Anybody talking about the ZM 35mm Distagon f/1.4?

[jpfisher]

F/1.4 for all three.

 

[uhoh7]

I find about 380 grams is the threshhold for easy handling on my M9, almost exactly the weight of the 90 Summarit.

The CV 35/1.2 is special purpose only for me because of the weight.

On paper it looks like the strongest 35 ever made, no? No FLE midzone dips 🙂

My mainstay at 35 is now the zm35/2
Today @ f/4 🙂

L1020758 by unoh7, on Flickr

There is a lively thread at FM on the zm35/1.4:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1318450

 

[kubilai]

When the Sonnar-C 50mm f/1.5 was released the MTF graphs at full aperture looked very encouraging. They just didn't tell us that such sharpness was not available if focusing with a rangefinder (due to the focus shift debacle).

For me FTM of Sonnar-C 50mm f/1.5 full open was just discouraging.
See http://www.zeiss.com/content/dam/Photography/new/pdf/en/downloadcenter/datasheets_zm/csonnar_1-5_50_zm_en.pdf
But this lens is not designed for shooting test challenges (newspaper sheet on the wall or other). I Got one and enjoy it.

49mm is a standard for old Minolta MD amateurs.

 

[Doug]

... 49mm is a standard for old Minolta MD amateurs.

49mm filter size is also very common with Pentax lenses, even recent ones.

 

[Noserider]

and don't forget Olympus.

Impressive at 1.4. I can't wait to see what it looks like stopped down a bit.

 

[furcafe]

I handled it at Photokina on the 1st day, including taking a test shot on my M 240. While it is bigger than the f/2 Biogon, it's really not unwieldy IMHO, especially if you don't have a big hood on it; handles more like a fast 50mm. Build quality was typical Zeiss ZM.

As the Zeiss rep explained it, the 35/1.4 Distagon was intended to be better than the pre-FLE 35/1.4 Summilux ASPH (e.g., by having less focus shift), albeit in a larger, more traditional design (no aspherical elements), but not as high end as the current 35 'lux ASPH (FLE).

Biogon 2/35: Distagon 1.4/35

43mm 49mm Filter size

68mm 87mm Length

240g 381g Weight

 

[santela]

For me FTM of Sonnar-C 50mm f/1.5 full open was just discouraging.
See http://www.zeiss.com/content/dam/Ph...center/datasheets_zm/csonnar_1-5_50_zm_en.pdf
But this lens is not designed for shooting test challenges (newspaper sheet on the wall or other). I Got one and enjoy it.

49mm is a standard for old Minolta MD amateurs.

Same here. I have owned five different ZM lenses and this is the only one I ended up keeping. The rendering is very unique, and the small size helped as well.

 

[shortstop]

May be it's too big?

 

[horosu]

I
As the Zeiss rep explained it, the 35/1.4 Distagon was intended to be better than the pre-FLE 35/1.4 Summilux ASPH (e.g., by having less focus shift), albeit in a larger, more traditional design (no aspherical elements), but not as high end as the current 35 'lux ASPH (FLE).

in the end apparently they ended up with two 🙂

 

[furcafe]

Though Zeiss may have altered their original design goals (from film to digital bodies?), I probably just misunderstood the rep :bang:, though his English was very good. He was impressed that I recognized that the shape of the ZM line is an homage to the old Contarex lenses.

Edit: FWIW, I've attached a web-sized crop of my test shot.

in the end apparently they ended up with two 🙂

 

[Noserider]

Yeah perhaps when the Zeiss Distagon project was started the goal was to be better than the non FLE but I think they went back to refine it; hence the delay in the announcement. That could have been the addition of the asph elements.

 

[skyjuice]

If not mistaken, I came across a post by Zeiss via Facebook, that the Distagon 35mm 1.4 ZM lens will be made in Japan.

 

[kiss-o-matic]

Cosina -- that's not a bad thing.

I doubt I'll get this. I have the Voigtlander 35/1.2 and I shoot under F4 like... very rarely, and even then it's only down to F2. I'm in the market for a Zeiss 35 but it's going to be between the 35/2.8 and the 35/2.

 

[skyjuice]

Definitely not a bad thing. Looking forward for more sample pics of the ZM 35mm Distagon F/1.4.
Long time Zeiss-fan cause my first rf lens is ZM Biogon 35mm F/2. When I took the first pic using ZM 35/F2 lens+R-D1s combo I was astonished instantly. That lens convinced me to get the 21mm F/2.8 and never regret.
On a separate note, somehow the focusing ring is slightly stiff and make some funny "friction" noise. Same goes to Nokton 40mm 1.4 SC.

By the way, anyone would have a clue on whether Zeiss will come out with a reference ZM lens for M mount since they released the Otus and set the highest benchmark. Am hoping something in the pipeline.

 

[asiafish]

dang, toooo many NEW 35's to think about
35ultron... for min focus 0.5
35summarit... for aspherical glass
35zeiss ... for 1.4

i once met an elderly lady photographer on her way to ICP to develop a huge bag of film...
She stated the only focal point for her was 35 and she had five 😱
hmmmm, beginning to understand her philosophy

Old 35 Summarit also had aspherical glass, they just didn't advertise it. The two are the same, only marketing and cosmetic differences.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Yikes. GDR-style size ostalgie much?

 

[jgeenen]

I got my Distagon ZM 1.4/35mm last week. Interesting - lens barrel does not move at all while focussing, the rear lens does slightly. Consequently the Distagon is a true "floating lens" design. The lens is huge but not too heavy. Works great with the M. No focus shift or other issues observed.

Aperture ring has the Zeiss typical third stop clicks, mine is a bit more pronounced than my older ZM lenses and definitely more pronounced than Leica lenses. Focussing is smooth but more tight than on any other lens I have (probably caused by the complex interior design). Although this different, it is absolutely precise and useable, once you have got used to it.

See some wide open shots:

Focus is on the wooden cross in the foreground

Vignetting typical for a lens of that aperture, negligible distortion.

 

[warmduscher]

Here two pictures with the Zeiss Ikon ZM and 1,4/35mm ZM @ f/8 with Ilford FP4+.
Use this lens most at my Sony A7. There is a lot of vignette by wide Aperture, because of the Sensor Stack.

http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=101564&stc=1&d=1424616697
http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=101565&stc=1&d=1424616715

 

[music_healing]

Receive the lens 2 weeks ago ..

its lighter and smaller than I thought ..
no wobble no play

I learn that using Leica 35 1.4 Aspherical profile .. give almost no vignette with slightly neutral color

Been using it on film (havent got the time to develop those yet)

this is the sample from Leica M-E


Mimicking by William Jusuf, on Flickr

Sincerely
William Jusuf

 

[Tom A]

Comaprison shot for size. The Nokton 35mm f1.2 vII, The Zeiss ZM Distagon 35mm f1.4 and the Ultron 35mm f1.7 in M-mount.
The size lens is surprisingly comfortable in the hand. Not that heavy and as will all of the Zeiss ZM lenses, very smooth focussing. It might not have the dramatic look of the M-Ultron 35f1.7 - but I have been impressed with the performance. No significant vignetting - at least not with film, extremely sharp at f1.4. A friend has the FLE Asph Summilux 35 and we spend and after having shot with the Distagon he exclaimed " I bought the wrong lens"!