Nokton ltm 50mm 1.5 v zeiss planar 50mm f2

[AlexBG]

I was searching for my perfect 50mm lens over 2 years ago and had narrowed it down to these two. I sent my M3 off to get serviced but it has taken until now to get it back so my search continues. I shoot 99% family shots in various films, mainly portra though.

I've always loved the photos I've seen from the zeiss, the subject isolation and rendering, plus it will be great on my A7rii. But i see the photos from the nokton and they look great as well.

Ignoring price, f1.5 v f2, age etc, which one would you pick? Obviously examples welcome!

 

[gavinlg]

I had an M mount nokton 50mm f1.5... it has lovely smooth rendering but doesn't in my opinion have the same kind of full 3d rendering of the zeiss lenses of which I'm really fond of. If I were choosing I'd go the zeiss. Just watch out for that focussing ring play on second hand copies.

 

[Nitroplait]

full 3d rendering of the zeiss lenses of which I'm really fond of.

I don't think I understand what "3D rendering" means. Any examples? Examples of the opposite, pictures without 3D rendering, would be interesting as well.

 

[gavinlg]

I don't think I understand what "3D rendering" means. Any examples? Examples of the opposite, pictures without 3D rendering, would be interesting as well.

It's simply a combination of optical characteristics that amount to photos taken in certain circumstances with the lens looking as if they convey a three dimensional depth despite being a 2 dimensional photo. The zeiss 35mm f2 biogon strongly exhibits this behaviour. The ultron 35mm f2, by comparison also does, but not as strongly, despite being a sharper lens at wide apertures.

Here's a not very good example from the ultron 35:

 

[Nitroplait]

OK thanks. I guess it is just a subjective property, then.

 

[the_jim]

This video has a couple side-by-side shots with the Voigtlander 50mm 1.5 and the Zeiss 50mm 1.5 ZM. In my opinion, the difference in 3-D pop is fairly apparent. It seems like a combination of higher global and micro contrast as well as the manner in which focus fall off appears.

https://youtu.be/N7Ws-dOjR48

 

[AlexBG]

I had an M mount nokton 50mm f1.5... it has lovely smooth rendering but doesn't in my opinion have the same kind of full 3d rendering of the zeiss lenses of which I'm really fond of. If I were choosing I'd go the zeiss. Just watch out for that focussing ring play on second hand copies.

The 3d rendering of the planar is one of the things I love about shots with it the most.

 

[ranger9]

I don't think I understand what "3D rendering" means.

3D rendering (or colloquially "3D pop") is an optical trait like "atmosphere" and "character": Its main distinguishing feature is that the lens I bought has it, and the competitor's lens you bought doesn't have it.

 

[lukx]

One thing to keep in mind: the Planar focuses closer (0.7m) compared to the Nokton LTM (0.9m). If your M3 is modified to focus this closely (an easy modification), then this could be another more tangible difference.