Can confirm, picked one up for just over 500 almost brand new condition. You will NEVER find a lens that looks and functions as well as the Zeiss for that kind of money!
Hey Ken. Just wanted to let you know that I picked up the Zeiss Planar 85mm f1.4 ZF.2 lens recently and man, was I blown away. I am not exaggerating when I say the moment that the first image loaded in LR and I saw what I saw my heart just skipped a beat. Literally. My jaws just dropped and I couldn't believe what I was looking at. I purchased the Voigtlander 58mm a few months back as well and am really impressed although it is really soft wide open but the image quality far outweighs that issue in my opinion. I am not a sharpness fanatic like some but rather all about the mood and the feel of the image. I shoot mostly BW portraits and am excited about the possibility with these 2 lenses. Thanks again. Appreciate your candid and honest reviews. Keep doing what you do.
I did shoot a corporate video with this lens on a Canon Mark III, the footage was mindbogglingly surreal, the pictures too have some other worldly magic in them. I tried shooting with canon L lenses but the footage looked like crap, so switched back to zeiss and shot the whole gig with the zeiss 85 1.4.
+Theoria Apophasis bro the credit for success of that gig goes solely to the zeiss 84 1.4 Planar :) I havent seen anything surpass this lens so far, Nikkor ones come close but lackthe surreal feel, canon is crap and there isnt anything else to compare
+Theoria Apophasis I hadnt had the time to checkout your videos last couple months, doing so now, watching every video thrice, incase i miss some point :)
My kit is basically entirely off your recommendations and I love them all: 35 & 85 zeiss, 135 nikkor, 58 voigt, tamron 17-35... Have not been disappointed yet! haha
Hahaha, Ken is good at emptying our pockets. I just got the Milvus 35 and about to pull the trigger on the 85. I have a similar glass collection like yours. My current Nikon 85 1.8G is sharp and amazing for the dollar, especially wide open. It's flat, very cool color rendition. The 58 Voigtlander kills my Zeiss 50 1.4 Planar in sharpness and very, very close in microcontrast. Keep shooting!
@@Rider-hh9it I only can comment on the 58 CV being on the D850; it's ridiculously sharp with loads of microcontrast. The 50 1.4 CZ is not as sharp, more ethereal, and(surprise, surprise!) similar microcontrast. I surmise the 85 1.4 CZ is like the 50 due to both being Planar T*
How it compares to Carl Zeiss Planar T * 85mm C/Y? Could not find anything on that particular question. Except very similar looking pictures on flickr)).
have owned both. both are wonderful lens. but i did notice with the ze that it is sharper, less likely to get wahsed out (low contrast) wide open and better control of color rfinging in this new lens. those are my impressions at least
The c/y version is much more prone to flare and losing contrast from it even with hood on. I've owned both. Because of that issue it was very frustrating to use. Plus with using the c/y via adapter you have to use stop down metering meaning it when you change aperture rather than shooting wide open and the camera stops down to that aperture when you shoot it stops down to that aperture and stays there when you change the aperture on the ring. Very happy with the ZE version
@@jamesptao1 thanks James, I am planning to get the gfx soon and the CY 85 f1.4 seems to be mentioned oftentimes and theres the f1.2 version as well. I'm not too worried about flares and even do it on purpose in my shoots.... between the CY and ZE, which one got the 3d pop feel on the rendered image? Thanks in advance.
@@ilovebohol to be honest I would say they are about the same in that respect. Same optical formula just improvement in glass coatings and internal anti-reflection measures as well as electronic communication with camera. Would recommend the ze as the flare issue 8 mentioned isn't just flare itd losing contrast due to internal reflections to easily. Ze version is improved in that aspect.
Hi thanks for the videos and advice given, there are so many versions of each lens on ebay and that can be confussing so I have Nikon d810 and I am looking to buy 35mm 1.4 Carl zeiss and 85mm 1.4 manual or not is not a issue. for each I have 1000 USD. Can You tell me exact models for both and your recommendation ( 35 mm travel lens ) 85mm travel and port. Thanks
I have a Fuji x-pro2. What’s best portrait lens? Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 Zf.2 or Zeiss 100mm makro Zf.2, the Fuji’s 90mm, or 80mm? Reasons for preferring the Fuji 23mm f/2 to the f/1.4 other than the cost! Should I keep my Fuji 14mm f/2.8? I have seen your review of the 16mm f/1.4. Why? Why not? Thanks. Your Lexingtonian fan!! George
I have something weird going on w/my zeiss 85mm planar 1.4. when importing portraits into ANY mac sw, lightroom, preview, capture one, the faces are wildly colored redish-orange, harsh. on d850 and d810, using ortrait mode set picture control and white balance auto1. exposed at f1.4 or 1.8. requires significant work in sw to make them usable and even the not great. please help... happens after LR develop is chosen
+Theoria Apophasis Ken, do you suggest a specific metal hood...e.g like the chinese ones for the planar 85mm 1.4?Bought it without the original hood and not sure the cheap ones fit well...have you tried any?cheers in advance
As a portrait lens on a Fujifilm X-H1 would you recommend this with a Lens Turbo / Speed Booster type adapter, or the Planar 50mm f1.4 with a dumb adapter?
This topic needs an update/repeating; a manual Zeiss lens will last for a generation whereas the motor driven plastic stuff will be junk once the motors burn out and you cant get parts for them. I've just bought a Zeiss 25mm f2 Distagon, Zeiss 35mm f2 Distagon & Zeiss 135mm f2 Sonnar T* this week; all in mint condition for about 1/3rd less than new. All of them are built from metal, all made in Japan & made at a level of quality that makes the popular plastic stuff feel like junk. Folks whining about manual focus need to get back to basics and learn how to twist a barrel at the correct rate in the right direction without having to rely on some poxy software to do it for them.
I want to get the 35mm, 50mm, and 135mm for Canon. Was thinking about the ZE versions, but may go with the ZF1 Nikon versions and use adapters. I already do it for the 85mm. Plus to me no electronics means a few less things to malfunction later on.
Ive got the Zeiss 25mm (good) , Zeiss 35mm (Excellent), Zeiss 85mm (Excellent) and Zeiss 135mm (Epic) while the 50mm is the Canon 1.2L which is also excellent. I also have the Canon 24mm TS-E II which is astonishingly good considering how complicated it is and should be crap but is sharp across the board when stopped down. The mild chromatic aberration of the 50mm f1.2L is irrelevant since Lightroom washes it away with one click.
Only L lenses I have for Canon are he 16-35mm f4 and the 135mm f2. I use the 16-35 a lot more than I thought I would have. I may not get the Zeiss 50mm, I don't use 50mm all that much really. But I wouldn't pass on it if it were a good price. I have the Canon 85mm f1.8, and like you're 50mm it has CA, but easily fixed. A friend of mine bought the 85mm f1.2. All I kept thinking about that was $2000. I spent $600+ on the Zeiss 85mm. Then I have a gang of Nikkor lenses. All primes. From 20mm to 135mm.
The Zeiss 50mm isnt their best. I might get the Canon 85mm f1.2L again cos I regret selling it. Sure, chromatic aberration is obvious but who cares? When you shoot at f1.2, the blur effect is awesome and there's no lens I can think of that produces bokeh quite like it. I just wish Canon made metal lens hoods and Zeiss made proper lens caps; beautiful but illogically rubbish.
