Carl Zeiss 50mm f/1.5 C Sonnar T* ZM

[zlatkob]

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I posted a review of the 1,5/50 Sonnar - still a work in progress, but mostly there.

The sample photos at the bottom of your review are really small (also in the CV 35/1.2 review). Are they supposed to enlarge?

[Double Negative]

The sample photos at the bottom of your review are really small (also in the CV 35/1.2 review). Are they supposed to enlarge?

 

I totally agree. The reason why is because until just recently, the image-handling on the back-end was broken. I got that resolved - but haven't had a chance to re-do the images yet. They will show full-sized images in a nice pop-up slideshow soon.

 

If there's a particular lens you want to see pictures from, check out my Gear notes page, select a lens, then select "Search for all photos taken with this lens."

 

For example, these are all my online 1,5/50 Sonnar shots.

[ricardsonwilliams]

Double Negative, thank you I plan to use f/1.5 most at night but maybe I will check 50mm f/2 because here in china will take long time to send to Zeiss to FFD for digital RF.

[MarkP]

Double Negative, thank you I plan to use f/1.5 most at night but maybe I will check 50mm f/2 because here in china will take long time to send to Zeiss to FFD for digital RF.

 

Although I've sent it to Zeiss for adjustment (therefore any benefit yet to be determined), I've used mine for some time now 'factory-fresh' with no major concerns on my M9. Some focus shift only close-up when fully open, as present in many Leica lenses, but easy to learn to adjust for this. I suspect most users have not had their lens adjusted.

 

I would not avoid buying the lens for this reason.

 

Mark

[Archiver]

I really like the way the Sonnar renders wide open, but since mine is optimized for f2.8, I find it a bit annoying to have to lean forward all the time to try to get proper focus. I am considering sending it to Zeiss to have it reoptimized for f1.5.

 

One problem I have with the Sonnar is the minimum focus distance. It is 90cm rather than the standard 70cm you get with a Leica and other lenses of the 50mm focal length. Those 20cm can make a lot of difference if you are close to your subject.

[Double Negative]

Your're welcome.

 

Mine is factory optimized for f/2.8, and while I do need to zen the focus a bit, I don't do it by leaning. I just focus "a little bit" behind what I intemd to be in focus. It's not much, really. It's more critical at closer distances where the DoF is narrower though. I thought about getting it optimized for f/1.5; I have to get a CLA on t anyway at the mothership. I'm not really in any rush on either.

[Nick De Marco]

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A less expensive option: I picked up a Jupiter 3 in quite good condition some time ago. Never used it much. Put it on the M9 the other day and found it is one of my favourite lenses now. Love it at f1.5. As you know the early ones are basically the early Zeiss sonars. Will post some pics someday

 

Nick

[muddyT]

I also have had post-war Zeiss Sonnar (1946 East Germany) T* 5 cm f/1.5lenses and ZeissOpta (1950 West Germany) 50mm f/1.5. turn out the Sonnar is a bit sharper but have also has a bit of focus throw, Opta is handling smoother a tad less sharp. see attached images on my London trip with Sonnar, a very good cheaper alternative to Zeiss ZM c 50mm f1.5

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[RobSkeoch]

I'm trying to use my new Sonnar 50mm more often. It's a bit tricky to use but I'm happy with a couple images from this past weekend.

 

I've added a blog and some fresh images if you have a chance to look. They're both portraits I did at the local rodeo while on assignment for the paper. Check out the forehead scar on the first cowboy. These guys are tough.

 

-Rob Skeoch

 

You can find the blog about the 50mm Sonnar here.....

The Picture Desk: Leica M9 with the Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f1.5

 

You can find the general blog here....

The Picture Desk

[SoeWuest]

I have the Sonnar 50 since two weeks and i love it. It a has a very special look and great bokeh. And of course a good price

[kdriceman]

I've had it for months and it is my most used lens. It has a nice, classic soft rendering wide open, but is still tack sharp when stopped down. I also like the ergomomics better than my Summicron 35 which is just a bit stiff on focus.

