ZM Planar 50/2 - Rangefinder Play Close Up?

[Bobfrance]

Hi All,

Just treated my Hexar to the Zeiss 50/2 Planar. It seems a nice lens and heavier than I expected for a modern design.

I've not had chance to take any shots yet, but I have noticed that when focusing close-up with the lens at it's minimal focusing distance (2.5ft) I get no movement in the rangefinder until I get to 3ft on the lens.

I'm aware that that is pretty much the minimal focusing distance for a rangefinder anyway, however does this mean I am still actually focusing between 2.5ft & 3ft but just can't check it with the rangefinder?
Does the Zeiss Icon work all the way down to 2.5ft?

Anyone else have any experience of this lens on a Hexar?

Cheers!

Bob.

 

[breathstealer]

Some lenses scale focus closer than they focus coupled - my CV 21/4P focuses to half a meter, but only to 0.7m coupled. Check your lens manual - that's pretty much the only thing written in mine.

 

[Bobfrance]

Cheers. That makes sense, although I've not come across it before on my CV lenses.

I have noticed I can get it to kick in a little closer (approx at 2.75ft) if I take the lens off an gently pull the little roller (don't know the proper name - sorry!) that controls the rangefinder deflection forward. Perhaps the spring is getting a little tired?

I know it's not a big deal, It's just going to take a little getting used to. I'm sure when I see the results from the lens it will all be worthwhile.

 

[Nigel Meaby]

Hi Bob.
Just checked mine and it confirms what I thought. It should show movement all the way down to the minimum focussing distance, being 0.7m. It's only on Zeiss lenses such as 28mm Biogon which focus down to 0.5m that the rangefinder does not move between 0.5 and 0.7m. I'm sorry to break it to you but your new lens has a problem!

 

[Nigel Meaby]

Just to add after reading your last post. Maybe it is the roller on the camera. Are all your other lenses behaving correctly? If it's just this one then it's the lens not the camera

 

[sojournerphoto]

Just to add after reading your last post. Maybe it is the roller on the camera. Are all your other lenses behaving correctly? If it's just this one then it's the lens not the camera

Unless the other lenses only focus down to 0.9m, in which case the camera RF linkage may be a bit sticky

 

[Bobfrance]

Thanks Nigel.

I'll check properly when I get home I certainly don't recall this issue with my other lenses, but then again I don't think they focus as close as 2.5ft.

Out of interest, what camera are you using yours on?

Bob.

 

[Nigel Meaby]

Hi Bob, M5 or M6

 

[joachim]

I have noticed I can get it to kick in a little closer (approx at 2.75ft) if I take the lens off an gently pull the little roller (don't know the proper name - sorry!) that controls the rangefinder deflection forward. Perhaps the spring is getting a little tired?

Hi Bob, don't pull it, you might destroy or malign it. 0.7m sounds right to me for the Hexar specification (but confirm this). I would be very surprised if it is less than this. The original Bessa R went only down to 0.9m.

So it is a feature or watch out that lenses which focus particularly close become scale focusing at their closest distance. I am afraid what you see is "the way the cookie crumbles".

 

[sanmich]

Hi Bob

Me thinks your lens OR your camera has a problem.
my planar is focusing till 2.5 ft on my early M3, and this is the camera limit, and it focuses all the way down to 0.7m on my M2.

 

[awilder]

Your lens is fine, it's the camera's rf cam roller arm that stops a little short of following the lens cam as it retracts at distances below 3 feet. Try gently moving the camera's roller arm forward and backward with your finger to see how it feels and if the arm can be coaxed to move forward just a little more. I use to have a Hexar RF that had the rf patch focusing down to 28 inches but the framelines stopped moving at just under 3 feet.

 

[Bobfrance]

You could well be right.
After taking the lens off a couple of times and (very gently!) pulling the roller arm forward it now seems to focus at closer distances than it did. Still not 2.5ft but pretty close.
I suspect that with the camera being left with a lens on (usually focused at 10ft), this constant holding back of the roller, along with general use, may have weakened/contracted/stretched the spring that returns it to minimum focus.

In future I shall try and get in to the habit of either storing the camera with no lens on or leaving it set to minimum focus.

 

[Bobfrance]

In fact!

After giving the roller arm a bit of a workout. the thing is now focusing practically at the lens' minimum focus distance now (probably about 1.5ft).

🙂

 

[Olsen]

Hi All,

Just treated my Hexar to the Zeiss 50/2 Planar. It seems a nice lens and heavier than I expected for a modern design.

Bob,

First of all; congratulations with this excellent lense. Some here might argue that the very expensive Noctilux is better. Take my word for it; it is not. The ZM 50 mm 2,0 Planar is one of the very best lenses you can get for the M system.

I have noticed that when focusing close-up with the lens at it's minimal focusing distance (2.5ft) I get no movement in the rangefinder until I get to 3ft on the lens.

This must be a camera related issue. I have now tried my ZM 50 mm 2,0 Planar on my M8, MP and ZI and there is a significant difference in focus between 2,5 and 3 ft.

 

[Krosya]

What does one have to do with the other?

What does one have to do with the other?

Bob,

First of all; congratulations with this excellent lense. Some here might argue that the very expensive Noctilux is better. Take my word for it; it is not. The ZM 50 mm 2,0 Planar is one of the very best lenses you can get for the M system.

.

This comment doesnt make any sense - How can you even compare these two lenses? Different speeds, size, price and application. As well as signature. While Planar is a good lens, with good signature, it really comes down to personal preference. But if you compare it to another 50mm lens, you need to at least keep it in a same league. For example, I had Summicron, Planar and Hexanon all at the same time - and Sold them all, but Hexanon. To me - Hexanon is better. But at least these lenses are in the same category. Noctilux, or even Summilux are a whole different game. Seriously, Olsen, some of your comments really puzzle me. 😕