Contax 50 F1.4 vs Zeiss 50 F2 Makro ZF on Canon cameras

Hi all!

I have another post looking for info on another set of lenses. I'm rather disappointed with ISO 12233 shots over at The-Digital-Picture for all of Canon's 50mm lenses and am looking into 3rd party manual focus lenses with adapters.

I'm looking to find information for the comparison of the Contax 50 F1.4 Planar with C/Y--->EOS adapter to the Zeiss 50 F2 Makro-Planar ZF with AIS--->EOS adapter on a full frame camera such as the 5D or 1Ds series. Links to websites or feedback from users here on the forum would be appreciated. I'm trying to decide which lens I should purchase. I'm looking for a lens with high resolution, low field distortion, low abberations, and low vignetting (in that order). I haven't found much material comparing these three two together. Thanks!

I'm sure somebody here in the lens forum can help you out. I don't really have any experience with non-EOS or FD lenses though.

may be you want to wait for this?..

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Poe wrote in post #6257705
Hi all!

I have another post looking for info on another set of lenses. I'm rather disappointed with ISO 12233 shots over at The-Digital-Picture for all of Canon's 50mm lenses and am looking into 3rd party manual focus lenses with adapters.

I'm looking to find information for the comparison of the Contax 50 F1.4 Planar with C/Y--->EOS adapter to the Zeiss 50 F2 Makro-Planar ZF with AIS--->EOS adapter on a full frame camera such as the 5D or 1Ds series. Links to websites or feedback from users here on the forum would be appreciated. I'm trying to decide which lens I should purchase. I'm looking for a lens with high resolution, low field distortion, low abberations, and low vignetting (in that order). I haven't found much material comparing these three two together. Thanks!

I don't think you can say all that much from the shots on TDP.

From my own experience, the EF 50 F/1.4 is much of a muchness compared to the Contax 50 F/1.4. Same problems up to F/2.8 - soft, especially when taking fairly closeup pictures. The build of the Contax is better, but then, you have to focus manually, which isn't always that great either. OTOH, AF nearby is not that good in low light with the Canon either.

Both lenses are very, very good at F/4 and F/5.6, but that is not why I would want an F/1.4 lens. Actually, the 50 F/1.8 beats both at F/2 to F/2.5.

The only lens I know that is better up to F/2.8 is the 50L, and IMO it is better at other apertures as well - at least the same resolution, but better contrast, colour and much better bokeh. I don't know the Sigma, so can't give an opinion on that (yet).

Regarding the macro 50: if that sports a lens design that is not a triplet (3 lens elements), Tessar (4) or modified Tessar or triplet (5) but, e.g. a Gaussian design, it should be better than the F/1.4, at least at F/2 and F/2.8.

Kind regards, Wim

engrmariano wrote in post #6259998
may be you want to wait for this?..

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If ZE is code for Zeiss EOS then this could be very interesting indeed! I signed up for the newsletter for more info when it comes available.

Yeah, definitely hold off on buying any ZF lenses for use on Canon until after the ZE announcement.

wimg wrote in post #6260073
Both lenses are very, very good at F/4 and F/5.6, but that is not why I would want an F/1.4 lens. Actually, the 50 F/1.8 beats both at F/2 to F/2.5.

I've used the 50 f/1.8. I dislike it's build quality, AF and manual focus structure. The MF ring seemed very loose in operation compared to the much tighter MF of the L lenses.

And I agree with you...if I'm using the lens at f/4 or f/5.6, what's the point of having an f/1.4? I've seen test shots from other lenses at f/2.8 that are superior to any of the canon 50s at f/2.8 so I don't think it's unreasonable to demand that same quality with a 50mm lens and I'm looking elsewhere to get it.

engrmariano wrote in post #6259998
may be you want to wait for this?..

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Whoa, this could prove... interesting. If it is an EOS mount, I could see it priced higher than the Sigma but lower than the L.

You can check B+H for ZF (Nikon mount Zeiss) prices, I'd assume Canon mount would be similar...50/1.4 is $517, 50/2 Macro is $1033.

Poe wrote in post #6260467
If ZE is code for Zeiss EOS then this could be very interesting indeed! I signed up for the newsletter for more info when it comes available.

Nice, hope it comes to EOS

Sfordphoto wrote in post #6261663
Nice, hope it comes to EOS

Looks like more details are coming Sept. 15.

Poe wrote in post #6262006
Looks like more details are coming Sept. 15.

It is ZE, EOS IOW.... They have lifted the tip of the veil a little further.

Kind regards, Wim

Poe wrote in post #6260467
If ZE is code for Zeiss EOS then this could be very interesting indeed!

that's true!

Jman13 wrote in post #6260491
Yeah, definitely hold off on buying any ZF lenses for use on Canon until after the ZE announcement.

i don't know. i think that a ZF mount is more versatile because of the fact that you can use it on both a nikon and canon body.

plus, if and when you resell the lens, you will have a larger pool of buyers for the lens.

Nice! I have a Zeiss ZF 100 and it's just lovely. I wouldn't mind the Zeiss ZE series so I can skip the adapter, but on the other hand it is nice having a lens that I can use on Canon or Nikon...