New Zeiss 35mm f1.4 ZE

[DaveCurtis]

Has anyone got there hands on the new  Zeiss 35mm f1.4 ZE ? I see it's now available at B&H.

I would like to know what its drawing style is like at f1.4 as Zeiss is stating that bokeh as "extraordinary",

[stever]

Lloyd Chambers -diglloyd.com - has tested it on Canon and compares it to the 2.0 and Canon 1.4.  plans to start testing the Nikon mount very soon.

if you're seriously interested in this lens, the subscription to Lloyd's test should be worthwhile.

[DaveCurtis]

Thanks Stever,

Yes, Ive read his review. I was just wonder about a second opinion out there.

I own the 35mm f2. The f1.4 appears to be quite different in design and drawing style.

[philber]

I shot both 35s, the f:2.0 and the f1.4 for only about 20mn. When stopped down to f:2.8 and beyond, the drawing styles are very close indeed, much closer than any two other Zeiss lenses I know. It is at wider apertures "only" that the gap opens up, and the f:1.4 is IMHO very much better than its smaller, lighter, cheaper sibling. But, remember, that was only a 20mn session, so far from comprenhensive.

[DaveCurtis]

Thanks Philippe.

[JohnBrew]

I was considering one until I realized the thing is HUGE & HEAVY. OK I suppose if you only use a tripod. I also realized I rarely shoot at 1.4. The 35/2 seems to be a much better proposition, IMO.

[philber]

I was scared as well when I saw the annoucement of the weight, all the more so as I really don't shoot that much on a tripod, and looked to this lens t be my walk-about gear. But, upon trying it, I still decided to order it; It is not that bad, actually, on my 5DII. And it is not "only" at f:1.4 that it shines. Some ultra-fast lenses seem to give away IQ stopped down in favor of wide open performance, but this one does not seem to be that way. It is at least as good as the 35 f:2.0 in all cases, including at infinity and stopped down, and really outperforms it close to wide open, which just opens new shooting opportunities for me. At least, when Mssrs Zeiss will be good enough to ship me one, because, while I ordered mine a year ago, I see pictures appearing everywhere on blogs, but my lens is still unavaiable...

[DaveCurtis]

I'm considering selling my 35mm f2 ZE for the f1.4.

For normal use the weight on my 1DS3 does really worry me as Im use to shoot with a 70-200mm f2.8. However for travel it would be a bit of a pain but something I could live with if I'm getting that special rendering


Dave