Experience with Zeiss 85mm f2

[chuckw]

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Does anyone own or have actual experience using the Zeiss 85mm f2.0 ZM Sonnar lens on their Leica? To clarify, I don't mean the less expensive 85mm f4 Tele-Tessar Zeiss lens but the made in Germany 85mm f2 lens that is priced in the same neighborhood as many Leica lenses.

 

Any comments on the image quality and build quality of this lens; does it bring up the 90mm frame lines on a Leica?

[Photon42]

You may like this article.

 

Regards

Ivo

[!Nomad64]

Can't speak on personal experience as I don't have the lens. Both Erwin Puts and Sean Reid reviewed the lens in comparison against Leitz APO Summicron 90 ASPH. Both have some test images which might give you an idea.

In short the AASPH is optimized for longer distances whilst the Sonnar is optimized for closer range. Apparently the Sonnar is better than the AASPH by a notch. Difference is not huge and most likely will go unnoticed in everyday use. Differences in bokeh rendition also. Mechanics are slightly better in the AASPH. Prices are in the same region.

 

Hope this helps

Bruno

[chuckw]

Thank you Ivo and Bruno for the references, I have now read them all (I had seen the Puts piece previously). While, if I purchased this lens, I would use it for some portrait work I would probably use it an even greater amount for distance work. Based on the reviews the Summicron 90 would probably be a better choice (if it were possible to get one!).

[!Nomad64]

You're welcome, Chuck.

I second your point of view, that's why I purchased an AASPH instead of the Zeiss. I also tend to be quite finicky about the mechanicals and from this point of view Leitz is more of an asset.

As to getting the lens, prices of the new are in the same region. In terms of used lenses AASPHs are way easier to find because there are more. Be patient, sooner or later you'll find yours.

But if you plan to use the lens for portrait and do not expressly need the f2 aperture allow me to suggest considering an Elmarit M 90/2.8 last version. It's a great lens that delivers excellent results, more compact and pocketable than the AASPH and can be bought for much cheaper. I know first hand because I have one too. Differences between this and the AASPH are negligible in real world photography. I got the AASPH because I needed the extra stop, otherwise I'd been happy with the Elmarit. The rest is up to you.

 

Cheers,

Bruno

[Keith (M)]

In Lloyd Chamber's (subscription) diglloyd User's Guide to the M9, he is quite vociferous about focussing problems with both the 85 and 90mm, stating that even with his 20/20 vision, his success rate particularly with the 90mm is only 10% i.e. in 90% of shots, the critical focus-point. He writes "I found it very difficult to focus the ZM 85/2 accurately using the rangefinder, but this was equally true of the Leica 90 I couldn't focus accurately to save my life. This is a rangefinder limitation of the M9, not something specific to the 85/2 Sonnar or indeed to any lens in that range, it is simply at the limits of rangefinder precision." His recommendation is not to go beyond the 75mm APO.

[cron]

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if you intend to do portaits my choose would be the formerly Leica Summicron 2/90, not apo-asph. It is more a low contrast lens wide open which is my taste for portraits.

[!Nomad64]

@ Keith: that's probably the reason why they make the 1.25 and 1.40x viewfinder magnifiers. I have the 1.25x and in critical conditions it really changed my life.

Besides, I feel this might well depend from either used aperture and distance. f2 at close range might be really unforgiving. I made some comparison tests myself with my gear to check focus shift. It came out that on my camera both the EM and the AASPH are affected to some degree by front focus shift, roughly in the region of 4 cm at a distance of 1.80m, the EM shifting more than the AASPH, which went against my beliefs. As I never focused that close I never noticed my EM being affected by that. I trust that the AASPH will do as well. But as said, portraits at f2 might prove critical.

Furthermore, given their high quality both lenses tend to be very unforgiving towards the photographer, therefore they'll mercilessly show blurred details due to micro-shake when shooting at slower times. Old thumb rule said that lower safe limit to shoot without a tripod was the reciprocal of focal lenght. In our case it should be safe to not to go below 1/90. But I found that if one has less than firm hands even 1/250 might be not enough...

 

Cheers,

Bruno

[Keith (M)]

Hmm, no 'edit' function on the forum? In my earlier post I inadvertently deleted two words when pasting in the comment from Lloyd Chambers. What I meant to write was:-

 

In Lloyd Chamber's (subscription) diglloyd User's Guide to the M9, he is quite vociferous about focussing problems with both the 85 and 90mm, stating that even with his 20/20 vision, his success rate particularly with the 90mm is only 10% i.e. in 90% of shots, he missed the critical focus-point.

[cbretteville]

Hmm, no 'edit' function on the forum?

 

Yes there is, but you can only edit your posts for an hour or so after the initial submit. There is a red [edit] button in the lower right hand corner of you post as long as you are allowed to edit.

Carl

[JBA]

Can't focus the 90 on the M9?! I'll stick with film, thanks.

[ramosa]

Does anyone own or have actual experience using the Zeiss 85mm f2.0 ZM Sonnar lens on their Leica? To clarify, I don't mean the less expensive 85mm f4 Tele-Tessar Zeiss lens but the made in Germany 85mm f2 lens that is priced in the same neighborhood as many Leica lenses.

 

Any comments on the image quality and build quality of this lens; does it bring up the 90mm frame lines on a Leica?

 

Sean Reid has a good write up on the lens--in comparison to the many Leica 90s. I recommend subscribing to the Reid site. It has certainly paid for itself several times over for me.

[chuckw]

Sean Reid has a good write up on the lens--in comparison to the many Leica 90s. I recommend subscribing to the Reid site. It has certainly paid for itself several times over for me.

 

Thanks, I am a subscriber and have, since my original post, gone back and read his review of the Zeiss.

[!Nomad64]

If anyone's still interested, here's another review:

 

The Leica M9 with Zeiss ZM 85mm Sonnar Lens Review by Michael Letchford | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS

 

Hope this helps

Bruno

[Shadow Blaster]

Thank you Ivo and Bruno for the references, I have now read them all (I had seen the Puts piece previously). While, if I purchased this lens, I would use it for some portrait work I would probably use it an even greater amount for distance work. Based on the reviews the Summicron 90 would probably be a better choice (if it were possible to get one!).

 

Chuck, I followed your reasoning here and bought the Summicron AA and couldn't be happier with the choice. As you know, deciding to buy one and actually being able to buy one are two quite different things - it took me longer than I care to admit to track one down but was recently successful. Good luck.

 

John S.