SDK
Exposing since 1969.
After wondering to myself if the excellent ZM 50mm/2 Planar could be directly transplanted to F mount for the forthcoming ZF SLR lenses for Nikon bodies, I decided to write Zeiss to see if it would be possible. I received the reply quickly. Apparently, it's not possible to use the same optical design because the rear element would be too close to the film plane, and would not clear the mirror. Here's the reply:
I'm quite happy with the 50mm/2 ZM lens for my M-rangefinders, but I do hope they compute a 50mm/2 or similar for the ZF line. It would be nice to have a closer focusing 50mm, but the 60mm/2 Makro Planar ZF (if that's what it will really be) may be close enough and even more flexible than a standard 50mm/2 (though probably more expensive).
Dear Mr. Keirstead,
it is not possible to use the optical design of the Planar 2/50 ZM with an
SLR camera, since the distance of the last lens vertex from the film plane is just 30
mm. So the lens design makes use of the fact that the rangefinder camera needs less contraints than an SLR, where we always have to reserve some space for the moving mirror.
With best regards
Dr. Hubert Nasse
Carl Zeiss AG
Camera Lens Division, Laboratory
it is not possible to use the optical design of the Planar 2/50 ZM with an
SLR camera, since the distance of the last lens vertex from the film plane is just 30
mm. So the lens design makes use of the fact that the rangefinder camera needs less contraints than an SLR, where we always have to reserve some space for the moving mirror.
With best regards
Dr. Hubert Nasse
Carl Zeiss AG
Camera Lens Division, Laboratory
I'm quite happy with the 50mm/2 ZM lens for my M-rangefinders, but I do hope they compute a 50mm/2 or similar for the ZF line. It would be nice to have a closer focusing 50mm, but the 60mm/2 Makro Planar ZF (if that's what it will really be) may be close enough and even more flexible than a standard 50mm/2 (though probably more expensive).
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
There's always this alternative:SDK said:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ROLLEIFLEX-SL35...ryZ11720QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
That's odd, though. Oh well.
SDK
Exposing since 1969.
I think the point is that the specific optical formula of the ZM 50mm/2 Planar can't be used on an SLR, not that Zeiss can't or won't design a 50mm/2 ZF lens (if they think it would sell). So a ZF 50mm/2 would have to be redesigned to fit the F-mount. I guess they would have to use different glass types & shapes, etc. to get a longer rear focal distance. Perhaps they would also want a slightly larger max aperture of f/1.8 or f/1.7, since it would be different anyway, and would compete better with 50mm/1.8 Nikkors.
Sonnar2
Well-known
The Planar 1.8/50 shown on the Rolleiflex SL35 was a Voigtlaender Color-Ultron (Zeiss-Ikon Voigtlaender was one company then)
There was a Planar like the new ZM (6 elements/ 4 groups) for the Contarex... and the Schneider SL-Xenon 1.8/50 for the SL35 probably was very similar...
cheers, Frank
There was a Planar like the new ZM (6 elements/ 4 groups) for the Contarex... and the Schneider SL-Xenon 1.8/50 for the SL35 probably was very similar...
cheers, Frank
W
wlewisiii
Guest
Hmm. What email address did you write to? I want to ask them to make a ZM 50/2.8 Tessar ... collapsible of course... 
William
William
Mazurka
Well-known
Sonnar2 said:
Actually by that time Rollei had bought off Voigtlander from Zeiss after Zeiss Ikon went bust.
SDK
Exposing since 1969.
wlewisiii said:Hmm. What email address did you write to? I want to ask them to make a ZM 50/2.8 Tessar ... collapsible of course...
William
Hi William, I went to http://www.zeiss.de/de/photo/home_e.nsf , then picked "Contacts" from the menu at the top, then "Inquiry" and filled out the form. I don't want to put Dr. Nasse's e-mail address on a publicly viewable page, because then he might get more e-mails for enlarging his private parts.
CZeni
DaDa is everywhere.
I thought Mr Gandy was going to be selling the ZF lenses - there's no longer any mention of it on his website...