Zeiss to discontinue producing lenses for photography?

[shawn]

It's a PITA to read anything on that website. You can't use an adblocker so the gaudy, constantly updating videos and flashing pop ups drive me nuts. But once you wade into it, you find some truly gawdawful writing and questionable information on the web. Also a lot of phony self praise.

If one is using Safari use the "Reader" function and you will get a clean page of the article without all the extra noise. Doesn't help the writing though.

 

[skahde]

but...Is Zeiss also exiting cinema as well?

From the source above: "the company, which was once a juggernaut for lenses, only focuses on the cinema world these days."
Doesn't sound to me as if they see them exiting cinema.

 

[KoNickon]

Well...Good Morning then!

What cameras are they for? Sony digital?

 

[oldwino]

What cameras are they for? Sony digital?

Sony, Nikon, Canon.

 

[KoNickon]

Thanks. Here I thought Zeiss lenses were still labeled Sonnar, Planar, Biogon and variants thereof -- the "classic" names.

 

[dourbalistar]

If the "news" source can be believed, then Biogons will be bygones...

 

[KoNickon]

If the "news" source can be believed, then Biogons will be bygones...

<rim shot>

 

[skahde]

Thanks. Here I thought Zeiss lenses were still labeled Sonnar, Planar, Biogon and variants thereof -- the "classic" names.

In recent years Zeiss produced quite a mess with their naming and I also lost track at some point who is who in Zeiss-speak. The names you mention are for the optical design, other names refer to the mount as loxia, batis and touit and things start to go wild with Milvus and Otus which refer to levels of quality, otus beeing the top of the crop. Some Milvus-lenses are e.g. only "Classic" lenses in new clothes carried over from the Zeiss/Cosina ZF and ZE lines where some in turn originated from the Contax/Yashica line or Rollei QBM or even Contarex or whatsoever...

I can hardly Imagine they wont come back in a few years. Now would be a good time to start something like the ZM-line but Zeiss is a tanker. Always going the wrong direction the moment the rudder starts steering the lazy thing somewhere.

 

[Rayt]

If one is using Safari use the "Reader" function and you will get a clean page of the article without all the extra noise. Doesn't help the writing though.

The writer has writing, editing and journalism credentials. Not the best writing and the “that” in the title is unnecessary. C+. 🙂 He writes like how someone would talk, very hip and casual.

 

[KoNickon]

In recent years Zeiss produced quite a mess with their naming and I also lost track at some point who is who in Zeiss-speak. The names you mention are for the optical design, other names refer to the mount as loxia, batis and touit and things start to go wild with Milvus and Otus which refer to levels of quality, otus beeing the top of the crop. Some Milvus-lenses are e.g. only "Classic" lenses in new clothes carried over from the Zeiss/Cosina ZF and ZE lines where some in turn originated from the Contax/Yashica line or Rollei QBM or even Contarex or whatsoever...

I can hardly Imagine they wont come back in a few years. Now would be a good time to start something like the ZM-line but Zeiss is a tanker. Always going the wrong direction the moment the rudder starts steering the lazy thing somewhere.

Wow, thank you. Sounds like their marketing people were in charge. And we see the result.

 

[dourbalistar]

In recent years Zeiss produced quite a mess with their naming and I also lost track at some point who is who in Zeiss-speak. The names you mention are for the optical design, other names refer to the mount as loxia, batis and touit and things start to go wild with Milvus and Otus which refer to levels of quality, otus beeing the top of the crop. Some Milvus-lenses are e.g. only "Classic" lenses in new clothes carried over from the Zeiss/Cosina ZF and ZE lines where some in turn originated from the Contax/Yashica line or Rollei QBM or even Contarex or whatsoever...

I can hardly Imagine they wont come back in a few years. Now would be a good time to start something like the ZM-line but Zeiss is a tanker. Always going the wrong direction the moment the rudder starts steering the lazy thing somewhere.

@skahde, you were actually correct when you said "go wild", because that line of Zeiss lens names is derived from Latin names of birds! According to Zeiss:

Since 2013, new ZEISS lenses in a series have a uniform family name that conveys a common identity. These family names have been derived from the Latin names for birds, which we find appropriate because birds generally have excellent eyesight, are versatile, and full of life. In addition, the names sound appealing and are generally compatible with many different languages and cultures.

COP Community

I did learn something new from this PetaPixel article, Zeiss was following Volkswagen's concept of selecting a certain theme for their product names:

Zeiss Lens Families Are Named After Birds

Zeiss names its lens families after birds. Here's a look at the birds behind the names Touit, Otus, Batis, Loxia, and Milvus.

petapixel.com

 

[Gzisis89]

For brands i cant afford do dive in, at least on their good products i dont really care if they stop the production. Leica and Zeiss have great glass but in reality i dont have the money to try their best products which are the reason to buy from these brands. So if leica anounces the same i wont lose my sleep since every new camera costs 5000 and every lens too. So many photography brands just cant follow and thats ok. We as consumers must think where we give our hard earned money and if those brands are on our range. Some people still buy leica m3 and m2 and some the old lenses from zeiss and leica which to me at the given price is also crazy so thats just my opinion.

