthar route. Although both the 100L and ZE 100 f/2 both look interesting. Seems a shame if Cosina doesn't produce an SL II version of that lens. There's magic I see that I didn't see with the non-L version of the Canon 100mm macro, I don't really know how to describe it.
Pixel Perfect wrote:
Yeah, I'm trying to decide between a 100L macro and ZE 100 f/2 macro. If the Zeiss were 1:1 I'd have no hesitation.
I have yet to see a pair of images from the original Canon 100 and the new 100L in which you could see a difference in the output. To my eye, they are identical. The MTF charts more or less ratify that. I loved my Canon 100 for the years that I had it and got many great shots with it, but my Leica that I got this year blows it away.
If you want a great and relatively inexpensive 100 macro, the Canon is an excellent choice (though many give an edge to the Sigma 150). If instead, you have $1200-$1500 or so to burn, then the CV 125, the Leica 100, and the ZE 100 (when it comes out) would all be head and shoulders above the 100L. The alts obviously lack AF and IS, but depending on what its purpose is, those may or may not be helpful or necessary.
If I had the funds, I would have kept my Canon 100 for times when AF or a lighter kit was needed, but it was not to be. That said, the drawing style of the ZF 100 (assume similar to be true for the ZE) and the Leica 100 are quite different, and I could easily see a case for "needing" both over time. Of course, my wife would likely deem that grounds for divorce...
Grenache wrote:
the drawing style of the ZF 100 (assume similar to be true for the ZE) and the Leica 100 are quite different, and I could easily see a case for "needing" both over time. Of course, my wife would likely deem that grounds for divorce...
Jim
Luckily, I'm not married!
-but I can barely consider buying one of these, maybe next year. I sure would love to see a head-to-head comparison, though one can pretty much envision the "typical" Zeiss - Leica differences.
I wish Zeiss had made the Z* 100 MP 1:1 instead of 1:2 like they did with C/Y and then had the separate non macro 100 Planar like the C/Y. I have the Leica 100 APO for macro with the ElPro adapter to get 1:1 and got the C/Y 100 Planar for portrait and general shooting as I don't want to deal with the extra long throw of a macro lens like the 100 MP for non-macro shooting.
Grenache wrote:
I have yet to see a pair of images from the original Canon 100 and the new 100L in which you could see a difference in the output. To my eye, they are identical. The MTF charts more or less ratify that.
My Canon 100/2.8(USM) got stolen as well as 180/3.5. I decided to replace both of them with new 100L. I was quite surprised that the first photos I took last weekend didn't have any difference in image quality compared to the old one. All characteristic including the annoying harsh bokeh (appears sometimes, not in all photos) still seem to be there. So only benefits to me (compared to Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100) are the 1:1 capability, automatic aperture and very fast autofocus. When I upgrade from 2/100 ZF to ZE version I may end up selling Canon 100L since ZE has automatic aperture, which makes using tubes much easier and as far I remember M-P 2/100 with tubes is at 1:1 at least as good as Canon100/2.8, thou very difficult to use since extends so much from camera.
Looking at that comparison, and of course acknowledging the ever-present "sample variation" problem, the Zeiss is still my baby. (I'm a contrast freak.) The Vog also looks very tasty.
The OP should be very interested to see how well the Canon fares here, even regarding the 3d look (err, I mean, "plasticity." )
The Nikon looks shockingly bad, but I suspect that Burningheart has a bad copy. I originally owned three of those, and one was a real dog.
Today I received my 2/100mm ZE. But since I just returned from a trip to New Zealand with 6000 new pictures I will have probably no time to do some test shots during the next days with this lens.
Bobu wrote:
Today I received my 2/100mm ZE. But since I just returned from a trip to New Zealand with 6000 new pictures I will have probably no time to do some test shots during the next days with this lens.
formula4speed wrote:
I'm late to the party on this one, but was there any discussion of when we might see a ZE 25mm f/2.8? Need something to pair with my ZE 50 f/1.4
I'm interested in this lens too but I guess since its offered in ZS Mount (M42) they (Zeiss) aren't worried about getting it out quickly since it can easily be adapted.
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