Dear Horea,
No, I see your point: I just don't agree. There are LOTS of really good 35mm and 50mm lenses, old and new, so it's a VERY crowded market segment. The 1,5/50 C-Sonnar is different enough, but really, where's the need for another (conventionally) very good 50 or 35?
Alas, it would probably not be safe to couple the new 2/135...
Cheers,
R.
Dear Roger,
will all due respect, I say YES: there is a clear need for another good 35/50 1.4 lenses, My arguments:
1) There are basically two high-performance (on digital bodies speaking) 35/1.4 lenses: The current Summilux and the Nokton (1.2). Both have significant shortcomings.
- The first still has focus-shift (it was quite clear with my two copies on the M9. I now have a third copy but use it on analog bodies). Plus it costs a lot. Sizewise, however, it is perfect.
- The Nokton does not suffer from focus shift, but is very bulky.
=> what is needed is a new lens, with a lower price than the 'Lux, less hefty than the Nokton and with high performance. In the latter regards I trust Zeiss: their currently developed ZM lenses have no focus shift and are really optimized for digital bodies. The exception is the C-Sonnar, but this is an old formula. I don'w know if Zeiss can deliver that in a smaller sized body than the Nokton, though
2) The are currently, in production exactly two 1.4/1.5 50mm lenses: the Summilux and the C-Sonnar (the Nokton discontinued, as far as I know).
I think there is quite a difference between the two, performance-wise, price-wise, etc. The gap is huge: there is clearly room for a 50/1.4 Planar, IMHO
I think that the 35/1.4 lens is the better choice for Zeiss to make: usable on APS-C and mirrorless bodies, but on a FF rangefinder system, too, an all-round lens.
Just my opinion.
Cheers, Horea