anyone uses the Canon 85/1.5 ltm?

[big macker]

i'd like to purchase a portrait lens and am hesitating between the canon 85/1.5 and the contax zeiss c/y 85/1.4. they are at about the same price and both focus down to 1m. performance wise, i can't seem to get much information.

 

[Thatspec]

What do you mainly want to mount it on? They both work well enough though the Canon is going to be a lot harder to find.

 

[raid]

I have the Canon lens and a Zeiss 85/1.4 in QBM mount. I read that the Contax mount version is even better. Get the Contax mount lens and use it on a micro 4/3 or Sony NEX for awesome photos. Both lenses are easier to focus with a digital camera that offers view magnification. The Canon is low contrast. The Zeiss is superb.

 

[raid]

Zeiss 85/1.4: on E-P2

Canon 85/1.5: on E-P2

Both lenses can produce nice looking images.

 

[mretina]

I also have the Rollei version. The Contax coating has slightly changed and has circular bokeh vs triangular because of the 8 blades vs. 3 pairs. So far I have resisted getting both versions. The Contax version is available in both germany and japan versions, the former being more highly regarded.

The 85/1.4 zeiss is a piece of history.
It has also been slightly redesigned and is available by zeiss in ZE/ZF mount but some of its original charachteristics at the wider openings affected to reduce focus shift

If you could read Italian Mr Cavina has written probably the most complete piece available on the web on this lens comparing Contarex/Rolleifles vs C/Y.

http://www.marcocavina.com/articoli_fotografici/Zeiss_Planar_85mm_1,4/00_pag.htm

Do not know about the Canon. never managed getting near buying one.

85mm is a much preferred SLR focal length for my eyes and focusing skills, but this is another debate.

 

[raid]

I used Google Translate. Thanks.
I wonder how "rare" my Rollei QBM mount lens is.

 

[raid]

So there were only 4858 examples made in QBM.

85mm/1.4 for
ROLLEIFLEX SL 35 = 4858 pcs 1972 to 1995 (?) Mat. 5617509-7194362

 

[Thatspec]

There has been a mint 85 2.8 Rollei/Zeiss QBM over on Fredmiranda's board for some time now, also supposed to be a really good lens. Compact and cheap. The fellow also had the 25 2.8 (sold) but still has a 50 1.4 and 200 F4 along with the 85. Really nice lenses, used to be tricky to adapt to EOS but newer adapters seem to have solved the issue.

I owned the Contax 85/1.4 about ten years ago and it was very nice, wish I'd kept it considering what I sold it for. Now I have the aforementioned Canon and am very happy with it. I would say it's a wash for size/weight between the two.

 

[raid]

I bought such a 85mm Sonnar a few weeks ago. I may have paid $225 for it. Some claim that the 50/1.4 Planar is "the best SLR 50mm lens ever made".

 

[Thatspec]

I see he wants $350 for the 85/2.8 but it is near new in box, also $350 for 50/1.4 but it comes with a Rollei SLR cam, not sure the model. I always wanted the 50 but I've sworn off those longer register distance lenses for now...
Found the thread, these have been FS for at least three months as there was an earlier thread as well;
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1185806/0#11449416

 

[raid]

The lenses look like new to me. They deserve a higher price.