C-Sonnar 1.5 or ...

[keepright]

No answers here – I bought it and use it like a normal lens, without any problems that couldn't be attributed to pilot error and found with any of the equipment I use.

But I wanted to add a link to this brief article: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/zeiss_sonnar_50mm.shtml

The author says some interesting things. For example, the article's opening sentence is "There are few lenses that are more hated and more loved than the Zeiss Sonnar C 50mm." I hadn't realized that anyone outside of a small subset of a very small photographic niche (rhymes with quiche) had even heard of it, let alone that it ranks with the 18-200 f/dark lenses that are a rite of passage for many DSLR users, but there you are.

 

[former member]

All of the fast Sonnars have focus shift, it is a byproduct of the formula of the lens. You get used to it.

Go with the Sonnar, it really is an incredible lens. And with prices of used lenses rising so quickly, it is a real bargain.

 

[benji77]

ZM 50/1.5 @ 1.5, TriX@800 (I think)

ZM 50/1.5 @ 1.5, TriX@800

Its a lovely, lovely lens. I personally do not feel or experience any focus shift. Just shoot it. Do not worry too much else the joy of photography is take away from you.

 

[Roger Hicks]

For an actual (if dull) demonstration of how the focus shift works, at the closest focusing distance, and how bad it really is (a few inches, easily compensated for by leaning forwards), see http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps firstlook sonnar 50.html

This lens hasn't been off my M9 for a couple of weeks now.

Cheers,

R.

 

[sojournerphoto]

Just a few thoughts to add to Brian and Roger's comments:

- the C-Sonnar focus shifts whatever you are recording on. You can see it on film as well as digital if you haven't learnt to correct for it a bit.

- If your lens is optimised at f1.5 then focus shifts away as you stop down. Just nudge the ring a bit. If you're optimised at f2.8 it shifts towards you at wider apertures and away at smaller.

- It also has a lot of field curvature at wide apertures and close distance - see this post and click through the picture to see just how much!

It's a lovely lens and I wouldn't swap mine. I might add a Planar, but it's not a worry really. To the OP, If you have a 2/35 ZM Biogon then you likely don't need the 40 Summicron and the 50 C-Sonnar is a nice different complement.

Mike

 

[jsrockit]

Very frustrating lens to use as a normal every day lens. It is a good second 50mm lens IMO. The shift, no matter how good you get at compensating, will make you blow some photos. That said, when you nail it, this lens is magic.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Very frustrating lens to use as a normal every day lens. It is a good second 50mm lens IMO. The shift, no matter how good you get at compensating, will make you blow some photos. That said, when you nail it, this lens is magic.

Well, you're always going to miss some pictures, no matter what camera/lens you use, but I've never found the C-Sonnar in the slightest bit frustrating, and I don't think I've ever lost many pictures because of focus shift. At f/5.6 and below, at 2 metres or over, d-o-f takes care of it all, and close up, at f/1.5, mine is optimized anyway. In other words, the only time I need to worry is at 1-2 metres at f/2 to f/4, when I lean forward two inches.The only other 50 I use nowadays (and that only very occasionally) is my wife's 50/2.5 Summarit.

Cheers,

R.

 

[user237428934]

Very frustrating lens to use as a normal every day lens. It is a good second 50mm lens IMO. The shift, no matter how good you get at compensating, will make you blow some photos. That said, when you nail it, this lens is magic.

The focus shift is no issue for me because I don't do a lot of close focus photos. So it's my everyday 50mm on the M8.

 

[jsrockit]

Ok, I should have said in my opinion... 😉

 

[jsrockit]

Learn to embrace the Sonnar's focus shift and you'll be rewarded. It's not rocket science, though it may take a little practice. I wouldn't give mine up for anything.

I don't see the point unless you really love the Sonnar. To me, I can use the Planar or Summicron and rarely miss focus at any aperture or I can use the Sonnar and hope that it is in focus when I use the apertures that have focus shift. Sure, I can do it, but why bother unless the Sonnar is your favorite type of lens?

I never said the Sonnar sucks, but that I wouldn't want it as my only 50mm lens (which it appears you feel is the right answer since your sig has 3 or so other 50s).

 

[ferider]

Fully agree with jsrockit. In fact, I got rid of my C-Sonnar for that reason. In practice, f1.5 is really rarely required, and many f2 lenses are much easier to use, wrt focus shift and corner performance.

 

[former member]

Focus shift is common to all Sonnar formula lenses, not just the C-Sonnar. Easiest just to jump from F1.5 to F4, where the DOF covers the error.

The classic 50/1.5 Summarit suffers about the same amount of focus shift, and the optimization chosen is interesting: The focal length of 3 Summarits that I examined are all 51.1mm, slightly below what the RF is calibrated for. The Summarit is optimized for use at F2.8 close-up, and F1.5 at infinity. The focus shift from F2.8 to F1.5 and the difference in focal length from the RF seem to all work out. I do my J-3's in reverse: the 52.4mm focal length means optimizing at F1.5 for close-up and letting the focus shift at F4 carry the lens to infinity.

I guess the focus shift of the Sonnar does not bother me.

 

[jsrockit]

But definitely - if you don't shoot or plan to shoot at f/1.5 often there's little point when an f/2 lens will do... Of if you want to shoot at f/1.4 all day long with no worries, grab a 50 Lux (at like 8x the price).

Yeah, that's the problem... not many other cheap 50mm 1.4/1.5 M lenses... though if I were to buy a faster 50mm again, I'd most likely go back to the 50mm 1.5 Nokton...but then size comes into play. Also, many people talk about the NEED for a faster lens than f/2, but then use the lens in bright sunlight most of the time (I'm guilty too).