ZM 21 f4.5

Welcome to the forum! :) I haven't seen any info yet, and I'm checking on a weekly basis. Like many others I'm quite interested in this lens.
 
In Japan ....

In Japan ....

this lens goes on sale from 27th June @ 88,200 yen. Shops are taking orders now.
 
Howcome no one in the US is taking orders for this yet. Usually adorama starts taking orders a couple of months in advance.
 
Zeiss is doing their own distribution in the US, and I think worldwide as a matter of fact.
 
popflash has them up for sale now in black and silver. More expensive that the f2.8 (which is insane) so I suspect that this is the high launch price and it will come down substantially. It had better because they wont sell many otherwise. I ould prefer the smaller f4.5 but out of principle I am not paying more for the slower lens. Its is like pricing a summicron higher than a summilux or a Grandagon 90 f6.8 more than the f4.5.....
 
Turtle said:
popflash has them up for sale now in black and silver. More expensive that the f2.8 (which is insane) so I suspect that this is the high launch price and it will come down substantially. It had better because they wont sell many otherwise. I ould prefer the smaller f4.5 but out of principle I am not paying more for the slower lens. Its is like pricing a summicron higher than a summilux or a Grandagon 90 f6.8 more than the f4.5.....
Click to expand...

I looked at their website as well yesterday and came to the same conclusion. Once the first hype is over, the f4.5 will probably be available for some USD 200 less. Except for its size and weight, the f2.8 is still the better lens.
 
retow said:
I looked at their website as well yesterday and came to the same conclusion. Once the first hype is over, the f4.5 will probably be available for some USD 200 less. Except for its size and weight, the f2.8 is still the better lens.
Click to expand...

It may not be on the digital ikon! Should such a beast ever exist
:) :)
 
Rob Skeoch, a poster here, has the 4.5 at less than the 21/2.8:
http://www.bigcameraworkshops.com/default2.asp

I know Popflash reduced their prices to keep well below Zeiss's recently lowered RRP. I suspect the 21/4.5 will have to omce down.

Matsuiya don't have it listed yet yet but I would reckon their prices will be competitive.

Like others here, I fancy this lens and suspect I'll get one eventually as my only wide angle. Yes it ain't cheap... but then I remember missing out on the old Contax version for $600, and somehow I think this version will be handier.
 
"Except for its size and weight, the f2.8 is still the better lens."

is it just me, or is that a slightly strange statement, given that practically nobody has used it yet...? or, is "good/better/best" defined by max aperture alone? or, retow, have you?

not that i wasn't hoping for a lower price tag myself...
 
thorirv said:
"Except for its size and weight, the f2.8 is still the better lens."

is it just me, or is that a slightly strange statement, given that practically nobody has used it yet...? or, is "good/better/best" defined by max aperture alone? or, retow, have you?

not that i wasn't hoping for a lower price tag myself...
Click to expand...

I believe it has been tested (putz???) altho I cannot remember where. It proves as good as the 2.8 version at the same apertures with the comment that it had a slight edge in fact, but so small that nobody would ever know in practical use. Apart from speed it seems the 2.8 is not superior at all. I dont need the speed but would like a lower price and weight. Like a lot of slower lneses the 4.5 proved exceptionally sharp from 4.5 onwards
 
retow said:
I looked at their website as well yesterday and came to the same conclusion. Once the first hype is over, the f4.5 will probably be available for some USD 200 less. Except for its size and weight, the f2.8 is still the better lens.
Click to expand...
Me too, I was surprised at the price. I expected it to be in the same region as the Planar, foolish me. Having owned a 21mm/f2.8 for a couple of years my sense is that for shooting in good light you just don't need the extra speed. At f2.8 and right on top of the subject a good deal of the background is still in focus. Even with my 24mm/f2.8 you have to be very very close to the subject with a somewhat distant background if you want decent separation between the two. I think that f4 in a 21mm focal length is more than adequate but I'll wait for the price to get more reasonable.
 
thorirv said:
"Except for its size and weight, the f2.8 is still the better lens."

is it just me, or is that a slightly strange statement, given that practically nobody has used it yet...? or, is "good/better/best" defined by max aperture alone? or, retow, have you?

not that i wasn't hoping for a lower price tag myself...
Click to expand...

Sean Reid tested both in a recent 21mm lens comparison. My take from the test: both are exellent lenses and perform probably as good as the current Leica 21mm (my read). My statement related to max aperture, and you are right with your comment, being the faster ow two does not necessarily make one lens "better" than the other.
:bang:
 
I haven't gotten my 21/4,5 yet, but I had a chance to shoot with it in Tokyo in March. The biggest difference between the 2.8 and 4,5 - apart from size, is that the 21/4,5 is even better corrected for rectilinear rendition than the old 21/4,5 Biogon. The old Biogon was the 'champ" of this for almost 5 decades (neither the 21/3,4 SA or any of the 21/2,8 Elmarit and Elmarit Asph were as good). The 21/4 VC came awfully close (and for most of us it would not make any difference). The new 21/4,5 was also concieved to go on the R4M without blocking the finder, which all of the 2,8's do to some degree.
Mr Kobayashi is a great fan of the Biogon formula and long ago told me that he wanted to make an improved version of the classic 21/4.5. In 50 years there has been considerble improvements in glass manufacturing and coating technology so it will be interesting to see what it will do. It is also a M-mount which adds to the attraction in my mind.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom