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CZ 135 f1.8 ZA or CZ 135 f2 APO ?
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 4:08 pm    Post subject: CZ 135 f1.8 ZA or CZ 135 f2 APO ? Reply with quote
Hi everyone, I want to buy a primes tele lenses. My target are CZ 135 f1.8 ZA and CZ 135 f2 APO ZF.2 . I'm using a Sony A7 Body.
I'll use one of them with adapter.

I know ZA version can AF shooting with adapter on A7 body and APO version only MF control. I have some question before chose one.

- Which is sharper ?
- Which better image quality ?


PostPosted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 4:46 pm    Post subject: Re: CZ 135 f1.8 ZA or CZ 135 f2 APO ? Reply with quote
check_box wrote:
Which is sharper ?


Based ONLY on the MTF curves, the CZ 135 F1.8 appears to be sharper. Check it out:

http://www.zeiss.com/content/dam/Photography/new/pdf/en/downloadcenter/datasheets_slr/aposonnart2135.pdf
http://kurtmunger.com/sony_135mm_f_1_8_carl_zeissid266.html

By the way, Kurt Munger's reviews are very good and especially interesting for who has a Sony camera.


PostPosted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 6:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The 1.8 is awesome, the other one is just expensive Smile


PostPosted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 4:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
ZA version is AF lenses so is there breathing problem ?


PostPosted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 6:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi, few weeks ago i had same dilemma, while 1.8'aperture is tempting, ZA version suffers alot from chromatic aberrations and color fringing while shooting wide open. The new apo version, is much better corrected, and is free from any Aberrations and color fringings.
The new Apo version is also sharper, full manual lens, with manual aperture ring ( .ZF ) version, so nothing to break its functionality, it is build like a tank, to be used for countless ages.
Also i heard it has better bokeh.
So i ordered .ZF version with cheap fotga Nikon-Nex adapter. Its on its way to my home from Hong Kong.


PostPosted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 9:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
No matter which one you will choose, they are both two of the most wonderful pieces you can put on your camera.

If you have a Sony A-Mount- or Sony E-Mount+LAEA4 camera and can use it's AF I think I would go for the F1.8
It has outstanding reviews http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/Sony-Carl-Zeiss-Sonnar-T*-135mm-F1.8-ZA_lens300.html
Or here on Photozone: http://www.photozone.de/sonyalphaff/500-zeiss_135_18ff?start=1

Samples can be found here for example:
http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/carl-zeiss-sonnar-t-135mm-f18-sal135f18cz_topic11305_page3.html

If you're living in EU I maybe could give you some advices how to find one for ~1,2k new (PM me).

IvanKutsarov wrote:
Hi, few weeks ago i had same dilemma, while 1.8'aperture is tempting, ZA version suffers alot from chromatic aberrations and color fringing while shooting wide open. The new apo version, is much better corrected, and is free from any Aberrations and color fringings.

According to Photozone the F1.8 has very good CA control aswell and I can't find any resources that the apo is sharper at all. Also the apo version isn't completly free of CAs, it especially has a lot OOF-fringing at wide apertures.
Optically differences are almost neglitable between the two.

Only serious benifit of the apo for me would be manual focusing build (but the ZA is very good aswell). If you can't- or don't want to use AF I would clearly prefer the apo for sure.

PS: If you decide to buy the apo for a mirrorless etc., always be sure to buy the ZF2 version as the ZE version has electronic aperture contro only!
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