 

[Rayt]

Agree with the above comment. As a film amateur photographer for 30 years I was willing to pay a premium for lenses with certain rendering. On film I can see the difference. With digital it’s now about high resolution, edge sharpness and contrast, and also digital manipulation in camera and in post. I take for granted how good my iPhone performs in that department. I read on this and other forums how Voigtlander, Sigma etc are just as good. If consumers can’t see the difference then the writing is on the wall.

 

[robertofollia]

Sad to hear that. I prefer Zeixx glass over Leica glass, with some summicron exceptions. Portraits colour renditions are warmer with Leica glass, but Zeiss is outstanding for nature and landscapes.
Just visited website
Still in the english version

ZEISS Photography

Camera lenses from ZEISS stand for maximum imaging quality. For photography – whether SLR or mirrorless system cameras – millions of photographers put their trust in ZEISS lenses.

www.zeiss.com

and in the German one

ZEISS Fotografie

Fotoobjektive von ZEISS werden von Millionen Fotografen weltweit eingesetzt: an SLR-Kameras, spiegellosen Systemkameras oder Messsucher-Kameras, sowie an Sony Kameras, Smartphones oder auch in Webcams.

www.zeiss.de

But for how long?
Best regards

 

[Out to Lunch]

This is where Zeiss is focusing its energy:

 

[Freakscene]

In recent years Zeiss produced quite a mess with their naming and I also lost track at some point who is who in Zeiss-speak. The names you mention are for the optical design, other names refer to the mount as loxia, batis and touit and things start to go wild with Milvus and Otus which refer to levels of quality, otus beeing the top of the crop. Some Milvus-lenses are e.g. only "Classic" lenses in new clothes carried over from the Zeiss/Cosina ZF and ZE lines where some in turn originated from the Contax/Yashica line or Rollei QBM or even Contarex or whatsoever...

I can hardly Imagine they wont come back in a few years. Now would be a good time to start something like the ZM-line but Zeiss is a tanker. Always going the wrong direction the moment the rudder starts steering the lazy thing somewhere.

The photo market has shrunk to close to nothing. Zeiss won’t be back unless the market shifts, or they do a deal with a cellphone manufacturer to build optics.

 

[maddoc]

I can't bring myself to read anything on that site, as it makes my stomach turn at the poor quality of the writing. So I cannot reply to anything specifically in the article, but...Is Zeiss also exiting cinema as well?

I read somewhere that Zeiss will continue producing their lines of cinema lenses.

 

[Archiver]

Hasselblad has been teaming up with Fujifilm since the late 90's. That led to the Hassy X-PAN/Fuji TX-1. If I'm not mistaken, also lenses for the H series used optical formulas from Fujifilm.

Urban legend is that Fujifilm developed the X-Pan and presented it to Hasselblad and basically said, 'do you want this?' The rest is history.

 

[Archiver]

I read somewhere that Zeiss will continue producing their lines of cinema lenses.

Zeiss cinema lenses are top of the crop. They have been used in Hollywood productions for decades and continue to be in most movies. It's pretty much given that at least one Hollywood movie you've seen in the last year was made with Zeiss optics. Zeiss have had a relationship with the movie camera/optics company Arri for over 70 years, producing the Master Primes, Ultraprimes, Master Anamorphics etc. High end commercials and music videos are often shot with Arri/Zeiss Master Primes because of their look.

It is disappointing that Zeiss have exited the consumer photo market. This pushes me to look for some Zeiss Classic lenses while they are still around. I missed a super deal on a Zeiss Biogon 25mm f2 ZE at a local dealer, it was originally close to AUD $3000 marked down to $1400. I love my Zeiss M lenses, like the 21/2.8, 25/2.8, 28/2.8 and 35/1.4. When budget allows, I might look into getting at least one Otus for higher end work.

 

[Archiver]

In recent years Zeiss produced quite a mess with their naming and I also lost track at some point who is who in Zeiss-speak. The names you mention are for the optical design, other names refer to the mount as loxia, batis and touit and things start to go wild with Milvus and Otus which refer to levels of quality, otus beeing the top of the crop. Some Milvus-lenses are e.g. only "Classic" lenses in new clothes carried over from the Zeiss/Cosina ZF and ZE lines where some in turn originated from the Contax/Yashica line or Rollei QBM or even Contarex or whatsoever...

Loxia is the line of manual focus lenses for Sony E mount. Touit is an autofocus line for Fuji X mount and Sony aps-c. Milvus is a revamped set of Zeiss Classics with new housing, some with updated and improved lens formulae, some more like the previous Classic line. The Milvus 50mm f1.4, for example, is much better optically than the Classic predecessor. The Otus line is manual focus top shelf stuff, Zeiss designed them to be the sharpest consumer lenses available.