Contax Zeiss 85/1.4 vs Zeiss 85/2.8

[Arctures]

Hi everyone
I am considering a replacement for my last AF lens sold last week. I would like to take a 85mm lens. First choice was Samyang 85/1.4. I like it wide-open very much but stopped down performance is not as good as other performers have and does matter for me. Now my choice is between C/Y Zeiss 85/1.4 and 85/2.8. Both lens are very good. It would be great to have f/1.4 for further 7D video capture in low light conditions. But f/2.8 Sonnar has really nice price. I have a deal to buy C/Y Zeiss 85/1.4 AEG West Germany version or 85/2.8 Japan version. Does anybody has both the lens and could compare it's performance at f/2.8? Or may be there are some test reviews with 100% crops over web which I have missed? I wasn't lucky to find any. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[Orio]

Sonnar 2.8 Japan performs identically to Germany version, in both AE and MM versions.
(I have all four versions of this lens)

Both lenses perform fantastic. They are different. Of course the Planar is faster, but also image rendition is different. To make it short I would say Planar has more depth (3D) while Sonnar has smoother bokeh.
Both lenses are sharp wide open.
Both lenses are supremely sharp stopped down to f/4 and up to f/8

Both are excellent purchases. Whatever you choose will make you happy.

You should decide based on how much you need or not the f/1.4 or f/2 aperture.

-

[Arctures]

Thanks a lot, Orio. Actually as I have mentioned above I am going to go 7D videography. So 1.4 does matter for me. Does Planar 1.4 AE version perform any really different from MM one on a full frame DSLR?

[Orio]

[Arctures]

Many thanks, Orio. You are the man!

[aoleg]

I have both lenses. The Planar is faster, the Sonnar is much sharper wide open and has more contrast. When shooting portraits with a full-frame camera, I don't need f/1.4 or f/2 that often; f/2.8 is about right most of the time.

[F16SUNSHINE]

Also have both and also prefer the sonnar.
When you need speed it is hard to beat the Planar.
For Portraits I simply prefer the look of a Sonnar every time.
Enjoy your new purchase whichever you choose.
BTW there is a brillianly priced sonnar 85 in the marketplace forum here now.

http://forum.mflenses.com/fs-canon-eos-40d-and-zeiss-c-y-fit-lenses-t22183.html

[pirius]

[Orio]

hm... jumping back in the thread to say that I disagree with some of the opinions presented above. Specifically:

- I don't think that the Sonnar 2.8/80 is much sharper wide open. It may seems sharper because of the wider DOF compared to the 1./4 Planar. But a well focused 1.4/ Planar shot looks as sharp as a 2.8/ Sonnar shot to me.
Then, if one says that it's more difficult to not miss precise focus shooting at f/1.4... that is a different matter.

- I never noticed any colour tone discrepancy between my AE and MM 1.4/85 Planars

- I don't agree with the concept that you can shoot portraits with the 2.8 Sonnar just as if you had the 1.4 Planar.
Although the 2.8 Sonnar is an excellent lens, capable of taking great portraits, the following photos taken with a 1.4/85 Planar would be absolutely impossible to take with a 2.8 Sonnar:

[Arctures]

Guys, many thanks for replies. Some times I am shooting indoor with additional lighting. Some Cactus KF36 flashes with umbrellas and softbox. What about apertures f/8-f/16? Did anybody try both lenses stopped down to f/8-f/16?

[Orio]

[gcrimmins]

Why not get the Samyang for wide apertures and the Sonnar for everything else? It wouldn't cost too much more than the Planar. And some users report the Samyang to be sharper and have better bokeh than the Planar at wide apertures.

--Geoff

[estudleon]

Did you read this


http://forum.mflenses.com/samyang-85mm-f1-4-aspherical-if-some-samples-t19479,start,90.html

Perhaps told us something about the samyang

Rino.

[Arctures]

[Arctures]

Today I have got my package. This one is Planar 85/1.4 AEG in very nice inter and outer condition. You were right, Orio, f/2.8 cannot do it so well . Here is the first sample:



Planar 85/1.4 presents a really awesome results. Really beautiful bokeh and great sharpness. This is definitely the best 85mm I ever tried. Looking forward to getting a Samyang 85/1.4 somewhere for a little test drive

[hugomf]

a little late, but i owned a Samyang 85 1.4 and now a Zeiss 85 2.8 for contax. The Samyang is an excellent lens, at 1.4 it is hard to beat for the price if not impossible, great sharpness at 1.4, nice contrast and good colors, it also is a great performer when shooting backlit situations. On the other hand the Samyang is bulky and a little on the heavy side, and i don't like it's bokeh, it's creamy and extremely soft but also very boring and with no personality. I found myself shooting at f2 and f2.8 most of the time since it's easier to nail the focus to perfection at this apertures, the lens gets sharper and more contrasty and produces less CA (which are almost non existent at 1.4 already), at 5.6 is stays the same as 2.8, no major improvements here, i wish it was sharper at 5.6.

I sold it for a Zeiss 85 2.8 and i am very happy that i did. Here's why:

- compact
- lightweight
- i shoot with the samyang mainly on 2.8 anyway
- the zeiss is sharper at any aperture
- the zeiss has a beautiful bokeh
- it has beutiful colors and contrast
- it costs a little less than a new samyang 85mm
- it balances nicely with my Sony a6000 (i used to own a Canon 60D which balances well with the Samyang)
- better build quality

The only cons I've found on the Zeiss 85 is that it flares like crazy and drops a lot of contrast when you are shooting against sunlight and not using a lens hood. The Samyang holds a lot better without a hood. But with a lens hood all is fine.

Unfortunately i cannot make a direct comparision with pictures since i no longer own the Samyang. And i can't comment on the Zeiss 1.4, but i've read very positive reviews of it and seen pretty amazing tests, though it seems bulkier and heavier than the 2.8. And at that aperture i don't think there should be any major differences between both. If im not mistaken a used Zeiss 1.4 costs more than a brand new Samyang so you have to ask yourself:

Do i really need a f/1.4 aperture? If no get the Zeiss 2.8. If yes and the extra money isn't an issue get the Zeiss 1.4.
Do i value compact and lightweight lenses over a large aperture? If yes get the Zeiss 2.8.
Am i on a budget and would rather get another lens with the remaining money? If yes, get the Zeiss 2.8.
Do i want to shoot corporate and clean pictures and video? If yes, than you should probably go to the Samyang, it produces cleanest images with a more modern look.

Hope it helps someone who is looking for to decide between these lenses as it is a pain to make up your mind, they are all excellent lenses.

[vanylapep]

How does the Contax G Carl Zeiss Sonnar 90mm 2.8 compares to these?

[shapencolour]

[vanylapep]

Thanks! I already have the G Sonnar 90, guess i won't need the Sonnar 85