A new direction?

Mike K wrote in post #13189385
I think you will be very happy with the Zeiss ZE lenses and the Canon 5DII.

The Zeiss lenses with the best image quality reputations are:
Distagon 21/2.8 ZE
Distagon 35/2 ZE
50/2.0 Makro Planar ZE
100/2.0 Makro Planar ZE

the other Zeiss are a step below those above for IQ.
the Canon lenses on par with the best Zeiss IQ level are 17 TSE/4 L and 24 TSE/3.5 II. Those two are really quite good, and being Tilt/Shift will open new capabilities.
I have owned/used most of the Canon L's suggested by others in this thread and much prefer the Zeiss rendering.

The Canon 5DII is a good choice for these Manual Focus lenses. You should consider the Eg-S focusing screen, its inexpensive enough to try. The biggest difference is getting used to Manual Focus using Live View 5-10X. Its like using a loupe on the back of large format ground glass; you can quickly move the magnification rectangle about with the joystick. this is certainly the way to to tilt/focus adjustments. Also enable Live View Silent Shooting as it uses electronic first curtain and is better than MLU for lack of vibration.
Mike K

I myself am just discovering the Zeiss lenses, and really falling in love with MF. I feel just a bit more involved in the process.

Mike K, do you have any thoughts or opinions on the 35 2.0 compared to the 35 1.4? I just got the 50MP, and fell in love. Now I want to find a new home for my 35L, and bring home either the 2.0 or 1.4. More looking for IQ difference and sharpness.

BrentBoshart wrote in post #13188691
How do you like the 35-70? I have read great things about it. Do you have automatic aperture with it on the Canon?

It's manual aperture. The C/y adapter can have focus confirmation though with a programmable chip.

Mike K wrote in post #13189385
I think you will be very happy with the Zeiss ZE lenses and the Canon 5DII.

The Zeiss lenses with the best image quality reputations are:
Distagon 21/2.8 ZE
Distagon 35/2 ZE
50/2.0 Makro Planar ZE
100/2.0 Makro Planar ZE

the other Zeiss are a step below those above for IQ.
the Canon lenses on par with the best Zeiss IQ level are 17 TSE/4 L and 24 TSE/3.5 II. Those two are really quite good, and being Tilt/Shift will open new capabilities.
I have owned/used most of the Canon L's suggested by others in this thread and much prefer the Zeiss rendering.

The Canon 5DII is a good choice for these Manual Focus lenses. You should consider the Eg-S focusing screen, its inexpensive enough to try. The biggest difference is getting used to Manual Focus using Live View 5-10X. Its like using a loupe on the back of large format ground glass; you can quickly move the magnification rectangle about with the joystick. this is certainly the way to to tilt/focus adjustments. Also enable Live View Silent Shooting as it uses electronic first curtain and is better than MLU for lack of vibration.
Mike K

The New 35/1.4 is pretty killer too.
The Zeiss 50/1.4 is better for taking pictures at distance, than the makro, IMO.
The Zeiss 85/1.4 is a 'portrait lens' and is exceptional as a landscape lens stopped down.

I don't really like the 28 focal length and I've not had a converted 25 to play with. So, I won't comment on them.

jakeg1999 wrote in post #13189581
I myself am just discovering the Zeiss lenses, and really falling in love with MF. I feel just a bit more involved in the process.

Mike K, do you have any thoughts or opinions on the 35 2.0 compared to the 35 1.4? I just got the 50MP, and fell in love. Now I want to find a new home for my 35L, and bring home either the 2.0 or 1.4. More looking for IQ difference and sharpness.

to quote someone on another forum:

I've not handled the new 1.4. The image post on Fred Miranda shows that's it's a winner. Both lenses are great. The 2 is better on the muscles and wallet!

plasticmotif wrote in post #13189787
to quote someone on another forum:


I've not handled the new 1.4. The image post on Fred Miranda shows that's it's a winner. Both lenses are great. The 2 is better on the muscles and wallet!

Yeah the 2 might be the way for me to go, but I don't want to always wonder what the 1.4 is like. With my 35L, I actually shot a few more at f2 than f1.4 anyway....

jakeg1999 wrote in post #13189581
Mike K, do you have any thoughts or opinions on the 35 2.0 compared to the 35 1.4? I just got the 50MP, and fell in love. Now I want to find a new home for my 35L, and bring home either the 2.0 or 1.4. More looking for IQ difference and sharpness.

There aren't that many published reviews of the Zeiss 35/1.4
http://www.lenstip.com …ZE_ZF.2_Introdu​ction.html

and one in diglloyd.com which is a paid subscription. If you are thinking about a Zeiss line up I would get the subscription. Lloyd Chambers is a very technical oriented reviewer.

http://www.friendcomme​nded.com/showreplies.p​hp?qid=819

It sounds as though the main improvement over the 35/2.0 would be smoother bokeh.
I haven't tried it.
Mike K

In regards to my original post, I decided to move ahead. I replaced my 30D with a 60D and my Canon F/2.8 100mm macro with the Zeiss 100MP F2.0 ZE.

Interested in primarily landscape and working with a tripod, I was not convinced that there was significant difference between the 60D and 5DMkII at low iso settings. But more important to me, I did not want to give up my 17-55 F/2.8 EFS lens so decided on the crop sensor again.

I had some early disappointment with Zeiss ZE, surprised by the amount of LoCA. As I have used it more, I have come to see that it is rarely an issue in real-life shooting. Enamored again at how Zeiss glass renders colors and the micro-contrast. Comparing shots with the Zeiss and my Canon lenses I am less attached now to the 17-55 F/2.8 EFS. Dreaming of the Zeiss 21mm now, I am having some buyer's remorse with the 60D. I think you need FF to fully appreciate the 21mm. Oh well, maybe both the 60D and 5DMKII some day.

To explain my early concern with the 100MP, this was my very first shot with it (in the parking lot, in my car) and was stunned to see purple fringing on the LCD preview!(see steel buckle) Very concerned..

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/61706292@N04/6​299931455/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/61706292@N04/6​294682838/

I started with a Minolta SRT-101, moved to a Canon F-1 and a Yashica Mat-124G medium format -- I still have the Canon F-1 and pull it out occassionally and shoot a roll to remind me why I like the modern autofocus, superior metering, E-TTL flashes, etc. But when I put that wonderfully bright split screen/prism ring focus screen viewfinder up to my eye using my simple FD 50mm f1.4 lens, it brings back memories and I can STILL achieve fine pictures -- film is still an amazing medium despite the numerous inconviences -- and it forces you to think, compose, and use care before you shoot. I encourage you to keep us abreast of your journey.

BrentBoshart wrote in post #13334341
To explain my early concern with the 100MP, this was my very first shot with it (in the parking lot, in my car) and was stunned to see purple fringing on the LCD preview!(see steel buckle) Very concerned..

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/61706292@N04/6​299931455/
belt1 by bboshart, on Flickr

The subsequent images like this one, it becomes non-issue


leaf by bboshart, on Flickr

You'd be hard pressed to not get purple fringing there with anything other than a true APO lens.

[QUOTE=BrentBoshart;13​334341]To explain my early concern with the 100MP, this was my very first shot with it (in the parking lot, in my car) and was stunned to see purple fringing on the LCD preview!(see steel buckle) Very concerned..

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/61706292@N04/6​299931455/

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