slm
Formerly nextreme
I've recently been using my Nikon FA, almost exclusively and of course, this has me window shopping for lenses. If you use any CV/Zeiss in F mount, would love to hear you experiences with them (post some images too !)
Cheers.
Steven
Cheers.
Steven
Jamie Pillers
Skeptic
I've used both the CV SLII 40/2 and 58/1.4. They are both really excellent lenses. They both produced that sharp, saturated color image I like. And they handle very nicely... I loved the focusing on both. As you probably know, the 40/2 comes new with a nice little close-up attachment lens that lets you focus as close as 0.25 meters from the film plane.
I don't have any way to post images here right now, but there are a lot of great examples on Flickr.com.
I don't have any way to post images here right now, but there are a lot of great examples on Flickr.com.
mfogiel
Veteran
I use the ZF lenses: 25,35,50 MP,85,100MP.
The 25/2.8 is a very interesting lens - flare resistent and dead sharp in the center from wide open, it has softer corners, but becomes particularly interesting if you shoot it close up - it can focus as close as 7cm from the front element, creating a very particular effect. Here are the examples:
The 35/2 Distagon has just one fault - it is big... But it is one of the sharpest lenses around, and with a great bokeh too. I do not use this one so often since I've strarted using the rangefinders, as the 35/2 Biogon on the ZI is just an unbeatable combination. Here is an example:
The 50/2 Makro Planar is a lens for all seasons, and a gem of the line. It is fairly big, but you get compensated by the quality and versatility. It is a lens which performs at the level of excellence from any distance and at any aperture. It is sharp from wide open, and improves a bit till f 5.6, but the sharpness is never excessively clinical. Here are a few shots:
The Planar 85/1.4 is a great lens too - it is portrait soft wide open, but gets bitingly sharp by f2.8 and has a wonderful spatial and colour rendering too. Sometimes, you can detect a little focus shift if you shoot at closer distances, so if you use apertures like f 5.6 or f8.0 it might be beneficial to focus at f2.8. Here are a some examples, the first one wide open:
Finally, we get to the Makro Planar 100/2 - this is probably the best quality SLR lens ever made, and it would be interesting to see the comparison against the Leica APO Makro 90... Zeiss has apparently borrowed from their cine lenses technology to make this one, and I am actually surprised that this lens is not more popular - probably because it lacks autofocus, what could be a more serious drawback for this FL for the DSLR users. If you can only afford one ZF lens, get this one, even if it is the most expensive...
This lens is simply stunning, and the only thing you can say, is that wide open it is a bit on the low contrast side. For the rest it has no faults: it is super sharp at any distance and through f11.0, it has no flare, no distortion, no ca, and has a superlative bokeh as well. You will not come even remotely close to see its maximum resolution, unless you use the slowest films and solid tripods. Here are some shots:
The 25/2.8 is a very interesting lens - flare resistent and dead sharp in the center from wide open, it has softer corners, but becomes particularly interesting if you shoot it close up - it can focus as close as 7cm from the front element, creating a very particular effect. Here are the examples:
The 35/2 Distagon has just one fault - it is big... But it is one of the sharpest lenses around, and with a great bokeh too. I do not use this one so often since I've strarted using the rangefinders, as the 35/2 Biogon on the ZI is just an unbeatable combination. Here is an example:
The 50/2 Makro Planar is a lens for all seasons, and a gem of the line. It is fairly big, but you get compensated by the quality and versatility. It is a lens which performs at the level of excellence from any distance and at any aperture. It is sharp from wide open, and improves a bit till f 5.6, but the sharpness is never excessively clinical. Here are a few shots:
The Planar 85/1.4 is a great lens too - it is portrait soft wide open, but gets bitingly sharp by f2.8 and has a wonderful spatial and colour rendering too. Sometimes, you can detect a little focus shift if you shoot at closer distances, so if you use apertures like f 5.6 or f8.0 it might be beneficial to focus at f2.8. Here are a some examples, the first one wide open:
Finally, we get to the Makro Planar 100/2 - this is probably the best quality SLR lens ever made, and it would be interesting to see the comparison against the Leica APO Makro 90... Zeiss has apparently borrowed from their cine lenses technology to make this one, and I am actually surprised that this lens is not more popular - probably because it lacks autofocus, what could be a more serious drawback for this FL for the DSLR users. If you can only afford one ZF lens, get this one, even if it is the most expensive...
