First photos with new ZI and Planar

[maclaine]

After playing a serious round of the buying/selling/trading game (see my "Gear Fatigue" thread elsewhere), I've finally settled on a combo I've wanted for a while, a black ZI with black 50mm Planar. I love the 50mm focal length, and I think I'd be fine if this was my only setup for a while.

One of my main motivations for getting the Planar over a Summicron or other 50mm lens is I have wanted to shoot more color stuff lately, and I'm always blown away by what I see others do with Zeiss lenses in color.

Last weekend, I went out shooting late in the day with a friend who had just purchased a dSLR and wanted a crash course in how to use it. The light where we were shooting was incredible, and I shot a roll of Kodachrome 64 and Ektar 100. Still waiting on the K64, of course, but the shots with the Ektar look great. I was really iffy about this film for a while, sometimes loving the results and sometimes not, but with the Planar, it seems to be a winning combination.

With the sun so low in the sky, I tried to push the boundaries a bit in regards to lens flare, and even in the most extreme situations where any other lens would have flared like crazy, the Planar did an outstanding job.

Anyway, enough chit chat. Here are my favorites.

 

[Ranchu]

Lovely, the first shot is gorgeous, that's why I shoot film. Enjoy your lack of extra gear!

 

[Neare]

Lovely shots, the ZI wins hands down IMO in 35mm rangefinders.
I am also a firm follower of the planar design, nice to see someone using such a great lens!

a friend who had just purchased a dSLR and wanted a crash course in how to use it.

O_O Jumping into the deep end?

 

[Vobluda]

Nice shots, realy great light.

 

[payasam]

No question that Zeiss optics have always been superb: but to say that they are better than this or that is, in my view, a waste of time.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Beautiful pics. The lowly Planar is one of the gems of the Zeiss ZM lineup IMO.

 

[Luna]

No question that Zeiss optics have always been superb: but to say that they are better than this or that is, in my view, a waste of time.

Yes, I agree. I also just got the ZI & Planar and can agree that it is indeed the best camera ever made.

 

[parsec1]

Have an 18mm, 28mm 2.8 and a 50mm 2 for my Ms. Use them professionaly. Wonderfull Glass and very well constructed.... Highly recomended.

 

[Renzsu]

Very nice indeed, especially the first shot.

 

[Haigh]

Lovely shots.

 

[xxloverxx]

What amazing light…great photos!

 

[maclaine]

Thanks for the kind words, everyone. I really do love this camera/lens combo. This weekend I believe I'll be buying my very first darkroom setup from someone off of CL, so I expect to run a ton of black and white through it in the very near future. I can't wait to develop my own negs and see what kind of prints I can make.