Goodbye Zeiss ZM 50/2 Planar.

[leica007]

Time to bid farewell to my Zeiss ZM 50/2 Planar. It's a stellar performer, but my ZM 50/1.5 is too good. And it doesn't make financial sense to possess both. Hence, the planar has to go.

Anyone in a similar position?

-------

 

[Al Kaplan]

I had to decide between a 50/1.4 Nikkor and a 50/2 1969 Summicron. I'm still upset about getting rid of the Nikkor! I sold a D.R. Summicron with no regrets.

http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com

 

[kshapero]

Every time I sell anything, I always regret it within a few days. Every time.

 

[jonmanjiro]

I sold the Sonnar and kept the Planar. No regrets at all. The Planar is that good.

 

[noimmunity]

Both lenses could be in the same kit/bag!

 

[thomasw_]

The sonnar is THAT superb.....I understand, especially if you are not using the planar much. I have owned both and, like you, I prefer the sonnar. But Jon is correct, the sonnar and planar are different lenses, thus it is possible to keep both in the same bag.

 

[FrankS]

Could you guys explain the difference in look between the Sonnar and Planar for me?

 

[jonmanjiro]

Both lenses could be in the same kit/bag!

haha, indeed! I still have a sonnar in S-mount 🙂

 

[Avotius]

Yesterday I was using the planar on the ep1 to do some fashionable shots and the results were so spectacular, it's such a good lens, but that sonnar...if it was not for that 0.9 meter minimum focus I would so have that lens...I have no sonnar's in my kit I'm afraid.

 

[back alley]

i had both, kept the sonnar.

 

[back alley]

Could you guys explain the difference in look between the Sonnar and Planar for me?

planar is sharp from corner to corner, the sonnar is sharp at the central image and slowly almost dreamily goes 'soft', but not unsharp.
when stopped down the sonnar is equally as sharp as most 50s but still retains a civilized character, never harsh.

that's my best verbiage...maybe others can do more justice.

 

[kxl]

Could you guys explain the difference in look between the Sonnar and Planar for me?

I have both the ZM Planar and Sonnar, and while in some images there is a discernible difference, it is very subtle. The difference is more obvous when comparing images that are shot wide open. Stopped down to f8 or so, I'd be hard-pressed to be able to tell the difference.

Wide open, the Planar is almost clinical in its sharpness. The "edge" between parts of the image in focus and OOF areas is obvious. OTOH, the Sonnar is not quite as center-sharp but has a more gradual "fade" into OOF areas. Again, that's my observation based on the the lens samples I have.

PLANAR

SONNAR

 

[Tom A]

I have both - sorry, let me rephrase that - I have two Sonnars (one M/one SC mount) and one Planar.
If I know that I have to be able to go close and shoot wide-open - I would take the Planar - but for most everything else it is the Sonnar's. It is my "standard" 50 for travel. There is something about how it renders black/white that I like. Of course, at the moment I am shooting with the Nokton 50f1.1 - but soon I am back to the Sonnar and XX (and the Nokton, and the Planar etc - just got 9000 ft of XX).

 

[Dan States]

I have both and have told myself to sell the Planar over and over but can't seem to get around to doing the job.

If shooting color slide film, the planar would be my choice for it's magnificent contrast. For black and white the Sonnar is the easiest to print. It has a great combination of flare control without brittle contrast. It is by far my favorite for the majority of my film photography.

In cropped sensor digital cameras I'd go with the Planar for it's more accurate focus at full aperture.

So there you go...they're both great...keep em both!

 

[35mmdelux]

Im not much of a 50 shooter but I keep a 50 Summilux asp in my belt bag. Owned both the 50 Planar & 50 Sonnar, sold them both.

 

[mfogiel]

It is a pity to have to sell the Planar, because you can use it at any f stop with similar rendering, and often you just want a sharp and neutral lens for outdoors. The Sonnar is an obvious winner if you like shooting people.

 

[ChrisN]

planar is sharp from corner to corner, the sonnar is sharp at the central image and slowly almost dreamily goes 'soft', but not unsharp.
when stopped down the sonnar is equally as sharp as most 50s but still retains a civilized character, never harsh.

that's my best verbiage...maybe others can do more justice.

Blimey, you'll be talking about bokeh soon at this rate! 😀

Nice description.

 

[Prosaic™]

Anyone in a similar position?

I used the C-Sonnar briefly and did not like it. The Planar sells new for the price of a used Summicron which clearly is the better choice for a Leica M. (Maybe not for a ZI though.)

Planar-T 2/50 ZM
For several generations the Planar design has tried to challenge the Summicron 50mm and never became as good. Now at last we have a lens that equals the Summicron-M 50mm and is even a trace better in the curvature of field area. The optical performance of the Planar is simply as good as that what can be expected form the Leica Summicron.
(Erwin Puts)

 

[LeicaTom]

Well, not with the ZM Planar f2 ~ but with the Nikkor HC f2/50 in LTM........

I owned a well broken in 1950 "Tokyo" Nikkor HC f2/50 that had fine cleaning marks, it shot amazing pics, but I had a case of the dumb_ss and sold it to buy a "minty" 1957 "Japan" Nikkor HC f2/50 on a TOWER 35 camera....thinking it`s better to "upgrade" to a finer/better condition lens of the same design.

Well, the "Japan" version shoots nicely, but the magic that early beat up "Tokyo" lens had just isn`t there, I really regret selling that lens......

Tom

 

[morback]

Could you guys explain the difference in look between the Sonnar and Planar for me?

Clinical (Planar) vs Classical (Sonnar)?

The shot that people seem to like most of the Sonnar in my collection:

My new favorite:

Something moody:

One for the road:

Some people obsess of the technical aspect of photography, I am more interested in the vision. That's why the Sonnar was an obvious choice.
98% of my flickr is shot with Sonnars. Either the T3's or the C-Sonnar mentioned here.