Just bought a Zeiss Ikon, which lens?

[thegman]

Hi all, I just bought a ZI on eBay, should get it next week, so I need to order a lens so that I can get using it right away. It's my first rangefinder, and indeed first film camera for maybe 15 years.

I really like the look of the Noktons, either 50mm or 40mm, or possibly 35mm but that seems expensive. Are there any issues I should be aware of? Are these lenses a good match for the ZI?

I'm after as fast a lens as possible, as my main bugbear with my Sigma DP1 is the f4 lens.

Any advice much appreciated.

Thanks

Garry

 

[kshapero]

If you can afford it the ZM Sonnar C 50/1.5 is a fine lens or a CV 35/1.4?

 

[thegman]

I think the Sonnar is out of my price range, maybe the CV though, although I think the 35mm is more expensive than the 40mm or 50mm Noktons, but I'll check it out.

 

[kshapero]

CV 40/1.4 and CV 50/1.5 are fine lenses. You will be happy with any of these.

 

[thegman]

I see the ZI has no 40mm framelines, I think that would annoy me especially as I'm a range finder newbie, and need all the help I can get taking pictures, I think the 50mm is better for me. KEH has it at $349 which seems OK, then I just need the M adaptor I guess.

 

[ZeissFan]

You can use the 35mm framelines with a 40mm lens. Your shots will be slightly loose, but it should work fine.

Another option: You probably could look for an older Leica LTM lens, such as the Summitar. Nice lens, and you just need a LTM=>M adapter.

 

[kshapero]

I see the ZI has no 40mm framelines, I think that would annoy me especially as I'm a range finder newbie, and need all the help I can get taking pictures, I think the 50mm is better for me. KEH has it at $349 which seems OK, then I just need the M adaptor I guess.

Cameraquest has a used adapter fro $39. BTW a new CV 50/1.5 is $399 so make sure the KEH item is mint at that price. KEH is very fair on their ratings. I have bought many items rated excellent only to find out the item was mint. Good luck.

 

[jjovin]

Maybe you can get a Zeiss planar or a Leica summicron 50mm (older version). They might be in your price range. I really think the coating on Zeiss and Leica lenses makes a big difference.
There is a mint planar on ebay right now. The f2 versus f1.4 does not make much difference to me. I like the depth of field at 2.8 and most of the time when I photograph people my lenses are set at 2.8. For other subjects I prefer even higher f stops.
Good luck and let us know,
Zoran

 

[Andy Kibber]

Perhaps more $$$ than you want to spend, but the Zeiss Ikon and Biogon 35 is a match made in heaven.

 

[thegman]

I'm pretty set on the fast lens, I do take a decent percentage of my photos at night or dusk, not on purpose, that's just when I'm out and about.

I think for me the 50mm might be best, I had a play with a 40mm Nokton and I'm not wild about the focusing tab, I prefer the bigger focus ring I get get a grip of, and as again, as a range finder newcomer, I need focusing to be as easy as possible. Also, hardly any cameras have 40mm frame lines, so if I got a Leica or something at some point, that wouldn't have lines for the 40mm either. A 50mm for me seems more flexible. I guess I could use the 35mm lines, it might just annoy me a bit!

 

[kshapero]

I'm pretty set on the fast lens, I do take a decent percentage of my photos at night or dusk, not on purpose, that's just when I'm out and about.

I think for me the 50mm might be best, I had a play with a 40mm Nokton and I'm not wild about the focusing tab, I prefer the bigger focus ring I get get a grip of, and as again, as a range finder newcomer, I need focusing to be as easy as possible. Also, hardly any cameras have 40mm frame lines, so if I got a Leica or something at some point, that wouldn't have lines for the 40mm either. A 50mm for me seems more flexible. I guess I could use the 35mm lines, it might just annoy me a bit!

I own Leica, Zeiss and Voigtlander lens. If the Nokton 50/1.5 suits you, you will not be sorry. Go for it.