Found one for little under $450 including shipping. Glass etc. in mint shape, just some scratches on metal. Coming in tomorrow, can't wait! Currently on the hunt for the Zeiss 35mm Distagon F/2 to complete my collection!
OK Ken you convinced me . So yesterday I bought this lens and I want to buy another two . One wide-ish angle ( 25mm f2 or 28mm f2 or 35mm f2 ) which one you recommend? And one tele . I would like to get a 135mm f2 . Or would be better the 100mm f2 Macro ? Thanks for your help.
Theoria Apophasis thanks a lot for the advice. I will look for the 35mm f2 than. I would like to have a 135mm lens because I love that focal length on Full Frame. That's why I love the 85mm on APS-C. Anyway in your opinion the Zeiss planar 135mm f2 is better than the Nikon DC 135mm f2 ??? Thanks a lot for taking the time to answer.
the zeiss APO 135mm is the sharpest shit on planet earth, its the teeets. the DC nikkor 135mm has better bokeh however, but the APO costly nearly TWICE as much $$$$$ :/ ive got both
I totally love the Zeiss Distagon T* 35mm F2 ZF.2 that I just bought. The funny thing is they are now sold out of them at B&H. The lens is discontinued so I'm glad I secured one for prosperity! I would love to get the 85mm f1/4 zf.2 but again I'm feeling the penny pinching mentality kicking in. I saw that the nikkor af-s 85 f1.8G is going for $496.95 @B&H and the Zeiss is going for $1083. I know that the build quality can't be compared but can you see much difference in picture quality? I'll check out FLICKR to do some comparisons. I know I'll probably bite the bullet and buy the ZEISS so that it can be buried with me!
+OBXKEV well you can snag a used Zeiss 85mm 1.4 for about $680+ on ebay :) "totally love" sounds awesome!!! :P diff in pic quality? Oh hell yes :) No issues in buying used, 99.999999% of people that ONE one take superb care of their used gear.
+Theoria Apophasis - I broke down and bought the lens. It won't arrive for a while as B&H is closed due to a holiday, but that gives me extra time to arrange my studio setup. Just call me "Mr. Mafundsalow" (lol)....
Hi Ken, How does the Zeiss 50mm 1.4 compare to the nikkor or Voigtlander equivalent. In which order would you rank them. Found a Zeiss for 330, so kinda tempted to get it.
Looking for a go-to portrait lens for event work (mainly festivals and some indoor music events) I now use a 70-200 2.8 Tamron or my 50 1.4. Never owned a manual lens, Would you recommend the 85mm Zeiss over the slightly more versatile range of a Voigtlander (got a d750 and D500)? or would you say a 105dc or 135dc is still a better lens and investment for portraits (can only buy 1 of your recommendations)?
Ik denk dat een 70-200 goed genoeg is. Ik heb een oude Nikon 135mm 2.8 voor 50,- dus het hoeft niet duur te zijn, maar net als auto's, en wijn, wil je soms wel eens wat anders proeven, en een Zeiss of de Voigtlander zijn bijde niet extreem duur en lijken mij een goede aanschaf.
Any idea how the radioactive 85mm F/1.8 Super Takumar stacks up against the Zeiss 85mm F/1.4?... putting the obvious health risks aside and assuming the Takumar lens is de-yellowed.
Of course you can, you just gotta be good, you can focus in low light better than an autofocus lens on a mediocre body, and all the challenging parts of a wedding are dark as hell. So in situations where you can't use AF anyway, a proper manual lens is way easier to focus than trying to manual focus an AF lens. I don't understand this Todd guy above, he must have Parkinsons. I shoot sports and wildlife with a manual focus 400mm f/3.5, often hand held. An 85 is easy to handle.
Hey Ken - I just wanted to follow up with you. I received the lens about a week ago and love it! Thanks for the recommendation. This thing makes people prettier than they are! (lol) Love the bokeh. I'm glad that I splurged for this lens. These things are built rock solid and the manual focus is so smooth. You're the Man!
I realize not apples to apples comparison with different focal length and all, but if one were thinking between the zeiss 85 1.4 ZF2 and the Voigtlander Nokton 58 1.4, which one would you recommend primarily for portraits? Thanks!
haha, had a feeing you might ask that. sorta both, I'm currently on Nikon D810 and D7000, and also will add Fuji system when the X-T2 comes out (which I"ll definitely get a Nikon to Fuji converter). wow, the Noct has a better bokeh, that's incredible. I'm more of a bokeh whore, so might go for that :) thanks as always!
I wonder how the Planar compares to the Otus. I mean, I find the Otus to be incredibly expensive (not overpriced because that thing can give paper cuts just by looking at it), but how far behind would the Planar would be?
Your reviews are fantastic. Thank you. What are your thoughts on this vs. the Zeiss 100mm F2? Aside from the focal length difference how do you find the images compare?
+Theoria Apophysis Haha-I know. I've watched both twice now. Just a trick decision to make. Essentially seems like the 85mm is a slightly more forgiving, perhaps giving up a tiny bit of the sharpness of the 100. Am I missing any big points?
Is this 85mm 1.4 Zeiss planer better than the Otus 85mm 1.4? cz M saving up for the only 1 lens m gna buy in a lifetym. btw m from Bangladesh and tried to drop in a donation but just learned paypal dont have their reach here. Any other options? Anyways plz tel me how much better is the otus 85mm over the planer 85mm . THANKS KEN. LUV YA MATE
+Amanat Shah The Planar is good,but otus is better!Planar is 1200$ and otus is 3k-4k,but These lenses are both Great and The otus musnt be your Choice cause its more expensive The planar is almost as good as The otus!
the otus is way sharperthan the old 85planar that is soft like HL ON 1.4 i own it in dxo test they mounted 85mm 1.4 planar on the 5dsr canon 50mg pixel monster the planar is a disaster for the canon it onley resolved 22mg pixels out of 50 that means you loosing more than half the pixels terribel bad in the other hand the Otus delivers 41 pix on 5dsr loosin onley 9pix THE SAME AS THE 135MM F2
hey Ken...in your opinion is the focus ring of this zeiss 85 "tighter" (yet smooth) than say the 35mm distagon? I paid big bucks for a new one at adorama and a friend says I was stiffed. Said my focus ring shouldn't be this tight
I just ordered one 2nd hand at a good price, based on your review because you were right with other recommendations. However this time I'm really curious because I love the nikkor 85mm 1.4G. Really love it. DxoMark also loves it. Reviewers and forumites also love it. So you are alone agains't the grain :D But I decided to give it a shot because I got the 85mm f1.4g at a good deal and if the zeiss is as good as you say it is, I'll save a ton of money by selling the 85 (i do fine with manual focus for what I do). Stay tuned :))
I've seen a zeiss ' ikon ' planar 85mm .It's selling for £850. Is there a difference to the one you recommend? I've seen another without ' ikon' in description for £150 less
Hi Ken. Is there a similar or familiar lens like the Zeiss 85mm Planar? It one of my go-to glue-it-on-lens Bought one after your recommendation. I have bought a lot of glass from your recommendations. Thanks for your service!
+Theoria Apophasis What is a better tool for a beginner with manual focusing, a Focusing Screen or a Magnifying Viewfinder? Which product in specific would you recommend?
Since watching your video here I've been looking for 2 X Zeiss lenses: The 35mm Distagon F/2 and this one the Zeiss 85mm 1.4. What are your thoughts about the ones made in German vs made in Japan? Would the German one be better? Thanks mate!
I think the Sony version of this lens is one of the best looking lenses (along with the 50mm) ever made. I know that shouldn't mean anything but, hey, it sort of does to me. I believe the Sony "ZA's" are the same optically (Planar) but add AF?
+Tyson Preyer Yes, the ZA are the superior lenses, as they add AF and full electronic control. But beware, this guy here is a Sony hater and loves to talk b*llsh*t about that company, so let's don't talk too loud ;)...
Yo Ken, couldn't agree more ! Had a collection of red star lenses I used on an RTS II and a 139 in the early 1980's, all were superb ! The Sonar 100mm was a personal favorite, slow as hell (f2), small element count, heavy heavy heavy but I used the hell out of it. I abandoned Contax and moved to Nikon mostly because as a young man I was naive, impressionable and foolish . . .
tomorrow i reveal my only lens which i can call "The God Lens" :P The only lens (and you know ive used them all from diff MFG) i can say has the best attributes any lens can have, ...it has ALL OF THEM, at 100% level. which is just unheard of :P Hehehheheheehehe!!!!
thanks for the prompt response! Do you have any comparison (or is aware of any) btw planar and 85/1.8D (or even 1.8g since it's a not bad value for buck)? and if I may another question... is it comparable anyhow to 105 f2 DC? (I am looking for a sharp, but mostly well rendering lens, and since 105 performs quite well it has a AF which can be handy in tracking scenes) how do you think? Ps. I shoot 135 jupiter, 58 Zenithar and 32mm sth so I find it quite irritatin from time to time, when coming back to house I find missing a model's eye by 1-2 cm if you know what I mean...
I doubt the production costs warrant such a high price compared to their f/1.8 equivalents. For some reason Nikon intends to keep the price for certain lenses absurdly high.
+ducbinh199 The 85mm Milvus has some advantages and some disadvantages. A lot of people thing of the Milvus as a cheap Otus but optically, I would say that the Milvus feels more akin to the Classic. Personally I would say the Milvus is slightly better (though this is subjective), certainly a little sharper than the Classic. The Milvus has a rubber focus ring similar to most modern Zeiss designs. For me it feels slightly misplaced. being at the bottom of the barrel, instead of the middle, where I place my fingers. This isn't a big issue as the whole barrel moves when focusing. The Milvus feels big and heavy compared to the Classic. Mounted on a big DSLR the Milvus feels ok but mounted on a smaller DSLR or on a mirrorless camera the balance is off, feeling very lens heavy. I ended up buying the Milvus over the Classic but I have always had a soft spot for the Classic and for certain people it will probably be a much more practical choice.
+ducbinh199 After my last comment, I have been doing a couple more comparisons. I was at a trade show the other day and got to try all three lenses. Physically I still think the Milvus feels much more like the Otus but optically I think I was slightly more wrong in certain areas and the Milvus does displace a few characteristics of the Otus. The Milvus is sharper than the classic though not as sharp as the Otus, it has more saturation than the classic and more contrast as well. The Classic has softer bokah than the Milvus or Otus, with the Milvus probably being slightly softer than the Otus. The Classic definitely has less vignetting than the Milvus. I am not sure that Theoria Apophasis is going to like the 85mm Milvus, in fact I am pretty sure he will probably hate it from what he has said about the Otus compared to the Classic. Personally I don't regret buying the Milvus though.
the Otus is only sharp, other htan that, its a dud lens. many state the same once trying it. yes yes, the class DOES have dreamer bokeh. im gonna do a LIFE STREAMING EVENT tonight at 10PM E.S.T. i did one last night late, it was a hoot.
I think it's a matter of preference. The otus line like the 135mm f2 apo are designed to be at near sharpest, best contrast, and very low distortion and ca wide open so no reason to stop down except for dof. I love the subtle true to life colors and personally love the 55mm f1.4 otus. Have not tried the 85mm or 28mm otus. For me it's the lens you can take into the worst conditions photographically and it will still shine.
Hai i advice you to look at dxo lab tests you can clearley see that the zeizz 85mm planar is and in my eyes a disaster for my d810 and for the big canon 5dsr it onley resolves 21mg pixels on 5dsr that means you are loosing or waysting almoast 30mg pixels on my d810 it onley delivers 40% of the sensors reselution there is NO lens on the marked that can resolve 100% but onley two are close, that is zeiss85otus and 135mmf2 they deliver 35mg pixels on my d810 and the old planar 85 onley 21pixels sorrey for my bad inglish i have 85mm otos 135mm and 85 planar 55otus i have some experience
I am going to buy Zeiss (Z Nikon+adaptor) . However , I choose between Zeiss plannar 85 1.4 , Milvus 85 1.4. and Zeiss Batis 1.8 Which lens would u choose?
Hey Ken, really appreciate the content you share. Seriously enjoy every single video you post.Can you please tell which Filters you use mostly for protecting front element of the lenses. Or make the separate video on filters.thanks:)
With regard to the focus drift issues when wide open, response from Zeiss: ""Fast lenses of this optical design (without floating elements) shift the focus due to spherical aberration when the f-stop is changed. This phenomenon is especially visible on closer object distances and cannot be influenced. The AF system of most camera models does not respect those characteristics of a lens. The focus is measured and confirmed by the focus indicator as if the lens has been stopped down to f/5.6." www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Zeiss-85mm-f-1.4-ZE-Planar-Lens-Review.aspx
+bwvids Thanks for posting this. I always wondered, however, why so many people complain about this. There are quite a few lenses on the market that do this. Just know how far you need to be from your subject to prevent it if it bothers you that much. lol Learn your lenses, people. Don't just slap a lens on a camera because someone told you it was super sharp and not know what to do with THAT particular lens. LOL
Buy one on a guarantee contracter on ebay. I do that often. Can i give it back after i tested it? Yes i buy and try. No i search another seller. This lens is amezing for portraits!
I had the all black Contax Carl Zeiss 85mm f1.4 Planar T*...It was OK, but it was not that good wide open...Too much CA and the bokeh was so so...The newer silver nose version you have may be different optically, or it may have better more modern coatings, but as soon as I found a better lens I sold it...That better lens is the Canon FD 85mm f1.2 L...It's sharp wide open, with no CA issues, and much creamier bokeh than the Zeiss. The Canon was also a lot cheaper...I paid £335 for the Zeiss and I made a loss of £25 when I sold it...The Canon was just under £200 but it's now worth about £800, so I wont lose any money if I decide to sell it...Not that I would as it's too good.
Idea for a new video: I'd appreciate to see what is the difference in rendition between the Zeiss 85mm f1.4 Planar and the Nikkor 105 f2 DC. Thanks! EDIT: BTW I own the Zeiss and let's say it's my lens cap - it never leaves my D700. Amazing combination.
The Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 lens haven't been made by Zeiss. They have been made by Cosina in Japan. The same people who have been making third-party lenses for people like Vivitar for many decades.
