Zeiss intoduces the new. C Sonnar T* 1,5/50 ZM

[MP Guy]

The powerful photojournalist – fast, compact, accurate

The C Sonnar T* 1.5/50 ZM lens is the modern technological reincarnation of the classical Sonnar 1.5/50, the fastest standard lens of its time, for the Contax II rangefinder camera.

It is fast, very resistant to flaring and unusually compact – therefore the “C” in the lens name. With its well controlled distortion, the lens produces a very accurate representation of objects. It can take the same filters which fit the ZM wide angle lenses with 28, 25 and 21mm focal lengths. This is a very versatile lens for photojournalistic work in general and for available light photography in particular.


Technical Specifications
Focal length: 50 mm
Aperture range: f /1.5 – f/16 (1/3 f-stop)
No. of elements/groups: 6/4
Focusing range: 0.9 m – infinity
Image ratio at close range: 1:15
Coverage at close range: 37 x 55 cm
Angular field, diag./horiz.: 46°/38°
Filter: M 46 x 0.75
Weight: 250 g

 

[jano]

woah........

 

[Uncle Bill]

Is there a suggested retail yet?

Bill

 

[dgray]

I've never used a lens with aperture blades shaped like that. Any thoughts on what it would do to oof highlights? Does it produce star shapes?

 

[bmoc]

50/1.4 planar for C/Y mount has funky aperture blades as wide apertures (like an even more pronounced star). it's bokeh was nice--not great, but nice.

-barry

 

[jlw]

Six elements in four groups doesn't sound like a classical Sonnar design (even though I'm sure that's not what they meant by "reincarnation.") Anybody seen a diagram?

-- Updated: Okay, so I was wrong; I downloaded the PDF brochure and looked at the diagram, and it looks like a Sonnar-type asymmetrical design, although simplified down to six elements (probably thanks to the optical glass types available now that weren't available back in the '30s.)

I'll really look forward to seeing how this compares in performance to the 50/1.5 Nokton!

 

[rover]

Eyebrows raised in interest.....

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Six elements in four groups doesn't sound like a classical Sonnar design (even though I'm sure that's not what they meant by "reincarnation.") Anybody seen a diagram?

The atemporal "yes Sonnar, no Sonnar" debate continued here (great details too): http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=320891

 

[Flinor]

Don't these people know that I'm retired and living on a fixed income?

 

[Harry Lime]

I think the 4/45mm on my Xpan has similar blades, as does the Noctilux.

 

[Harry Lime]

Here is a cross section showing the old and new Sonnar:

http://www.photo.net/bboard-uploads//00GxLf-30616984.jpg

 

[Sonnar2]

A GREAT idea from Zeiss!!

Even if it has 4 optical groups ( a classical Sonnar has 3) it's far more a Sonnar than the new ZM 2/85!!
It has the cemented rear triplet. However the classical Sonnar of the 1930's had another triple element prior to the iris, and the new design had replaced the third element by what designers of the old era called an "air lens"... In the golden era of Sonnar/ Planar competion other companies like Canon or Asahi Optical modified the rear half of the lens, dissolving the last triplet, still having Sonnars. In *this* design, the first half looks exactly like a Gauss type. Nevertheless, it's *more* a Sonnar than anything Zeiss launched in the last 40 years of business.

From the MTF charts visible at Zeiss.com one can see some characteristics of a true reportage lens: great resolution wide open in the center with a clear falloff to the edges. Could be very pleasing results! I'm curious about that lens!

cheers, Frank

 

[whitecat]

I'm curious about the out of focus quality wide open.

 

[MP Guy]

Anyone order one of these yet?

 

[back alley]

are they available for purchase?