Biogon ZM on digital camera?

[papo]

I have the 35mm 2.8 and wondered which digital camera bodies work well with this lens?

I looked into it already and it can be used with so many different digital cameras so what do you recommend?

Thanks in advance.

 

[rscheffler]

Likely works best with a Leica digital M.

I tried it on the a7, a7R and a7S. At infinity there is smearing in the outer area of the image due to the design of the Sony sensor stack, compared to Leica digital M. Also, with the a7R, there may be a bit of edge color shift due to pixel density, but probably won't be a problem with the considerably different/better sensor in the a7RII and/or a7II (I haven't tried either of those and have since sold the lens). However, those cameras would still be affected by edge smearing due to sensor stack design.

The edge smearing problem should be less noticeable at nearer subject distances and will also depend on the subject type.

Infinity distance downloads available here:

a7R
a7S
a7

On APS-C, best results would be with the Ricoh GXR and M module, though likely would be decent on the Leica TL and Sony cameras. I may have tried it ages ago on the NEX-5N and NEX-7 but don't recall if it had any problems. Not sure about Fuji.

 

[rhl-oregon]

Worked well for me on a standard A7--and well enough for others that a number of the images I made with that combo of roadside memorials were featured on TV news. I shot BW only.

The Kolari-modified A7 sensor works well with a number of RF lenses, including wide angle. That is what I now use as a digital body for my Zeiss/RF lenses (unless I treat them as APSC on the Leica T).

 

[pmviewcam]

Zeiss ZM on Sony NEX 6

Zeiss ZM on Sony NEX 6

While the Sony a7 cameras look good, as does the GXR Ricoh M-mount, how does the NEX 6 work with ZM lenses? More specifically, what would be the best adapter to use, and what would be its limitations?

Thanks, Peter.

 

[splitimageview]

Biogon on Sony A7R-II here.

https://chadwadsworth.com/2016/07/1...focus-adapter-with-zeiss-manual-focus-lenses/

 

[ReeRay]

I use my ZM 35mm a great deal on a Fuji XT-1 via the Fuji adapter. Equates to a 50mm FOV. Fabulous colours and "pop".

 

[pmviewcam]

Thanks for the responses. The idea of the Nex-6 was an attempt to avoid a big camera body. I have a Canon 5dIII with Zeiss glass, and it is big and intrusive at times. I do have however, a number of ZM lenses, from 21mm to 85mm (normally used on ZI and ZI SW bodies) and would like to use them on a digital body. The Leica digital bodies are way out of budget

I like the results of Zeiss glass generally, as I am also a longtime Hasselblad user.

I understand that Voigtlander make an M to E-mount adapter, as does Novoflex: any experience with these?

Cheers,

Peter.

 

[jarski]

I understand that Voigtlander make an M to E-mount adapter, as does Novoflex: any experience with these?

Am using Voigtländer M to E adapter with Nex 6 and its well made, works as it should.

 

[Lss]

Biogon on Sony A7R-II here.

https://chadwadsworth.com/2016/07/1...focus-adapter-with-zeiss-manual-focus-lenses/

The writer says: "Corner performance is not that good on digital sensors until you stop down considerably but I took this little guy with me on vacation and used it as both a wide open and landscape shooter with impressive results."

Corner performance can be excellent on digital sensors even wide open, but this assumes using Leica M cameras instead of Sony.

 

[Peter_S]

Leica M8. Works great with Zeiss Biogons (I miss that setup at times). I liked the Leica T too with M glass, but the M8 is less crop .

 

[jaapv]

It is just that the Sony sensors are not good enough for many Leica and Zeiss wideangles...
You'll find that Leica-commissioned sensors like the M240, M10 and SL deliver far better results.