End of Zeiss photo lenses...? (Page 2): Oh, that's a great place to eat. How was that road to Many G.Lodge? I rarely visit that area because the road is so horrible. Maybe it's been...

spaceytracey Loc: East Glacier Park, MT

MrBob wrote:

I wish I was up where you are... One of the highlights of my life was staying at the Many Glacier lodge and that GREAT steakhouse just down the road from the one entrance to the north I believe.

Oh, that's a great place to eat. How was that road to Many G.Lodge? I rarely visit that area because the road is so horrible. Maybe it's been resurfaced but I doubt it.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

spaceytracey wrote:

Oh, that's a great place to eat. How was that road to Many G.Lodge? I rarely visit that area because the road is so horrible. Maybe it's been resurfaced but I doubt it.

Yes, We thought it looked like a barn and then inside and walking up those stairs and all the Native Indian memorabilia on the walls etc... You are SO lucky !

radiojohn

"Video is the market...hands down...still photography is on the back burner big time."

Trends come and go. Some future generation, tired of video EVERYTHING, may find a certain charm in things that don't move.

Gen-whatever seems to have discovered 1970's lenses adapted to mirrorless cameras...with prices for some shooting up. Same with selected P&S digital cameras...but certainly not all.

Canisdirus

radiojohn wrote:

"Video is the market...hands down...still photography is on the back burner big time."

Trends come and go. Some future generation, tired of video EVERYTHING, may find a certain charm in things that don't move.

Gen-whatever seems to have discovered 1970's lenses adapted to mirrorless cameras...with prices for some shooting up. Same with selected P&S digital cameras...but certainly not all.

You are entitled to your own opinion of course...but companies go by market numbers.

Video is king...cellphones have the still market.

Numbers don't go away.

gwilliams6

This video today helps explain why Zeiss does better financially with its higher profit cinematography, medical and industrial lenses. Also Zeiss is making the individual lenses for the revolutionary new Apple Vision Pro system, a huge and profitable undertaking with their future tied to Apple, a good venture for Zeiss that has potential for a long and lucrative partnership.

Zeiss' excellent still photo lenses have been matched and even surpassed by the latest superb offerings by both OEM lens makers and third-party lens makers at a lower price point. There just isn't a big enough exclusive market anymore for very expensive Zeiss still lenses when they are being surpassed optically and feature-wise by lenses costing half as much.

Zeiss is here to stay in the high-end optical business, just not in consumer still lenses. If you love that Zeiss look no matter the cost, snap them up, as when they are gone, that is it.

Is Zeiss exiting the photo business? Or can we hope to see a relaunch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njxjU6BCfXQ

Cheers and best to you all.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

gwilliams6 wrote:

This video today helps explain why Zeiss does bett... (show quote)

What a coincidence... Went to my retinologist last Thursday and as I put my chin on the shiny new image taking machine I noticed the word " Zeiss ". I even commented to Doc about it...

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

GW...it is not clear that the newest oem lenses are surpassing the zeiss ones optically, even with the new mount advantages.

Canisdirus

Orphoto wrote:

GW...it is not clear that the newest oem lenses are surpassing the zeiss ones optically, even with the new mount advantages.

It's pretty clear that Zeiss has been bested by the latest lenses...Sony dropped them years ago...and never looked back.

Zeiss wants to make their name like Gucci...Leica...they can't do that chasing the price in still lenses...not anymore.

But cinema offers them a way to maintain or project that 'panache' branding...they don't have to chase the dollar downwards.
They can ride their brand name and crack open big profits in cine...where folks drop major coins.

Zeiss needs maneuvering room to cultivate their status.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Caniddirus...chances are sony made a business decision as to manufacturing their own lenses and profitability.

Im not as familiar with sony lenses so i went to my favorite testing site and looked up imatest numbers for the 4 most recent GM series primes. They do not exceed the zeiss numbers. Essentially the same thing is true for the most acclaimed nikon z mount lenses.

Each company is producing higher quality glass and comparing the new mount offerings to the older ones. No sites that im aware of are attempting comparisons directly with milvus or otis lines.

User ID

Orphoto wrote:

GW...it is not clear that the newest oem lenses are surpassing the zeiss ones optically, even with the new mount advantages.

What is clear in the real world can NEVVUH be clear on UHH.

User ID

Orphoto wrote:

Caniddirus...chances are sony made a business deci... (show quote)

Lab test numbers are not images.

Canisdirus

User ID wrote:

Lab test numbers are not images.

The market agrees...all that matters.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

Orphoto wrote:

Caniddirus...chances are sony made a business deci... (show quote)

As another said " Bested by the latest lenses ".... What does that mean ? Numbers on a spec sheet ? Different glass gives different looks; yes, that is MY subjective opinion, but there IS a Zeiss look !

gwilliams6

Orphoto wrote:

GW...it is not clear that the newest oem lenses are surpassing the zeiss ones optically, even with the new mount advantages.

Many reviewers, and my own real-world experiences using Zeiss E-mount lenses and the best of my latest GM lenses and third-party E-mount lenses say it is so. Just a fact, Zeiss knows it can no longer compete here, especially with its much higher asking prices.

In Sony's case, when they were starting their fullframe mirrorless cameras, they needed Zeiss to help jump start them with lens designs that would be of enough quality for users of those cameras. That no longer is the need, as Sony and the best of the third-party lens makers have risen to the top with their innovative and modern optical lens designs and lens quality.

Feel free to love your Zeiss lenses and use them as long as you wish.

Cheers and best to you.

gwilliams6

MrBob wrote:

As another said " Bested by the latest lenses ".... What does that mean ? Numbers on a spec sheet ? Different glass gives different looks; yes, that is MY subjective opinion, but there IS a Zeiss look !

Yes there is a Zeiss look, partly because of their excellent micro-contrast and pop. But now there are excellent and less expensive lenses that also have excellent micro-contrast and that pop. As optical designs have advanced, those characteristics are no longer exclusive to Zeiss lenses anymore. Just a fact.

Use what you love and be happy.

Cheers and best to you.