Impressed with the 50mm f2 Planar ZM

[cnguyen]

None of my lenses are coded except for the new WATE I received today. If you want to use IR filter you need to have the lens coded so it can take care of the cyan overcast. I seldom shoot indoor with fluorescent light so I don't care for the coding /IR filter use. The coding also help takes care of the vignette from very wide lenses which I have on my WATE. So there you go IMHO.

 

[Prosaic]

I got my Planar 50/2 a couple of days ago. Here are my first test shots. (I haven't even noticed the nipple yet.)

These are Fuji Acros rated 100 developed in Prescysol EF.

Maybe it is because I´m drunk but these three are awesome! Cheers

 

[scho]

I love the razor sharpness and smooth transitions that this lens exhibits. Sample image wide open (f/2). Link to full size image available at Zenfolio.

 

[jbf]

Scho, i have to agree. a wonderful tack-sharp lens with beautiful bokeh transitions. 🙂

Just ogtta find time to scan some of my shots! 🙂

 

[v3cron]

I recently picked one of these up as well. It does what it is supposed to do - gives an ultra-sharp, modern rendering. I think I'll be selling mine, as I'm not really into that look. It's great for contrasty color shots (ex: Juergen Teller and Terry Richardson use the G-series version), but on Tri-X it looks funny to me, next to my 35 Lux and 50 DR.

 

[Prosaic]

Great image Scho!

 

[scho]

Great image Scho!

Thanks Prosaic. Great lens.

 

[kipkeston]

I'm tempted get this planar. I have the 35 biogon. I know what these ZM lenses can do. I want to venture into the realm of the 50. The realm that is not easy to work with but produces some of the best photos.

 

[amin_sabet]

I have to agree with Tom A. The 50mm f2 Planar is every bit as sharp as the current 50mm f2 Cron . The OOF areas are "romantically" rendered vs "clinically" rendered as in Leicas. I love them both.

I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could show me an example of clinically vs romantically rendered bokeh using these two lenses to take essentially the same photo with the same OOF area.

 

[Turtle]

I do not know about teh Leica cron, but can tell you that the ZMs have a very smooth, creamy, sublime (OK, now I am getting excited) transition. It is amongst the smoothest I have seen from any lens and constant between focal legths....pretty well. All lenses have the same look. My planar produces lovely oof on wide apertures. It is noticeable compared to the others I own but I cannot say whether the cron is the same....

 

[italy74]

That tree is just wonderful, its wooden roughness it's outstanding

 

[Atavistic]

Here's a question. Since you're using this lens on a M8 how do you go about the coding?

I understand it's not that particular necessary for a 50mm lens per se, but with the new firmware upgrade I get the feeling it is becoming more and more essential to have in order to take full advantage
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

In case you don't code at all, here's another question. When using it together with an IR UV cut filter, hot do you Program the M8?
Do you turn lens identification simply off although you use the IR filter, or do you turn it ON + IR???????

Thanks for any advice.

I'm wondering about the same thing. It seems to me like the ZM Planar 50mm draws images somewhat like the Hassy 80mm making it highly tempting. Anyone coded their Planar or knows someone that sells pre-coded?

 

[Bobfrance]

I coded mine using the M-Coder kit with no problems.
I rate this lens VERY highly.

Shot using M8

Shot using Fuji Neopan 400 with Hexar RF