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To buy new Zeiss lenses
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PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2008 6:00 am    Post subject: To buy new Zeiss lenses Reply with quote
Related to F16Sunshine's question about adapting the current line of Zeiss lenses in PK/M42/Nikon-F etc. mounts, I have another question about these newly produced lenses.

How do they compare in their optically performance to the old versions in the same or similar categories?

Some old Zeiss lenses can be rather expensive and if the new versions are in the same area (or even better) performance wise why not save up that extra money to get a brand new lens?


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2008 6:29 am    Post subject: Re: To buy new Zeiss lenses Reply with quote
Fotal wrote:
Related to F16Sunshine's question about adapting the current line of Zeiss lenses in PK/M42/Nikon-F etc. mounts, I have another question about these newly produced lenses.
How do they compare in their optically performance to the old versions in the same or similar categories?
Some old Zeiss lenses can be rather expensive and if the new versions are in the same area (or even better) performance wise why not save up that extra money to get a brand new lens?


Firstly, the new line of Z lenses covers only a part of the wide range of offers of the Contax/Yashica line of lenses.
For instance, there is no 2.8/180 Z lens yet, and neither a 135mm Z lens, and neither a 18mm Z lens.
Secondly, the lenses are often different. For instance, the Contax line offered a Distagon 1.4/35 and a Distagon 2.8/35, while the Z line offers a Distagon 2/35. So you don't have a f/1.4 performing lens in the Z line, and you don't have a cheap f/2.8 alternative either,
Then there is the historical factor, some people like to have historical lenses like the 2/28 Distagon designed by Erhard Glatzel. The Z line offers a 2/28 lens but it's not the original Glatzel design anymore, it was changed - probably slightly improved, as a comparison test shows, but not in such a dramatical way that the other lens becomes worthless (also because it was nearly perfect itself).
Then there is the cost factor, for lenses that at least theoretically should be remained optically identical (like the Planar 1.4/50), the Z version costs more than double compared to a good used Contax example.
Finally there could be a build quality concern, Kyocera proved to be a very good builder for the Zeiss lenses of the Contax MM type, while at the moment there does not seem to be an equal consensus about the way Cosina is building the Z lenses. I can not speak my own opinion here because I don't own any Z lens.


PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2008 7:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Orio wrote:
Kyocera proved to be a very good builder for the Zeiss lenses of the Contax MM type, while at the moment there does not seem to be an equal consensus about the way Cosina is building the Z lenses

I also read about quality control problem with the new Cosina lenses

Lenses with movable group need calibration after years of use.
If you buy a used distagon 15,18,28:2,35:1.4 Sonnar 180:2.8 or shift 35:2.8 they can need a service for maximum performance
Other lenses have fixed group and stay top performer.

I also read that the new 25 is improved for border and the new 35 for resolution.

For contax, it is usually better to take MM as they are newer and probably in better shape and some have been improved vs the AE type.

If money is not a problem then the new Zeiss series is certainly a good move.
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