Zeiss Lenses
May 10, 2019 12:01:12 #
I just returned to photography after a long layoff. So I am starting over. Buying and learning all over again. My first move was the Nikon Z7. I got the standard 24-70 F4 lens which took me all of an hour to be dissatisfied with.
So as an ex-Lieca user I love Zeiss lenses. The current lines appear to be OTUS and MILVUS. So far I am thinking Milvus is better. Yet poking around I see the PLANAR and DISTAGON lines as well.
Can someone advise me on which line to go for using a mirror-less, full frame, high MP camera like the Z7?
Thanks
So as an ex-Lieca user I love Zeiss lenses. The current lines appear to be OTUS and MILVUS. So far I am thinking Milvus is better. Yet poking around I see the PLANAR and DISTAGON lines as well.
Can someone advise me on which line to go for using a mirror-less, full frame, high MP camera like the Z7?
Thanks
May 10, 2019 12:18:26 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
skyking20 wrote:
I just returned to photography after a long layoff... (show quote)
It’s hard to top an APO design for resolution and contrast ... that leaves OTUS. I rarely use my 50 or 90 Summicrons since going with the 55 & 85 Otus lenses.
May 10, 2019 12:22:07 #
May 10, 2019 13:48:55 #
patman1
Loc: Pataskala, Ohio
I dont like the Zeiss glass, they take good images but quality really sucks. My first experience was was the 28mm on my M8, slightly after mounting lens on my camera I noticed a wobble while focusing after about an hour it practically disintegrated in my hand, the whole back element disengaged from lens. I returned lens and they repaired it, but it happened 2 more times before they gave me a refund. Since then only leica glass, have lenses over 50 years old and still like new.
May 10, 2019 18:49:44 #
skyking20 wrote:
I just returned to photography after a long layoff... (show quote)
Curious, why were you dissatisfied with the Nikon Z7 24-70? Would a Zeiss lens take a sharper shot?
May 10, 2019 19:24:19 #
skyking20 wrote:
I just returned to photography after a long layoff... (show quote)
Otus is their top of the line right now (and the pricing goes along with that), but Milvus lenses are certainly not far behind, only extreme pixel peeking will tell a difference, Planar and Distagon are good lenses as they have always been. So, I can only agree with you, that the Milvus line is a good choice, it will give you the quality you're after and will at the same time save you some serious dough (when compared to the Otus line)!
May 10, 2019 21:25:46 #
Planar and Distagon are not lens lines,
they are design concepts or formulae,
as are Sonnar, Tessar, and other Zeiss
formula names. FWIW, using a Tamron
Distagon lens, I'm sooooper impressed
but that does not guarantee that every
Distagon-based lens by every maker is
going to be equally good. Just happens
that the micro-lens arrays on sensors
are "happiest" with the Distagon design
for lenses in the normal and WA ranges.
If you really don't like the Nikkor lenses
you really might be better of with some
other brand of camera body, maybe the
new SL line whose mount accepts Leica
lenses directly ?
.
they are design concepts or formulae,
as are Sonnar, Tessar, and other Zeiss
formula names. FWIW, using a Tamron
Distagon lens, I'm sooooper impressed
but that does not guarantee that every
Distagon-based lens by every maker is
going to be equally good. Just happens
that the micro-lens arrays on sensors
are "happiest" with the Distagon design
for lenses in the normal and WA ranges.
If you really don't like the Nikkor lenses
you really might be better of with some
other brand of camera body, maybe the
new SL line whose mount accepts Leica
lenses directly ?
.
May 10, 2019 21:36:28 #
User ID wrote:
If you really don't like the Nikkor lenses
you really might be better of with some
other brand of camera body, maybe the
new SL line whose mount accepts Leica
lenses directly ?
.
If you really don't like the Nikkor lenses
you really might be better of with some
other brand of camera body, maybe the
new SL line whose mount accepts Leica
lenses directly ?
.
I agree. While I am happy with my Nikkor 24-70, if I was going to build my kit with Leica lenses I wouldn't go with a body that needs adapters to use them.
---
May 10, 2019 21:38:20 #
I think I over-stated my dissatisfaction. The quality of the pictures is fine. It was the low light limits I was dealing with. Plus I just had the one lens when I needed a longer one. I just moved up from Nikon DX to the Z7. I am very happy with the features. Thank you for all the info. Great stuff.
May 11, 2019 05:26:13 #
skyking20 wrote:
I just returned to photography after a long layoff... (show quote)
Are you a photographer or pixel peeper or what?
May 11, 2019 06:09:57 #
skyking20 wrote:
I think I over-stated my dissatisfaction. The quality of the pictures is fine. It was the low light limits I was dealing with. Plus I just had the one lens when I needed a longer one. I just moved up from Nikon DX to the Z7. I am very happy with the features. Thank you for all the info. Great stuff.
Nikon just came out with an f/2.8 version of that lens for Z mirrorless. You'll gain one more stop of light.
May 11, 2019 06:35:23 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
skyking20 wrote:
The current lines appear to be OTUS and MILVUS. So far I am thinking Milvus is better. Yet poking around I see the PLANAR and DISTAGON lines as well.
The 85 f/1.4 Otus and Milvus are Planars, the 50 f/1.4 Milvus and 55 f/1.4 Otus are Distagons.
May 11, 2019 06:38:26 #
BebuLamar wrote:
You are better off to wait until Zeiss makes lenses in Z mount.
And how about coming up with better names?
May 11, 2019 07:13:21 #
skyking20 wrote:
I just returned to photography after a long layoff... (show quote)
NIKON recently released the 24-70 F2.8 for the Z bodies. I too had the F4 kit lens when the camera was first released. My honest opinion is the new 2.8 is probably the best 24-70 NIKON has ever built when paired with the Z body. Well worth the price.
May 11, 2019 07:58:45 #
jerryc41 wrote:
And how about coming up with better names?
And how about coming up with better names?
I guess they like birds.... Milvus being a genus of medium sized birds; the rest follow suit as they also pertain to birds. Kind of takes us back to the recent topic of naming conventions.
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