 

[ZeissFan]

I'm also not a fan of a tabbed lens. I tolerate them, but find that -- for me -- a focusing ring is more accurate.

 

[sojournerphoto]

Ikon framelines are a bit tight at most focus distances so you'll probalby be fine with a 40. But, my preference for the Ikon would be in oder

35 Biogon f2 - the perfect match
50 C-Sonnar f1.5 - great match but be aware of the focus shift and it's very different from planars and Biogons
50 Planar f2 - sharp. clean modern and a great match again.


Enjoy, it's a great camera and the ZM lenses are outstanding. The only fast CV lens I've used is the36 Ultron f1.7. That's also a nice lens, but I sold mine when I got the Biogon. I had a Colour Skopar 35/2.5 that's also pretty interesting, but again I prefer the Biogon despite it's greater size.

Enjoy and post somephotos.

Mike

 

[thegman]

I looked at some Zeiss lenses on eBay, the Planar is not as expensive as I expected, and maybe an f2 would be OK, but I'm still hankering after a faster one. I'll keep looking...

 

[thegman]

I want to stick with getting a fast lens, a 1.4 or 1.5 CV is in my budget, and seem highly thought of, I don't doubt the Zeiss lenses are fantastic, but I'm just starting out, and I think for a while what dictates the quality of my photos will be my (in)ability, so a Zeiss or Leica lens is probably wasted on me.

 

[thegman]

I am leaning toward the 1.5 50mm Nokton, the size is not a concern for me, in fact, the fact it's bigger will make it easier to focus I think. I'll be putting the camera/lens/bits into a bag anyway, not hanging round my neck, so a lens which is a little bigger is no concern to me. F2.5 may be a little slow for me, it's silly to compare I know, but digital compacts with F2.x still seem a bit slow to me, but then maybe it's pointless to even compare the two.

 

[Bingley]

If you want an outstanding fast 50, also consider the Canon 50/1.4. You could probably find one in excellent condition for under $300. Although it's an "older" lens, the look it produces is very much like the Nokton 50/1.5. Check out the night shots that Maddoc has taken w/ this lens.

 

[ferider]

Congrats on the camera !

I recommend to ignore the lens brand. CV and most ZM lenses are made in the same factory anyways.

The Nokton 50/1.5 and Canon 50/1.4 behave indeed very similarly. Both have great bokeh. The Canon is better built and smaller, but has much longer focus throw.

Here is a representative Canon 50/1.4 shot:

On the 35mm side, I can recommend the 1.4 Nokton. You'll be amazed how small this lens is, makes your ZI really portable. All lenses have strange bokeh under certain conditions, and the Nokton is great if you avoid those.

For me personally, part of the RF fun is using compact, well performing lenses. I also don't like a lens to intrude in the viewfinder.

Have a look at the flickr M-mount forum (see my signature), lots of example shots of the different lenses.

Best,

Roland.

 

[thegman]

Hmm, I hadn't considered that the 50mm lenses would intrude on the viewfinder, I think that may annoy me a bit too, so maybe I'll reconsider the 40mm nokton, I'll look at that Canon too, the 35mm Nokton looks lovely, but a bit pricey for me...

 

[Tom A]

As a "first" lens with the ZI - you cant go wrong with the 40f1.4 Nokton. A couple of quick strokes with a file and it will bring up the 35 frame and just use the inside of the 35 frame-lines for shooting. Rangefinders are not an exact science - if you want to have 100% accuracy with framing - go SLR. The Rf is more for speed of focus, quiet operation and pin-point focus at f1.4.
The ZI is a very good camera - best viewfinder of any RF, good metering system, fairly light with a 35f1.4 Nokton on it. Only drawback is the bottom rewind (mainly because I have 50+ years of rewinding on the top!) and absolute battery dependance (always carry a couple of spares).
As for lens performances - always check Flickr. Not ideal for resolution - but shows tonal rendition quite well. There are specific sites on Flickr for most of the lenses you are thinking off.