Otus 85mm Preorders:
BHphoto with Nikon mount (Click here) or Canon mount (Click here) version.
Adorama with Nikon mount (Click here) or Canon mount (Click here) version.
In Australia at CameraPro.
This is a guest post by SAR reader Dierk Topp. If you want to write an article for SAR just contact me (Andrea) at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com. Thanks!
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Since last Friday I am a lucky owner of the new Zeiss OTUS 1.4/85mm with EF mount, a real production model. To make sure to get the lens asap, I called Zeiss right after announcement and asked them for dealers, who get early and more lenses than others 🙂
Useless to repeat all the praise and details of the lens, we could read here on SAR, at MingThein, Lloyd Chambers and many others more during the last weeks. If you are interested in such a lens, you will already know:
– it is huge (you need a sherpa -:)
– it is perfect (sharp, contrast, no CA, no flare…)
– and it is “not cheap”
You get, what you pay for. A few weeks ago you could not get even such a lens, even if you would like to pay more!
A few thoughts to mirrorless:
I am very happy with the mirrorless cameras. I say mirrorless and not Sony Alpha, as the camera body today is more or less like the film in the analog times. The lenses are important and we may change the body, when a new (“better”, faster…..) camera is available (next year? :-). We may just have to get new adapters, when we switch to another mount system. But we are not married with a certain camera system any more! More competition – good for us, but hopefully does not leave us with two big brands at the end!!
Last year I sold all my Nikon DSLR gear (kept only one T/S lens) and therefor I was free to order the OTUS with the Canon EF mount for my A7R. The huge advantage over the adapted Nikon mount is the automatic electronic diaphragm, that is supported by the Metabones adapter. I had the Mark III but ordered the new Mark IV adapter and got it on the same day with the OTUS. With a normal adapter you always have to focus open and then stop down manually and you may move a bit after stopping down and may get out of focus.
We could read in some forums, that users of the Nikon D800 where complaining and asking for a better focusing screen. My impression is, that the A7R is the best camera for the OTUS today. The focus peaking works great with f/1.4 and the magnification even better and you see what you get!
With this lens I try to use a least 1/250 sec. or faster, or I use higher ISO. Up to now I did not notice any shutter vibration issues, but I avoid 1/100 to 1/200 sec.
You will know all this, so here are some of my first images.
Some are just test shots, others “real” images.
You will find higher resolution on my flickr OTUS album, some even in full resolution and every day I load more.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dierktopp/sets/72157648057411871/
Therefor I don’t have links on every single image.
When you open the huge box of the OTUS, Zeiss writes:
“this is the moment, we work for”
– for me they were right!
my little Zeiss family
on the left Leica M Monochrom with the rare Zeiss Hologon 8/16mm,
in the middle Sony A7R with Zeiss OTUS 1.4/85
and on the right Sony NEX-7 (converted to IR) with Sony Zeiss 24mm
first test shots on f/1.4 in my home
(I know, one apple is “antique”)
and in the field
directly against the sun reflection on the water
landscape test
and 1:1 crops of the above scene
at f/1.4, LR5 default development, no extra sharpening!
and f/4 (not exactly from the same position)
f/1.4
and this is, what the lens is also made for:
f/1.4, two soft boxes, for flash I use 1/125 sec
you may argue, that this is overdone with f/1.4 as the rest of the face is out of focus.
I usually use f/8 for portraits but on this one I like, that the viewer is forced to look at the eyes
you shout look at it in higher resolution on flickr (see the link in the beginning)
DOF, bokeh and flare test at f/1.4
(you find these in full resolution on flickr)
and an experiment with 13 stitched images at f/1.4, hand held
about 10.000×17.000 pixel or 180 MPixel,
on this small image you don’t see the impressive bokeh
(the Brenizer method)
you find more on flickr including some full res resolution testshots
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dierktopp/sets/72157648057411871/
thanks for looking
dierk
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Otus Preorders:
BHphoto with Nikon mount (Click here) or Canon mount (Click here) version.
Adorama with Nikon mount (Click here) or Canon mount (Click here) version.
In Australia at CameraPro.
0 Responses
D810???
I know -RIGHT? Mingy Thein would have something to say about this. He loves the A7R!
He said the focusing screen sucks on the D800, and if you can’t focus properly it doesn’t matte how sharp the lens is right.
Exactly, if you can’t focus.
