Zeiss ZM 85mm f/2 Sonnar for M mount

[ljsegil]

This was a lens that Zeiss produced only briefly at its facility in Germany for use on the Zeiss Ikon rangefinder or any other M mount camera. It was designed for use with film. It is a rare lens, I do not know how many were produced. Zeiss discontinued it and brought out the 85/4 tele-Tessar to replace it. I never read of any of the reasoning that led to the discontinuation of the Sonnar. I was fortunate to acquire a copy when it was first introduced and enjoyed using it on the ZI Rangefinder camera. Of late, I have tried it on a Sony AR7mk4 and A6000 (monochrome converted), and have found its imaging qualities to have a character quite different from that on film, a character that I find very appealing.
I am curious if there are any other owners of the 85/2 Sonnar that have noticed anything similar, or just to hear their opinions of this lens.
Larry

 

[lonemantis]

I’ve seen estimates that only around 600 of these lenses were produced, although I imagine at least someone here owns or has used one!

 

[Larry Cloetta]

Would enjoy seeing some pictures.

 

[raid]

Is it similar to the Nikon 85 2 Sonnar ltm?

 

[raid]

Lens for sale: https://www.ebay.com/itm/3533733369...FQCQXpzcBgcdz3S7WxN_b1F1ULRQNAJYaAql2EALw_wcB

 

[Freakscene]

It is a Sonnar in name only. It is a modern 6 elements in 6 groups design with a floating element. I had one but preferred my 75 Summicron.

Marty

 

[raid]

I am content with my Summilux 75.

 

[james.liam]

I am content with my Summilux 75.

Much there to be content with.

If memory serves, Lloyd Chambers reviewed the 2/85 & appeared to favor the 90 APO, FWIW. Rarity drives the the crazy price, as well as the 'Made in Germany' moniker.

 

[raid]

My Summilux is Made in Germany. 🙂
I like using this lens.

 

[james.liam]

My Summilux is Made in Germany. 🙂
I like using this lens.

1/2 the price of the Zeiss, so a veritable bargain!
You have one of the late German samples? They generally command a higher price (for no apparent reason).

 

[raid]

I don’t know if it is a late model or not. I know that the lens was made in Germany.
Does this imply it is a lens that was made later?

 

[james.liam]

I don’t know if it is a late model or not. I know that the lens was made in Germany.
Does this imply it is a lens that was made later?

The last 4 years of the 24 year run, production was shifted to Germany. Lighter than the Canadian versions but optically identical. About a 1500 of the 14,000 made.

 

[raid]

This is good to know. Thanks James. I may have paid less than $2000 for it. What is it worth now?

 

[james.liam]

This is good to know. Thanks James. I may have paid less than $2000 for it. What is it worth now?

Somewhere around $4500.

 

[raid]

It was a good investment. 🙂
The lens draws beautifully. It is a joy to use it.
I sometimes use also the 35mm Summilux side by side with the other Lux.

 

[Archiver]

As an indication of perceived and market value, the Sonnar 85 on eBay listed above is selling for USD $7355. By comparison, the Tele-Tessar 85 is listed at $675!
I would have loved to get my hands on one of those, especially now that mirrorless and EVF M bodies make it so much easier for focus. Price is not in the current budget, though. Would love to see some images taken with this lens, both on film and digital. It would be a stunning portraits lens on a M10 or SL.

 

[mdg137]

I had the 85mm f2 ZM for a period, and frankly, it’s strengths were nothing spectacular, and the CA was the worst I have ever seen. I could live with terrible CA if there was something else exceptional about the lens, but there wasn’t.

I consider myself lucky to have sold it and lost no money, and I still use that lens as a cautionary tale about buying exotic outlier lenses that, by virtue of their price, are difficult to resell.

 

[raid]

The person who sold me both Lux lenses let me use them for more than six months before I bought them from him. I liked the pre-asph 35/1.4 first, and I bought it. Then I was loaned the 75 1.4 for several months. I have no regrets for buying them.
From what I have read about the ZM 85/2, it seems that it is more a collector’s lens than a high performing super optics lens. The Nikkor 85/2 ltm is an alternative, or an adapted Zeiss Sonnar G 90/2.8.

 

[Out to Lunch]

I am happy with my mundane Zeiss Tele-Tessar 4/85, both with film and digital:



With the Zeiss-Ikon ZM

.

With the Fuji X-H1

Cheers, OtL

 

[james.liam]

The person who sold me both Lux lenses let me use them for more than six months before I bought them from him. I liked the pre-asph 35/1.4 first, and I bought it. Then I was loaned the 75 1.4 for several months. I have no regrets for buying them.
From what I have read about the ZM 85/2, it seems that it is more a collector’s lens than a high performing super optics lens. The Nikkor 85/2 ltm is an alternative, or an adapted Zeiss Sonnar G 90/2.8.

The chromatic aberrations is its Achille’s heel. It lacks the corrections of the 90 APO ASPH and suffers because of it. The images above on the more modest 4/85 are indeed lovely but B&W conversions on a crop sensor. Bought a R 90 AA over ten years ago when the R was discontinued. A Raid-like investment, I guess. Plan to use it on the M10P with an adapter and Visoflex. It’s brilliant on film.