[Double Negative]

FWIW, the sample images in all lens reviews are now fixed! They'll open up in a slideshow at full size, along with shooting info... Thanks for being patient. More samples to come.

 

Review of the Zeiss C Sonnar T* 1,5/50 ZM

[glenerrolrd]

FWIW, the sample images in all lens reviews are now fixed! They'll open up in a slideshow at full size, along with shooting info... Thanks for being patient. More samples to come.

 

Review of the Zeiss C Sonnar T* 1,5/50 ZM

 

Take a close look at the sample images and let me know if you see the Zeiss signature. The edge contrast is very high even wide open..almost as if the subject has a fine dark outline ..its very sharp which separates the subject from the background. The color bias is blueish ...look at the whites and see if the color doesn t look like a blueish cast has been added. Both of these characteristics make the images pop and look exceptionally sharp.

 

Now look at the solid colors ..like the ribbon...do you see the subtle shading of the red as you would in a fabric . How about the hut near the sea...look at the wood . This is the difference the leica summicrons have better micro contrast which creates tone separation in the mid tones . They also tend to be warmer (and better for skin tones ) but they have less macro contrast and appear less crisp than the zeiss.

 

Not better just different ..shoot black and white on a cloudy day ...the zeiss will pick up the contrast . Bright sun on the beach and the summicron will hold the tones in a bright subject better.

[mctuomey]

Take a close look at the sample images and let me know if you see the Zeiss signature. The edge contrast is very high even wide open..almost as if the subject has a fine dark outline ..its very sharp which separates the subject from the background. The color bias is blueish ...look at the whites and see if the color doesn t look like a blueish cast has been added. Both of these characteristics make the images pop and look exceptionally sharp.

 

Now look at the solid colors ..like the ribbon...do you see the subtle shading of the red as you would in a fabric . How about the hut near the sea...look at the wood . This is the difference the leica summicrons have better micro contrast which creates tone separation in the mid tones . They also tend to be warmer (and better for skin tones ) but they have less macro contrast and appear less crisp than the zeiss.

 

Not better just different ..shoot black and white on a cloudy day ...the zeiss will pick up the contrast . Bright sun on the beach and the summicron will hold the tones in a bright subject better.

 

+1 to Roger. Well stated and very much consistent with my ~ 2 years' shooting with the the zm c-sonnar on an M8/9. I like the way the c-sonnar handles subject contours, as Roger says. Nothing like it for dimensionality, if that's your thing. I have a zm planar for the modern, flat field look, but I don't use it much.

[Keith (M)]

A lot has been written in this and other threads regarding front-focussing on lenses such as the C-Sonnar and 'Luxes. Having just this week bought a C-Sonnar (presumably optimised for f2.8) I have found that there is slight front-focus at f1.5 on my M9. However, as it was bought to take up (semi)-permanent residence on my M7, I was obviously keen to test this aspect. So, a 'quick and dirty' test on Kentmere 100 at f1.5 resulted in images where it is difficult to see evidence of front-focus, presumably due to a combination of film thickness, position and resolution. Highly delighted with the results and (at the moment) will hold-off from sending it to Zeiss for re-optimising to f1.5.

 

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[Double Negative]

I agree that there are subtle differences in philosophy (and execution of same) between Zeiss and Leica. I dare say there always has been. Neither is right or wrong; just different.

 

Keith, that's a lovely shot. I think a lot of the criticism of lenses wouldn't exist if people weren't shooting digitally. A digital sensor allows no margin of error and when you can peep things at 400%, of course you'll find something wrong, somewhere. With film we didn't worry so much about "focus shift" and "CA" or this and that... As your photo clearly illustrates.

 

I've been working the Sonnar on my M7 as well, and look forward to seeing the results this weekend when I get around to souping the PanF+ in there now.