New ZM lens in 2013

[ChrisC]

If you want smaller and soft corners you could try the C-Sonnar. 46mm filter, just to be different from the others. A lovely lens, but very 'characterful'

Well, I think he wants Zeiss lenses, designed and built like Leica lenses, but at [I suspect] Zeiss prices. Some circles cannot be squared, one being the design/performance/cost/ priorities and compromises of Zeiss and Leica are different, which I'm grateful for. Me? I'm delighted that Zeiss make Zeiss lenses at Zeiss prices.

............ Chris

 

[sojournerphoto]

Well, I think he wants Zeiss lenses, designed and built like Leica lenses, but at [I suspect] Zeiss prices. Some circles cannot be squared, one being the design/performance/cost/ priorities and compromises of Zeiss and Leica are different, which I'm grateful for. Me? I'm delighted that Zeiss make Zeiss lenses at Zeiss prices.

............ Chris

Me too! I had a fairly long call with Oberkochen (obviously not all of it) today, including discussion of the C-Sonnar, and am always impressed by their enthusiasm and approach. Plus the lenses really are very good.

 

[noimmunity]

I would like to see Zeiss create some lenses in the philosophy of the pre-ashp Leica lenses with a stress on compactness, zero distortion, uniform filter size of 39mm and high center sharpness wide open. That combined with high flare resistance would really make an attractive package for me. I would readily accept to give up some corner sharpness for that, because I think that it is of little practical consequence. At least for me it is very rare to have a need for corner to corner sharpness when shooting wide open.

Another Sonnar that you could try would be the Rollei 40/2.8 Sonnar, which does have the 39mm filter size, a tiny size, and high center sharpness/flare resistance along with soft corners. A lovely lens, f/2.8 doesn't sound like your target aperture, however.

 

[soultheworld]

i just spoke to a Zeiss representative at a local exibition.

while asking him if new zm lenses will come out he confirmed me there will
be new products coming out in 2014. they were held back a bit because they were quite busy developing lenses for Sonys new system.
cant wait to see what they will bring out. 😉

 

[santela]

We all been played. Nothing's coming this year. I went ahead and got myself the 35lux. Sick of Zeiss making empty promises.

 

[furbs]

We all been played. Nothing's coming this year. I went ahead and got myself the 35lux. Sick of Zeiss making empty promises.

I've been quite happy with the 35 Lux over the past few months. Even if Zeiss does come out with some competition, it likely won't have that unique Leica glow.

 

[mervynyan]

Zeiss has been doing SLR and Cine lenses, I guess they are popular because Leica doesn't even compete in that space. If I were Zeiss, I wouldn't put a lot of investments updating M line neither. Unless, of course, they plan a digital ZI.

 

[sojournerphoto]

... Unless, of course, they plan a digital ZI.

Don't think that's in the near future. Almost certainly not in next two years.

They aren't really a camera company, they would need an expert partner and the quality would have to be very high - I would expect at a lower price point than Leica

Mike

 

[Orio]

They brag about their lenses with no plastic parts and then give us plastic caps. I never understood how they don't see that terrible final touch.

Metal caps that accidentally slip onto the front glass surface do mark the coating. Plastic caps don't. Enough reason for me. If I want metal protection for the lens I use the metal hood.

P.S. my guess is a 2/28. But 2013 is almost over and no sign of new ZM lens...

 

[kossi008]

Still nothing... hm... no one's heard anything?

 

[marccccc]

Still nothing... hm... no one's heard anything?

I don't know exactly why, but I have the feeling, that there won't be any new lenses in 2013.

br
Jacob

 

[triger]

Some Zeiss reps said, that they will be releasing 5 fast manual primes for sony a7/a7r. There shouldn't be any problem in releasing them also in the M mount I hope, as the flange distance of sony E mount is quite simmilar.

 

[noimmunity]

Some Zeiss reps said, that they will be releasing 5 fast manual primes for sony a7/a7r. There shouldn't be any problem in releasing them also in the M mount I hope, as the flange distance of sony E mount is quite simmilar.

I doubt the lack of a new ZM lens in 2013 had anything to do with design challenges.

 

[kram]

April and still no news or rumours, sigh.

 

[santela]

April and still no news or rumours, sigh.

Don't hold your breathe, it ain't coming.

 

[Tony Whitney]

Zeiss has been doing SLR and Cine lenses, I guess they are popular because Leica doesn't even compete in that space. If I were Zeiss, I wouldn't put a lot of investments updating M line neither. Unless, of course, they plan a digital ZI.

Not so. Leica has extensive ranges of cinema lenses. My younger boy works in the movie industry and sees them in use often. And for anyone who thinks the Leica still camera lenses are expensive, they should check the prices in the cinema range. $17,000 - $20,000 is just a starting point!...TW

 

[uhoh7]

Considering the terrible shortage of great 35mm M mount lenses, I just don't get why they don't deliver....🙂

 

[kram]

I know, zeiss will probably see a gap in the market and produce a compact digital zoom camera, or a csc, there is hardly any of them in the market place ...

 

[regular]

Zeiss really fell in love with Sony :
"Touit and ZM lenses on the Sony A7R - a good connection" (March, 21th):
http://blogs.zeiss.com/photo/en/?p=4834

(ps : Zeiss answered quickly afterwards, thanks to their team)

 

[CrisR]

Very interesting update, thanks for posting it, and David for asking.

End of 2014, maybe 2015 huh? Well, I hope that's because they're putting some of the things they learnt from their Otus into something really special on the ZM.

I'd love a 25/1.4 for 18 Distagon money.