This lens is simply stunning, and the only thing you can say, is that wide open it is a bit on the low contrast side. For the rest it has no faults: it is super sharp at any distance and through f11.0, it has no flare, no distortion, no ca, and has a superlative bokeh as well. You will not come even remotely close to see its maximum resolution, unless you use the slowest films and solid tripods. Here are some shots:
italy74
Well-known
Ciao Marek
your shots are really appetizers for a lot of people here
your shots are really appetizers for a lot of people here
slm
Formerly nextreme
Wow, excellent post, and excellent images. Thank you very much for that!
Cheers
Steven
panda81
Member
I love the ZF line of lenses, with the exception of it's price
I've used the 35, 50 (Makro, not the f/1.4), 85, and 100 before. Unfortunately, I ended up selling all except the 100, which I suppose shows which one I like the most. The reasons for selling the other lenses don't have anything to do with it's performance, but rather so I could spend the money in other ways. If I had a nicely padded bank account, I would definitely have kept all the lenses, and probably added the rest of the ZF lenses I didn't have as well If I had to choose my favorites based on personal experience and/or reading reviews, I would get the 21, 35, 50 Makro, and 100.
Here are links to my Flickr account with photos tagged with the lens used:
35mm
50mm
85mm
100mm
Hope this is useful!
I've used the 35, 50 (Makro, not the f/1.4), 85, and 100 before. Unfortunately, I ended up selling all except the 100, which I suppose shows which one I like the most. The reasons for selling the other lenses don't have anything to do with it's performance, but rather so I could spend the money in other ways. If I had a nicely padded bank account, I would definitely have kept all the lenses, and probably added the rest of the ZF lenses I didn't have as well
If I had to choose my favorites based on personal experience and/or reading reviews, I would get the 21, 35, 50 Makro, and 100.Here are links to my Flickr account with photos tagged with the lens used:
35mm
50mm
85mm
100mm
Hope this is useful!
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BillBingham2
Registered User
I have the two SLII lenses, 20/3.5 and 58/1.4. Both are in Nikon mount specifically for a body I do not have yet (DSLR DX like the D60). I have used them on my F and love them. While they do not couple with the metering on the FTn, they are wonderful lenses. IMHO better built than most Nikkors these days.
B2 (;->
B2 (;->
Wester_von_B
Newbie
I have the CV 20/3.5 and 40/2 SLII; I love the small size.
The build quality is superb.
Some images w/ my D40
40/2
20/3.5
The build quality is superb.
Some images w/ my D40
40/2
20/3.5
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I had the CV 75/2.5 but foolishly sold it. Great little lens. I also owned a ZF 85/1.4 and a ZF 50/1.4 for a while. I loved the 85/1.4 but preferred my Nikkor 50/1.2 to the ZF 50/1.4.
Here's a few shots taken with the CV 75/2.5.
Here's a few shots taken with the CV 75/2.5.
meven
Well-known
Wow, the shots with the Makro Planar 100/2 are excellent!!!
slm
Formerly nextreme
I love the ZF line of lenses, with the exception of it's price
I've used the 35, 50 (Makro, not the f/1.4), 85, and 100 before. Unfortunately, I ended up selling all except the 100, which I suppose shows which one I like the most. The reasons for selling the other lenses don't have anything to do with it's performance, but rather so I could spend the money in other ways. If I had a nicely padded bank account, I would definitely have kept all the lenses, and probably added the rest of the ZF lenses I didn't have as well
Here are links to my Flickr account with photos tagged with the lens used:
35mm
50mm
85mm
100mm
Hope this is useful!
Thanks for that panda, I really like the arches shot !
Cheers.
slm
Formerly nextreme
Part of my interest in the lenses are their "future proof" quality, useable on a dslr. My understanding though is the lower end Nikon's won't meter with MF lenses, or is that only the MF Nikkors?
slm
Formerly nextreme
Does the D40 meter with those lenses ? I love the third shot, I see similar landscape (and weather lately) around my place.
Cheers
kshapero
South Florida Man
I have the CV 40mm/f2 and while it is a great lens, small and sharp, I can not get my D200 to focus it very easily because of the short throw of the focus ring. Katz Eye anyone?
Wester_von_B
Newbie
The SLII series has an integrated CPU so they will meter w/ the low end D-SLR's.
http://www.cosina.co.jp/seihin/voigt/english/sl2-e.html
sojournerphoto
Veteran
I use a ZF 35/2 on my 1Ds3 with an adaptor. Great lens. I'd love to add a 100MP and a 25 as well. I've also got a 28/2.8 Distagon in C/Y mount that fits the Canon with an adaptor - again I like it.
Mike
Distagon 35/2 - wide open iirc
Mike
Distagon 35/2 - wide open iirc