That’s not a 24-70 f4…thats the 24mm 1.8!
I’ll take two please….
Hopefully all buyers of the humongous OTUS will buy an A7R. I use an A7r and I am not buying the OTUS plus adapter. Defeats the purpose of buying the A7R.
That’s unless your purpose is taking extremely sharp pictures which Deirk Topp has exampled in the article. The combination works very well in the hands of a good photographer.
I disagree. Handheld “sharp pictures” with an A7r (with whatever added grips, etc) is not possible,
When the A7r II with EFCS shows up this will be even more obvious. In otherwords, the “best camera” is not really great for the OTUS.
Write Derik Toop, he may be kind enough to explain the proper technique to you. Obviously you either doing something wrong or have no experience using this camera/lens combination. A hallmark of mediocre photographers is to blame the equipment rather than admit there own limitations or ignorance.
Perhaps it is good to know how to spell, Number9? Dierk Topp.
I freely admit that I do not have (do not intend to as well) any experience of owning such a contraption.
The OTUS is made for EOS mounts and Nikon F mounts. Better camera for both the mounts are expected in a few months.
Yes, and when that “better camera” comes along a new list of excuses for will be used when the results are less than expected. What you really need is a better photographer.
Thank you! I always am striving to learn to be better while keeping my wallet close to me. 🙂
Vivek, the # 1 thing to taking advantage of an Otus lens is the ability to achieve critical focus on a regular and consistent basis.
The EVF of the Sony A7r and other similar designs can not be matched by other schemes. I grant that Sony’s crappy compression is not as good as Nikon’s true raw – and that Canon often does better skin tones but as far as I can tell and money is (nearly) no object with me, the A7r is still the best option considering all factors for a 35mm.
If Sony fixes the shutter shock and produces a real uncompressed RAW on a 36mp + camera they will be unbeatable.
In the perfect world I would have a set of Master Primes and a Red Epic Dragon and a sexy assistant to carry it for me.
There you said it! 🙂
I won’t buy the lens for those reasons.
Vivek your wrong this time. (usually you’re right) but hand holding the A7r negates most shutter shock issues even in the danger zone. Most of the SS was diagnosed through tripod based shots. Enough mass (holding the camera) negates it for the most part.
It is the “most part” I was thinking of. I would not put a lens good enough for a 200mp sensor on the A7r because of the industrial grade shutter.
So, where are you going to put it then? On the low res Canons or on the D8xx, where you will need to use the LCD to get critical focus, which will mess up your handheld shot even more than some shutter “issue”.
The question is best directed to Zeiss and Sony. They are partners. If they thought that this lens is best on the A7R there should have been one in E mount instead of EOS or F mount.
Obviously Zeiss does not see this lens on a E mount (check out their advertisement on who this lens is targeted at) cam.
There can be plenty of reasons for that and the shutter “issue” is not in the top ones.
I can list many others from my user experience of the A7r.
Hanging a heavy lens like this on the A7r is not good for that mount with plastic teeth, for example.
Me and many others have used an continue to use heavy lenses on small camera. I do not understand where the idea that a big camera is an absolute necessity is coming from. Or, do you intend to shoot the Otus one-handed? As to the plastic teeth, we have been hearing the same stuff for years about swivel LCDs: they will break, they will make the camera cost more, they cannot be made weatherproof. Show me where are these broken a7r cameras. At least, for the shutter “issue” there is some documented evidence, although even that is entirely blown out of proportion. One would think that most photographers out there shoot an armed conflict in the jungle during the night and then print fine art out of it, with the condition that they will get one finger cut per blurry corner.
“Or, do you intend to shoot the Otus one-handed?”
No. Will not happen. I will not be buying it to use on an A7 series camera.
They are far too delicate.
You disagree withe the proof presented above? As far as I can see from the pictures above, sharp pictures are quite possible.
The lens and the A7r is obviously not meant for trolls who only get blurry pictures with any equipment 😉
good night Vivek
Get the Novoflex and the astat/nex – they prevent flange warping from heavy lenses. If you have a $2k body and a $4k lens a $200 adapter that is aligned and securely holds the lens is a no brainer. I Imatest every lens I have and have proved this combination with the Otus 55, Apo 135 – etc
Thanks for the nice report. I’m curious about the portraits: I can guess the position of one softbox from the eyes, but where is the second soft box located?