If I ever become pro with photography (Or come into lots cash...) I would love to buy that lens... In the mean time I am happy trying out my vintage selection from Tokina to Zuiko to Takumar.
theoria do you have a camera you could donate to my project im trying to film any kinda camera would help and if you can contact me id love to tell you my plans
I like the conviction..'I''m right and your wrong.' I love it when I know something well enough to lay it down with the finality of that statement. Doesn't happen often. Its like saying check mate. You know without question, period; end of discussion. So I'm gonna trust in that confidence and pull the trigger on a near mint copy that, so far, has gone unnoticed on ebay with a day remaining - fingers crossed it stays that way I'll be using it on a tripod for night sky photos. Auto focus is not as critical to role this will be put into. Even if it weren't the case and I was just outside taking photos of life why should it make a difference about the focusing method. Seriously when did I become such an auto focus pussy. I could understand if auto focus was all I ever used but It isn't. I remember, not long ago, when every thing was manual focus and I didn't let it bother me in the slightest because I had no choice. Auto focus didn't even occur to me as a thing. Still took photos and most of them came back from processing in focus. My, look how far I have fallen. Thank you for reminding me to reach down and confirm that I still have a set. Some of my best photos are on film and of those every one them is a result of manual focus. Just wish I had that split screen focusing window I had then in my minolta, presently in my aging but still used Canon 6D. Does anyone know of an after market attachment that would provide me with this tool? Like those boxes I've seen put on the backs of some of the 5dx cameras? I need a search term because I don't know what those things are called.
Have sent another contribution to your site based on this video - I succumb to your logic of going for optical / build quality vs auto-focus convenience. Thanks again.
+David Roberts tomorrow i reveal my only lens which i can call "The God Lens" :P The only lens (and you know ive used them all from diff MFG) i can say has the best attributes any lens can have, ...it has ALL OF THEM, at 100% level. which is just unheard of :P
Not do you not know what you're talking about...do you realize how much you're costing people like me!!! You're a mad man. Just Kidding. "F" it ...you're the best
+Theoria Apophasis That is correct. I must say your advice has been very accurate too. But I'm up to two cameras in less than a month for crying out loud. LoL! I have the D7100 and a D700. Love em both. Thanks man!!!
I ended up buying the ZF1 for Nikon. Then bought an adapter to use it on my Canon. At the time the ZF1 was the cheaper option. Sure no focus confirmation, but damn it's good.
i'M not TRYING TO tROLL YOU, I'm including this as a reference regarding Zeiss 85 mm f1.4 lenses. th-cam.com/video/gCT9fyKsp4M/w-d-xo.html Apparently, the " chromed ring " zeiss lens taht you were testing, DOES NOT HAVE T* coating. I can tell you from film experience, that that one factor makes a BIG DIFFERENCE ! iIf there's a version with, I think called the " OTUS "., how about a test between the 2 ?
Welcome to 2024 where fools are selling the Zeiss 85 ZF under $500 (after being around 650 for the past few years). What a time to be alive.
Can confirm, picked one up for just over 500 almost brand new condition. You will NEVER find a lens that looks and functions as well as the Zeiss for that kind of money!
Hey Ken. Just wanted to let you know that I picked up the Zeiss Planar 85mm f1.4 ZF.2 lens recently and man, was I blown away. I am not exaggerating when I say the moment that the first image loaded in LR and I saw what I saw my heart just skipped a beat. Literally. My jaws just dropped and I couldn't believe what I was looking at. I purchased the Voigtlander 58mm a few months back as well and am really impressed although it is really soft wide open but the image quality far outweighs that issue in my opinion. I am not a sharpness fanatic like some but rather all about the mood and the feel of the image. I shoot mostly BW portraits and am excited about the possibility with these 2 lenses. Thanks again. Appreciate your candid and honest reviews. Keep doing what you do.
I did shoot a corporate video with this lens on a Canon Mark III, the footage was mindbogglingly surreal, the pictures too have some other worldly magic in them. I tried shooting with canon L lenses but the footage looked like crap, so switched back to zeiss and shot the whole gig with the zeiss 85 1.4.
+Viisshnu Vardhan Haaaa!
+Theoria Apophasis bro the credit for success of that gig goes solely to the zeiss 84 1.4 Planar :) I havent seen anything surpass this lens so far, Nikkor ones come close but lackthe surreal feel, canon is crap and there isnt anything else to compare
+Theoria Apophasis I hadnt had the time to checkout your videos last couple months, doing so now, watching every video thrice, incase i miss some point :)
+Theoria Apophasis Liked all your videos about the Voigtlanders. Appreciate it bro. cheers.
My kit is basically entirely off your recommendations and I love them all: 35 & 85 zeiss, 135 nikkor, 58 voigt, tamron 17-35... Have not been disappointed yet! haha
Hahaha, Ken is good at emptying our pockets. I just got the Milvus 35 and about to pull the trigger on the 85. I have a similar glass collection like yours.
My current Nikon 85 1.8G is sharp and amazing for the dollar, especially wide open. It's flat, very cool color rendition.
The 58 Voigtlander kills my Zeiss 50 1.4 Planar in sharpness and very, very close in microcontrast.
Keep shooting!
Me too. Do you think the 85 Zeiss on a D850 is significantly better than the Voight 58 on a D500?
@@Rider-hh9it I only can comment on the 58 CV being on the D850; it's ridiculously sharp with loads of microcontrast. The 50 1.4 CZ is not as sharp, more ethereal, and(surprise, surprise!) similar microcontrast. I surmise the 85 1.4 CZ is like the 50 due to both being Planar T*
@@Rider-hh9it CZ definitely has that unique, trademark, unmistakable look.
Hi, did you compare it to the CONTAX CARL ZEISS PLANAR T* 85 / 1,4 ? Are they the same?
Would love to know the same question please Ken? Your info on lenses and science is like none other.
I love manual lenses. This makes me want to buy it today but I have to stop. :)
How it compares to Carl Zeiss Planar T * 85mm C/Y? Could not find anything on that particular question. Except very similar looking pictures on flickr)).
have owned both. both are wonderful lens. but i did notice with the ze that it is sharper, less likely to get wahsed out (low contrast) wide open and better control of color rfinging in this new lens. those are my impressions at least
Yes I like to know too.... seems the CY zeiss is around 3,000 on Ebay.
The c/y version is much more prone to flare and losing contrast from it even with hood on. I've owned both. Because of that issue it was very frustrating to use. Plus with using the c/y via adapter you have to use stop down metering meaning it when you change aperture rather than shooting wide open and the camera stops down to that aperture when you shoot it stops down to that aperture and stays there when you change the aperture on the ring. Very happy with the ZE version
@@jamesptao1 thanks James, I am planning to get the gfx soon and the CY 85 f1.4 seems to be mentioned oftentimes and theres the f1.2 version as well. I'm not too worried about flares and even do it on purpose in my shoots.... between the CY and ZE, which one got the 3d pop feel on the rendered image?
Thanks in advance.
@@ilovebohol to be honest I would say they are about the same in that respect. Same optical formula just improvement in glass coatings and internal anti-reflection measures as well as electronic communication with camera. Would recommend the ze as the flare issue 8 mentioned isn't just flare itd losing contrast due to internal reflections to easily. Ze version is improved in that aspect.
Hi thanks for the videos and advice given, there are so many versions of each lens on ebay and that can be confussing so I have Nikon d810 and I am looking to buy 35mm 1.4 Carl zeiss and 85mm 1.4 manual or not is not a issue. for each I have 1000 USD.
Can You tell me exact models for both and your recommendation ( 35 mm travel lens ) 85mm travel and port. Thanks
I bought this lens yesterday. The best colour rendition I've seen for F mount.
I have a Fuji x-pro2. What’s best portrait lens? Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 Zf.2 or Zeiss 100mm makro Zf.2, the Fuji’s 90mm, or 80mm?
Reasons for preferring the Fuji 23mm f/2 to the f/1.4 other than the cost!
