Jump to content

Zeiss 50mm ZM f/2

wilfredo

By wilfredo
in Customer Forum

 Share

Recommended Posts

wilfredo

wilfredo

Posted
  • Author
Posted
My flickr friend André Takeda from Buenos Aires has tones of them. He shoots the ZM Planar 50/2 with a M6. You will find his images under the following URL:

 

Flickr: André Takeda's Photostream

 

Enjoy!

 

Thanks! He's got some really lovely shots there. The Zeiss is a great performer and I am half tempted to getting one. I'm on a waiting list for a 50mm Summilux ASPH but I am getting antsy. Yes, I know the Summilux ASPH is the cream of the crop for my kind of shooting, but the wait is starting to get to me.

 

Again, if anyone can share some shots wide open, I'd appreciate it. I'm not interested in technical charts on the merits of this lens or how it compares on charts with other lenses, I'd like to see the real stuff.

Link to post
Share on other sites
picture

picture

Posted
Posted

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I have lots, but I don't have the time to find them re-size

and learn how to post the on the forum - Sorry.

 

But I do have a M8/50 Planar shot in the forum users book,

though I'm not sure if it's f2, 2.8, or f4.

 

"Film still - Adelaide Leroux from the film Ivul"

 

I did a quick street comparison a few months ago,

and the 50 Lux is 8.3% better than the Planar.

Link to post
Share on other sites
wilfredo

wilfredo

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

I have a 35mm Summicron ASPH which gives me fantastic sharpness wide open, and I'm wondering how close the 50mm Planar f/2 comes to the 35mm Summicron ASPH? I don't expect it will be comparable to the 50mm Summilux ASPH based on what I've seen thus far but it would be great to see some portraits shot wide open with this lens, and see if it at least comes close to the 35mm Summicron ASPH?

 

I've seen plenty of excellent 50mm ZM planar shots on the web but I have no way of telling if they were shot wide open? I have a 50mm Planar f/1.4 that I use on my Canon. Wide open this lens doesn't come close to matching what I've seen shot with the 50mm Summilux ASPH, or my 35mm Summicron ASPH. So, if anyone would like to post a portrait shot done with an M8/M9 and Planar f/2 wide open, it would be greatly appreciated.

Edited by wilfredo
Link to post
Share on other sites
Xmas

Xmas

Posted
Posted

Hi

 

The MTF results are objective, Zeiss and Leica both publish MTF results, instead looking at low resolution arbitrary shots on a computer screen for a comparison is strange.

 

If you are thinking about the ZM 50mm then you may want to compare it with the 5cm summicron or 5cm summarit f/2.5, from the MTF the summarit looks the best, but it is almost subjective, even from the MTF, the lenses are so close.

 

MTF does not tell you about gross flare or subtle veilng flare, but neither will a screen shot..

 

Lots of the ZM 5cm have handling that some people don't like, suggest you need to check that you are happy with the controls in a shop. I got my ZM (cheap) from a seller who could not live with the handling, he did not try it first...

 

My ZM is comparable with my cron or post '94 Elmar, alas I don't have scans on this PC.

 

Noel

Link to post
Share on other sites
batmobile

batmobile

Posted
Posted

You cannot compare two manufacturers MTFs. Besides, Leicas are computer modelled and Zeiss' are measured.

 

The ZM planar is very sharp wide open and scalpel sharp at 2.8. I sold my first lux asph because the ZM seemed every bit as good to my eye and not worth the additional weight and cost as I did not need f1.4 at the time.

 

The planar does not shift like the 50 Summarit-M either.

 

If you are happy with F2, you wont find a sharper f2 lens wide open in 50mm.

 

I also do not have wide open shots available for upload, but sharp it is. Plenty sharp. Much sharper than the 35 f2 biogon wide open.

Link to post
Share on other sites
Xmas

Xmas

Posted
Posted
You cannot compare two manufacturers MTFs. Besides, Leicas are computer modelled and Zeiss' are measured.

 

The ZM planar is very sharp wide open and scalpel sharp at 2.8. I sold my first lux asph because the ZM seemed every bit as good to my eye and not worth the additional weight and cost as I did not need f1.4 at the time.

 

The planar does not shift like the 50 Summarit-M either.

 

If you are happy with F2, you wont find a sharper f2 lens wide open in 50mm.

 

I also do not have wide open shots available for upload, but sharp it is. Plenty sharp. Much sharper than the 35 f2 biogon wide open.

 

Hi Batmobile

 

If I'm not to compare two manufactures MTFs, how do you get away with 'sharp'. I've never read anything so risible before.

