Avotius
Some guy
So I bit the bullet. I wanted a summilux but price and getting tired of waiting forced my hand. On Don’s glowing recommendation and a leap of faith I bought a Zeiss 50mm Planar lens. First impressions are good; it feels very well made and hefty on my Bessa R2a. One thing I was not expecting was the size of the hood, its big, much bigger then the Leica summicron’s handy pull out hood but at the same time the Zeiss hood seems to provides more protection. In practical use however you don’t really notice the hood as it creeps into 20% of your 50mm frame lines as the curved cut out is just a thin line in the view with the very edge of the bottom corner blocked out. The Zeiss “nipple” suits me well; I didn’t really like the tab on my old Leitz 50mm Elmar red scale because the lens had such a long throw to focus it, but the Zeiss seems just right. The nipple can be used a sort of a focus tab and you can use it as a guide for prefocusing, but you also have the option of the full barrel grip which is a nice size for my sausage fingers. Zeiss really missed a trick with the nipple though because the sides of it don’t have the grippy grooves that the rest of the grip has, if it had these then it would have been even more practical since you would have a firmer grip on it. On my Bessa the lens hood makes the camera sit tilted back a hair, and when hanging down the camera still tilts back due to the stupid design of the strap lugs, but its much more level then it was with my 35mm skopar P2.
The Zeiss 50 Planar without hood, Vogitlander Skopar PII without hood, and the trusty but dusty Leitz 50 Elmar red scale.
Same as above but the first two with their respective hoods.
The Bessa R2a with the Zeiss 50mm Planar mounted.
Same as above but with the hood
A shot of the relative size of the package from above.
This is how much the hood cuts into the frame, no biggy, the vents do their job.
My first roll of film I wanted to shoot color negative then get it developed ASAP so I could find out if there was anything wrong in the 10 day no questions asked return time. Go figure I didn’t have any color negative film sitting around so I ended up pilfering my girlfriends dry box for a roll of Fuji Superia 100 from the middle ages. This was never my favorite film as I prefer the 400 speed Superia or Fuji Reala for 100, and for all other color Provia and Velvia. Regardless I stuck it in the camera and shoot it off in a frenzy then sent it to the processors which did a lousy job on the film since it came back with more dust then my exercise equipment. Regardless of the less the choice film and the fact that it probably expired a year or two ago the images came back looking ok. Here are a few from that first roll:
Too many people in this city equals usually having to stand on the bus. I was lucky, I had the seat.
The streets around my school are a colorful place with many different people. Everything from artists to street vendors to government officials walk these streets all day.
These three wheel taxi like things sit around buss stations and sides of streets waiting to take lazy people less then a kilometer down the road. The people who drive them usually just hang out inside with the door open waiting for someone to climb in. Not long ago I saw one of these get merely tapped on the side by a car and the thing flipped over.
This old lady hates it when people take her photo outside of her house, so I make sure she doesn't notice me taking this one or she might chase me with one of those bamboo mops.
Sunset in yangjiaping with the light reflecting off the wood and tile pathway.
New large buildings and cranes loom over the previous location of the world famous “nail house”.
The neat glass roof above this restaurant makes a nice diffused light effect for the mall below.
Hundreds of little flags outside of a supermarket made for a neat silhouette effect at sunset.
A sculpture in my school of a cat jumping halfway out of....something.
I quite like the tones that this image shoots, very Zeiss like familiarity from my work with a Hasselblad, its certainly sharp enough for the pixel poopers. I really wanted a lens that performed well with colors, especially with Provia and Velvia but could handle XP2 at the same time. I need to learn to control the “thickness” of the colors with this lens but overall its turning out to be a good lens. Mine arrived with a few specks of dust in it but nothing of consequence, my canon EF lenses have tons of dust in them, and the focus ring is pretty tight but I am told like my Voigtlander lens, it will break in after a few weeks of solid use. By the way my Voigtlander lens after a good amount of use is as silky smooth as a hot knife through butter.
The Zeiss 50 Planar without hood, Vogitlander Skopar PII without hood, and the trusty but dusty Leitz 50 Elmar red scale.
Same as above but the first two with their respective hoods.
The Bessa R2a with the Zeiss 50mm Planar mounted.
Same as above but with the hood
A shot of the relative size of the package from above.
This is how much the hood cuts into the frame, no biggy, the vents do their job.
My first roll of film I wanted to shoot color negative then get it developed ASAP so I could find out if there was anything wrong in the 10 day no questions asked return time. Go figure I didn’t have any color negative film sitting around so I ended up pilfering my girlfriends dry box for a roll of Fuji Superia 100 from the middle ages. This was never my favorite film as I prefer the 400 speed Superia or Fuji Reala for 100, and for all other color Provia and Velvia. Regardless I stuck it in the camera and shoot it off in a frenzy then sent it to the processors which did a lousy job on the film since it came back with more dust then my exercise equipment. Regardless of the less the choice film and the fact that it probably expired a year or two ago the images came back looking ok. Here are a few from that first roll:
Too many people in this city equals usually having to stand on the bus. I was lucky, I had the seat.
The streets around my school are a colorful place with many different people. Everything from artists to street vendors to government officials walk these streets all day.
These three wheel taxi like things sit around buss stations and sides of streets waiting to take lazy people less then a kilometer down the road. The people who drive them usually just hang out inside with the door open waiting for someone to climb in. Not long ago I saw one of these get merely tapped on the side by a car and the thing flipped over.
