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Author Topic: Zeiss Milvus lens line  (Read 6147 times)

JohnBrew

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Zeiss Milvus lens line
« on: September 10, 2015, 12:56:47 pm »

Looks as if Zeiss, http://finance.yahoo.com/news/zeiss-announces-milvus-line-ze-152558863, is replacing their old line-up for Canon and Nikon lenses. B&H already has them on their order page with a Oct 16 delivery. I was all set to pre-order the 85 1.4 only to discover it weighs a whopping 2.6 lbs!

mbaginy

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Re: Zeiss Milvus lens line
« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2015, 01:14:00 pm »

Darn, the Zeiss 100mm macro for Canon doesn't allow for a tripod collar.  Is that a plastic lens hood?  I wish it were built in and offered a feature to rotate a polarising filter.  I couldn't care less about the sleek looks, I'd rather have handy tools which are a pleasure to use.  >:(
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JohnBrew

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Re: Zeiss Milvus lens line
« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2015, 02:43:06 pm »

Sad to see Zeiss go to the Otus focusing (soft touch) ring for the Milvus. My Otus ring has various marks and scrapes and looks beat up and I baby my equipment. I much prefer the older knurled ring. Looking forward to some tests of these new lenses against the old ones as the specs don't seem all that different, despite the flowery Zeiss descriptions.

alan_b

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Re: Zeiss Milvus lens line
« Reply #3 on: September 10, 2015, 02:50:33 pm »

Will be interesting to see if distortion is improved in the new 21.
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AreBee

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Re: Zeiss Milvus lens line
« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2015, 05:08:40 pm »

John,

Quote
Looking forward to some tests of these new lenses against the old ones as the specs don't seem all that different, despite the flowery Zeiss descriptions.

Refer here for comments by Thom Hogan on NikonRumors.com
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BernardLanguillier

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Re: Zeiss Milvus lens line
« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2015, 07:19:03 pm »

Sad to see Zeiss go to the Otus focusing (soft touch) ring for the Milvus. My Otus ring has various marks and scrapes and looks beat up and I baby my equipment. I much prefer the older knurled ring. Looking forward to some tests of these new lenses against the old ones as the specs don't seem all that different, despite the flowery Zeiss descriptions.

Agreed! The 50 and 85 are new, the other ones appear to be just cosmetic redesigns making things worse. Disapointing decisions IMHO.

It looks like Zeiss may be another one of these numerous companies who don't really know why their products are successful.

Cheers,
Bernard
« Last Edit: September 10, 2015, 09:19:12 pm by BernardLanguillier »
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E.J. Peiker

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Re: Zeiss Milvus lens line
« Reply #6 on: September 11, 2015, 02:59:44 pm »

Will be interesting to see if distortion is improved in the new 21.

As far as I can tell, it's the same optical design but adds the new lens body, weather sealing, updated coatings, and declicking.  I wouldn't expect there to be a significant change in distortion characteristics.
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Telecaster

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Re: Zeiss Milvus lens line
« Reply #7 on: September 11, 2015, 04:14:04 pm »

It looks like Zeiss may be another one of these numerous companies who don't really know why their products are successful.

This sounds awfully zero sum to me. Zeiss can refresh their "standard" SLR lens line, give it a name, etc. while still developing & releasing higher-end stuff.

-Dave-
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BernardLanguillier

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Re: Zeiss Milvus lens line
« Reply #8 on: September 11, 2015, 05:12:18 pm »

This sounds awfully zero sum to me. Zeiss can refresh their "standard" SLR lens line, give it a name, etc. while still developing & releasing higher-end stuff.

Sure, but my point was about the specs of the new line, in particular the replacement of the metal focus ring of the former lens by the Otus like rubber one.

Owning the 2 Otii and shooting a lot with them, I can testify - and agree with John - that those rubber focusing rings are terrible designs in terms of durability. The philosophy of the design is "smooth look", but a scratched and dented focus ring kills that in no time and looks ugly.

I believe that many Zeiss owners would rather have prefered an optical redesign of the - already excellent - 100mm f2.0 to improve its CA rather than this redesign that introduces new issues IMHO.

So I keep thinking that Zeiss is focussing on the wrong priorities with this redesign.

And yes, I also own the 100mm f2.0, 135mm f2 APO and pretty much the best Hassy V Zeiss lenses, so I do love their products.

Cheers,
Bernard
« Last Edit: September 11, 2015, 07:49:46 pm by BernardLanguillier »
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pluton

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Re: Zeiss Milvus lens line
« Reply #9 on: September 12, 2015, 06:00:55 pm »


I believe that many Zeiss owners would rather have prefered an optical redesign of the - already excellent - 100mm f2.0 to improve its CA rather than this redesign that introduces new issues IMHO.

So I keep thinking that Zeiss is focussing on the wrong priorities with this redesign.

And yes, I also own the 100mm f2.0, 135mm f2 APO and pretty much the best Hassy V Zeiss lenses, so I do love their products.

Cheers,
Bernard
Cold weather users in the extreme Northern(or Southern)climates may well be pleased with being given a rubber-like focus ring, however cosmetically inferior it might be.  I've always thought that the one ill-advised, chintzy feature of the original ZF/ZE lenses was the metal focusing grip.  If Nikon could do it 43 years ago, there is no excuse for Zeiss not being able to do it in 2006.
As for the 100/2, I agree that it really needs a redesign to address the axial color issue.
(I've got the ZF 18,21,28,35/2, 50/2, 100/2 and have owned and/or used the ZF 25/2, 25/2.8, 50/1.4, 85, and 135.)
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BernardLanguillier

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Re: Zeiss Milvus lens line
« Reply #10 on: September 12, 2015, 08:36:40 pm »

The problem isn't the material, it is IMHO the combination of material and smooth design.

By the way, I have used the 100mm f2.0 numerous time in very cold weather and have never found the metal focus ring to be an issue since gloves are always used in those conditions anyway.

Cheers,
Bernard

vjbelle

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Re: Zeiss Milvus lens line
« Reply #11 on: September 13, 2015, 01:14:23 pm »

It would have been very beneficial to me if they would have updated the 50 f2 and 35 f2.  Both are considerably smaller and are in need of updating. 

Victor
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E.J. Peiker

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Re: Zeiss Milvus lens line
« Reply #12 on: September 13, 2015, 08:58:30 pm »

It would have been very beneficial to me if they would have updated the 50 f2 and 35 f2.  Both are considerably smaller and are in need of updating. 

Victor

... and the 18/3.5
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