Carl Zeiss list in quality

[andyw]

Sorry to ask but can someone please list the Zeiss series of lenses from poorest (cheapest) quality to best quality as i don't know if a sonnor or jenna is any better than a flektagon?!?!

I like the look of the Distagon and have a budget of about 250€ to spend on a high quality lens for urban/street work, 28-35mm (must be f1.8/f1.4/f1.2)

Many many thanks

[no-X]

Jena is the city where lenses were manufactured.

Flektogon is marketing name for east-germany wide-angle SLR lenses.
Distagon is marketing name for west-germany wide-angle SLR and RF lenses.
Sonnar is marketing name - or name of specific optical design, which was used for standard RF lenses and tele SLR lenses.

None of this words says anything about quality.

[ManualFocus-G]

Andy

Added to the above, most Fleks are in Exakta or M42 mount and made in East Germany. Most Distagons are in Contax/Yashica, Hassleblad or Rollei mount (possibly mounts) and cost a LOT more when new (most made in West Germany and Japan I believe). Generally the Distagon is said to be sharper and produces 3D effects.

Sonnar is the term used for telephotos of a certain design, and these exist in M42 mount (Carl Zeiss Jena S f=135mm) and C/Y etc. mount, where they are labelled "Sonnar".

Tessar is another (slightly faster) optical design, and these lenses again can be found in a variety of mounts. In M42, the common one is the 50/2.8, wheras in C/Y mount there are 200/3.5 models, for example.

[supahmario]

in my opinion you won't get a fast zeiss wide angle for that price. i can recommend...

carl zeiss jena flektogon 2.4/35 (around 120€)
zeiss distagon 2.8/35 rollei mount - qbm (around 80€)
zeiss distagon 2.8/35 C/Y mount (around 150€)

i don't know how the distagon 2.8/25 or distagon 2.8/28 perform, but these would also be in your price range.

[andyw]

WOW! thanks for the info. Shows you how much i don't know!!

I think i have finally found the type of photography i want to do which is street / urban type stuff and i love B&W. Some lenses just oooze quality and give very clear crisp high detail images like the canon EF 50mm f1.4 or the EF 85mm f1.8. I know these are EF lenses but this is an example of the type of quality I'm after. Canon 'L' lenses would also be another example.

The Distagon group on Flickr reveals lots of really nice high quality images. Would the Flektagon be a good lens for M42? Also am i right in thinking that an image would be sharper at say f2.8 if the lens was a f1.8 set at f2.8 than a lens that started at f2.8?

thanks

[ManualFocus-G]

From experience, I would suggest there is a lot more copy variation among Flektogons than Distagons, with Fleks frequently having issues with corners. Saying that, on a micro 4/3rds, does it really matter if the corners are a bit rubbish? You get the close focus with the Flek too although the Distagon just feels so well made...

[supahmario]

the flek 2.4/35 mostly is in M42-mount. it can also be found in PB-mount.

[poilu]

[supahmario]

[ManualFocus-G]

[supahmario]

[andyw]

So whats all this T* business?

What would be the best quality for my budget?

[no-X]

T* means MC (multi-coating). Or exactly - every T* lens has such quality multi-coating, which is able to transfer at least 90% light througt the entire lens. Zeiss used licenced Asahi 9-layer S-M-C coating for it.

It helps to achieve better contrast and microcontrast.

[exaklaus]

[Cobalt60]

Well, unfortunately with your budget you won't be able to fullfill your dreams ...
The lens you would have to target is a real dream lens, being the

Distagon 1,4/35 (T*, C/Y mount) - but this will at least be double your budget

the same is true for the second candidate

Distagon 2,0/28 (T*, C/Y mount)

[Orio]

[andyw]

I can get a Leica 50mm f2 Summicron R lens 3 cam for £250.

These are supposed to be good!?!?!

[Orio]

[supahmario]

[pirius]

Only 50mm Zeiss lenses are within your price range for the desired speed. 50/1.4 is superb, but with the 2x crop factor on your Panny it will become a telephoto lens. If you need glass faster than f/2, you might also want to take a look at Minolta 35/1.8. Otherwise I'd suggest Contax 28/2.8.

[BenediktW]

Seems you are rather flexible in your desired focal range. So if lenses around 50mm are OK, there are many great options. But around 28-35mm, it´s becoming difficult.

My ideas:

- Nikkor 28mm F2 (great lens!)
- Nikkor 35mm F1,4 (very soft wide open, but a dream at F4)
- Nikkor 35mm F2 (very good wide open)
- MIR (MNP) 35mm F2 (actually I´m still trying to get one)
- Voigtländer Ultron 40mm F2
- Nikkor 50mm F1,4
- Nikkor 50mm F2 (my budget tip. completely underrated lens, tremendously sharp and nicer bokeh than most fast 50mm)
- Mamiya Sekor/SX 55mm F1,4 M42

[andyw]

Thanks all very much. Much to muse over! Oh it's SO difficult!! LOL