ZM 15mm and 85mm lens delayed

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iskraII

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Just find out the delivery of the 15mm and 85mm ZM lenses to be delayed further according to the ZeissIkon.com news update. Saved money will be redirected towards Leica M8. :bang: The 15mm delayed because: 2006-06-01: Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2,8/15 ZM - Series production on halt due to sudden shortage of useable parts! 😕 Well done ZI!
 
I'm not even interested in either of them. Neither is a focal length I'd use often, and both seem very large and heavy. I guess if a huge pile of money fell in my lap I'd be more inclined to get the 15, but unless I win the lottery I barely give those two a look.

For $4,000, the 15 ZM is rangefinder coupled, right?
 
No, it is not rangefinder coupled. But neither is it heavy. It is big, sure, but it is not heavy. I handled one at Tony Rose's house and it seemed very well put together to me. I agree that it is not a focal length I am particularly interested in. As for the 85, while I have no plans to buy one (I prefer the 75mm focal length on rangefinders), I am interested to see how it compares to the 90 apo asph, and what design differences there will be. Has Zeiss focused on absolute wide open performance like Leica, or have they worked more towards a pleasant rendition for portraiture, soft tonal transitions and nice bokeh. Inquiring minds want to know.
 
Stuart, I'm personally hoping they stay more in line with quality rendition as with their Hassy tele-photo lenses, which is the reason I went with the Zeiss system to begin with.

-grant
 
I can understand that. I have their 110mm f/2 planar, which takes really beautiful pictures. If the 85/2 draws an image the same way, it will be a superb lens. Interestingly, the lens that the 110 f/2 planar reminds me of is the 75/1.4 summilux -- they both have a dreamy quality wide open which turns into very sharp performance when stopped down. There is a Japanese website by a man named Ikuru Suto, and he has some examples with the lens. He mostly takes pictures of his kid, but he takes GOOD pictures of his kid, and in the first picture especially, the lens is shown to nice effect.

http://photo.ikuru.net/blog/archives/2005/12/planar_110mm.html

For my part, I don't have too much scanned with it yet, but here are two:

maples-and-snow.jpg


110-sonnar-mountains.jpg


So anyway, if Zeiss makes the 85/2 similarly, it may be quite interesting.
 
jano said:
You know what we really need? A "smiley' with an empty wallet and a monetary unit with wings flying away 😀
Click to expand...

Oh, yeah, I hear that one! 🙂 I want a 28/2.8, 50/2 & 85/2 for my CL... :bang: :bang: :bang:

Probably will never happen, but it is fun to lust over. 😉

William
 
The June issue of Nippon Camera has compared the 85/2 ZM lens to the older version ... most characteristics are pretty similar except that they noted that the ancient lens demostrate a very strong yellowish cast, the ZM version had a tad more contrast.
 
Some 15mm lenses are out there as some users have talked about their purchase of them on various forums. Maybe if you are lucky there is a dealer with one in stock.
 
If you really want an 85mm for the Zeiss Ikon, you can always buy the f/2.0 85mm Zeiss-Opton for the old Contax RF cameras and then pick up an overpriced Contax => M adapter on eBay.

Even if you pay $500 for the lens and $300 for the adapter, you still will have saved some $2,700.

The f/2.0 85mm Zeiss lens for the Contax RF is a mighty fine lens. The prewar also is great although very heavy.
 
ZeissFan said:
The f/2.0 85mm Zeiss lens for the Contax RF is a mighty fine lens. The prewar also is great although very heavy.
Click to expand...

You could save even more if you opt for the Jupiter 9 in Kiev mount, a clone of the pre-war Sonnar. Most Contax-Leica adapters came straight off a Kiev camera anyway. 😛

But then again, the 85mm framelines on the Zeiss Ikon have the same coverage as the 90mm counterpart on the Leica M body. So any LTM (with an inexpensive adapter) or M mount 90mm lens will also fit perfectly.
 
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I have been shooting this weekend with the 15 Zeiss on loan from PopFlash. I don't know what to do now. Where do I come up with the cash for that and the M8. That is one incredible piece of glass! Never seen or felt a lens as smooth as that. Droooooool. Too bad its just a loaner. I will put some shots up soon.
 
I've been fondling and drooling over the one at Photo Village, where I ordered my M8. I'm seriously considering it, so the sooner you post photos the better. And, please let me know when you do...

-grant
 
StuartR said:
As for the 85, while I have no plans to buy one (I prefer the 75mm focal length on rangefinders), I am interested to see how it compares to the 90 apo asph.
Click to expand...

I hate to reference Puts but i say a test on his website between the Zeiss 85, canon 85 1.2 and the 90 AA. The 90 AA came in last in close range. This is what I've found true between my 85 1.2 canon and 90 AA. At ten or so feet the 90 AA is excellent but the Zeiss walked over it at close focus but don't remember the distance test.

I shoot a great deal of very close shots and the 90 AA isn't very good. My 1st generation 90 elmarit beats it close up.
 
Apart from aperture, is the advantage of the Zeiss 15 over the CV equivalent that it will make much better large prints? The CV is a pretty good little lens.
 
I have a dangerous attraction for the 85. The MTF is hard to believe.
So to me too the delay is good news. The price now (Zeiss site) is close to 3000 in euros including taxes (!).
Zeiss has been so kind to answer a query and inform me that it will work perfectly on my M5.
Beside the price my doubts regards working with a rangefinder vs using, say, my RTS III with 60 macroplanar (which at 1/10 f8 is a fury) and enjoy the huge viefinder of the RTS III , saving at the same time about 3500 dollars.
I appreciate comments and advise of anyone doung substantial portaiture work with a 90 on a rangefinder.
Piatach
 
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