Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZE and the Samyang 35mm f/1.4

I had the chance to play with the Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/2 ZE + 5D2 at a camera store in Tokyo. From the feel of the metal, the damp (but smoooooth) focusing ring, and the bokeh it renders, I REALLY, REALLY fell in love with it.

I have yet to find the Samyang 35mm to test out, but people have said it rivals the 35L in sharpness and bokeh. Here in Japan, the 35L is significantly more expensive -- 148,000 YEN ($1890) -- compared to the Zeiss' 86,500 YEN ($1,109), and the Samyang's 40,000 YEN ($512).

As much as I want AF and have the 35L, its too expensive. I think I'll be okay with MF with the focus-confirmation (Zeiss already has that). I can't find a reliable focus-confirmation chip for the Samyang anywhere here in Tokyo.

If anyone can chime in, is the Zeiss' IQ much better than the Samyang's? I've read a lot about the micro-contrast of Zeiss lenses. I'll be losing a stop of light if I go with the Zeiss over the Samyang, though.

I'm not shooting professionally; just as a fun, fun hobby.

One more question, are the optics between the Zeiss ZE and ZK versions the same? The only difference is the manual aperture ring, correct?

I own the zeiss and it's great lens. Now I want the 21 and 100 ze.

XxDJCyberLoverxX wrote in post #13496688
...

I'm not shooting professionally; just as a fun, fun hobby.

One more question, are the optics between the ZE and ZK versions the same? The only difference is the manual aperture ring, correct?

Yes, for the Samyang, the optics are the same, and in your viewfinder you shoot at real aperture, so it's up to you to see if it's a problem or not. Do you have a life-view on your gear or a laser (ee-s...) viewfinder screen ? It helps a lot.

I've the Samyang 35mm since 2 weeks and it's a fantastic lens. Of course it's not the same "metal" finition as Zeiss, but the focusing ring is really smooth and well damped too. The bokeh is fantastic, too. Images at f/1.4 have a good sharpness and fully usable.

Titi

I have owned a couple Samyang lenses (85mm and 14mm) and the IQ is exceptional for the price. Very good lenses.

I find the Zeiss 35 f/2 to be a bit special in that the rendering it creates is not matched by any other lens. I wouldn't say its IQ is "better" but different - you can usually tell quite easily when a shot has come from that lens - again its not sharper or better than other 35mm lenses but different. If you like that "look" and want it in your photography then I don't think you'll get it anywhere else.
If you just want a good quality 35mm then I would imagine the Samyang would do perfectly and its a darn sight cheaper too (plus its f/1.4).

There is of course the Zeiss 35/1.4 but I have never seen one so I cant comment on its performance.

Thanks for the replies. I've been going back and forth through the Photo Archives. I don't have a focusing screen; I was hoping that buying an AF confirmation chip would be better, since I have lenses that are slower than f/2.8 and I heard it will make the viewfinder darker.

I think I have to keep hunting around to find the Samyang on display so I can compare thoroughly.

Although I'm sure everyone can agree that I can't really "go wrong" with the Zeiss? (-_o).

Yes a precision focussing screen will make the viewfinder darker but not by much at all - let me put it this way I could still use an f/4 lens indoors at night with just a few bulbs quite easily - its noticeable but not a showstopper by any means (unless your f/4 lens is manual focus then I would think the darkness will hinder you a *bit* for getting focus).

Plus if you're indoors you will most likely be using a faster lens anyway I would have thought? If you're outdoors then its not really an issue because there will be plenty of light for your slower lenses. The only thing I dont know about is what an f/5.6 lens or faster looks like through a precision screen - whether the light falloff increases dramatically or not.

And no, you cant "go wrong" with a ZE lens - they also hold their value pretty well if you want to sell it on.

rusty.jg wrote in post #13496875
Yes a precision focussing screen will make the viewfinder darker but not by much at all - let me put it this way I could still use an f/4 lens indoors at night with just a few bulbs quite easily - its noticeable but not a showstopper by any means (unless your f/4 lens is manual focus then I would think the darkness will hinder you a *bit* for getting focus).

Plus if you're indoors you will most likely be using a faster lens anyway I would have thought? If you're outdoors then its not really an issue because there will be plenty of light for your slower lenses. The only thing I dont know about is what an f/5.6 lens or faster looks like through a precision screen - whether the light falloff increases dramatically or not.

And no, you cant "go wrong" with a ZE lens - they also hold their value pretty well if you want to sell it on.

I use the Eg-S and Ec-S focusing screens (and EE-S and Ef-S in the past) without a problem using the 100-400L at 400 mm, and hence at F/5.6, or the MP-E 65 at 5X magnification with or without 1.4X extender (resulting aperture F/14 - F/20). No problem. I think the darkening of the VF is a little exaggerated on the internet. Under the worst conditions, just give your eye a chance to adapt, and it will be fine.