Should I keep my Fuji 14mm f/2.8? I have seen your review of the 16mm f/1.4. Why? Why not?
Thanks.
Your Lexingtonian fan!!
George
what do you think of the Planar T*1,4/85 ZF.2?
just got this lens a few days ago. 3D pop / micro contrast blew me away. thanks for the recommendation.
I have something weird going on w/my zeiss 85mm planar 1.4. when importing portraits into ANY mac sw, lightroom, preview, capture one, the faces are wildly colored redish-orange, harsh. on d850 and d810, using ortrait mode set picture control and white balance auto1. exposed at f1.4 or 1.8. requires significant work in sw to make them usable and even the not great. please help... happens after LR develop is chosen
Maybe your white balance settings
Theoria Apophasis, thank you very much, this ZEISS 85mm is beautiful, PERFECT LENS.fall in love with ZEISS LENS.
you in love with a NAME.......SUPER SHARP Lens to show EVERY LINE ON FACE....So he has to put a SOFT Filter in front..
What a........ Wanker!!!!
Comparing with Nikkor 85mm f1.4 Ais what is the more superior lens?
Any difference between the Contax version and Nikon version?
+Theoria Apophasis Ken, do you suggest a specific metal hood...e.g like the chinese ones for the planar 85mm 1.4?Bought it without the original hood and not sure the cheap ones fit well...have you tried any?cheers in advance
Whats the minimum focus distance of the Zeiss? I feel with the nikon 85mm 1.4d I would like to get just a little closer and I can't.
As a portrait lens on a Fujifilm X-H1 would you recommend this with a Lens Turbo / Speed Booster type adapter, or the Planar 50mm f1.4 with a dumb adapter?
This topic needs an update/repeating; a manual Zeiss lens will last for a generation whereas the motor driven plastic stuff will be junk once the motors burn out and you cant get parts for them.
I've just bought a Zeiss 25mm f2 Distagon, Zeiss 35mm f2 Distagon & Zeiss 135mm f2 Sonnar T* this week; all in mint condition for about 1/3rd less than new. All of them are built from metal, all made in Japan & made at a level of quality that makes the popular plastic stuff feel like junk.
Folks whining about manual focus need to get back to basics and learn how to twist a barrel at the correct rate in the right direction without having to rely on some poxy software to do it for them.
I want to get the 35mm, 50mm, and 135mm for Canon. Was thinking about the ZE versions, but may go with the ZF1 Nikon versions and use adapters. I already do it for the 85mm. Plus to me no electronics means a few less things to malfunction later on.
Ive got the Zeiss 25mm (good) , Zeiss 35mm (Excellent), Zeiss 85mm (Excellent) and Zeiss 135mm (Epic) while the 50mm is the Canon 1.2L which is also excellent. I also have the Canon 24mm TS-E II which is astonishingly good considering how complicated it is and should be crap but is sharp across the board when stopped down. The mild chromatic aberration of the 50mm f1.2L is irrelevant since Lightroom washes it away with one click.
Only L lenses I have for Canon are he 16-35mm f4 and the 135mm f2. I use the 16-35 a lot more than I thought I would have. I may not get the Zeiss 50mm, I don't use 50mm all that much really. But I wouldn't pass on it if it were a good price. I have the Canon 85mm f1.8, and like you're 50mm it has CA, but easily fixed. A friend of mine bought the 85mm f1.2. All I kept thinking about that was $2000. I spent $600+ on the Zeiss 85mm.
Then I have a gang of Nikkor lenses. All primes. From 20mm to 135mm.
The Zeiss 50mm isnt their best. I might get the Canon 85mm f1.2L again cos I regret selling it. Sure, chromatic aberration is obvious but who cares? When you shoot at f1.2, the blur effect is awesome and there's no lens I can think of that produces bokeh quite like it. I just wish Canon made metal lens hoods and Zeiss made proper lens caps; beautiful but illogically rubbish.
How's the 35mm f2 distagon. ? Sharp and good bokeh?
what do you think about the Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F/1.4 lens?
+rtpearl i have 2 of em, its the tits, ive made vids on it
Found one for little under $450 including shipping. Glass etc. in mint shape, just some scratches on metal. Coming in tomorrow, can't wait! Currently on the hunt for the Zeiss 35mm Distagon F/2 to complete my collection!
+Brian Megens damn, you found one that cheap ehhh? Hmmm
well yesterday there were a few great prices on used 35mm F2 from japan :)
Decided to buy it new, after getting VAT back it costs me around $800 new in box!
OK Ken you convinced me . So yesterday I bought this lens and I want to buy another two . One wide-ish angle ( 25mm f2 or 28mm f2 or 35mm f2 ) which one you recommend? And one tele . I would like to get a 135mm f2 . Or would be better the 100mm f2 Macro ? Thanks for your help.
35mm f2 is the best of those and more useful generally. you mean the 100mm 2.8 macro tokina???
or the zeiss 100mm f2?? NOT the zeiss!
Theoria Apophasis thanks a lot for the advice. I will look for the 35mm f2 than. I would like to have a 135mm lens because I love that focal length on Full Frame. That's why I love the 85mm on APS-C. Anyway in your opinion the Zeiss planar 135mm f2 is better than the Nikon DC 135mm f2 ??? Thanks a lot for taking the time to answer.
the zeiss APO 135mm is the sharpest shit on planet earth, its the teeets. the DC nikkor 135mm has better bokeh however, but the APO costly nearly TWICE as much $$$$$ :/
ive got both
Theoria Apophasis thanks man. I will save up money for the Zeiss. At the end of the day it is a lens for a lifetime.
Thanks again.
I totally love the Zeiss Distagon T* 35mm F2 ZF.2 that I just bought. The funny thing is they are now sold out of them at B&H. The lens is discontinued so I'm glad I secured one for prosperity! I would love to get the 85mm f1/4 zf.2 but again I'm feeling the penny pinching mentality kicking in. I saw that the nikkor af-s 85 f1.8G is going for $496.95 @B&H and the Zeiss is going for $1083. I know that the build quality can't be compared but can you see much difference in picture quality? I'll check out FLICKR to do some comparisons. I know I'll probably bite the bullet and buy the ZEISS so that it can be buried with me!
+OBXKEV well you can snag a used Zeiss 85mm 1.4 for about $680+ on ebay :)
"totally love" sounds awesome!!! :P
diff in pic quality? Oh hell yes :) No issues in buying used, 99.999999% of people that ONE one take superb care of their used gear.
+Theoria Apophasis - I broke down and bought the lens. It won't arrive for a while as B&H is closed due to a holiday, but that gives me extra time to arrange my studio setup. Just call me "Mr. Mafundsalow" (lol)....
Posterity
Hi Ken,
How does the Zeiss 50mm 1.4 compare to the nikkor or Voigtlander equivalent. In which order would you rank them. Found a Zeiss for 330, so kinda tempted to get it.
+Logan Nguyen Voigt doesnt have a 50mm
Looking for a go-to portrait lens for event work (mainly festivals and some indoor music events) I now use a 70-200 2.8 Tamron or my 50 1.4. Never owned a manual lens, Would you recommend the 85mm Zeiss over the slightly more versatile range of a Voigtlander (got a d750 and D500)? or would you say a 105dc or 135dc is still a better lens and investment for portraits (can only buy 1 of your recommendations)?
