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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

What's your take on Zeiss Compact Primes?

Hi Timur. Are you going to put something up on your website? Of course the CP.2 s have lost some of the advantage that you speak of by being limited in their T stop though I guess they have gained the advantage of having proper mechanics.
 
Please try to get your hands on new Zeiss 50mm MACRO. I am thinking of 28mm,50mm MACRO and 85mm. Can somebody find out if ZEISS will release NEW 18mm soon? I hope it will be T2.1...
 
I have a the 28, 35, 50, 85 and I am still waiting for the 100mm all T2.1.
I also have the new Light weight zoom 2 15.5-45mm. All lenses match really well, they are sharp, nice bokeh and best of all, match other Zeiss lenses including my MK 3 super speeds and also Ultra prime lenses.

I wouldn't buy the 18,21 or 25mm as they are making T2.1 versions ( I was told this from 2 separate suppliers in australia).

T2.1 is perfect for most situations and from my tests the lenses are just as sharp from T16 to T2.1
 
Adam Eden said:
I have a the 28, 35, 50, 85 and I am still waiting for the 100mm all T2.1.
I also have the new Light weight zoom 2 15.5-45mm. All lenses match really well, they are sharp, nice bokeh and best of all, match other Zeiss lenses including my MK 3 super speeds and also Ultra prime lenses.

I wouldn't buy the 18,21 or 25mm as they are making T2.1 versions ( I was told this from 2 separate suppliers in australia).

T2.1 is perfect for most situations and from my tests the lenses are just as sharp from T16 to T2.1
Click to expand...

Thanks Adam.
Any idea if they release NEW 18mm T2.1 this year?
 
I hope so, but apparently they are releasing a 15mm T2.1 first and I have one on order. I would really like to see them release a 135mm

For the price they are hard to go past and the feet focus scale is accurate which my CA loves!
 
Anyone care to comment on how the Duclos compare to the CPs mechanically?
 
I assume you mean the ZF's converted.

The CP's are smoother and purpose built. The ZF;s are geared and Iris declicked still lenses. Plus they rotate in the wrong direction.
 
My understanding on the ZE/ZF line was that Zeiss licensed Cosina to put their name on a set of Contax lenses, and then once Contax went out of business they had nothing to do with that Japanese manufacturing capacity, so they sold them with Nikon/Canon mounts instead.

I'm confused by the idea of new ones (such as a replacement 18, or a new 15) being developed. Would these new lenses actually be designed (or built) by Zeiss in Germany?
 
Lee Saxon said:
My understanding on the ZE/ZF line was that Zeiss licensed Cosina to put their name on a set of Contax lenses, and then once Contax went out of business they had nothing to do with that Japanese manufacturing capacity, so they sold them with Nikon/Canon mounts instead.

I'm confused by the idea of new ones (such as a replacement 18, or a new 15) being developed. Would these new lenses actually be designed (or built) by Zeiss in Germany?
Click to expand...

I don't know a thing about that.

I thought Zeiss made the ZF (Nikon mount) lenses in Germany, and that they only expanded slowly into other mounts. Most of the other mounts are just not that popular. The EOS mount requires electronic aperture so it genuinely needed more engineering.

In any case the Zeiss reps I spoke with said that the ZE/ZF and compact Primes (and all related lines) are designed and manufactured in Germany.
 
All Zeiss CPs are designed and built in Germany....unlike ZF/ZEs..
 
Jiri Vrozina said:
All Zeiss CPs are designed and built in Germany....unlike ZF/ZEs..
Click to expand...

Its the exact same glass. The Compact Primes just use "selects" from the SLR lens line.

Out of curiosity, why does it matter? Who cares about the provenance of the hardware- I just care about the hardware.
 
Alexander Ibrahim said:
Out of curiosity, why does it matter? Who cares about the provenance of the hardware- I just care about the hardware.
Click to expand...

I've got the same question. Its not like Japan has shoddy manufacturing standards compared to Germany.
 
A picture of my sharpest lens (Zeiss ZF 100 f2 Makro Planar "Made in Japan"). Ironically taken with a 20mm Cosina Voigtlander made in the same factory. Posting not to get in anyone's face, but in the interest of factual info, and to defend the rep of the manufacturer who I think is also making some glass for the RED brand. Even if he's not, Mr. Kobayashi deserves a lot of respect.

The CP's are hand-picked per Zeiss's own website. I would guess Duclos also checks them and possibly optimizes them as they do the rehoused Tokina 11-16.
 

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Steve Wake said:
A picture of my sharpest lens (Zeiss ZF 100 f2 Makro Planar "Made in Japan"). Ironically taken with a 20mm Cosina Voigtlander made in the same factory. Posting not to get in anyone's face, but in the interest of factual info, and to defend the rep of the manufacturer who I think is also making some glass for the RED brand. Even if he's not, Mr. Kobayashi deserves a lot of respect.

The CP's are hand-picked per Zeiss's own website. I would guess Duclos also checks them and possibly optimizes them as they do the rehoused Tokina 11-16.
Click to expand...

Ha ha.

Yes you are right of course!

I could have looked over at some ZF lenses I have right now and concluded the same thing! I feel a bit more doltish than usual.

Sorry for my errors.

So, here is where I think we are:

The Glass for the all the Zeiss SLR lenses and the Compact Primes are the same glass. The Compact Primes use selects from that manufacturing process.

The Zeiss SLR lenses are completely manufactured and assembled in Japan.

The Compact Primes have Japanese manufactured glass, but German housing manufacturing and assembly.

That still leaves me wondering why anyone cares? As you pointed out Kobayashi has a great reputation.
 
Alexander Ibrahim said:
Its the exact same glass. The Compact Primes just use "selects" from the SLR lens line.

Out of curiosity, why does it matter? Who cares about the provenance of the hardware- I just care about the hardware.
Click to expand...

i care:patriot:
 
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