For me it seems like both are left from the camera.. main light coming from the side and fill light closer to the camera.
What about the onion ring bokeh due to unpolished ASPH elements ? Doesn’t this effect all OOF highlights in both day and night photos ? What would it have cut into Zeiss margins to polish these our of the rearward most element of the lens? Maybe 10-20 euros ? If Panasonic can do it for their way less expensive lenses why can’t Zeiss ?
Because they (Panasonic) have that technology developed in house.
I dont care about your comment. I just want onion rings now.
I am an enthusiast with poor background in photography and apologize for that but looking to the pictures many times and the bokeh + overall sharpness that I get with my SONY 135 STF render to me better and more pleasant pictures. I paid $ 650 for this lens in my country brand new. Could you share your experiences ? Tahnk you.
Very different lenses, your STF isn’t sharp at all at F1.4, for example. Then I have yet to see a bad 135mm lens. But you do have a point.
Thank you for your comment Vlad you are right I can not compete in speed department with the OTUS because my STF has a real f 4,5 but in almost every posted picture you can get very competitive and with better bokeh pictures with the STF and at a fraction of the cost. ZEISS is ZEISS of course but I think that we are here on an other example of how much you have to pay for getting marginal improvements.
That is precisely what I meant by “But you do have a point.”
All this talk of STF is making me want STF. Maybe it has to be experienced to be believed. Dang, I don’t think I can rent it either first. Hmmm…..
You know I felt in love with the STF looking to the pictures over the web and I can assure you that if BOKEH is your point once you try it you will be addicted to this wonderful lens. Recently I was thinking about sell all my SONY APSC stuff and migrate to OLYMPUS EM1 m4/3 but if I finnally do that I will keep my A77 only because the 135 STF. Up today I could not see better pictures on any platform than this. TRY AND GOOD PICTURES !!
I have an EP5 and all of the primes (minus the 12mm). M43 is an excellent system if your sticking to the primes. It also makes a great pick up and go kit next to A mount. I personally would suggest getting an EM10- size and weight IMO feels better than the EM1. I think I’m going to buy the A77II this week because I’m tired of waiting on the A99II. I sold the A900 thinking we’d have an A99II by now- no luck. I have little patience so we shall see.
Thanks for your advice the market today is full of alternatives. I was thinking about going with OLY m4/3 because of weight, speed, IBIS and nice lenses for every photo project with true versatility and may be with the VOIGTLANDER 42.5 F 0,95 I will not miss my STF. Finnally I can add an RX1 or future RX2 to get FF paradise without invest a lot in FF lenses. I am expecting news about the future of A mount and then decide. The A77 II is a very nice upgrade over the A77 so put your credit card and enjoy taking pictures that after all is what matters !!
Take a look at this website it is a complete explanation about the 135 STF.
http://www.the135stf.net
I can not understand why SONY had never made a marketing campaign about this unique lens neither develop the same technology for other focal lenghts.
The 135mm STF is a must-buy. Its pretty well the best signature lens for the FF Alpha/Maxxum users.
Especially if you have a A99 where you can use it to maximum effect. I use it in studio with my strobes (Elinchrom BRX 500), and tossed/flea-bayed the 85 mm Zeiss after using this lens the first time.
My only complaint is the focal length. I wish Sony sold a 90mm version.
🙂
Mario, try the 135mm f2 Zeiss – it will blow you away 🙂 It doesn’t have the signature bokeh of the STF, but it’s crazy sharp. And because of this crazy sharpness it delivers almost 3d pictures when you have enough separation between the subject and the background – the subject is simply popping out of the background.
Oleg did you mean the SONY ZEISS 135 f 1.8 A mount ? This was the alternative that I was considering but I felt in love with the unique bokeh of the STF. If I keep all my A mount stuff and SONY put SSM in a future version I will purchase it for completing the perfect couple.
Mario, I meant the Zeiss 135 f2 APO. I do have the Sony Zeiss 135 f1.8, but I’m going to sell it in a week on eBay, so much I like the APO and I don’t use the 1.8 anymore. The Sony Zeiss is sharp, but the Zeiss “Zeiss” is just unrealistically sharp, especially wide open.
IMHO all these “fine portraiture” lenses don’t need AF, but they do need a dust sealing, since you don’t want to spoil your pictures with random dust particles that only manufacturer can clean out…
Nice shots and I must say: Otus on A7r looks great! Have not got delivery yet 🙁
Vivek, have you had a bad day today?