Ik denk dat een 70-200 goed genoeg is. Ik heb een oude Nikon 135mm 2.8 voor 50,- dus het hoeft niet duur te zijn, maar net als auto's, en wijn, wil je soms wel eens wat anders proeven, en een Zeiss of de Voigtlander zijn bijde niet extreem duur en lijken mij een goede aanschaf.
Any idea how the radioactive 85mm F/1.8 Super Takumar stacks up against the Zeiss 85mm F/1.4?... putting the obvious health risks aside and assuming the Takumar lens is de-yellowed.
ohhh hell, i cant even remember testing the 85mm takumar, i know i did but i cant remember to comment
whats the difference between Zeiss Planar 85 1.4 ZF vs Zeiss Planar 85mm 1.4 ZF2?
CPU contacts for communication
Can I use this for events/weddings?
Of course you can, you just gotta be good, you can focus in low light better than an autofocus lens on a mediocre body, and all the challenging parts of a wedding are dark as hell. So in situations where you can't use AF anyway, a proper manual lens is way easier to focus than trying to manual focus an AF lens. I don't understand this Todd guy above, he must have Parkinsons. I shoot sports and wildlife with a manual focus 400mm f/3.5, often hand held. An 85 is easy to handle.
I know you don't shoot canon but how do you think it compares to canon 85 mm L lens
Hey Ken - I just wanted to follow up with you. I received the lens about a week ago and love it! Thanks for the recommendation. This thing makes people prettier than they are! (lol) Love the bokeh. I'm glad that I splurged for this lens. These things are built rock solid and the manual focus is so smooth. You're the Man!
How about the. 85mm f1.4 ais nikkor. I found it used for half the price of the Zeiss
I realize not apples to apples comparison with different focal length and all, but if one were thinking between the zeiss 85 1.4 ZF2 and the Voigtlander Nokton 58 1.4, which one would you recommend primarily for portraits? Thanks!
on FX or DX cammys? 58mm 1.4 noct has better bokeh, but the zeiss is superior overall.
haha, had a feeing you might ask that. sorta both, I'm currently on Nikon D810 and D7000, and also will add Fuji system when the X-T2 comes out (which I"ll definitely get a Nikon to Fuji converter). wow, the Noct has a better bokeh, that's incredible. I'm more of a bokeh whore, so might go for that :) thanks as always!
Actually, looking through samples of both on Flickr, I do dig the photos of the Zeiss as a whole. Decisions decisions... :)
I wonder how the Planar compares to the Otus. I mean, I find the Otus to be incredibly expensive (not overpriced because that thing can give paper cuts just by looking at it), but how far behind would the Planar would be?
+Tumble Butt / Styx on Fire the planar is AHEAD OF the stinking Otus.
Theoria Apophasis How far ahead is it?
in depth, and rendition, much so.
yes, the Otus is most sharp, but that isnt everything
Theoria Apophasis I see.
Your reviews are fantastic. Thank you. What are your thoughts on this vs. the Zeiss 100mm F2? Aside from the focal length difference how do you find the images compare?
+Erik Gustafson i have that lens, i made a video on it, great stuff man :)
+Theoria Apophysis Haha-I know. I've watched both twice now. Just a trick decision to make. Essentially seems like the 85mm is a slightly more forgiving, perhaps giving up a tiny bit of the sharpness of the 100. Am I missing any big points?
Is this 85mm 1.4 Zeiss planer better than the Otus 85mm 1.4? cz M saving up for the only 1 lens m gna buy in a lifetym. btw m from Bangladesh and tried to drop in a donation but just learned paypal dont have their reach here. Any other options? Anyways plz tel me how much better is the otus 85mm over the planer 85mm . THANKS KEN. LUV YA MATE
+Amanat Shah The Planar is good,but otus is better!Planar is 1200$ and otus is 3k-4k,but These lenses are both Great and The otus musnt be your Choice cause its more expensive The planar is almost as good as The otus!
+CapturingTechTV Thnx bruh
the otus is way sharperthan the old 85planar that is soft like HL ON 1.4 i own it in dxo test they mounted 85mm 1.4 planar on the 5dsr canon 50mg pixel monster the planar is a disaster for the canon it onley resolved 22mg pixels out of 50 that means you loosing more than half the pixels terribel bad in the other hand the Otus delivers 41 pix on 5dsr loosin onley 9pix THE SAME AS THE 135MM F2
+CapturingTechTV thanks fro the chimes.
+CapturingTechTV thanks fro the chimes.
I just bought a 'mint' copy for the equivalent of about US$520, to complete my set of Classics. I have some Milvus & Otus too.
hey Ken...in your opinion is the focus ring of this zeiss 85 "tighter" (yet smooth) than say the 35mm distagon? I paid big bucks for a new one at adorama and a friend says I was stiffed. Said my focus ring shouldn't be this tight
i have both, well more than a pair of both, and it is yes, id say about 10% or so
HOW tight though?
same thing I was thinking. thanx
so its not like STIFF STIFF right?
not really "stiff"....more like "increased resistance" (hard to explain)
I am experiencing the same thing...its a lot stiffer than Voigtlander 40 2.0. the latter is a joy to use, Zeiss not so much. is that normal behaviour?
I just ordered one 2nd hand at a good price, based on your review because you were right with other recommendations. However this time I'm really curious because I love the nikkor 85mm 1.4G. Really love it. DxoMark also loves it. Reviewers and forumites also love it. So you are alone agains't the grain :D But I decided to give it a shot because I got the 85mm f1.4g at a good deal and if the zeiss is as good as you say it is, I'll save a ton of money by selling the 85 (i do fine with manual focus for what I do). Stay tuned :))
I've seen a zeiss ' ikon ' planar 85mm .It's selling for £850. Is there a difference to the one you recommend? I've seen another without ' ikon' in description for £150 less
+David C thats usually an M mount, whats the mount for it?
a nikon d810
+David C both of these are for nikon mounts i should add! i have actually already ordered the ' ikon' but can cancel
do you have a link to the lens, or just like it?
www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_0_13?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=carl+zeiss+85mm&sprefix=carl+zeiss+85%2Celectronics%2C387
Hi Ken. Is there a similar or familiar lens like the Zeiss 85mm Planar? It one of my go-to glue-it-on-lens Bought one after your recommendation. I have bought a lot of glass from your recommendations.
Thanks for your service!
Could you please compare this zeiss 85 mm f1.4 to the NEW Tamron 85 mm f1.4 vs.
the Brand NEW Tamron 90 m f 2.8 lenses ?
Do you recommend Zeiss 85 F1.8 Batis?
+Theoria Apophasis What is a better tool for a beginner with manual focusing, a Focusing Screen or a Magnifying Viewfinder? Which product in specific would you recommend?
+Guairenito mag viewfinder.
better than all of it is learning the skill i made vids on how to manual focus lenses.
Any difference with Zeiss 85mm ZF1?
Since watching your video here I've been looking for 2 X Zeiss lenses: The 35mm Distagon F/2 and this one the Zeiss 85mm 1.4. What are your thoughts about the ones made in German vs made in Japan? Would the German one be better? Thanks mate!
most are made in japan….youd have to get an older ZF model to get a german made one.
not that i can tell no
I think the Sony version of this lens is one of the best looking lenses (along with the 50mm) ever made. I know that shouldn't mean anything but, hey, it sort of does to me. I believe the Sony "ZA's" are the same optically (Planar) but add AF?
