Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: Colorado David on October 18, 2013, 01:17:24 pm

Title: Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon
Post by: Colorado David on October 18, 2013, 01:17:24 pm
Does anyone have any experience with this lens?  How about on a D800?  Thanks.
Title: Re: Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon
Post by: Telecaster on October 18, 2013, 03:13:17 pm
I've used the Contax-mount version (same or very similar optical design) for many years w/ film and more recently via adapters with various D-SLRs & Micro-4/3 cameras. If you're looking for sharp sharp sharp at high speed, better look elsewhere.   ;)  This lens is about flattering, rich-toned portraits and smooth bokeh effects. Though it is very sharp when stopped down to f/8 or f/11. I love it...it's among my favorite SLR lenses from any maker.

-Dave-
Title: Re: Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon
Post by: NashvilleMike on October 18, 2013, 03:35:40 pm
I'll probably get flamed for this, but I think the Zeiss 85 is one of the "dogs" of their otherwise nice lineup (I own the Zeiss 21/2.8, lust after the 135/2 Apo Sonnar and have the 25/2 Distagon on my list for 2014, so I'm not anti-zeiss at all, but I don't automatically think all of their lenses are the best at their relative focal lengths just because of the name on the barrel either).

Look into the Nikon 85/1.4G instead is my thought.

-m
Title: Re: Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon
Post by: Telecaster on October 18, 2013, 06:20:44 pm
No flames here but I'd hardly call the Zeiss 85mm a dog. It does what it does beautifully. It just doesn't do what you'd prefer it to.   ;)

-Dave-
Title: Re: Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon
Post by: BernardLanguillier on October 18, 2013, 09:33:29 pm
Although I am a shameless Zeiss fanboy, I find the Nikkor 85mm f1.4 G superior in look and technical aspects. Plus it does autofocus beautifully which is essential if you need more than 6-10 mp worth detail out of your D800 when using the lens near wide open.

An image shot today with the G on the D800.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7372/10362403864_e3f0ed78f5_o.jpg)

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon
Post by: Colorado David on October 19, 2013, 02:17:10 pm
Thanks gentlemen.  I was shopping and saw that the Zeiss was priced lower than the Nikon and thought maybe I should go that route.  Probably not.  I have never done stitched panos, I know you do a lot, Bernard, and am thinking I want a couple of really good primes for that.  Thanks again.
Title: Re: Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon
Post by: BernardLanguillier on October 19, 2013, 05:46:41 pm
Thanks gentlemen.  I was shopping and saw that the Zeiss was priced lower than the Nikon and thought maybe I should go that route.  Probably not.  I have never done stitched panos, I know you do a lot, Bernard, and am thinking I want a couple of really good primes for that.  Thanks again.

Here are 2 examples of handheld panos shot with the 85mm f1.4 AF-S. On the second one, shot at f5.6 on Sunset beach in Hawaii a few weeks ago, one can clearly see the rigging supporting the mast of the boat near the horizon line when looking at the image at 100%.

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8040/8001274520_6c2505fe93_o.jpg)

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5524/9956922393_9613d9ba45_o.jpg)

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon
Post by: DaveCurtis on October 19, 2013, 06:33:12 pm
The Zeiss 85mm never did that well in some of the reviews where the reviewer used images of charts and brick walls for their test basis. Another weakness is focus shift. Technically it's not the best.

However it is known for its wonderful colour and image rendition. Also high micro contrast.

Title: Re: Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon
Post by: TMARK on October 22, 2013, 10:08:52 am
I like its rendering better than the Nikons, and (for me) it is on par but different than the Canon 85 1.2  I'm not into sharpness at all, just the look, and I really like its rendering.  I also like the other "dog" is Zeiss' pack, the 50 1.4.  Keep in mind I'm not shooting landscapes.
Title: Re: Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon
Post by: Telecaster on October 22, 2013, 02:46:10 pm
I like its rendering better than the Nikons, and (for me) it is on par but different than the Canon 85 1.2  I'm not into sharpness at all, just the look, and I really like its rendering.  I also like the other "dog" is Zeiss' pack, the 50 1.4.  Keep in mind I'm not shooting landscapes.

Me too, I agree. Me neither, mm hmm, me too. Me too. Me neither (at least not with those lenses).   ;D

-Dave-

(A qualification on sharpness: I prefer lenses that render consistently across the frame. They don't have to be particulary sharp, just evenly balanced. As always there are some exceptions, but not many.)
Title: Re: Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon
Post by: joneil on October 25, 2013, 08:06:05 am
I have had very good luck myself with this lens.  I fyou want super sharp on a brick wall, as others have pointed out, look elsewhere.  if you want good rendition in low light or other difficult situation, worth a look at.

The photograph below I took a couple years ago at night during  one of the local "Occupy" movement.   Lots of media around.  Took this of a local newscaster on the fly on my D7000, although i also use this lens on my D700.  This was handheld, forget the speed, but I do remember it was shot wide open at F1.4.   So it depends on what kind of 85mm you are looking for.  Absolute pinpoint sharp stars for astro-photography, maybe not, but  for portraits and people, maybe yes.

Long story short, that same TV news station had a contest at the time of taking photographs of their newscasters and reporters in action.  I won the $1,000 grand prize with this photo below, so yes, I kinda like my Zeiss 85mm.  :)

The very best part, it was a $1,000 gift card to the local camera store (Henry's here in Canada), so I had to spend it all on photography equipment.  What a shame, eh?
:D