Zeiss Planar 50/1.4 QBM on E-PL1

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I used my old SLR lens (Zeiss Planar 50/1.4 for the Rollei SLR QBM system) on an Olympus E-PL1 on a photo shoot of fishing boats during fog. I first used the M8 and M9 with Nokton 50mm lenses, followed by using M 4/3 cameras.

smugmug link: https://raid.smugmug.com/Olympus-EPL1-Zeiss-Planar-50mm/

My second back-up set was an old E-P2 with a 25mm/1.4 Summilux LUMIX. I did not use any PS to modify images here.

Smugmug link:https://raid.smugmug.com/Olympus-E-P2-25mm-14-LUX-LUMIX/


I left all images unmodified by PS except 4 images that I also played with to see if I could get interesting looking images after some modifications.

 

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My second back-up set was an old E-P2 with a 25mm/1.4 Summilux LUMIX. I did not use any PS to modify images here.

Smugmug link:https://raid.smugmug.com/Olympus-E-P2-25mm-14-LUX-LUMIX/

 

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I have used many lenses, and I have done many tests for myself. I very much like how the Zeiss Planar 50/1.4 renders images. It is a lens that was made for the Rollei 35mm SLR system that eventually died. A lens expert could modify it into an M lens, I guess, but I am using it with M 4/3 cameras for a 100mm crop and I use it side by side with a lens that gives me a 50mm view.

The Leica Summilux 25/1.4 is a very sharp AF lens, which I did not have for my M 4/3 cameras in past years. I am very impressed by its performance overall. In the fog photos I may have set the camera to aperture 4.0.

 

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E-P2 and Summilux 25/1.4

 

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I took many photos today with both cameras during a day in which the weather was without any fog. I will try to upload tomorrow some of the images here. We were in Destin Beach, Florida.

 

[mpaniagua]

Looks beutiful raid. Really encourage me to get an adapter for my EOS 6d to use my QBM lens on digital. I too like how the Planar 1.4 renders image on film. I guess its great too on digital.

Regards

Marcelo

 

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Hi Marcelo,
Thanks for your feedback.

I love using my QBM lenses. I also have a Zeiss 85/1.4 and 35/1.4 and 55/1.4 and 35/2.8.
The best lens may be the 50/1.4 with M 4/3. I get a 100mm perspective. Today, I set the lens at first to aperture 16, and then I used the depth of field marks on the lens. Setting the lens to aperture 8 gave me plenty of depth of field with ISO 160 at the bright beaches. There was no need to check the focus anymore after this.

 

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Here are some newly taken images with the Planar 50/1.4. There are about 65 new images in the smugmug website folder on this lens.

 

[mpaniagua]

So far my favorite is the 80mm. Got the Distangon 16mm, 18mm, 25mm and 35mm. Planar 50mm and 35mm. They all are gourgeous lens, enough to make me bear with my SL35E quirkiness and SL35m uglyness 🙂.

Any reputable adapter selle you could recommend?

Regards.

Marcelo

 

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The KIPON adapter is most likely your best choice. I use two inexpensive adapters ($15).

Did you mean 85mm or 80mm as being your favorite?

 

[rfaspen]

All I have left of Rollei QBM is 50/1.8 and 50/1.4 (both Zeiss versions) and my old Rolleiflex SL35. Sold the SL35E's and that weird boxy body (SL2002?) and other QBM lenses.

@mpaniagua I lusted after those wide Distagons.

My lenses are getting stiff. The 50/1.8 is almost unusable its so stiff and resistant to being focused. Probably because I don't have a QBM adapter for my m4/3 body, and I don't use the old SL35 anymore. Sad, because those lenses were responsible for my need for quality (those and an old Minolta Hi-Matic E with a total sleeper lens). In fact, I doubt I would have ever felt the need to try Leica if I hadn't stumbled upon those Zeiss lenses.

 

[mpaniagua]

The KIPON adapter is most likely your best choice.

Did you mean 85mm or 80mm as being your favorite?

Planar 85mm 1.4 Huge piece of glass 🙂 Kinda heavy but renders pretty sharp and beautiful.

 

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I had Don Goldsmith repair my 85/1.4. Its aperture blades were stuck and had to be rearranged.

 

[mpaniagua]

Not really that fond on Tele lens, but really, cant resist using this one 🙂 . A real pleasure to use IMHO. Weird aperture blades, same than Distagon 35mm (3 blades). Never saw that on other lens.

Ever used a hood on it? Not that it need one, just curious.

Regards.

Marcelo

 

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I think, I use a 67mm lens hood on the lens at all times.