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Zeiss vs. Nikon 35mm still lenses

B

_BK

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Ive been enjoying Evin's Nikon lens reviews, and Ive allready purchased the Nikon 50mm 1.4. But, Im curious about the comparison of the Zeiss 50mm 1.4 and the 85mm 1.4 to the Nikon equivalents.

Are the Zeiss lenses worth the extra money?

What would I gain by going with the Zeiss lenses over the Nikons?

Is better to just go with the Nikons for general use and rent 35mm cinema primes for special projects?
 
_BK said:
Ive been enjoying Evin's Nikon lens reviews, and Ive allready purchased the Nikon 50mm 1.4. But, Im curious about the comparison of the Zeiss 50mm 1.4 and the 85mm 1.4 to the Nikon equivalents.

Are the Zeiss lenses worth the extra money?

What would I gain by going with the Zeiss lenses over the Nikons?

Is better to just go with the Nikons for general use and rent 35mm cinema primes for special projects?
Click to expand...

Hello BK,

There is a lot of info on the Zeiss ZF series out on the web. IMHO the mechanical construction and color matching of the ZF lenses would justify the additional cost. You might want to poke around on their site, it might answer some of your questions.

http://www.zeiss.com/photo

Chuck
 
Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/50 mm ZF a small test

Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/50 mm ZF a small test

I do have Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/50 mm ZF and there is a small video scaled from 1080p to offer you for download.

I did this shot during the last summer on my balcony.

It shows the focus from the oleander flower through the bamboo to the tomatoes on the table.

The aperture was set to f2.8.

This web video is compressed in codec QuickTime Photo-JPEG 75%, fps 24, picture size 640x360, data size 13.97 MB, duration 7.1 sec.

Shot is done with the Sony FX1E HDV camcorder+Redrock Micro M2 35mm lens adapter +Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/50 mm ZF.

Zeiss50mm_ZF-photojpeg75.jpg


Download the TEST file (7.1MB) from the below link.


http://homepage.mac.com/sanjinjukic/RED/Balcony_Zeiss50mm_ZF.mov
 
ZF test

ZF test

Can't seem to open your lens test. Safari says it does not see data. Is it just me?
 
It's a peronal decision, the ZFs are nice but optically not any better than than the Nikkors for a much higher price, especially if you buy used Nikkors. Also there is really no wide angle option in ZF the 25mm is only a normal on Red 4K. So you would still have to buy a Nikon 17-35 or 14mm.
Plus I think most Nikkors have very consistent color, and with a RAW work-flow it's barely an issue anyway. I will say that from a sales prospective being able to say you have Zeiss lenses for your Red without actually having to get a PL prime set is definately a plus.

If anyone wants to send me theirs I will gladly test it against the Nikkors.
In the mean time look here...
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/50-comparison/index.htm
 
Sanjin, nice shot. Thanks for your generosity.

A teensy bit of breathing even in that lens!
 
Doesn't let me download...
 
I tried to download it using Safari and it didn't work, but when I used IE I was able to get it.
 
I will try out to make some more accurate tests with this and another lenses using the HDV+M2 set up
but I do not promise now anything definite to offer about possible downloads etc. Maybe...

Below are more pictures about the test gears set up with the Zeiss 50mm/f1.4 ZF Planar T til my RED ONE arrives.

studio-15-07.jpg


Studio

zf50-1.jpg


Zeiss ZF 50mm/1.4 T Planar attached to RR M2, RR Follow Focus gear and Vocas matte box.

zf50-2.jpg


Zeiss ZF 50mm/1.4 T Planar and Vocas matte box
 
Evin Grant said:
Cute rig. I'd really like to test out some of those Zeiss lenses. BTW they are not actually made by Zeiss, they are made by Cosina in Japan, although the quality is still very high.
Click to expand...

Thanks Evin,

by the way here is the direct link to Zeiss page about ZF lenses
http://www.zeiss.com/c12567a8003b58b9/Contents-Frame/8e8ae439a3fd6101c125711b005a77c4

CLN: Where are the ZF lenses made?
Dr. Scherle: We develop the lens specifications for series production and the quality targets here at the Carl Zeiss factory in Oberkochen, where we also perform prototype testing in our labs and “torture chambers.” The production is done at the Cosina factory in Japan under the watchful eye of Carl Zeiss employees in charge of quality assurance. The actual quality control will be performed on measuring machines designed and made by Carl Zeiss in Oberkochen just as it has been on all Japanese-made Zeiss lenses.

Here is to know more about ZF lenses
Questions about the new ZF
http://www.zeiss.com/C12567A8003B58B9/Contents-Frame/BE1F5216686FD0B5C1257118005D1D24?OpenDocument
 
I really love the zeiss lenses..mine are with the contax mount..use them exclusively with my P+S Technik...the color rendition is truer and the image sharper than the canon lenses i tested...haven't tested the nikkors although i've heard and seen some good stuff about them both here and over at DVXUser...
Hope someone can come up with a contax mount for the RED!!!
 
I dont think testing the zeiss lenses with the HVX/redrock setup will give the most objective results. The images we see are going to be lower resolution than the zeiss OR the nikon can produce, as well as lower latitude (although that could be fixed by exposure and lighting. IMHO, the lenses should be compared with a DSLR, because the sensor is more similar to the RED.

1080p is lots of pixels, but its nothing compared to the 12mpxl the lens is supposed to be able to deliver.

I think you would do a lot of work for yourself and not be able to see much of a difference.
 
PerfectOptics said:
I dont think testing the zeiss lenses with the HVX/redrock setup will give the most objective results. The images we see are going to be lower resolution than the zeiss OR the nikon can produce, as well as lower latitude (although that could be fixed by exposure and lighting. IMHO, the lenses should be compared with a DSLR, because the sensor is more similar to the RED.

1080p is lots of pixels, but its nothing compared to the 12mpxl the lens is supposed to be able to deliver.

I think you would do a lot of work for yourself and not be able to see much of a difference.
Click to expand...


John,

In the most what you've said you are right. FX1 and RR M2 have a lot of issues, but also tests with the still CMOS 12 megapix DSLR has many too. I found out that people like to download and see something when they are waiting for the RED. People anyway want to have a fun. Give them what they want. A brand new tread with a fresh test coming very soon.
 
An important issue about using still lenses... we are shooting "Moving Pictures". Still lenses are not designed for follow focus. If the subject or the camera is moving, (which it often is) then pulling focus is a serious issue. The whole point of T1.3/1.4 lenses is the depth of field. If you are shooting wide open and trying to keep a moving focal plane in focus, believe me, you do not want to be stuck on a still lens not designed for follow focus.

The best lenses: Zeiss Super Speeds T1.3

They are have a PL mount and a set of 5 (18mm, 25mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm) lenses rents for $300/day from most rental houses.
 
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