Any comparisions/preferences on Pancolar vs. Ultron?

[decimusmaximus7]

Anyone directly compared the Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm 1.8 and the Carl Zeiss Ultron 50mm 1.8 and have a preference?

[BRunner]

Do you mean original CZ Ultron for Icarex or later version of CZ/Rollei Planar 1.8/50 i.e. Voigtlander Color-Ultron 1.8/50?

[decimusmaximus7]

The original that was sold with the Icarex.

[BRunner]

Unfortunately, I have experience only with the later Color-Ultron version, but I found it much better than Pancolar. On pair with Contax Planars and even latest 1.4/50 ZE Planar. And wide-open center sharpness is probably even better then all other.

[iangreenhalgh1]

I had a Rollei Planar 1.8/50 and while it was good, I wouldn't call it better than the Pancolar, I kept the Pancolar and sold the Rollei, largely because I liked the character of the Pancolar and the Rollei was sharp but had little else going for it in that I like my lenses to have some character to the images they produce.

I think it's pointless to try to chose between very good lenses like the Planar, Pancolar, Biotar, Tessar etc based on other's feelings, you need to explore them yourself and keep those which touch your heart because the differences are often subtle and it largely boils down to very small factors. For instance, I have a Pancolar and a Biotar and couldn't say one is better than the other, they are different and both special in their own way.

[patrickh]

+1


patrickh

[Pancolart]

[iangreenhalgh1]

Cheers, credit where credit is due though, it is something Attila taught me - to keep the lenses which touch my heart.

[BRunner]

Of course, it's personal choice. I like the Pancolar too (due to different color rendering), but on digital FF I found Planars technically better lenses than Pancolar. Better center sharpness wide-open, higher contrast and overall more uniform field and corner sharpness at middle apertures.

[DanielT74]

Zeiss Ultron 50/1.8 is a beautiful lens. With a lot of help from a friend, we actually converted it from the bayonet mount to M42 having cannibalised a mount from a Tessar. I haven't had the Pancolar but from what I've seen of the 50mm, the Ultron has something very special - beautiful colour rendition, amazing bokeh and transition from focus to OOF. Just a special rendering. It's also very sharp wide open at least in the center.