are you still using Zeiss classic ZF/ZE lenses? (1 Viewer)

[cyra]

What camera are you using them with? I wonder if they are still up to higher resolution.
I am not so interested in top quality, but rather pleasing and interesting rendering.
I also wonder what people, who used them earlier, are using now.

 

[JT]

OMG, I have not used a ZF lens in a very long time. After I switched to the SL system, my lens limitation has narrowed to just a few lenses.
I love the Milvus and ZM lenses. I still have the 35 1.4 ZM but tend to use the Voigtlander 35 Apo Lanthar which is amazing. So, classic ZF/ZE lenses I have not used for years.

 

[photosphere42]

What camera are you using them with? I wonder if they are still up to higher resolution.
I am not so interested in top quality, but rather pleasing and interesting rendering.
I also wonder what people, who used them earlier, are using now.

I use 2 CARL ZEISS lenses on my cameras. A PLANAR 1,4/50ZF and a PLANAR 1:2.8 f=80mm adapted from my ROLLIE SL66 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 Camera. These lenses are used all the time on my digital bodies, (3100, 3200, & 610 Nikon's) as well on my film cameras ( el2's, 8008, n90s, F2,
Nikon's). I consider them to be top quality lenses that produce pleasing images with interesting rending!
I also use NIKON brand lenses, and various others like Voigtlander, Tamron, Rokinon, and Schneider-Kreuznach..
Never pass up the opportunity to make a fine image!
Best wishes.

 

[hyperfocal]

I have used ZM lenses on my Leica M4, and ZF lenses (21/2.8, 35/2.8, 50/2, 100/2.8) on my Nikon F5.There are amazing! It's not just sharpness and contrast that are outstanding, but just the way they render the scene being photographed. I had used Leica lenses in the past, but Zeiss beats them hands down...

 

[JT]

Agree. If you ask me the ZM 35mm 1.4 i son par with the leica if not better. It's just a tad bit larger.

You need to try the voigtlander apo lanthar. They are in a league of their own. The 50 and 35 are unmatched in my opinion. 1/8 the price of the leica for better build quality and performance.

 

[hyperfocal]

Thanks. I'll check the price on ebay.

 

[cyra]

The Apo Lanthars are higly praized. I will also have a look at the 35/2.0 for Nikon Z.
I am using the classic ZF and ZF.2 lenses on the Z7 with the FtZ adapter. Can't complain so far. The rendering is still beautiful.

 

[cyra]

I use 2 CARL ZEISS lenses on my cameras. A PLANAR 1,4/50ZF and a PLANAR 1:2.8 f=80mm adapted from my ROLLIE SL66 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 Camera. These lenses are used all the time on my digital bodies, (3100, 3200, & 610 Nikon's) as well on my film cameras ( el2's, 8008, n90s, F2,
Nikon's). I consider them to be top quality lenses that produce pleasing images with interesting rending!
I also use NIKON brand lenses, and various others like Voigtlander, Tamron, Rokinon, and Schneider-Kreuznach..
Never pass up the opportunity to make a fine image!
Best wishes.

Zeiss is still selling the Planar 1,4/50 ZF. Others have been replaced by Milvus and Otus lenses. I wonder though, how different they really are from the classic lenses.

 

[JT]

Just a handfull from the 35 and 50 lanthar

Ag2Si - Silver to Silicon | Lens: VOIGTLANDER 50MM F2.0 APO LANTHAR VM

The online galleries and forums for film and digital photographers.

www.ag2si.com

Ag2Si - Silver to Silicon | Lens: VOIGTLANDER 35MM F2.0 APO LANTHAR VM

The online galleries and forums for film and digital photographers.

www.ag2si.com

And cannot leave out the ZM 1.4

Ag2Si - Silver to Silicon | Lens: ZEISS ZM DISTAGON T* F1.4 35MM

The online galleries and forums for film and digital photographers.

www.ag2si.com

 

[1clickbeyond]

I am very happy with my 50 apo lanthar which I purchased about 18 months ago. it is quite a joy to use. It focuses smoothly, the aperture ring is solid and responsive and the image quality it produces is spectacular. My last ZF classic was a 50 f2 macro on a D700. Haven't really done much with DSLR's since then. Mainly shoot with the M, and a Sony 6600.

 

[cyra]

I have used ZM lenses on my Leica M4, and ZF lenses (21/2.8, 35/2.8, 50/2, 100/2.8) on my Nikon F5.There are amazing! It's not just sharpness and contrast that are outstanding, but just the way they render the scene being photographed. I had used Leica lenses in the past, but Zeiss beats them hands down...

I also still like the rendering, but the ZF lenses are a bit clumsy on the Z7, therefor I wonder how I could replace them. Zeiss seams not to go into Nikon Z land.

 

[JT]

its a licensing thing. Nikon needs to be more open and allow others to deliver solutions they are not willing to do. Like L mount

 

[paqart]

What camera are you using them with? I wonder if they are still up to higher resolution.
I am not so interested in top quality, but rather pleasing and interesting rendering.
I also wonder what people, who used them earlier, are using now.

I still have my ZF lenses but switched to Phase One in 2015. Since then, I've been using Schneider lenses because nothing else works on the camera. For a short period in between, I used a Leica lens (25mm) on a Sony A7R.

 

[cyra]

It seems like the Zeiss users have all moved on to something else.

 

[paqart]

It seems like the Zeiss users have all moved on to something else.

I still have my Zeiss lenses but I don't use them for serious photography.

 

[cyra]

I still use them a lot while traveling and for landscape photography. They work well with the Nikon Z7.