Daniel,
I guess I am lucky to be in a position to not care too much about lens ergonomics, doing mostly tripod work. It's just a matter of composing/ setting FL, do focus, use M mode and check exposure, wind down to f8, click to set correct s/speed and fire away. Check histo, re-shoot 2/3 of a stop up/down. I can usually take my time.
I can see the one ring combo not being great for fast handholding setup, though.
I found an MTF paper today for this one...it's *very obvious* why the 35-70 delivers! It weighs 475 grams - also found the macro goes to 1:2.5, so very useful in this 'tripod' kind of lens.
And, the guys posting the images in this thread here: shot a range of subject matter, in a variety of light conditions, different FLs/macro, perhaps using a range of bodies, and no doubt very different RCs and PP routines. See my point? They all deliver the *same look*, and I find it very appealing, as I am sure will the proverbial 'impartial observers' a.k.a clients!
For this exercise, I am not looking at the images for artistic qualities or 'excellence' in composition, execution, etc. Just the look, and what it can do with my subject matter. That is my major basis for any lens purchase decision, plus weight/size. I'll add that the last say, 5% of image quality (as generally understood here) is secondary to the total image appearance for good compositions and how much work is needed in post, to me. The great lenses largely do the heavy lifting by themselves, I find. All just an opinion, of course.
What hasn't been mentioned yet, I think: another area where the Zeiss 35-70 is excellent is its resistence to flare. Since I encountered serious flare problems with Canons 24-105L in long time exposures with bright light sources, I use almost always my Zeiss for this kind of shoots:
brainiac wrote:
;-) Just kidding. It does sound funny though, since you might have meant the superlatives grimmest, dullest, poorest, crappiest, and worst. When the specific meaning of a word like superlative gets corrupted simply because it has more syllables than other words with the desired meaning, like super, superb, supreme and finest, then people end up in contortions trying to say what superlative used to mean. Marxism may be winning but I'm not going down without a fight. If you don't understand why I associate the coarsening of language with Marxism then read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newspeak . The worker will need few words once the bourgeois have been purged....Show more →
Actually, I thought that one could use "superlative" to mean "of great quality", as in the following example from the Collins dictionary:
superlative (superlatives plural )
1 adj If you describe something as superlative, you mean that it is extremely good.
Some superlative wines are made in this region..., The Regent hotel has a superlative view of Hong Kong island.
Philip--don't mean to slight the lens at all--were I to do a lot more tripod work, the lens would once again appeal to my style. Mine is much more run and gun. If it works for you, there's no doubt that the optic is quite wonderful and capable. I could probably add a few superlatives here but I'll resist.
I have some photos at home which show off it's ability that I need to print. They do exhibit that certain "zeissness" that is well enjoyed on this forum.
The last part of my comment about the photographers was merely to compliment the group posting photos. I'm pretty sure they could make a coke bottle shoot great.
With images like this, you should be posting more than 3 times in 3 years!
I'm glad you like the images. Posting is all a matter of time and I don't have too much of it. Once I post, I want to follow and participate and that's not always possible. I'm reading threads here quite often though and this is one of the best forums around.
In this case I just felt that I had to show what a lovely lense the 35-70mm is.
Here's another one taken with the 35-70mm which shows the resolution and depth (5DMII, f/16, ISO100).
prashant wrote:
hi Andreas,
Welcome here. Hope to see more. Any new trip planned in austria?
We had some new snow here in the last few days so a snowshoe trip is quite possible within the next few days. It all depends on weather and avalanche situation.
Taken today, in Kauai (Hawaii) at Kailio beach. Six warning signs on the beach, if the trees are not a hint about how tough it gets here. VS 35-70 at 5.6 or 8.
but I'll resist.
Now, is cockiness or pepsiness better?