Comparing Zeiss 1.4/50 AEJ, Zuiko OM 1.4/50, Zuiko OM 1.8/50

hoacker · Last edited by hoacker on Mon May 02, 2011 2:32 pm; edited 8 times in total

Hi,

this is my first post here. After quite a while of consuming, I though it was time to participate in this forum.

It happens that I have 3 50mm lenses and I did some comparison shots with EOS 5D and 7D. If you are interested, have a look at the results. The description is in German language, but even if you don't understand that, it should be pretty clear, what I've done.

The lenses:
Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 (C/Y), S/N 6026471, Made in Japan (AEJ)
Olympus Zuiko MC Auto-S 1:1.4/50 mm, S/N 901758
Olympus Zuiko Auto-S 1:1.8/50 mm, S/N 5628896

The tests:
1) Sharpness in frame center, EOS 7D, manual focus with liveview at 10x magnification at 1.4 / 2.0 ( 1.8 ) / 2.8 / 4.0 / 8.0
2) Vignetting on EOS 5D at 1.4 / 2.0 ( 1.8 ) / 2.8 / 4.0
3) 4) 5) Example shots with EOS 5D at 1.4 / 2.0 ( 1.8 ) / 2.8 / 4.0 / 8.0

The Pictures: Here

Please let me know, what you think about this. Medium term I'll have to get rid of one or two of those lenses (most likely the Zuikos), as I already have enough glass and a Leica R 2/50 is about to join the collection this weak. Laughing

NikonD · Joined: 29 Jul 2008 Posts: 1922 Location: Slovenija

NikonD · Joined: 29 Jul 2008 Posts: 1922 Location: Slovenija

Welcome!

Cistron · Joined: 25 Feb 2011 Posts: 238 Location: London/Vienna

Neat, thank you. I'm quite impressed by the Zuikos. Considering the 1.8 weighs less than 200g...

hoacker · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 11:37 am Post subject:

exaklaus · Expire: 2011-12-02

hoacker · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 2:30 pm Post subject:

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

hoacker · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 4:11 pm Post subject:

Oh, don't get me wrong. I didn't do the test series to decide which one to keep and which to sell. I did the test because I had these lenses and I was curious about the results. I just wanted to share the results and discuss them.

Actually, I like the rendering of the Zeiss a bit better. Looking at the colored glass thing in the example it looks a bit more 3D to me. When I take a 50mm with me, I usually pick the Zeiss. I was a bit surprised that the Zuikos are that much sharper wide open.

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

What I don't like in the samples from the Zuiko wide open are the very harsh bokeh highlights. Planar's are not smooth either, but Zuiko's are just too much. I mean, always based on your samples.

AhamB · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 733 Location: Germany

Nice test, thanks for sharing. One important thing that is missing is a test for long focus distance/infinity. There the Contax will show it's magic.

hoacker · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 11:18 pm Post subject:

berraneck · Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 7:56 am Post subject:

I am shooting with OM stuff (I have both 50/1.4 and few 50/1.8, and also 55/1.2 and scratched 50/1.2 Smile

), but I have also tried that Planar. Well it didn´t bring better results, no doubt problem is in hands Laughing

But the smallest, lightest and cheapest 50/1.8 always surprise me. Take a look at a picture, sadly it´s a bad scan from 13x18cm photo Sad

aoleg · Joined: 22 Feb 2008 Posts: 1387 Location: Berlin, DE

I have all three fifties tested here, and all of them are truly excellent. Technically, my copy of the Planar is slightly sharper and has less CA than my copy of 50/1.4 Zuiko (past-1,1M version); the Zeiss is also a more contrasty one. However, rendering wise, I prefer Zuiko style. The 1.8 version is superb for what it is, so choosing which one to grab is always a tough call.