[dave9t5]

It's all a question of perspective. Take the Leica 50/2 APO as a reference point and the Zeiss suddenly becomes a bargain - one stop faster for half the price


Seriously, though: no idea why they chose the 55mm focal length for this high-end lens. I'd probably want to use it primarily on DX, where it would be completely overspec'd.


Quite a monster lens, btw., at least for such a short focal length. A prototype was on display at photokina.


-- Markus

 

I suppose that they slightly longer focal length is a trick that gives a shallower depth of field at a given f/stop; compared to a 50mm lens it's about 1/3 (?) of a stop shallower DOF.

 

I know that my 58mm f/1.4 Voigtlander Nokton has the same DOF wide open as a 50mm f/1.2 lens.

 

So, with a 55mm (or 58mm) lens, it should have a bit more blur at the same f-stop than a 50mm lens.