Last year Zeiss announced a new series of High End Zeiss lenses capable of resolving all the resolution needed for 30+ Megapixel sensors (like the Nikon D800). The first lens they will launch is the Distagon 55mm f/1.4 for Nikon mount (release in late 2013). More info about that lens can be read at Zeiss Blog.
Now according to one source Zeiss will expand their lens offer in 2014. And there will be A-mount versions too! This will happen because Sony will launch 30+ Megapixel cameras soon. Both APS-C and FF cameras are planned to come with either the new 32 or the new 36 Megapixel sensor (not the same from the Nikon D800!).
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43 Responses
This lens should be amazing on the Sony FF – manually focusing on the EVF is a snap, especially compared to SLR OVF.
However, this is a lens I would never buy as the price will likely be around $3000 – $4000 and the huge size compared to the normal 50 1.4 is a turnoff.
Just give me that 100mm Macro NOW!
The new 55mm in a mount…with autofocus too??
The manual lens is set to cost approx $4500, if it has autofocus I wonder if the price will be the same.
35mm…please!
does it come with AF?
In A-mount, yes (if you ask me).
Dont think so. It is a complete New lens design with af. So it will be MF only.
If it’s a Sony made Zeiss lens than more than likely it will have autofocus but if it’s Zeiss specific than no.
if sony zeiss colaboration make it, i think this lens will have auto focus and SSM.. but the price will be high than manual version
This lens is a zeiss and has nothing to do with sony nor is a sony lens with zeiss branding. I would be sup-riced if it comes in a A mount at all.
As far as I know it comes in Canon and Nikon mount only.
af?
wow… 3000 pound lens..
50 Zeiss just shipped out, now 55 Zeiss is ready to come in…
The 55 is a new lens that zeiss has been developing (Manual focus) for the last year or two (and will personally manufacture in Germany), whereas the 50 is a Sony zeiss auto focus version of the classic zeiss planar (manufactured by Sony).
The focal lengths may be similar but internally the lenses are very different.
There is a PDF on the Sony site that says the new 50/1.4 is based on the old minolta design.
No matter who makes them, practically all 50mm 1.4 SLR/DSLR lenses are derived from the original Zeiss planar design
Is there such thing as a low-end Zeiss?
Contax/Yashica had few low-end lenses: Distagon 35mm f/2.8, pancake Tessar 45 mm f/2.8, Sonnar 85 mm f/2.8, reflex Mirotar 500 f/8 etc.
It is interesting how the optical design philosophy of the new Zeiss own lenses such as the 55mm F1.4 is similar to the design philosophy of the Sigma 35mm F1.4.
In both cases instead of the classical 5 or 6 glass elements used in the old lenses, the designers used about a dozen or so high tech glass elements. This and better design methods allow the design to achieve corner to corner sharpness and high contrast when fully open. This is certainly a sign of things to come to match the demands of 30+ Mpixel full frame sensors. We’ll see more of these lenses I’d guess. It all comes at a cost of size and weight of course, but the lenses balance well on a classical DSLR.
I’d welcome a new 50mm F1.4 from Sigma designed along these lines. It will most likely cost about a quarter of what the new Zeiss will cost and have AF. And would be much better than the Sony Zeiss 50mm F1.4 when fully open, I’d guess.
I really can’t see the point of a 32 or 36 mp apsc camera.
Of course what is needed is 51,52,53,and 54mm lenses 🙂 Or else it’s got to be in the 30-35mm range 😉
There is a LOT MORE to photography than churning out the same focal lengths over and over. Stuck in a rut on the same few types of photography. Where is the rest of the lens system? There are plenty of holes, especially in longer focal length lenses to fill.
Unless the admin states otherwise, this is a Zeiss lens not a Sony Zeiss lens. As such the focal length is up to them regardless of the existing line-up. Initially it was stated that this will be Nikon / Canon mount only so including an a-mount version is good news and provides hope that they will make a-mount versions of their lenses for which there is no Sony Zeiss equivalent (such as the 15mm rectilinear).
I do not know where the rumor about A-mount version of the Zeiss lens came out from. I only read about a committment from Zeiss to provide these lenses in Canon and Nikon mounts. Nothing else.
The rumor is not about THIS lens to be in A-mount.
