New ZF.2 lenses for Nikon

[Orio]

Zeiss has announced the new ZF.2 lenses for Nikon.

http://www.zeiss.de/C12567A100537AB9/allBySubject/Press2

Basically they have introduced the chip to the ZF mount, allowing full automation, exposure settings, and EXIF data.

This is probably going to make Nikon users happier, except (also probably) those that have already bought a ZF lens without the chip...

The lenses will be adjusted to the new mount in the next months. One exception is the Distagon 25, which is being "reworked and optimized" (whatever that means) and will therefore be re-introduced later.

The current (chipless) ZF products will be offered "as long as the demand continues".

And... sorry, but no mention of an upcoming ZF.2 Distagon 1.4/35...

-

[LucisPictor]

[patrickh]

Automation does not include auto focus and the aperture has to be set by hand I believe



patrickh

[Esox lucius]

Since the lens now transmits the EXIF data such as manufacturer, date, metering system and exposure to the camera, photographers no longer need to set the parameters manually.

[sarcasm]Wow, what an improvement![/sarcasm]

ZF.2 lenses still have an aperture ring ie. I can't set aperture from the front or rear command dial on the body like I do with Nikkor G-series lenses.

Lens now just comes with pre-programmed chip. EXIF data has always been there on my "old" ZF 85/1.4, I just needed one time to enter and set the parameters and save them on one of the memory slots reserved for non-CPU lenses. Focal length, aperture - the rest of EXIF data (apart from manufacturer name in EXIF) always was there and need not to be programmed.

Exposure automation like Aperture Priority mode has already worked from day 1 (provided that you've saved focal length and max aperture into one of the non-CPU lens memory slots).

Great marketing speach from Zeiss, for what in practice has no impact to existing ZF users who have a D200/300/700/D3/D3s/D3x with non-CPU lens memory slots. For all other Nikon bodies, this is a small but (maybe) important improvement.

[Orio]

[Esox lucius]

For me, the only thing that changes is that the LENS field in EXIF will on ZF.2 lenses read Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 while it now is empty

[Orio]

That's a great photo, Lucius !

[Esox lucius]

Thanks Orio

It's a great lens, love it.

[kds315*]

No big deal actually, worked without that even with my old D200.
A lot of guys I know "chip" their Nikon MF lenses already and one
guy I sold a Makro Apo Lanthar to, chipped it also. Guess Cosina
introduced this idea to Zeiss, since their SL II line of lenses (for
Nikon) offers that already

@Vilhelm: great autumn shot indeed, looks like burning!

[koji]

It is good and bad.

Good: You do not have to register/change lens id every time you change it
if you are using rather new Nikon cameras.

Bad: You cannot use aperture ring to change F-stop, or have to set F16 or
F22 in order to get rid of camera's error and change F-stop by finger wheel.
And older F2 cannot meter with ZF.2 lenses, which do not seem to have meter prong any more!