Zeiss 50mm 1.4 or Canon 50mm 1.2L trying to decide which one?

Hey all recently traded my 50L and have a shoot coming up where I would like to have a 50mm. So would love some input and which of these you prefer. Maybe some IQ comparisons or your likes of dislikes. I liked my 50L but have heard great things about other Zeiss lenses.

50L has shotty focus with its backfocusing problems. Zeiss has no AF. Zeiss's build quality looks prettier but that doesn't impact image quality. I really can't tell the difference between image quality. I'd take the 50L for autofocus. You'll get to shoot more shots at a higher rate.

I've got both, Morgan, and I don't think that the Z50/1.4 matches the 50L if sharpness is your thing. The 50/1.4 has a hint of vagueness in it's output (dreaminess if you like).
The Zeiss 50/2 is a noticeable step up....that's where I'd suggest that you start looking.

Bob

What are you going to shoot? If you don't need the extra stop look at the Zeiss 50 f2 MP. Fantastic lens.

I would prefer zeiss 50 F2 MP to zeiss 50 1.4. Between zeiss 50 1.4 and 50 L 1.2, I would go with Canon.

Both of them are far from ideal. As a user of 50 planar i would probably recommend you getting the MP. While I love my planar, if you are searching for critical sharpness it is not good wide open (gets much better from F2 onwards). I just like its character a lot, makes skin retouching very easy

Well I didn't even think of the 50 f2 as an option, but it seems the consensus is to go with that one? I will be doing some portraits for a family member that are very important (tried tog et rid of all my mid range stuff to get out of this kind of stuff but gotta do this one). Would this one work well for this?

If you looking for portraits with wide open diaphragm, Zeiss is problematic.
At f2 it is sharp enough for portraits. Personally, I see no reason to pay more for 50/2 or much more for 50L.
It takes time to learn how to focus with 50 1.4 T*, but once you get to know this lens it is very liberating.
Not so heavy lens and you don't waste time with AF point selection anymore.
But I would not recommend Zeiss for non-FF camera.

If you take important portrait, why guff around with large apertures. Take classic approach, choose background and light wisely and use f5.6-f8. You'll have no problem with MF then.

gotta a deal for a demo model for 1000 bucks does that sounds like a good deal for the Zeiss 50mm f2?

what will you photograph? If portrait, get L for sure

Well Portraits now but will mainly use it for macro I imagine as I do this quite often. I don't usually do people stuff but am doing some soon just trying to figure what will be most useful.

Modigity wrote in post #15237844
Well Portraits now but will mainly use it for macro I imagine as I do this quite often. I don't usually do people stuff but am doing some soon just trying to figure what will be most useful.

$1000 sounds quite reasonable. You're probably aware that it only goes to 1/2 life size for "macro" but I've noted it just in case.

Bob

Modigity wrote in post #15237844
Well Portraits now but will mainly use it for macro I imagine as I do this quite often. I don't usually do people stuff but am doing some soon just trying to figure what will be most useful.

Doesn't look like macro lens, more like close up lens.
For 1K you could find 50 1.4T* and true macro lens.
Sold my almost new Tamron 90 2.8 for 300$ couple of weeks ago.
My 50 1.4 T* was 670$ in spotless condition.

... Or add an extension tube to the MP and get to life size.

50L....however if you are talking about the Zeiss 50 MP, then it's a different story

vaflower wrote in post #15236767
I would prefer zeiss 50 F2 MP to zeiss 50 1.4. Between zeiss 50 1.4 and 50 L 1.2, I would go with Canon.