The big advantage of the -s screen is that the DoF is so thin that it makes seeing the actual focusing plane easy.

Kind regards, Wim

Thanks for that Wim (corrected ) - I didnt know if it would be an issue or not. And I agree, when I first ordered my first precision screen for my old 5D I expected something like a welders mask but to be honest I almost didnt notice the difference...

rusty.jg wrote in post #13496950
Thanks for that Wim - I didnt know if it would be an issue or not. And I agree, when I first ordered my first precision screen for my old 5D I expected something like a welders mask but to be honest I almost didnt notice the difference...

- that's exactly what I mean

Kind regards, Wim

wimg wrote in post #13496930
I use the Eg-S and Ec-S focusing screens (and EE-S and Ef-S in the past) without a problem using the 100-400L at 400 mm, and hence at F/5.6, or the MP-E 65 at 5X magnification with or without 1.4X extender (resulting aperture F/14 - F/20). No problem. I think the darkening of the VF is a little exaggerated on the internet. Under the worst conditions, just give your eye a chance to adapt, and it will be fine.

The big advantage of the -s screen is that the DoF is so thin that it makes seeing the actual focusing plane easy.

Kind regards, Wim

I have the same experience when using the precision matte screen, first in a 5D and now in a 5D2. I shoot a lot of manual focus lenses...with a lens stopped down to f/8 and sometimes f/11, I can still nail the focus in somewhat decent/dim light. The whole "darkens the viewfinder" thing is a bit overblown IMO as well.

rusty.jg wrote in post #13496950
Thanks for that Wim (corrected ) - I didnt know if it would be an issue or not. And I agree, when I first ordered my first precision screen for my old 5D I expected something like a welders mask but to be honest I almost didnt notice the difference...

Thank you all. That really eases my concerns. Like you, I had the image of a welder's mask type of darkness.

Would you still recommend I get the precision matte screen if I get the Zeiss (with their AF confirmation)?

I would recommend getting the lens and trying it out with the screen you have and focus confirmation. Check the images and focus you get - you may well be perfectly happy with that and not need a precision screen.

If you want to get a precision screen after that, just be aware that you may need to adjust the new focussing screen so that the focus in the viewfinder matches the focus from the focus-confirmation.

I *think* (please someone correct me if necessary) that the incoming light is split to go through the viewfinder and also to go off to the AF sensor. Usually both are in agreement (whats in focus in the viewfinder, the AF sensor also agrees with) but when you put a new focus screen in then they might not match (the focus confirmation will be correct but the viewfinder focus may be slightly out so it will look slightly blurry but it will beep and flash).
To adjust this, you may need to insert (or remove) some focus screen washers or "shims" to raise/lower the focus screen in its holder. Its a simple op but just something to be aware of.

Of course yours may be perfect straight away!

XxDJCyberLoverxX wrote in post #13497127
Thank you all. That really eases my concerns. Like you, I had the image of a welder's mask type of darkness.

Would you still recommend I get the precision matte screen if I get the Zeiss (with their AF confirmation)?

Yes.

AF confirmation isn't all that accurate, IME.

Kind regards, Wim

Thats interesting - I have found focus-confirmation to be more accurate that a precision screen - in other words I'll relay on focus confirmation first and then if I have troubles getting a lock, I'll fall back to relying on the precision screen. I havent yet tried a split-prism screen though which by all accounts are even better....

rusty.jg wrote in post #13497144
I would recommend getting the lens and trying it out with the screen you have and focus confirmation. Check the images and focus you get - you may well be perfectly happy with that and not need a precision screen.

If you want to get a precision screen after that, just be aware that you may need to adjust the new focussing screen so that the focus in the viewfinder matches the focus from the focus-confirmation.

I *think* (please someone correct me if necessary) that the incoming light is split to go through the viewfinder and also to go off to the AF sensor. Usually both are in agreement (whats in focus in the viewfinder, the AF sensor also agrees with) but when you put a new focus screen in then they might not match (the focus confirmation will be correct but the viewfinder focus may be slightly out so it will look slightly blurry but it will beep and flash).
To adjust this, you may need to insert (or remove) some focus screen washers or "shims" to raise/lower the focus screen in its holder. Its a simple op but just something to be aware of.

Of course yours may be perfect straight away!

If the VF is shimmed correctly, it won't matter whether you will use another Canon focusing screen. A 3rd party screen may require adjustment, especially those used in bodies with "non-interchangeable" focusing screens, but generally, Canon focusing screens don't.

So far, I have not run into any problems yet, and I have used different focusing screens on 4 Canon bodies until now (40D, 5D, 5D II, 1D Mk III), including a third party focusing screen (Katz-eye).

Kind regards, Wim