 

I don't see why Leica would calculate MTF one calculates spot scatter diagrams and then builds a lens and does a MTF to validate the obtained spot, - who said they were calculated Erwin?

 

The Summiarit 5cm is unlikely to focus shift as much as the Planar, as it is both slower and better corrected, focus shift is dependent on aberrations, and stopping down...

 

Noel

P.S. I have a Planar

Link to post
Share on other sites
picture

picture

Posted
Posted

Wilfredo -

OK, my initial contribution was of no practical help whatsoever.

So, if you're near London you can borrow my Planar and check for yourself.

 

Just saw your location - so this offer of no practical help either!

Link to post
Share on other sites
wilfredo

wilfredo

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
Wilfredo -

OK, my initial contribution was of no practical help whatsoever.

So, if you're near London you can borrow my Planar and check for yourself.

 

Just saw your location - so this offer of no practical help either!

 

I appreciate the offer anyway :-) I asked my dealer to get hold of a Planar for me so I will hopefully get to check one out this week. I just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing buying the Summilux ASPH and spending an extra $3000.00 for it. The f/1.4 stop would be very useful to me when shooting in churches or theaters, that's one of the lure's for me. What I have seen wide open of the Summilux ASPH has really blown me away. My 35mm Summicron ASPH wide open is a gem. For most of my history with M cameras, when shooting with a 50mm, I have mostly worked with a 50mm Konica Hexanon which I really liked and preferred over the Summicron. That lens has been sold. The current or earlier versions of the 50mm Summicron don't have a lot of appeal to me, if choosing between the Summicron and the Planar, I would go with the Planar. But, alas I am illiterate and the technical data some of you have offered with the best of intentions does nothing for me. Since I mostly want this lens to photograph people, as in these 2 recent shots, I need to know that wide open the Planar will give me a sharp face image. These were shot at f/2 with my 35mm Summicron ASPH.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Edited by wilfredo
Link to post
Share on other sites
wilfredo

wilfredo

Posted
  • Author
Posted
I did a little research and I found this link Wilfredo,

I hope it will give you an idea

 

THE ZEISS ZM 50 SONNAR 1.5 LENS REVIEW

 

... but perhaps you already know

Henry

 

Henry,

 

Thanks for sharing this. I had seen this review of the Sonnar. Everything I've researched puts this lens below the Summilux ASPH - unless a less clinical look is desired - when it comes to sharpness wide open or even between f/2 and f/8. Even at f/5.6 the Summilux ASPH is actually sharper than the Sonnar. Other forum members have sent me examples of their own work demonstrating this.

Link to post
Share on other sites
batmobile

batmobile

Posted
Posted

You might think it risible, but I have owned both lenses, have you?

 

As stated, despite owning both I found the performance of the Planar so good I sold the lux asph. I currently own a a 90 elmarit-M, 24 lux asph, 21 2.8 Biogon, 28 Biogon, 35 Biogon, 135 Canon L, 85 1.2L and a number of other superb optics. Yes, the planar is plenty sharp and it means in relative terms. Considering the company it keeps this relative comparison should have some usefulness. Its one of the sharpest lenses I have ever used and wide open is superb. If the OP was not interested in subjective commentary, he would not have asked for photos, but instead looked at MTFs wouldn't he? I dont have pics to hand but though seeing as I have owned both the lenses he is talking about, my comments might be of interest.

 

You cannot compare two manufacturers MTFs and they should be taken with a pinch of salt anyway as what your eye tells you might not quite stack up with the MTFs (a la 28 biogon). It does not talking too long using and shooting lenses to figure that one out and frankly I am surprised how many people still get hung up on MTFs and compare nuances in the curves between brands.

 

Yes, I believe Leica MTFs are computer calculated and not measured. I may be wrong.

 

 

 

Hi Batmobile

 

If I'm not to compare two manufactures MTFs, how do you get away with 'sharp'. I've never read anything so risible before.

 

I don't see why Leica would calculate MTF one calculates spot scatter diagrams and then builds a lens and does a MTF to validate the obtained spot, - who said they were calculated Erwin?

 

The Summiarit 5cm is unlikely to focus shift as much as the Planar, as it is both slower and better corrected, focus shift is dependent on aberrations, and stopping down...

 

Noel

P.S. I have a Planar

Link to post
Share on other sites
Doc Henry

Doc Henry

Posted
Posted

Wilfredo, the picture attached is not a portrait but I took it at f: 1.4 with my 50mm SUMMILUX and my M8.1, without tripod and picture uncorrected , almost at one meter in a Christmas store in full dark and with just these lamps.

So in very difficult circumstances

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

Very luminous lens according to me.

To do the same thing with the Zeiss :)

 

Best regards

Henry

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...