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Zeiss 50 and 100mm Makro on Canon DSLR Advice Sought
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 7:51 pm    Post subject: Zeiss 50 and 100mm Makro on Canon DSLR Advice Sought Reply with quote
I am in the market for a Zeiss 50/2 or 100/2 Makro for my Canon 60D.

I don't need focus confirmation and automatic aperture. Is there a Zeiss equivalent to the new made for Canon lenses (so that I can save a buck)?

I greatly appreciate any help.

Also dreaming of a Voigtlander 125/2 APO!


PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 7:53 pm    Post subject: Re: Zeiss 50 and 100mm Makro on Canon DSLR Advice Sought Reply with quote
Kram wrote:
I am in the market for a Zeiss 50/2 or 100/2 Makro for my Canon 60D.
I don't need focus confirmation and automatic aperture. Is there a Zeiss equivalent to the new made for Canon lenses (so that I can save a buck)?


I'm not sure to understand the last part, could you please elaborate?


PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 8:07 pm    Post subject: Re: Zeiss 50 and 100mm Makro on Canon DSLR Advice Sought Reply with quote
Orio wrote:
Kram wrote:
I am in the market for a Zeiss 50/2 or 100/2 Makro for my Canon 60D.
I don't need focus confirmation and automatic aperture. Is there a Zeiss equivalent to the new made for Canon lenses (so that I can save a buck)?


I'm not sure to understand the last part, could you please elaborate?


I'm looking for a Zeiss Makro for my Canon 60D but do not need the connection to focus confirmation and automatic aperture that the new Zeiss made for Canon ZE (and Nikon) lenses provide.

I just want a great manual focus lens that will adapt to my Canon body.


PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 8:37 pm    Post subject: Re: Zeiss 50 and 100mm Makro on Canon DSLR Advice Sought Reply with quote
Kram wrote:

I'm looking for a Zeiss Makro for my Canon 60D but do not need the connection to focus confirmation and automatic aperture that the new Zeiss made for Canon ZE (and Nikon) lenses provide.
I just want a great manual focus lens that will adapt to my Canon body.


Ah, ok.
There are the Contax Makro-Planar 2.8/60 (also found as S-Planar 60mm 1:2.8 ) and the Contax Makro-Planar 2.8/100.
Both are great lenses, the 60mm has more contrast and perhaps best resolution in the centre, but a resolution fall at the edges unless you stop down a lot. The 100mm gives very constant performance from centre to the edges, and has better control of distortion.
The 60mm is probably best for flowers or those other subjects that don't require best corner performance. The 100mm is best for document or otherwise planar reproductions, and for those subjects that are best photographed at some more distance.
If you plan to do studio work and photograph a lot of products, then the Apo-Lanthar 125mm may be the best choice, because it has zero chromatic aberration (which can become a problem when photographinc, say, watches, jewels, dishes etc.). The two Contax lenses have some (CA), although a lot less than the new Z lenses, which are frankly of debatable professionality for the type of product shots that I described.


PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 9:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks very much, Orio!
Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy

The 60mm sounds like it may work for me as I'll be using it on my 1.6X crop camera. Off to research it a little. Is there a particular version that's best?


PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 9:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Kram wrote:
Thanks very much, Orio!
Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy

The 60mm sounds like it may work for me as I'll be using it on my 1.6X crop camera. Off to research it a little. Is there a particular version that's best?


They have two names but optically they are the same lens.
If you are origin-concerned, I think that all S-Planars were produced in West Germany (at least mine was), while the Makro-Planars were produced part in West Germany and in most part in Japan.
However in my opinion there is no quality difference between the Germany and Japan lenses. It's only a matter of fashion and of value in second-hand market (Germany lenses tend to keep a slightly higher value).


PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 9:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks for that, Orio. I'm fully on the hunt now! They seem somewhat scarce.

My local photo place had a Leica Elmarit 60mm macro for sale. The Zeiss does 1:1, so it would work better for me. I've never owned a Leica lens.


PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Kram wrote:
Thanks for that, Orio. I'm fully on the hunt now! They seem somewhat scarce.

My local photo place had a Leica Elmarit 60mm macro for sale. The Zeiss does 1:1, so it would work better for me. I've never owned a Leica lens.


The Macro-Elmarit-R 60 is an old but excellent lens. It has a smooth very organic image quality and renders great the half-shades of colours.
On the other hand, it is not nearly as sharp as the Makro-Planars, although probably sharp enough for many.


PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
the Leica is almost as good as the Zeiss 60mm
it have nice vibrant colors and it is a pleasure to view the results
with just a extension ring, it go at 1:1
if your local place sell it at a nice price, take it
maybe 1:2 but it is small and the ideal lens to put in the bag


PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Elmarit 2.8/60 is great lens, definitely worth of trying, if the price is reasonable. You can always put it on macro rings to get 1:1, even Leica provided special 1:1 adapter for this lens.

Last edited by BRunner on Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:34 pm; edited 2 times in total


PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
They want $750 for the Leica 60mm. Probably high? Haven't searched ebay for one yet...


PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
This is too pricey, usual price is ~300€ depending on condition and how old is (was produced between 1972 and 2009).


Before buying Planar 2/100, check this thread about it's CA
http://forum.mflenses.com/zeiss-makro-planar-2-100mm-oof-ca-study-t21702.html

You can get the APO-Macro-Elmarit 2.8/100 cheaper than Makro-Planar 2/100.


PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Kram wrote:
They want $750 for the Leica 60mm. Probably high?


Not really. It seems a good average price. Of course it also depends on the condition of the copy. If the copy is worn, then it's a bit too high. If it's mint, it's a great bargain price.


PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
BRunner wrote:
This is too pricey, usual price is ~300€ depending on condition and how old is (was produced between 1972 and 2009).


Maybe it depends on the location, here it's impossible to find it under 400€ even with wear.

BRunner wrote:
Before buying Planar 2/100, check this thread about it's CA
http://forum.mflenses.com/zeiss-makro-planar-2-100mm-oof-ca-study-t21702.html
You can get the APO-Macro-Elmarit 2.8/100 cheaper than Makro-Planar 2/100.


I think Kram has already ruled out the MP 2/100 and MP 2/50.


PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Orio wrote:
BRunner wrote:
This is too pricey, usual price is ~300€ depending on condition and how old is (was produced between 1972 and 2009).


Maybe it depends on the location, here it's impossible to find it under 400€ even with wear.

Germany eBay prices. As I don't care much about external wear of lenses (when optically and mechanically are fine), those are prices for worn copies. Lenses in nice condition with ROM go easily over 400€.


PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
CLICK ON THIS PICTURE.

This copy of MP 100 belongs to our member Graham Smile



tf


PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
and there is no OPTICS IN THIS GLOBE and never gonna be which can do this:

3D rendering, MICRO-CONTRAST and PERFECT RENDERING EYE BALLS

Zeiss is a coating and optical king:

ALL SHOTS with Contax Makro-Planar 2.8/60 - I think they're wide open..

PICTURES REMOVED BY me

tf

Last edited by trifox on Fri Jul 22, 2011 9:53 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Your samples speak better than a thousand words Trifox -
the first of the three is 100% sure wide open
and it shows what I mean when I say that the yet excellent Macro-Elmarit-R 60 is not as sharp as the Makro-Planar 60 at wide open.
To reach that level of image clarity you need to stop down the M-E 60 of at least two stops, whereas the M-P 60 is just as sharp wide open as it is stopped down.
And the micro-contrast of the M-P 60 is unattained, not just by the Elmarit but also by the Makro-Planar 2.8/100 (which on the other hand has different qualities).

However for critical studio work with reflective objects, I would invest in the Apo-Lanthar 125. I mean, an amateur like me can do without it, but a professional can't.


PostPosted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 12:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Trifox, thanks for those. Both lenses are very impressive!


PostPosted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 12:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
BRunner wrote:
This is too pricey, usual price is ~300€ depending on condition and how old is (was produced between 1972 and 2009).


Before buying Planar 2/100, check this thread about it's CA
http://forum.mflenses.com/zeiss-makro-planar-2-100mm-oof-ca-study-t21702.html

You can get the APO-Macro-Elmarit 2.8/100 cheaper than Makro-Planar 2/100.


Thanks for that, good to know. I'm pretty much sold on the Zeiss Contax 60/2.8. Now if I can just find one at a decent price.

Last edited by Kram on Fri Jul 22, 2011 4:43 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 1:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I saw this: "The 60C focuses down to 1:2. The Zeiss 60 (without C) is heavier and allows focusing to 1:1. None of them can be considered "budget" though the "C" version hasn't the same quality feel as the heftier 60. The "big" 60 drops in performance quite a lot between 1:2 and 1:1 and must be stopped down a lot." from here (in comments).

Orio, do you have the non-C 1:1 version? I suppose I'd prefer the 1:1 option or non "C" version.

Anyone have one to sell?
Laughing

EDIT: Nevermind. See below!

Last edited by Kram on Fri Jul 22, 2011 3:25 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 3:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
OK, I just bought the 60mm f/2.8 Zeiss Makro Planar T* AE version! I'll have it in a week! Very excited! Thanks everyone for your very well informed advice.
Smile


PostPosted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Congrats to your purchase and please, show us your samples!

Makro-Planar 2.8/60 is absolutely fantastic lens

I have had Leitz Macro-Elmarit 2.8/60 and I sold it and bought Makro-Planar instead - I will never regret such a swap --

huge respect goes to Leitz but .. you know, Zeiss is Zeiss. Wink

I removed pics and I am adding these instead:

Contax Makro-Planar 2.8/60 AEJ on EOS 5DMkII, LightRoom, Photoshop

1


2


3


PostPosted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Stan, the bee-wow! Amazing!

I'm now even more excited to get my new Zeiss 60mm! I will definately share some samples.


PostPosted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Kram wrote:

Orio, do you have the non-C 1:1 version? I suppose I'd prefer the 1:1 option or non "C" version.


Kram, congratulations for your purchase!

I have the S-Planar, which is the first version of the lens, and one of the very first lenses ever produced for the CY line
(it is the only Contax-Yashica lens to still bear the writing "60mm f=1:2.8" as in the Contarex line, instead of the "2.8/60" writing which has become standard in all other CY lenses).
The S-Planar 60mm f=1:2.8 reaches the 1:1 reproduction, and was designed by the legendary Erhard Glatzel as the evolution of the S-Planar 1:4 50mm for Contarex.
As far as I know, the Makro-Planar 2.8/60 should be identical in optical design to it's predecessor the S-Planar.
You can find plenty of information about this macro lens in this article by Marco Cavina:

http://www.marcocavina.com/articoli_fotografici/TEST_Contarex_VS_Contax/00_pag.htm

You can translate the whole page to English with Google Translate.
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