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Bill P

Without a doubt, the finest lenses I've ever owned were the Zeiss lenses for the Contax G. Second best were Zeiss for Hasselblad, third Olympus OM lenses, in fourth Nikon, in fifth Olympus m4/3, sixth Panasonic m4/3, and seventh Leica.

Let the flames begin.

spaceytracey Loc: East Glacier Park, MT

My 1st serious camera was a Contax RTSII & I had only Zeiss lenses. I LOVED them! Now, my camera is a Sony a65 & I've recently purchased a Zeiss Vario-Sonnar DT 3.5-4.5 16-80 ZA, Zeiss Planar 1.4/85 ZA, & not a Zeiss, Sony 4.5-5.6, 70-300 GM SS to replace the kit lenses which came with the camera. So far I'm still in love w/Zeiss.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Nikon appears to be coming out with a 58mm f.95 for the Z's ....
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rlscholl Loc: California

The Zeiss Milvus line of lenses replaced the "classic" lenses Zeiss made for Canon and Nikon DSLR mounts. Some of the Milvus lenses are new optical designs. Some are the same optical design as the "Classic" lens replaced. I have four Zeiss ZE (Canon) mount lenses. Three are of the older Classic (Distigon, Sonnar) line, and one of the newer Milvus lenses. I have found all of the Zeiss lenses I have are excellent optically and mechanically. I have never had any problems with any of them. They are generally more expensive than the closest comparable (L series) Canon lenses, but I believe are generally better optically and mechanically. Note that all Zeiss lenses with Nikon or Canon mounts are manual focus lenses. Also, none are zooms. The net result is that I consider these Zeiss lenses to be somewhat special purpose lenses and are less convenient and/or more time consuming to use than the closest equivalent Canon lenses. However, when used carefully, the results can be outstanding.
I am not aware that Zeiss has made any announcements about making lenses for the new Nikon or Canon mirorless mounts.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

About 25-30 years ago Zeiss produced a number of M mount lenses in Japan. They also made the Zeiss Ikon rangefinder camera, and the Zeiss SW, no finder, for super wide angle lenses with an auxiliary finder. I have the latter camera, bought new, for use with my Visoflex finders.

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

I dont want to rock the boat but this is a fun forum.
I find 24 to 70 really boring. I have had one a while ago for my Nikons I dont have anymore.
I have a Sony camcorder lower end XDCam and they coming with a dedicates Zeiss lens.
With 10 bit this 3k camera now less take great video.
I really like Sony Zeiss lens. I have Sony mirrorless cameras like a7s II.
The cropped 16 70 is great. The 55mm FF is superb. I just see the difference in color and the
look of the imagery. I cannot afford the most exotic lens which I cannot afford to buy.
I have been hunting for some "micro contrast" lens that are not 1.4"s which are expensive.
But affordable legacy glass.

BebuLamar

I have a question please do not flame me. Where does Zeiss make these lenses?

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

The Otus lenses are made in Japan: I assume the others are also.

BebuLamar

My next question is does Zeiss own a lens factory in Japan? Or they only contract other lens manufacturers to make their lenses?

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

I believe the lenses are still made by Cosina to Zeiss’s specifications. At least their Leica M mount cameras and lenses were. I remember reading at the time that Zeiss had their own engineers in the factory to oversee all operations, as they did when Yashica was making the Contax SLR cameras and lenses. I don’t know who makes the glass.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

This is supposedly the latest locations for the Zeiss corporate headquaters. I don't know if all or ant of the manufacturing takes place there:

There are currently two parts of the company, Carl Zeiss AG located in Oberkochen with important subsidiaries in Aalen, Göttingen and Munich, and Carl Zeiss GmbH located in Jena.
...
I think the GmbH translates to "manufacturing company incorporated"... not sure I have to catch up on my German.

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Thaz not the IR focus mark. Thaz the film plane.

Plenty of lens makers corrected all 3 colors, not
uniquely Leica. Judging IQ via projected images
on a screen makes coffee shoot out my nose :-)

As a Teller of Legends, you could be a valuable
village asset. As a technical adviser ... less so.

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