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Contax Zeiss Planar 50mm 1.4 vs Planar 85mm 1.4
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 8:09 pm    Post subject: Contax Zeiss Planar 50mm 1.4 vs Planar 85mm 1.4 Reply with quote
Hello guys,

I was wondering how these lenses compare in terms of sharpness, rendition, colors and bokeh.
I know it is a different focal lenght, but they are both planars.

The 50mm on a m43 sensor and the 85mm on cmos sensor have simular focal lenghts.
Would the result be similar ?


PostPosted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 8:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
They are two very different lenses despite their sharing an idea of optical design. Even if you put the 50/1.4 on a crop body and the 85/1.4 on a FF one, the pictures will still look different. The most obvious difference in images produced by the 85mm lens is the apparent "soft-effect" when the lens is used wide open. It's not the usual "softness" or "fuzziness"; instead, this lens features a rather pleasant (at least to my eye) portrait-type soft effect - only at f/1.4. In my experience, the 50/1.4 does not have anything like that. There are other differences in rendering that are less apparent, but I think it's safe to say the two Planars render images differently.


PostPosted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 10:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Considering the different focal lenght (which has a big impact), the lenses feel homogeneous in rendering to me:

1.4/50 wide open:





1.4/85 wide open:





PostPosted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I see no difference than need to get a few step closer with 50mm f1.4 and setup is more light weight Wink


PostPosted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
They are both stunning! Get whichever suits your shooting style best i.e. longer or shorter. Bear in mind the 85mm is a bit bigger Wink


PostPosted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 1:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
do they share same optical formula (85mm is just scaled up version of the 50mm?)


PostPosted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 1:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
yes, Planar is a design name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeiss_Planar


PostPosted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 1:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
hifisapi wrote:
do they share same optical formula (85mm is just scaled up version of the 50mm?)


They follow the same optical concept (double Gauss). Of course they sport the necessary differences to make them fit to the different focal lenghts.


PostPosted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 10:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Maybe someone wih both lenses could take exactly the same picture. (just change position regarding focal lenght difference) ? Cool


PostPosted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 8:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Attila wrote:
I see no difference than need to get a few step closer with 50mm f1.4 and setup is more light weight Wink

But can you see the soft-effect when shooting 85/1.4 wide open? The 50/1.4 does not have that effect. Also, the 50/1.4 renders busy backgrounds smoother wide open than the 85/1.4. In my view (and I have both) these two lenses are far apart from each other, rendering wise.


PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 2:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
[quote="aoleg"]
Attila wrote:
Also, the 50/1.4 renders busy backgrounds smoother wide open than the 85/1.4.

Smoother means better ? or just different ?


PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 3:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
[quote="asterinex"]
aoleg wrote:
Attila wrote:
Also, the 50/1.4 renders busy backgrounds smoother wide open than the 85/1.4.

Smoother means better ? or just different ?

Different. The 50/1.7 version of Zeiss Planar is known for harsh bokeh, but it's all relative - I didn't find it disturbing.


PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 4:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
aoleg wrote:
The 50/1.7 version of Zeiss Planar is known for harsh bokeh


I think people, especially non-expert people who wants to appear as expert, says a lot of stupid things. I know the type,
young guys who used autofocus lenses for all their short life, fought brand wars at DP Review about them (as typical of young nerdy people),
then suddely found out about the old legacy lenses cos' it's the new cool thing in town, tried a couple of them, and pretending to be expert of them just to look distinguished Rolling Eyes
It's simply not possible that a same person evaluates the bokeh of the 1.4/50 as smooth and that of the 1.7/50 as harsh.
They are the same type of lens, same focal lenght, made by the same factory, with most likely the same materials, inside
the same lens line which is reputed for it's consistency of image rendering throughout the catalog.


PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 4:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
aoleg wrote:
The 50/1.7 version of Zeiss Planar is known for harsh bokeh

the 50/1.7 bokeh is harsh on crop but nice on full frame, on film it is even better than on digital

asterinex wrote:
Smoother means better ? or just different ?

the 50:1.4 is exceptional, the 85:1.4 is magic


PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 5:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Laughing Laughing Any Contax T* is magic LOL I am over hundred of lens tests, I never ever find similar product line from any maker where is every single piece is top of the line like Carl Zeiss line, all other maker has some top some average lenses.
I am Zeiss fun for sure, but I have space to others also in my heart , latest and amazing stuff is Kodak Cine Ektar 63mm f2. I was also amazed about Leica R Summicron 50mm f1.4 , but price tag quickly nudge me forward to other lenses Laughing


PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 5:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Attila wrote:
latest and amazing stuff is Kodak Cine Ektar 63mm f2

yes, the Kodak Cine Ektar family have strong magics !


PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 7:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Orio wrote:
It's simply not possible that a same person evaluates the bokeh of the 1.4/50 as smooth and that of the 1.7/50 as harsh.
They are the same type of lens, same focal lenght, made by the same factory, with most likely the same materials, inside
the same lens line which is reputed for it's consistency of image rendering throughout the catalog.

Yup. Canon's 50/1.2L and its lowly 50/1.8 are also the same type of lens, made by the same company etc. What? You say, the 1.8 lens is made of plastic? Well, here's the surprise: the outer shell of the Planar 50/1.7 is also partially made of plastic! (First-hand experience. I owned one.) It *was* a "kit" lens after all. So: different materials, different construction, different optical design and even a different number of lens elements, the last two points contributing to the differences in rendering.

I owned both Planars, but sold the 1.7 version and kept the 1.4. Personally, I found the 1.7 lens to be slightly more contrasty and slightly sharper wide open compared to the 1.4, with a slightly more nervous background rendering. The differences are slight, but they are certainly there.


PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 9:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
asterinex wrote:
Maybe someone wih both lenses could take exactly the same picture. (just change position regarding focal lenght difference) ? Cool


Why though? They are both exceptional lenses, with superb resolution and pop from f/2.8. The 50mm version is smaller and lighter. Surely you should buy the lens with the right focal length for your shooting style?
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