user222 - nice. #2 especially
Rodluvan - Very cool capture of hair in back light. Great shot
Ronny - Great lighting. Dreamy scene. 85 shines in your hands.
I was first really happy to see the announcement of 1,4/55, and started budgeting 2013 equipment purchases accordingly. But after reviewing thousands of my 50mm images it seems quite clear that I'm mostly using f/2.2-f/4 range (partially due to optical defects but DOF would be too small in most cases if larger aperture used). Sure extreme quality at f/1.4 would be nice, but I'm not sure how much there is use for such narrow DOF. Maybe I would shoot more large distance subjects. Closed down f/2.2-5.6 the 1.4/50mm Planar has very good image quality and mostly very good bokeh as well.
Are people here considering to upgrade to the new 1,4/55? If so why - for the f/1.4 performance
Some images with Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1,4/50 ZE from last summer Scorland holiday.
Gorgeous shots Samuli!
New 55 will still have some green fringing but at macro levels, use it at f2 and it is perfect. Current line of lenses have issues - reduced micro contrast at f1.4 and you always get best performance at f5.6 (sharpest and cleanest). New 135 sonnar is better when fully opened than 100MP. So this new line of lenses will be good even wide open - you dont have to step down to 5.6 to get micro-contrast and to reduce aberrations. And it is meant to be for high res camera.
Ze distagon 35/1.4 with ef12II tube
Samuli Vahonen wrote:
Are people here considering to upgrade to the new 1,4/55? If so why - for the f/1.4 performance
I do consider it, for the wide open performance and close to that, but I am undecided yet. It depends on the price, and the exact performance. I won't be pre-ordering. It also depends on what they do with that focusing rubber
Samuli- I am not too interested in the 1.4/55. It is my prejudice that it would be a better version of 50MP rendering, that would not interest me. However, if it turns out to be better version of 50P rendering, I might think about it. It seems that clinical rendering is not my interest at this point in my shooting. Thanks for sharing your beautiful shots.
Samuli Vahonen wrote:
Are people here considering to upgrade to the new 1,4/55? If so why - for the f/1.4 performance
carstenw wrote:
I do consider it, for the wide open performance and close to that, but I am undecided yet. It depends on the price, and the exact performance. I won't be pre-ordering. It also depends on what they do with that focusing rubber
Don't get your hopes up Carsten. Zeiss just won an iF design award for the 55/1.4. Also for a couple of the upcoming mirrorless system lenses, which have the same looking rubber rings.
Quote: The high-end SLR lens [55/1.4] that will come on the market at the end of 2013 reflects the new design language the best: the funnel-shaped form, a surface that is soft to the touch, the optimized focus ring and other details will contribute to even better manageability and an unmistakable look.
Martin Dominicus, Head of Marketing of the Carl Zeiss Camera Lens Division, says: “For the first time, we have established a design language that aims to convey the strengths and the identity of our lenses already through their appearance, how they feel to the human touch, and the impression they create.” The new product design language, which will be applied to all future lenses, was created in collaboration with the Stuttgart design studio Phoenix Design. “While ZEISS lenses have until now mainly been known for their technical precision, excellent image performance and ergonomics, our lenses will now also meet the highest aesthetic standards of our customers by becoming design objects in and of themselves,” explains Dominicus. “Not only are functional aspects such as convenient handling and operation important, but also the effect that is communicated through high-quality design.”
"..our lenses will now also meet the highest aesthetic standards of our customers by becoming design objects in and of themselves,” explains Dominicus. “Not only are functional aspects such as convenient handling and operation important, but also the effect that is communicated through high-quality design.”
Apart from point-of-sale persuasion, how much of that 'high-quality design communication effect' will improve your images shot with it? 5%? 25% not at all? How much cheaper would the lens be if unshackled from this design overkill and its costs?
'becoming design objects in and of themselves' - sounds suspiciously close to 'objet de vertu, in which vertu is intended to suggest rich materials and a higher standard of refined facture and finish, and would typically exclude objects with a practical function, being restricted to "collector's pieces" that are purely decorative.'
A sad development, the day Carl Zeiss lost the plot, when techical excellence became well, not quite enough.
But think of all the other photographers who will recognise the lens, having been 'communicated to by its design', and the status that will confer on you as the owner..think *how good* you will look brandishing this one in front of the other guys with a flourish, lol. Much more fun than taking photographs!
There is nothing wrong with a good product design. Actually, as a concept, it is very important. On the other hand, whether I agree with their aesthetics is a different story. Once again, I would need to hold it in my hand to decide. From photos, it looks like a AF video lens.
