Sonnar C 50mm F1.5, good choice!

kram

kram

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Folks, I have just ordered a second hand Sonnar 50mm F1.5, a late version (POST 2007) which focus correctly (?) at at F1.5 not f2.8. I have now just heard ~half the work force for the company who I work for, may loose theIr jobs:(. Will find out this week if I'm one of them. Just tell me the Sonnar is a great choice (AND WHY YOU think so) to cheer me up (next best thing to the leica ASH 50mm f1.4:confused:). All I need to hear now is that Zeiss are going to release 50mm at f1.2/f1- just to make my day:bang:
 
The focus issue is what kept me from getting one of these. If yours is the 1.5, keep it. Great look from what I´ve seen.
 
It's a great lens. You will know as soon as you see the first results. Amazingly resistant to flare and of course all the great textures that have been described in its renderings.
Here is a BW example. (Colour is great with it too fo course)

2901075367_cd82a423a1.jpg




http://www.flickr.com/photos/zgee/2901075367/
 
the "focus issue" of this lens is such hysteria on this board and elsewhere. Yes, there is some focus shift wide open at minimum focus distance but it tends to go away when you back a few feet off. There are leica lenses that do exactly the same thing that nobody drones on about, so whatever. What doesnt get spoken about, which is far more relevant is that wide open, the look of this lens is absurdly overpowering. If you dont want that look, its not particularly useful wide open. Its a cool look, but its a look that isnt going away and you are completely stuck with it. I never found the lens to be particularly useful wide open and all I used it for was portraits. We all have our taste I guess. The other thing about the lens, which is rarely commented upon, is the contrast goes off the map when you get past 5.6 and further things get a real compressed look to them. The only way to really get to know the lens is to comitt yourself to shooting a few rolls at each stop so you can get a handle on all the different looks the lens has, and there are three solid distinct points of change with this lens. Its a great lens, I used it exclusively for maybe half a year and I havent touched it since I got a preasph lux. Havent sold it either but...
 
The ZM Sonnar 50f1.5 is my most used 50mm, both in the M-mount and in the Nikon RF mount. This, in spite of having both 50f1.4 Asph and Nikkor Millenium 50f1.4! I am strictly a bl/w shooter and this lens has a almost magic quality with that.
The discussion about focus shift never bothered me as I did not have a problem with it from day one (and my M-mount is one of the earliest made). Enjoy it and good luck with the job and,IF you get laid off, use the time wisely and take pictures instead. It is a tough situation out there at the moment, but the trick is to make the most of it.
 
Tom A said:
,IF you get laid off, use the time wisely and take pictures instead. It is a tough situation out there at the moment, but the trick is to make the most of it.
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The University of California is showing record level admissions. I suppose people are getting a little more education during the storm. Not a bad idea.
 
Thanks for the comments. Looks like I'm still in work (with an actual increased work load for the new few months, but then I will have less sites to cover, makes me feel a little glum). However, interesting about strong contrast after f5.6 (not too keen on really strong contrast). Plan to use it at all f stops (it just works out like that, not plannned). Sounds like the fuss has died down about the focus shift (don't all 35mm wide aperature lens suffer to a degree?), it good to here other comments about the lens (apart from smallish size and light weight for a f1.5).

Interesting photo zgeeRF the egg glass container really stands out.

What do others think about the contrast issue. How does it compare to othe ZM lens in that respect?
 
I recently decided to have mine sent back to Cosina and adjusted for focus at minimum distance wide open. I haven't yet done any tests on the performance at all apertures/distances, but first indications are that it now focuses spot on wide open at min. distance. For the usage I seem to give it, this was definitely a good choice for me.
 
You'd have had me send it to Nikon, right?! :)
Zeiss in Oberkochen helped me straighten out a ZM Biogon 35/2 once, but they sent it back by courier that automatically incurred import duties upon arrival. Sending it to Cosina not only gave me a faster turnaround time (and inexpensive service), but they also sent it by EMS, definitely preferable.
 
By the way, I now have response from Zeiss that there indeed was a difference in adjustment ("Feinabstimmung") between early and later Sonnars that left the factory. They could not tell me a serial no. In any way, the Sonnar can be readjusted under warranty if one is unhappy with the performance.
 
Double Negative said:
They were and still are adjusted for f/2.8 from the factory - it hasn't changed.
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Hi, I have a clear statement from Zeiss that adjustments were made during production to minimize focus shift at f1.5.

Die Standardabstimmung des C-Sonnar T* 1,5/50 bezgl. Minimierung des Fokusshifts wurde vor geraumer Zeit in der laufenden Produktion vorgenommen. (...) Inzwischen sollten die meisten im Handel befindlichen neuen Objektive auf Minimierung des Fokusshifts bei Blende 1.5 abgestimmt sein.
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Mine that was supposed to be optimized 1.5 was not. I bought it late last year. When was that article written? "vor geraumer Zeit" is not exactly a precise date...

Because of all this hype about the focus shift I find myself shooting under those conditions more, to see if I can compensate. But actually the shift disappears pretty fast once you step back a little...

And here's my only processed shot of the Sonnar that shows it signature:
3178083391_e70bdec907.jpg

Kodak Portra 160NC

I believe it's a beautiful lens, but I value character over sharpness and all the other technical aspects of optics.
 
OMgosh. I came to this forum thinking about soliciting some input about how I should go about liquidating my RF kit (consisting of a jammed R3a and a few CV lenses) and going digital... but I think the shots in this thread from this lens might have changed my mind. I'd forgotten how much I love the Sonnar signature.
 
Damn you, Morbach. You keep inspiring me. First, with the T3 - that i own, but need to shoot more. Now, to possibly reevaluate my decision NOT to get that C-Sonnar. That's a fantastic shot, and indeed, the character is plenty evident. I'd love to see it larger....

Now, i have to go back to review all of your other posts to see what else i may be missing.
 
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to create a buzz...
:angel:

Here's a link to a 1600px version of that image. Let me know if it doesn't work, I'm rather new at this Picasa/Flickr thing. I believe the aperture was f2.8.
 
The Sonnar has arrived -I see what people mean by compact in the flesh. Will have to wait until dust dies down (have cut a new window hole in the wall and door into garage -have clogged vaccum cleaner filter 3 times today?) to try lens.
 
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