Also interesting is marketing positioning of the new Zeiss lenses. They clearly follow here the Leica school. Very expensive and thus exclusive. Beautiful physical design stressed in the marketing message to imply that such lens is the ultimate fashion statement. No electronics, as they do not know how to do it – hence no AF and no IS.
I doubt if Zeiss will ever follow Leitz. Zeiss always already knew how to sell lenses at high and even crazy prices. Besides that, Zeiss is much bigger than Leitz.
great news.
It probably will be optically better than the 50, but unfortunately I really view it as a sales/marketing pitch. Sure, $1500 is ridiculous for a 50mm 1.4, but if you put it next to a $4000 55mm “HD” lens, it seems like a deal.
I will be great if they made these High End Zeiss mounts at interchangeable. Something like their CP.2 lineup. Makes sense if you ask me, especially at the price they are charging, makes no sense to stuck to a mount.
+1
It would be much more attractive at this price to me if I could use it on either canon or Sony cameras.
Plus Canon mount lenses hold their value better.
This is interesting news if true, the online samples I have seen taken with a 55mm f1.4 are amazingly sharp wide open. There is rumoured to be an 85mm f1.4 and 24mm f1.4 lenses to come next year. These lenses are manual focus and very very expensive, but you pay for what you get. I’m looking forward to some real world samples later this year and how much the 55mm costs when it goes on sale
where you get the rumour? new 85mm/1.4 and 24mm/1.4 would be great, and maybe 135mm too?
It makes perfect sense that this super expensive pro lens will be the first Zeiss lens to be offered for the a-mount. The current Zeiss lenses are simply not good enough and too cheap for the professional Sony system, but this new lens could (maybe!) be up to the outstanding performance and resolving power of the awesome super high resolution pro camera Sony will announce some day. I bet Zeiss read about it on this very site!
…because Zeiss wouldn’t have any insider knowledge? You realize Sony is probably their biggest customer.
Hope they have the class to make it focus in Mino/Sony/Leica direction… same as Canon, Sigma. The Nikon version focuses opposite direction like Nikon/Pentax.
ZF lenses focus in Nikon direction, infinity far left.
ZE lenses focus in Canon direction, infinity far right.
I can’t have one lens in my kit that focuses opposite direction from all the others. If they make this for Alpha mount, they really better make it focus Alpha proper.
I have two Sony Zeiss, the 16-35mm and 24-70mm and they are amazing to use and own. I can only begin to imagine what owning a Zeiss prime must be like, IQ to dream off.
Si
+1000
I started with the 16-35 and 24-70 as well. I now own all the current Sony Zeiss primes. Just one tip of advice. When you start acquiring your Sony Zeiss primes, make sure to keep your zooms. They are and will always be magnificent landscape/architectural tools!
That will mean most likely two things.
Sony users will finally have regular Zeiss designed and Cosina made lens and most likely there wont be any new Sony ZA lens. Reason why there were no ZF/ZE like lens before was that Sony had exclusive deal which also prevented Zeiss from making their own lens for Sony Alpha.
Considering A99 and manual focus, it already is best platform for manual focus lens of any kind. So, good news I would say. 😀
Btw. if anyone really wanted, they could have whole ZF/ZF.2 line on Sony Alpha too, its possible any not hard, just costs some extra money (and its stop-down only, but not much issue either with A99).
I believe this is zeiss add and manufactured (hence the high price).
How can one use the zf2 lenses on an a99?
You can use the ZF/ZF2 Lenses with a Leitax Bayonet (www.leitax.com).
I use the Makro-Planar 2/100 and Planar 50/1,4 with this bayonet on A99.
No Steady Shot and stop down only.
thanks for focus peacking so live in manual focus in a99 would be fine 😀
And we need another 50mm ish f1.4 overpriced Zeiss lens as in NOT
WHAT!
STOP the press!
WAIT a minute!
You are telling me that even zeiss lenses cannot match the high pixel count of new sensors…
SO… thats mean every single lense today came short to any APS camera.
AND yet camera manufacters are increasing the resolution every year?
You KNOW why the camera market is shrinking, its because all the bullshit like this.
ASK any PRO, and they will tell you “i had to buy it” “buy this but waiting for my dream cam” “its the best i can get” when even PROS are not very happy about the gear available, you know something its serious WRONG
The mainstream market is dead, the prosumer is dying (im quitting by the way), the PROs will always be there… unhappy but always buying stuff, that is the reailty we live today.
Well, TIME to get a new hobby.