This old lady hates it when people take her photo outside of her house, so I make sure she doesn't notice me taking this one or she might chase me with one of those bamboo mops.
Sunset in yangjiaping with the light reflecting off the wood and tile pathway.
New large buildings and cranes loom over the previous location of the world famous “nail house”.
The neat glass roof above this restaurant makes a nice diffused light effect for the mall below.
Hundreds of little flags outside of a supermarket made for a neat silhouette effect at sunset.
A sculpture in my school of a cat jumping halfway out of....something.
I quite like the tones that this image shoots, very Zeiss like familiarity from my work with a Hasselblad, its certainly sharp enough for the pixel poopers. I really wanted a lens that performed well with colors, especially with Provia and Velvia but could handle XP2 at the same time. I need to learn to control the “thickness” of the colors with this lens but overall its turning out to be a good lens. Mine arrived with a few specks of dust in it but nothing of consequence, my canon EF lenses have tons of dust in them, and the focus ring is pretty tight but I am told like my Voigtlander lens, it will break in after a few weeks of solid use. By the way my Voigtlander lens after a good amount of use is as silky smooth as a hot knife through butter.
mfunnell
Shaken, so blurred
Great photos (as always) and a good report. Thanks. I think you'll be happy with this lens, judging by your results so far...
...Mike
...Mike
pizzahut88
Well-known
What do think of Skopar 35 compared to the Planar?
What do think of Skopar 35 compared to the Planar?
Is it still worth owning?
What do think of Skopar 35 compared to the Planar?
Is it still worth owning?
Nachkebia
Well-known
Excellent, I love planar...
alansoon
Established
Lovely bokeh in that bus shot!
Avotius
Some guy
pizzahut88 said:
absolutely, there is enough difference for me in 35 and 50mm that I would want to keep both. Although I not so secretly would like to change my 35 skopar for a leica 35 summicron that is a lot of money and dreams away.
Avotius
Some guy
ErikFive said:
seemed to work this time, keep my fingers crossed...
and yes, its a fine lens, im sure it will do well
Avotius
Some guy
thomasw_ said:
I did actually, its a nice lens indeed but I have had my heart set on the cron for a long time...maybe price and not wanting to wait anymore will strike again.
kross
sonnarism
smooth oof transition.... i'm starting to fall in love with this lens....
now i wonder how much difference of the oof transition between the planar and a nikkor H-C sonnar 50mm f2....
now i wonder how much difference of the oof transition between the planar and a nikkor H-C sonnar 50mm f2....
Nachkebia
Well-known
ZM 35/2 does not come closer to ZM 50/2, it is totally different animal, texture and tonality and overall feeling wise...
Avotius
Some guy
Nachkebia said:
I had that thought too, while its a neat lens and all I think I would keep my skopar over the biogon just because it might not be worth it to change, who knows, I use 50's more anyway.
Roma
Well-known
I guess this means your girlfriend didn't get the visa. Sorry to hear about it... but congrats on a great lens!!!
Very nice shots!
Very nice shots!
Avotius
Some guy
Roma said:
Thats right she didnt, a pity really, I was expecting to spend this summer in seattle eating seafood not in chongqing baking like bread. Oh well, I took the gf shopping to make up for it, plus she stole my first shot with the lens so I guess it makes up for part of it.
Rayt
Nonplayer Character
Chongqing looks very interesting. Must visit one day.
triplefinger
Well-known
Great shots! I have this lens. it's one of my favorites, in color and in B&W. Enjoy!
and re: the 35ZM, I sold the one I had. It was very good, but the character of the lens was not as interesting as the 50. I now use a cron 40c in place of it, which lives constantly on my R-D1.
if you ever decide on the 25ZM... it's amazing.
Mike
and re: the 35ZM, I sold the one I had. It was very good, but the character of the lens was not as interesting as the 50. I now use a cron 40c in place of it, which lives constantly on my R-D1.
if you ever decide on the 25ZM... it's amazing.
Mike
Nachkebia
Well-known
kshapero
South Florida Man
Shot with C Sonnar 50mm f1.5 for comparision.
goo0h
Well-known
Avotius, these are wonderful shots!
This lens is looking nicer and nicer. True, the 50 C looks nice too, but honestly I just do not want to mess with the focus shift (that's so easy to mistype) issues. I have enough of a problem with focusing as it is! :bang:
This lens is looking nicer and nicer. True, the 50 C looks nice too, but honestly I just do not want to mess with the focus shift (that's so easy to mistype) issues. I have enough of a problem with focusing as it is! :bang:
Avotius
Some guy
goo0h said:
That was my thought too, I didnt feel like messing around with the focus and the minimum focus distance bothered me as well, no regrets getting the planar, the minimum focusing advantage has already shown through for me over the extra stop. F2 is still pretty fast and when light gets down that low....canon 20D and 50 f1.4 is a great low light combo, but since I dont like shooting at night or anything like that, I dont worry about it.
x-ray
Veteran
Colin:
Great shots! Interesting to see color with the Planar since I've never shot any through mine. You'll find the 35 Biogon to be very much like the Planar. Actually my 25, 35 and 50 are all very well matched.
Keep shooting!
Great shots! Interesting to see color with the Planar since I've never shot any through mine. You'll find the 35 Biogon to be very much like the Planar. Actually my 25, 35 and 50 are all very well matched.
Keep shooting!