A new Zeiss Otus lens in 2014

[kxl]

From Zeiss:

"Thanks for your question. Yes, there will be other focal lengths in the Otus line. Otus 1.4/55 was only the first lens in a family of lenses. The next Otus lens will be available in 2014: Otus 1.4/85."

Here's a review of the Otus 55/1.4: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/indepth/photography/hands-reviews/zeiss-otus-55mm-f14-apo-distagon

On another note, the Mega Lottery jackpot for tomorrow's drawing is expected to go over $400M.

Signing off. Back in a few...

 

[mfogiel]

As much as I like this FL, I think this review has revealed, that Zeiss went over the moon. In fact, the only reason for paying this kind of money for a 1.4/55 lens, is its usefulness wide open for portraiture. If you can't focus it properly, then perhaps auto focus is necessary, or it might be better to try the lens on film.
I'd be actually quite curious to see some Tri X portrait samples from anybody who is going to buy this one.

 

[Roger Hicks]

As much as I like this FL, I think this review has revealed, that Zeiss went over the Moon. In fact, the only reason for paying this kind of money for a 1.4/55 lens, ia its usefulness wide open for portraiture. If you can't focus it properly, then perhaps auto focus is necessary, or it might be better to try the lens on film.
I'd be actually quite curios to see some Tri X portrait samples from anybody who is going to buy this one.

This is not Zeiss's view. In fact, they reckon that this is precisely NOT what this lens is for. The reason they designed it was to allow the "look" of a larger format on ultra-high-resolution 24x36 digital sensors, with extremely high resolution even at wide apertures. Source: Dr. Nasse at photokina

Cheers,

R.

 

[sevo]

Completely downsizing a format to a smaller sensor by creating lenses with both a proportionally faster aperture and proportionally increased resolution is logical. I don't know whether that will become mainstream in the long run - but given the somewhat uncertain fate of digital medium format, they obviously want to cover that possible route.

 

[redisburning]

the 55/1.4 allows for f1.4 landscapes.

I understand that we have this mentality that landscapes need deep focus and wide angles and foreground object leading into scenic vista but a lonely tree against the sky or a rock formation in selected focus could be just as valid.

as far as 85, well this is a popular focal length and Im sure Zeiss sees a wedding market where such a top tier lens will get enough people to pony up.

 

[mfogiel]

"This is not Zeiss's view. In fact, they reckon that this is precisely NOT what this lens is for. The reason they designed it was to allow the "look" of a larger format on ultra-high-resolution 24x36 digital sensors, with extremely high resolution even at wide apertures. Source: Dr. Nasse at photokina"
So, to translate this into plain english, they wanted to p.ss over Summicron ASPH 50 at half the price and twice the speed 😀

 

[Rangefinderfreak]

"This is not Zeiss's view. In fact, they reckon that this is precisely NOT what this lens is for. The reason they designed it was to allow the "look" of a larger format on ultra-high-resolution 24x36 digital sensors, with extremely high resolution even at wide apertures. Source: Dr. Nasse at photokina"
So, to translate this into plain english, they wanted to p.ss over Summicron ASPH 50 at half the price and twice the speed 😀

It`s a competition of GIANTS... and SIGMA wants to be in that club...

 

[kxl]

IMHO, the only reason NOT to buy the 55/1.4 OTUS lens is financial.

 

[VTHokiEE]

IMHO, the only reason NOT to buy the 55/1.4 OTUS lens is financial.

Financial is probably the largest one, but I'd have to think size is a distant second (that is one large lens).

 

[krishilife]

I'd like to see Fuji Astia 100F slide shot with this lens, and drum scanned.

Kris.

 

[brbo]

So, to translate this into plain english, they wanted to p.ss over Summicron ASPH 50 at half the price and twice the speed 😀

And ten times the size 🙁

 

[hipsterdufus]

When you consider that this lens is meant to pair with a respectively high-resolution full frame body that is comparable in quality to medium format, the size suddenly doesn't seem as large...

 

[Robin P]

This is not Zeiss's view. In fact, they reckon that this is precisely NOT what this lens is for. The reason they designed it was to allow the "look" of a larger format on ultra-high-resolution 24x36 digital sensors, with extremely high resolution even at wide apertures. Source: Dr. Nasse at photokina

Cheers,

R.

Thank you for that insight Roger, so this exotic lens with an unusually high price could be part of an alternative future system to compete with the Leica S ??
It certainly seems that to get the best out of the latest 24x36 sensors we should "think MF", i.e. precise focus, considered composition, tripod etc, etc.

 

[Vics]

Some samples here

 

[Timmyjoe]

Heh. I'm reminded of using my Canon FD 85mm 1.2 on film . . . with the FD you get 35 of shots with the nose in perfect focus and the eyes who knows where, and one possible keeper. Still got that FD 1.2, though. 😉

No way, you got to focus on the eyes.😛

Now I'll admit that you'll have 35 shots with the eyes in perfect focus and the nose who knows where, but I can live with that.

Been in love with the 85 f1.2L FD lens since the first shot I made with one in 1994. If I ever had to sell off my camera gear, that FD 85 would be the last thing to go, even if I didn't have a body to put it on. HA!!

Best,
-Tim

PS: That FD 85mm f1.2L looks incredible on film, but I don't know how it would render on a 36MP camera like the D800, it might not hold up.

 

[dogberryjr]

Sorry about that, Timmyjoe- I re-read my post and it didn't make much sense to me, so I zapped it.

Yeah, that's the hazard of hand-holding a lens at 1.2, sure you focus on the eyes, but one shallow breath and you're now focused on the tip of the nose or the hair part.

I, too, would be hard pressed to sell my FD 1.2. Heck, it's a joy just to heft and stare into its seemingly bottomless glass.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Thank you for that insight Roger, so this exotic lens with an unusually high price could be part of an alternative future system to compete with the Leica S ??
It certainly seems that to get the best out of the latest 24x36 sensors we should "think MF", i.e. precise focus, considered composition, tripod etc, etc.

Dear Robin,

Not so much a future system as ANY current or future ultra-high-resolution (30 MP+) 24x36 system.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Roger Hicks]

"This is not Zeiss's view. In fact, they reckon that this is precisely NOT what this lens is for. The reason they designed it was to allow the "look" of a larger format on ultra-high-resolution 24x36 digital sensors, with extremely high resolution even at wide apertures. Source: Dr. Nasse at photokina"
So, to translate this into plain english, they wanted to p.ss over Summicron ASPH 50 at half the price and twice the speed 😀

Not really. This is a lens for DSLRs, not an RF.

Cheers,

R.

 

[wogg]

"This is not Zeiss's view. In fact, they reckon that this is precisely NOT what this lens is for. The reason they designed it was to allow the "look" of a larger format on ultra-high-resolution 24x36 digital sensors, with extremely high resolution even at wide apertures. Source: Dr. Nasse at photokina"
So, to translate this into plain english, they wanted to p.ss over Summicron ASPH 50 at half the price and twice the speed 😀

at 8x the size and weight...

 

[anerjee]

The raison d'être for the 50mm APO is to showcase Leica's technological prowess -- make the best 50mm lens just because they can.

If it is not the best 50mm lens, the point is lost, isn't it? The RF vs. SLR distinction seems, well, pointless. As does the fact that it is not small.

Many lesser lens exist. Better in other terms -- size, feel, rendering, value etc ...

Not really. This is a lens for DSLRs, not an RF.

Cheers,

R.