Travel with MF lens

Limited space (trying to save my back), but really tempted to bring my Zeiss 2/35 on my next big trip.

Share your experience travelling with your MF lens, will you do it again?


I don't have 35/1.4 or 50/1.2, otherwise it'd be an easy choice.
At this point, my other alternative is to carry my 40/2.8 (not very fast).

Planning to carry only 2 bodies, with 24-105, 70-200, and one fast prime.

I have had a Voigtlander 40mm 1.4 pretty much welded to my 5d2 for the last few months whenever I am travelling. Awesome combo. The best lens and camera is the one you have with you after all. Whatever you have, you will use, so take the one that is easiest to use and carry with you. I just hate wondering around with the 24-105L these days, so often dont take it unless I know i need it for something specific.

Ended up taking the Zeiss 2/35 with me - used it a little, only when eating out (at proper restaurants). 105L stayed on 90% of the time, sadly. Only used the 70-200/4IS once.
MF worked - but not outdoor (I can only nail the focus with LV).

I'm new to MF, but I took two out this weekend, as well as The Brick, just as a back up. I took about 2 shots w/ the brick, 50 on my Zeiss 100mm, and about 20 on my Rokkor 58mm F1.2. Also, I was shooting temples, not people. If you're shooting stationary objects, there's nothing to be afraid of w/ Manual Focus...especially if you have a LIve View capable camera. Just my 2 cents.

How do you guys like the Ziess 2/35? I'm thinking of grabbing one.

Do you have the default focusing screen in your 5d2, or one of the "better" ones? If it's the former, I'd highly recommend avoiding manual lenses.

kiss-o-matic wrote in post #15265854
I'm new to MF, but I took two out this weekend, as well as The Brick, just as a back up. I took about 2 shots w/ the brick, 50 on my Zeiss 100mm, and about 20 on my Rokkor 58mm F1.2. Also, I was shooting temples, not people. If you're shooting stationary objects, there's nothing to be afraid of w/ Manual Focus...especially if you have a LIve View capable camera. Just my 2 cents.

How do you guys like the Ziess 2/35? I'm thinking of grabbing one.

Do you have the default focusing screen in your 5d2, or one of the "better" ones? If it's the former, I'd highly recommend avoiding manual lenses.

Love the CZ 2/35.
I use LV - works well enough, even for taking portraits. Of course, f/2.0 is probably why.
MF with f/1.4 or bigger is probably significantly more challenging.

I also had a chance to use my 2/35 for landscape. My fav method is w/ smaller aperture like f/8 and pre-set the focus to infinity minus a hair, and just shoot without thinking.

I find hitting non-moving or slow moving targets even w/ F2 not too hard. I know 1.4 is a whole other story, but w/ non-zeiss manuals, I have issues w/ F2. These things are just sick. I've definitely been bitten by the bug!

kiss-o-matic wrote in post #15267337
I find hitting non-moving or slow moving targets even w/ F2 not too hard. I know 1.4 is a whole other story, but w/ non-zeiss manuals, I have issues w/ F2. These things are just sick. I've definitely been bitten by the bug!

Exactly Why I bought the 2/35 and not the better/newer 1.4/35.
Was sure I'd get the Zeiss 2/50 Makro next - but a little undecided now.
Sigma A series, 30/1.4 DG, out next year - same FL, but I still want to try it out.

Right now I'm going back and forth between the 2/35 and the 2/50 Makro. I will get one... just not sure which. For street, I think I shoot between 40-55 mostly. But, there's a handful of MF lenses that can easiliy be used (Rokko 58mm F1.2, SMC 58 F.18, and Nikkor 50mm F1.4). 2 of which I already have, and the 3rd is cheap.

There's a used 2/35 available for a good price. I think I'm going to nab it. I will need a ~50mm with autofocus by the summer if my plans go well, and I doubt want to double-up on focal lengths, so I'll likely get the 50mm F1.2L. Uggh... need to decide.