getting zeiss sonnar 50/1.5 optimized for 1.5

A

alphabet

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apologies if this has been covered before, but i couldn't find the answer with some searching of the forum.

i'm going to start looking for a used zeiss sonnar 50/1.5 for my r-d1. i know from RFF that the early versions of this lens were optimized for 2.8, not 1.5, and that some people sent them to zeiss to be reoptimized for 1.5.

2 questions:
1) is there any way to know from, say, a serial number whether the lens was optimized for 1.5 or 2.8?
2) for those who have sent in to zeiss for reoptimization, would i be able to send it in for this if i bought one used and was not the original warranty holder?

thanks.
 
alphabet said:
apologies if this has been covered before, but i couldn't find the answer with some searching of the forum.

i'm going to start looking for a used zeiss sonnar 50/1.5 for my r-d1. i know from RFF that the early versions of this lens were optimized for 2.8, not 1.5, and that some people sent them to zeiss to be reoptimized for 1.5.

2 questions:
1) is there any way to know from, say, a serial number whether the lens was optimized for 1.5 or 2.8?
2) for those who have sent in to zeiss for reoptimization, would i be able to send it in for this if i bought one used and was not the original warranty holder?

thanks.
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Nice choice of lens
1) no way to verify through serial no.
2) possibly. Zeiss did it for me with a 35/2.
 
I have one of these lenses. I agreed to 1. Now way. 2. Is it necessary. If you are going to shoot extreme close-ups at f1.5 there will be a shift. However, if you are shooting at a distance then it will not matter. Most of my photography is at f4 and higher and it is not an issue. Beautiful black and white.
 
If you have it calibrated for 1.5, will it be off for smaller apertures? At really small ones like f11, it wouldn't matter but how about shooting at f2.8? Would it be out of focus at f2.8 if you have it set for accuracy at 1.5? I don't have one of these and probably never will, but I keep seeing people online talking about the focus calibration and I am DYING of curiousity!
 
if you recalibrate to 1.5, then it would be off at F2.8 and above so people do the recalibration to use it at F1.5 exclusively.
I have the F2.8 optimized copy and i am very happy with it (at both 1.5 and above). It is easy to compensate.
Truly an amazing sonnar lens
 
if u need a 50mm f/1.5, go and get the old type of Zeiss 50/1.5. Need not get the ZM and get into so much trouble of optimizing at the f stop that you want it be. Just my personal advise.
 
I say buy a Canon f1.5/50 and start shooting that on the RD-1 she`s the "princess" of all Sonnar copies, just uncommon, good examples can be had for a little under $400.

Finding a "true" Zeiss f1.5/50 in LTM is like finding golden chickens teeth, (80% of them are postwar Russian copies/fakes)

So if you don`t buy the newer ZM mounted Zeiss lens, you are at best to try to find the Canon, some people would also suggest a Nokkor SC f1.4/50, but I`m partical to the Canon, over the Nikon lens, (The Canon has "Sonnar Glow" and the Nikkor though a Sonnar copy design, it features that sometimes annoying "Nikon Glow".) ;) - Good Luck and Happy Shooting!!!!!

Tom
 
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