+Tyson Preyer Yes, the ZA are the superior lenses, as they add AF and full electronic control. But beware, this guy here is a Sony hater and loves to talk b*llsh*t about that company, so let's don't talk too loud ;)...
For those on a budget, what are your thoughts on the Samyang 85mm f/1.4?
+Joseph Tye get a used 85mm F1.8 D nikkor instead for the same or less $$$
Ken what do you think of Milvus series lenses?
Yo Ken, couldn't agree more ! Had a collection of red star lenses I used on an RTS II and a 139 in the early 1980's, all were superb ! The Sonar 100mm was a personal favorite, slow as hell (f2), small element count, heavy heavy heavy but I used the hell out of it. I abandoned Contax and moved to Nikon mostly because as a young man I was naive, impressionable and foolish . . .
+f64 im reviewing a few more of my zeiss lenses over the next few days :)
+Theoria Apophasis someone pass me a tissue I've started drooling already : D
tomorrow i reveal my only lens which i can call "The God Lens"
:P The only lens (and you know ive used them all from diff MFG) i can say has the best attributes any lens can have, ...it has ALL OF THEM, at 100% level.
which is just unheard of :P
Hehehheheheehehe!!!!
+Theoria Apophasis my browser is open, I'm ready to type and my credit card is in my hand . . .
ROFL
tomorrow :P
What do you think of Zeiss Batis 85mm?
not used that one
Do you find any reason going to 85 Milvus instead of from 85 planar ?
none, less than none
thanks for the prompt response! Do you have any comparison (or is aware of any) btw planar and 85/1.8D (or even 1.8g since it's a not bad value for buck)? and if I may another question... is it comparable anyhow to 105 f2 DC? (I am looking for a sharp, but mostly well rendering lens, and since 105 performs quite well it has a AF which can be handy in tracking scenes) how do you think? Ps. I shoot 135 jupiter, 58 Zenithar and 32mm sth so I find it quite irritatin from time to time, when coming back to house I find missing a model's eye by 1-2 cm if you know what I mean...
There saing - which AF lens can you propose for Nikon users for portraitures? Is there ANYTHING you can consider as worthy?
Can someone explain the prices of the Nikon 85mm & 35mm f/1.4?
f1.4 aperture. That is the reason for the big jump in price.
I doubt the production costs warrant such a high price compared to their f/1.8 equivalents. For some reason Nikon intends to keep the price for certain lenses absurdly high.
When did you get a petzval lens?
+Sergio Anguiano hommie has lenses up his sleaves :P
ROFL
Really though good thing you're wearing short sleeves or else you might end up get an 800mm just for the heck of it jk lol XD
my gut looks like a 1000mm F2.8
Haha!
how does this compare to new zeiss milvus 85mm f1.4 ?
+ducbinh199 ive yet to shoot it.
+ducbinh199 The 85mm Milvus has some advantages and some disadvantages. A lot of people thing of the Milvus as a cheap Otus but optically, I would say that the Milvus feels more akin to the Classic. Personally I would say the Milvus is slightly better (though this is subjective), certainly a little sharper than the Classic.
The Milvus has a rubber focus ring similar to most modern Zeiss designs. For me it feels slightly misplaced. being at the bottom of the barrel, instead of the middle, where I place my fingers. This isn't a big issue as the whole barrel moves when focusing.
The Milvus feels big and heavy compared to the Classic. Mounted on a big DSLR the Milvus feels ok but mounted on a smaller DSLR or on a mirrorless camera the balance is off, feeling very lens heavy.
I ended up buying the Milvus over the Classic but I have always had a soft spot for the Classic and for certain people it will probably be a much more practical choice.
thank mate,you;re big help
+ducbinh199 After my last comment, I have been doing a couple more comparisons. I was at a trade show the other day and got to try all three lenses. Physically I still think the Milvus feels much more like the Otus but optically I think I was slightly more wrong in certain areas and the Milvus does displace a few characteristics of the Otus. The Milvus is sharper than the classic though not as sharp as the Otus, it has more saturation than the classic and more contrast as well. The Classic has softer bokah than the Milvus or Otus, with the Milvus probably being slightly softer than the Otus. The Classic definitely has less vignetting than the Milvus.
I am not sure that Theoria Apophasis is going to like the 85mm Milvus, in fact I am pretty sure he will probably hate it from what he has said about the Otus compared to the Classic.
Personally I don't regret buying the Milvus though.
the Otus is only sharp, other htan that, its a dud lens.
many state the same once trying it.
yes yes, the class DOES have dreamer bokeh.
im gonna do a LIFE STREAMING EVENT tonight at 10PM E.S.T.
i did one last night late, it was a hoot.
The 't' in 'often' is silent.
Have you tried zeis otus lenses? They are stupidly expensive, but from what I've heard, they are pretty remarkable
+w00xer only expensive, not remarkable. The 55 didnt impress me a bit.
I think it's a matter of preference. The otus line like the 135mm f2 apo are designed to be at near sharpest, best contrast, and very low distortion and ca wide open so no reason to stop down except for dof. I love the subtle true to life colors and personally love the 55mm f1.4 otus. Have not tried the 85mm or 28mm otus. For me it's the lens you can take into the worst conditions photographically and it will still shine.
Are you Russian? You pronounced Красногорск, Россия like a native speaker.
What are your thoughts of the Nikon 85mm 1.4g vs. the 1.8g? Is $1000 more for the 1.4g justified?
+Nicolaas Strik the Zeiss 85mm 1.4 blows them all to hell and back :)
Thanks!
Hai i advice you to look at dxo lab tests you can clearley see that the zeizz 85mm planar is and in my eyes a disaster for my d810 and for the big canon 5dsr it onley resolves 21mg pixels on 5dsr that means you are loosing or waysting almoast 30mg pixels on my d810 it onley delivers 40% of the sensors reselution there is NO lens on the marked that can resolve 100% but onley two are close, that is zeiss85otus and 135mmf2 they deliver 35mg pixels on my d810 and the old planar 85 onley 21pixels sorrey for my bad inglish i have 85mm otos 135mm and 85 planar 55otus i have some experience
Thanks for the feedback on this lens. I've only tried the Canon mount for a short while, but it's great.
1.24 lbs / 650g is "extremely heavy" ???
Brilliant review on a brilliant lens thanks Ken for taking the time to post bless you!
I am going to buy Zeiss (Z Nikon+adaptor) . However , I choose between Zeiss plannar 85 1.4 , Milvus 85 1.4. and Zeiss Batis 1.8 Which lens would u choose?
What about STF lenses for portraits?
Im unwell, and i dont find it heavy at all
Just got this one used and am very very impressed; also have the 100 planar and the voight 58. ultra nice lenses; trading for the tamron 35.
bro what do you think of the Zeiss 50 1.4 Planar, is it worth it ?
+Viisshnu Vardhan recently made vids about that lens, own 2 of em, and YES, its worth it
+Theoria Apophasis Gracias bro. cheers :)
+Viisshnu Vardhan I have one for my Canon 6D. Mmmmmm. Creamy.
congrats
I shoot 1.4 for live events with amazing results...zoom in 3x focus then shoot...like driving a Ferrari
Hey Ken, really appreciate the content you share. Seriously enjoy every single video you post.Can you please tell which Filters you use mostly for protecting front element of the lenses. Or make the separate video on filters.thanks:)
AR coated clear filters
Theoria Apophasis any particular brand?
