Zeiss 85mm f2 ZM User opinions and images?

[mdg1371]

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Yes, wide open

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[sophcat]

Fujifilm X-T1 + Zeiss 85/2 ZM at f2

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[W.supalerk]

Just got one after years of research,love it

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[Ecar]

Then I must be the fifth...

 

[BastianK]

Need to get me one of these for a review one day...

[John in Nassau]

One is currently available at KEH if you want to give in to temptation.  I just can’t do it and I’ve owned almost every other ZM lens

John

 

[W.supalerk]

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7 hours ago, John in Nassau said:

One is currently available at KEH if you want to give in to temptation.  I just can’t do it and I’ve owned almost every other ZM lens

John

 

hi , John 
if you love zeiss and sonnar design i think this sonnar 85 zm is what you should try . 

cheers 
supalerk 

 

10 hours ago, BastianK said:

Need to get me one of these for a review one day...

hi bastiank
it is hard to find user who review this lens only found a few article before i get it 

[Biotar]

Just because it's called Sonnar doesn't mean it has to be one. 😜

[Biotar]

Whereby - with the air lens it appears as such and the signature of the photos also fits.

[Ecar]

Not a Sonnar indeed, but a 6e/6g double gauss-ish design. Purple fringing is its main drawback.

[farnz]

8 hours ago, Ecar said:

Not a Sonnar indeed, but a 6e/6g double gauss-ish design. Purple fringing is its main drawback.

That's a surprise and  thanks for pointing that out, Enrico.  Shame on Zeiss for labelling a double-gauss-ish design as a Sonnar.  My desire to have one immediately diminishes and Dr Bertele must be spinning in his resting place.

Pete.

[Biotar]

As far as I know, there are no more modern Sonnars because the lens construction is too complex. "Sonnar" is not protected and Zeiss has many Sonnars in its program. Nevertheless, Zeiss counts this air lens as a functional lens and so we would be dealing with a Sonnar formula in the order range again.

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[W.supalerk]

8 hours ago, Biotar said:

As far as I know, there are no more modern Sonnars because the lens construction is too complex. "Sonnar" is not protected and Zeiss has many Sonnars in its program. Nevertheless, Zeiss counts this air lens as a functional lens and so we would be dealing with a Sonnar formula in the order range again.

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Thanks for pointing this out i never noticed this before

[Ecar]

IIRC, availability of the lens was delayed due to Zeiss undertaking several redesigns between its announcement and actual release. If memory serves (but I can't be 100% sure - it's been nearly 20 years), they mentioned a combination of optical and mechanical issues that led to the inclusion of one or more floating lens element(s) and an overhaul of the focussing mechanism. This resulted in a lens that's a remarkable achievement - albeit expensive to manufacture, hence its early discontinuation - but that is rather complex and difficult to service. Most independent repairers won't touch it, as special proprietary tools are required for disassembly, and adjustment is tricky. I bought my copy several years ago in LNIB condition, but I found focus to be ever-so-slightly off so sent it to one of my favourite technicians, now effectively retired, who hadn't seen one before and made it a personal challenge to fix it. The fact that he had a good relationship with his local Zeiss representative helped, but he had to come up with creative ways of disassembling some parts. In the process, he also replaced what he called "rollers", the cause of the infamous "Zeiss wobble", with more durable ones.

Bottom line: a great lens, which indeed exhibits a Sonnar-ish rendering despite technically not being one, sharp and with no noticeable focus shift, but whose main "design compromise" (there's always one...) is strong CA in some conditions - a bit like the Noctilux. I should also add that nailing focus at f/2 seems to be fairly easy - subjectively more so than with the APO 75 or 90 Summicrons. And if it needs service, it has to go to the mothership in Oberkochen...

Edited November 17, 2024 by Ecar

[Ecar]

Just took a couple of quick snaps with the lens and posted them in "The view through older glass" thread. Reposted below. Both wide open on the M11M and handheld, so that some cold-induced shake may not be ruled out.😉

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Edited November 17, 2024 by Ecar

[Ecar]

11 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

PS. @Ecar I have a BN silver 75 APO and do not find nailing focus to be a challenge at all (unlike my old 75 summilux, ugh…)

😄

It's the other way around for me. I have both and they are perfectly calibrated. My hit rate when shooting fast is better with the Summilux. Maybe it's the longer focus throw - or just my ageing eyes that are more in sync with the older lens...😉

Edited November 17, 2024 by Ecar

[W.supalerk]

3 hours ago, Ecar said:

IIRC, availability of the lens was delayed due to Zeiss undertaking several redesigns between its announcement and actual release. If memory serves (but I can't be 100% sure - it's been nearly 20 years), they mentioned a combination of optical and mechanical issues that led to the inclusion of one or more floating lens element(s) and an overhaul of the focussing mechanism. This resulted in a lens that's a remarkable achievement - albeit expensive to manufacture, hence its early discontinuation - but that is rather complex and difficult to service. Most independent repairers won't touch it, as special proprietary tools are required for disassembly, and adjustment is tricky. I bought my copy several years ago in LNIB condition, but I found focus to be ever-so-slightly off so sent it to one of my favourite technicians, now effectively retired, who hadn't seen one before and made it a personal challenge to fix it. The fact that he had a good relationship with his local Zeiss representative helped, but he had to come up with creative ways of disassembling some parts. In the process, he also replaced what he called "rollers", the cause of the infamous "Zeiss wobble", with more durable ones.

Bottom line: a great lens, which indeed exhibits a Sonnar-ish rendering despite technically not being one, sharp and with no noticeable focus shift, but whose main "design compromise" (there's always one...) is strong CA in some conditions - a bit like the Noctilux. I should also add that nailing focus at f/2 seems to be fairly easy - subjectively more so than with the APO 75 or 90 Summicrons. And if it needs service, it has to go to the mothership in Oberkochen...

Hi Ecar

It is a very helpful comment of yours and think of myself that how can I find a trustful technician in my country(Thailand) in case I need a service 

[Ecar]

13 minutes ago, W.supalerk said:

Hi Ecar

It is a very helpful comment of yours and think of myself that how can I find a trustful technician in my country(Thailand) in case I need a service 

Thanks. I usually prefer dealing with independents but TBH, for this particular lens, I think it would probably be best to send it to Zeiss should the need arise.

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[W.supalerk]

@Ecar totally agree with you and love to know that there is people who use this lens.

[sophcat]

31 minutes ago, W.supalerk said:

@Ecar totally agree with you and love to know that there is people who use this lens.

Not very often but use it sometimes with the Zeiss Ikon ZM.

(shot with Sony A7ii + Summicron M 50 v.4)

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