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http://blogs.zeiss.com/photo/en/?p=2745
See above link for their post.
Two things catch my attention. One is a manual focus full frame SLR lens, of 55mm f/1.4, claiming to be best in class, will be available in Canon and Nikon mounts. The prototype image shown doesn't look like their existing CaNikon range in styling, with a smooth plastic look as opposed to the machined metal. Also for a "50mm-ish" type lens, it seems physically longer than average so they may be doing something interesting there.
The other interesting comment is they say they will release AF lenses for mirrorless CSC around mid-next year. There is no hint as to the mount options, only saying they plan to "initially offer fixed focal lengths in the wide angle and standard range as well as a macro". AF definitely a nice to have for the more mainstream market. Given the Zeiss traditional positioning, this should be interesting from a performance perspective, if not price or small size. Side thought: while micro4/3 seems an obvious target with the biggest potential audience, they also have the most developed lens lineup. So I wonder if there's more potential sales on the more lens limited systems like Sony, Fuji and the unreleased Canon. Those all share APS-C sized sensors so have better reuse potential between them for a given optical design. But I'm not sure it'll be for NEX, as I would have expected Sony to make the announcement than Zeiss if that were the case.
<a class="bbc_url" href="http://snowporing.deviantart.com/">dA</a> Canon 7D2, 7D, 5D2, 600D, 450D, 300D IR modified, 1D, EF-S 10-18, 15-85, EF 35/2, 85/1.8, 135/2, 70-300L, 100-400L, MP-E65, Zeiss 2/50, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300/2.8, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Olympus E-P1, Panasonic 20/1.7, Sony HX9V, Fuji X100.
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That 55mm lens is a Distagon design in contrast to the typical Planar 50mm lenses. Therefore I would expect an oversized image circle, effectively like a medium format lens on 135 format.
The 55mm lens sounds interesting
Agreed on m43. However, there are no fixed focal length lenses wider than 12mm for m43, so there's at least some room there (except for the 8mm fisheye, to the best of my knowledge).
Frankly, anything that is not AF in this day and age is not even worth a look, IMHO ... but your mileage may vary.
Thanks for the link, popo. Interesting read.
[quote name='popo' timestamp='1346965414' post='19970']
(...)
So I wonder if there's more potential sales on the more lens limited systems like Sony, Fuji and the unreleased Canon. Those all share APS-C sized sensors so have better reuse potential between them for a given optical design. But I'm not sure it'll be for NEX, as I would have expected Sony to make the announcement than Zeiss if that were the case.
[/quote]
They also have the possibility to do designs that spread over APS-C & MFT. The costs of mount&af protocols are probably mitigated by the similar lens design, getting most of their revenues from APS, but still getting some from MFT. But then the lens size would probably be a bit bigger than *needed* for MFT, if compared with competitors.
Some focal length are equally interesting : say 16/17mm f/2 would do a nice 35mm for mft & a nice 24mm for APS, same for a 12mm making an albeit redundant 12mm for MFT but a nice UWA for APS ? Well, it could work. They can also go "original" and get away from the classic 24,35,50...
Greetings, S.
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[quote name='Kodachrome 25' timestamp='1346980113' post='19971']
That 55mm lens is a Distagon design in contrast to the typical Planar 50mm lenses. Therefore I would expect an oversized image circle, effectively like a medium format lens on 135 format.
[/quote]
It has 82mm filter size <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='  ' />
It's funny to see a 55mm Distagon for FF Canon/Nikon, after a 24mm Sonnar for APS-C Sony NEX <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=' ' />
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I need to revise my Zeiss lens design types, in particular what the relative strengths and weaknesses of each are. For example, what does a Distagon do better or worse than a Planar?
In other news, they are doing an Apo Sonnar 2/135 for CaNikon too.
http://blogs.zeiss.com/photo/en/?p=2625
1600 euro or 2k US ex. VAT... not cheap! But if it is sharper and better corrected than the Canon 135L wide open I'm interested <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=' ' /> I mainly use the 135/2 for astrophotography, so needs and considerations are different from more traditional uses... such as low coma/astigmatism and a very flat focal plane. The 132/2 isn't perfect in at least one of those although I'm not sure exactly which. The 2/50 makro-planar is better in that respect, but I just need something much longer.
<a class="bbc_url" href="http://snowporing.deviantart.com/">dA</a> Canon 7D2, 7D, 5D2, 600D, 450D, 300D IR modified, 1D, EF-S 10-18, 15-85, EF 35/2, 85/1.8, 135/2, 70-300L, 100-400L, MP-E65, Zeiss 2/50, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300/2.8, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Olympus E-P1, Panasonic 20/1.7, Sony HX9V, Fuji X100.
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[quote name='popo' timestamp='1347019481' post='19982']
I need to revise my Zeiss lens design types, in particular what the relative strengths and weaknesses of each are. For example, what does a Distagon do better or worse than a Planar?
In other news, they are doing an Apo Sonnar 2/135 for CaNikon too.
http://blogs.zeiss.com/photo/en/?p=2625
1600 euro or 2k US ex. VAT... not cheap! But if it is sharper and better corrected than the Canon 135L wide open I'm interested <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=' ' /> I mainly use the 135/2 for astrophotography, so needs and considerations are different from more traditional uses... such as low coma/astigmatism and a very flat focal plane. The 132/2 isn't perfect in at least one of those although I'm not sure exactly which. The 2/50 makro-planar is better in that respect, but I just need something much longer.
[/quote]
The Zeiss blog explains Distagon/Planar etc. in older posts. Very recommended readings <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=' ' />
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[quote name='youpii' timestamp='1347043916' post='19986']
The Zeiss blog explains Distagon/Planar etc. in older posts. Very recommended readings <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=' ' />
[/quote]
http://blogs.zeiss.com/photo/en/?p=2860
How much will the lenses cost?
Since the lenses are more demanding in terms of material selection and construction than our previous ZE and ZF.2 lenses, the price level will be higher. We are expecting prices around EUR 3,000.
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