Getting Zeiss planar 85mm 1.4 also the filter so excited:)
With regard to the focus drift issues when wide open, response from Zeiss:
""Fast lenses of this optical design (without floating elements) shift the focus due to spherical aberration when the f-stop is changed. This phenomenon is especially visible on closer object distances and cannot be influenced. The AF system of most camera models does not respect those characteristics of a lens. The focus is measured and confirmed by the focus indicator as if the lens has been stopped down to f/5.6."
www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Zeiss-85mm-f-1.4-ZE-Planar-Lens-Review.aspx
+bwvids Thanks for posting this. I always wondered, however, why so many people complain about this. There are quite a few lenses on the market that do this. Just know how far you need to be from your subject to prevent it if it bothers you that much. lol Learn your lenses, people. Don't just slap a lens on a camera because someone told you it was super sharp and not know what to do with THAT particular lens. LOL
I want to buy that lens, I have my D600, I'm a portraiture photographer, but i have my Doubts...
Buy one on a guarantee contracter on ebay. I do that often. Can i give it back after i tested it? Yes i buy and try. No i search another seller. This lens is amezing for portraits!
after watched this video, i bought one at $760. it's amazing.
I had the all black Contax Carl Zeiss 85mm f1.4 Planar T*...It was OK, but it was not that good wide open...Too much CA and the bokeh was so so...The newer silver nose version you have may be different optically, or it may have better more modern coatings, but as soon as I found a better lens I sold it...That better lens is the Canon FD 85mm f1.2 L...It's sharp wide open, with no CA issues, and much creamier bokeh than the Zeiss. The Canon was also a lot cheaper...I paid £335 for the Zeiss and I made a loss of £25 when I sold it...The Canon was just under £200 but it's now worth about £800, so I wont lose any money if I decide to sell it...Not that I would as it's too good.
Idea for a new video: I'd appreciate to see what is the difference in rendition between the Zeiss 85mm f1.4 Planar and the Nikkor 105 f2 DC. Thanks! EDIT: BTW I own the Zeiss and let's say it's my lens cap - it never leaves my D700. Amazing combination.
check the flickr page for both lenses
The Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 lens haven't been made by Zeiss. They have been made by Cosina in Japan. The same people who have been making third-party lenses for people like Vivitar for many decades.
The Zeiss Milvus 85mm f/1.4 is a far better lens than the classic Zeiss 85mm f/1.4.
yes, i know that fact, they are however still zeiss controlled production lenses, MOST zeiss lenses are made there
the milvus is worse, not better :/
If I ever become pro with photography (Or come into lots cash...) I would love to buy that lens... In the mean time I am happy trying out my vintage selection from Tokina to Zuiko to Takumar.
+Stephen Rea the Voightlanders are 100% same quality as the Zeiss (and made by the same peeps)
THIS lens however is special.
+Theoria Apophasis Thank you :) Hope all is going well for you...
very little goes well for me.......
theoria do you have a camera you could donate to my project im trying to film any kinda camera would help and if you can contact me id love to tell you my plans
it is not always the lens value is measured in money but in fact how it performs on different areas of the spectrum
I like the conviction..'I''m right and your wrong.' I love it when I know something well enough to lay it down with the finality of that statement. Doesn't happen often. Its like saying check mate. You know without question, period; end of discussion. So I'm gonna trust in that confidence and pull the trigger on a near mint copy that, so far, has gone unnoticed on ebay with a day remaining - fingers crossed it stays that way
I'll be using it on a tripod for night sky photos. Auto focus is not as critical to role this will be put into. Even if it weren't the case and I was just outside taking photos of life why should it make a difference about the focusing method. Seriously when did I become such an auto focus pussy. I could understand if auto focus was all I ever used but It isn't. I remember, not long ago, when every thing was manual focus and I didn't let it bother me in the slightest because I had no choice. Auto focus didn't even occur to me as a thing. Still took photos and most of them came back from processing in focus.
My, look how far I have fallen.
Thank you for reminding me to reach down and confirm that I still have a set. Some of my best photos are on film and of those every one them is a result of manual focus. Just wish I had that split screen focusing window I had then in my minolta, presently in my aging but still used Canon 6D. Does anyone know of an after market attachment that would provide me with this tool? Like those boxes I've seen put on the backs of some of the 5dx cameras? I need a search term because I don't know what those things are called.
To anybody on the fence about this lens...just buy it!it will blow your mind
March 2019 - I`ve just found this Zeiss 85/1.4 for only 780 EURO brand-new !! on German "Ebay"
I found a contax for 300$ it is the old cousin from the 1.4F and makes fantastic pic to 😉😂
Have sent another contribution to your site based on this video - I succumb to your logic of going for optical / build quality vs auto-focus convenience. Thanks again.
Ken you won't believe this but I just bought this lens today. It was meant to be. Love your work.
+David Roberts youre psychic :P
+David Roberts tomorrow i reveal my only lens which i can call "The God Lens"
:P The only lens (and you know ive used them all from diff MFG) i can
say has the best attributes any lens can have, ...it has ALL OF THEM,
at 100% level.
which is just unheard of :P
+Theoria Apophasis i'll be watching with interest.
Just bought one in minty condition for 550 British pounds!! :) I’m trusting you on this one :)
this Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZF.2 is my best of!!!
Just bought this lens used, CHEAP, and.. it IS magnificent..!!!!
what about the otus 85……
Its a fantastic lens, renders absolutley beautiful on both digital and film. One that I will never part with.
That lens is sick
Ken, Ken, Ken! I could watch your videos on repeat all day! 'if this lens was a person, it'd be so fat it'll make me look anorexic...' ROFL
Aren't these "Zeiss" lenses made in Japan by Cosina company, instead of being made in Germany by Zeiss?...
+Francisco Carrera THESE specific zeiss lenses are yes, however theyre under diff specs and production and glass than anything Cosina ever put out.
Not do you not know what you're talking about...do you realize how much you're costing people like me!!! You're a mad man. Just Kidding. "F" it ...you're the best
+Reggie Walker i haz crazy :P well i dont force anyone to buy anything man heheheheh
+Theoria Apophasis That is correct. I must say your advice has been very accurate too. But I'm up to two cameras in less than a month for crying out loud. LoL! I have the D7100 and a D700. Love em both. Thanks man!!!
Yes man. Yes!
everybody is dancing naked in the streets , happy with their D7100 :)
Hey Ken! I have this lens in the ze version ($650 eBay , love it) super tits!!!! I have the 18/3.5 distagon also....same!!
I ended up buying the ZF1 for Nikon. Then bought an adapter to use it on my Canon. At the time the ZF1 was the cheaper option. Sure no focus confirmation, but damn it's good.
Fucking love your videos
i'M not TRYING TO tROLL YOU, I'm including this as a reference regarding
Zeiss 85 mm f1.4 lenses. th-cam.com/video/gCT9fyKsp4M/w-d-xo.html
Apparently, the " chromed ring " zeiss lens taht you were testing,
DOES NOT HAVE T* coating. I can tell you from film experience, that
that one factor makes a BIG DIFFERENCE !
iIf there's a version with, I think called the " OTUS "., how about a test between the 2 ?
you need to try otus !
+SuperLitherland i have, it BLOWS ASS, it sucks, ive made several videos on it, its only sharp, it SUCKS ASS
I choose nikon 85mm f1.4 ais than this lens
This lens has lead glass!
i bought this zies 85 mm 1.4 for 70 $
Saludos desde Venezuela amigo!