Another Thumbs Up for Duclos Zeiss ZFs!

[jimhare]

Just another post about Duclos Lenses and the Zeiss ZFs.

I recently got three lenses, 28mm f/2, 50mm f/2, and 85mm f/1.4 and they are beautiful!

Not only do Duclos mod the lenses to declick the iris, install a permanent lens gear and put an 80mm front, they give great advice and tech check the lenses on the way through.

For example, I originally wanted the 50mm f/1.4 but Matt advised me that the 50mm f/2 was a macro and much sharper, as well as a better lens in general. I'm extremely happy with it so really glad I took his advice.

Also, they rejected one of the first lenses they received, but this only slowed it down by one day, and I was happy to wait.

So if you are thinking about going Zeiss ZF, definitely contact Duclos (www.ducloslenses.com) and get them to supply and mod the lenses for you. Smartest thing I ever did.

Jim

Here are some test shots. Didn't need much light at all, nice change to have fast lenses.

 

[Matthew Duclos]

Like the signature says....
connoisseur du glass.
Enjoy Jim.

 

[hdcrew]

Good stuff Jim, I wish I had known about the 50mm Macro being sharper, I plumbed for the 1.4.

What are you using for the wide end? I've been trying my 17-35 2.8 Nikon, It looks quite good, but mechanically not as useable as the ZF's

Regards

Nick Bennett

 

[jimhare]

Hey Nick. Yeah, it came out of a conversation with Matt, when I asked why the faster 1.4 cost less than the slower 2.0.

I'm building the rest of my collection now. You're right. Once you're spoiled by the ZFs, other still lenses just don't compare!

I've heard good things about the Tokona 11-16, Nikon 17-35 and 80-200. I think I'll start there, but I already know I'll use the ZFs for as much as I possibly can and only use zooms when I have to.

How about you?

Cheers,

Jim

 

[hdcrew]

I Have the 17-35 Nikon and it's just about wide enough for my purposes, I also have the 80-200mm 2.8 which works very well on the RED, I'll post some shots when I get a chance.

Nick

 

[Andreas Mendritzki]

I'll second that!

I'll second that!

Just wanted to add:
We received our ZF's today, along with the Tokina 11-16, all with mods done by Duclos. They did a fantastic job, and the lenses look great.

 

[jimhare]

Hey Andreas, what did Duclos do to the Tokina 11-16? Did Matt install some kind of manual iris control or something, or just focus gear and new front?

 

[jimhare]

Hi Nick,

I just picked up the Tokina 11-16. Wicked sharp even at 11mm. Doesn't have manual iris so I'll either need to get Doug's mount mod or find a way to get a manual iris. In the meantime I've just rigged the iris wide open at 2.8.

Heard great things about the 17-35 and 80-200.

I Have the 17-35 Nikon and it's just about wide enough for my purposes, I also have the 80-200mm 2.8 which works very well on the RED, I'll post some shots when I get a chance.

Nick

 

[Andreas Mendritzki]

Yeah, We're getting Doug's mount for the tokina as well. We just had the Focus ring put on by Duclos.

 

[Rick Darge]

Hi Nick,

I just picked up the Tokina 11-16. Wicked sharp even at 11mm. Doesn't have manual iris so I'll either need to get Doug's mount mod or find a way to get a manual iris. In the meantime I've just rigged the iris wide open at 2.8.

Heard great things about the 17-35 and 80-200.

How are you rigging it exactly? I'm going down to Samys camera to pick mine up and will ask if they can de-spring it to just the iris beforehand. It's not ideal but would work for me as I see this being a personal fun lens.

 

[jimhare]

Hi Richard, I just cut a little piece of plastic to hold the iris spring open. This way I can still pop the bit out and use it on my D90.

Works fine, is free, and doesn't require altering the lens.

I guess if you went nuts with it you could have different plastic bits to represent each stop!

Jim

 

[Rick Darge]

Cool. So then are you pretty much shooting at f/2.8 the whole time and then just adding ND? How resistant is that spring?