The best body if you don’t care about important stuff like Ergonomics, Weight Balance, IBS, or Auto Focus if you were using another lens that had auto focus.
its purpose it to take the best possible pictures..not fly to space or give your little weeny wrist kisses.
I would like to comment on some arguments:
“Hanging a heavy lens like this on the A7r is not good for that mount with plastic teeth, for example.”
The lens is not “hanging” on the A7R mount, it mounts on the Metabones adapter. On a tripod it seems to be balanced good enough, as the adapter mounts on the tripod.
I would say, that there is no need for an E-mount OTUS, all functions
work great and slow AF is no issue on a manual focusing lens!
I don’t know, why I did not notice any shutter problems. The mass of the
lens is so big, that it may suppress any vibrations. And as said, I try
to avoid shutter speeds between 1/100 and 1/200 sec.
And again: my eyes are very poor and with the focus peaking and magnification perfect focus is a joy. With a OVF I have no chance.
Great review and great pics buddy! The A7r can easily handle much heavier lenses BTW – 1 kilo is pretty much nothing 🙂
right, you carry the lens and don’t even notice the camera on it 🙂
BTW I had the Nikon D3 (1200gr) and the Nikkor 14-24/2.8 (1000gr.) and that was heavy!
The 55 Otus didn’t really do it for me. Now the 85mm 1.4 is a different story and I do wonder what Otus might have planned next. The 135mm F2 APO is really an Otus already so I’m thinking maybe a wide?
I asked Zeiss for a wide angle like 25mm, and he said, next year there will be something for me – and you and many others 🙂
It’s going to be an evil Triforce of Zeiss optics….24mm, 50mm and 85mm. I’m down with that sickness.
Hopefully they will also introduce a 35mm…. these lenses resolve so great that they will last through quite a few generations of cameras, unless of course Canon takes a piss on their customers and come out with that rumoured new lens mount.
It’s too bad A-mount is dead.
THINK AGAIN
Never heard about the Brenizer method – it’s always nice to learn something new 🙂
B&H still doesn’t have the Canon version. Does anybody know if it’s safe (from the warranty perspective) to buy from Austria?
Zeiss lenses go back to Germany for service (yes I know they are made in Japan but they are serviced in Germany). The warranty country doesn’t matter.
For Canon vs Nikon mount, SteveHuffPhoto.com posted “Both versions offer the detailed checking of the DOF in VF magnification mode. But with the ZE, this is done in a static way: set the aperture and magnify to check. If you wanna change, leave the magnification mode, set a different aperture and check again. With the ZF.2 on the other hand, you can do this in a direct interactive way: go to VF magnification mode and determine the DOF by fine tuning the aperture ring on the lens, while monitoring the changes in the VF. Fast, simple and accurate.”
But you found that wasn’t really a problem?
I would prefer the Nikon version for that exact reason.
Looks good. Is this lens better than a Leica Summicron 90/2 or even a Elmarit 90/2.8?
I would like to know, they are both available quite reasonably priced. For the adapter freaks it’s a wash. 😉
“better” can not be answered.
resolution, CA, flare, microcontrast…price, weight…
I don’t have those two lenses, but my APO-Summicron 75/2 is horrible prone to flare. When I got it, I had to send it back to Leica, but they did not fix the problem completely.
I plan to load comparing shots of those two lenses.
Well it has to be about 10 times better because that’s what the price difference is. I’ll very probably buy an Elmarit for my 90mm needs.
My el cheapo Elmar 135/4 from the 60s is my best lens. An astounding thing.
You need your eyes checked. Go look at the Apo 135 photos on flickr.
OK. Sweetie I print. Have been since the 70s of the last century and my Elmar 135/4 is golden. I think some of it’s character comes from the
fact it’s not a telephoto lens. I need the a7R for the pixels, one of the few who do. I left my 4×5, my Schneider Apo Symars, and the 16k x 12k scans for digital.
I have a calibrated display but the stuff you look at on your screen is a total crap shoot. Looking at stuff online will not help you much although every clue can be useful.
The Elmar 135/4 is just sweet, you have no idea.
My sample of AA Summicron 75/2 isn’t “horribly prone” to flare.
It is compact, light weight, focuses even closer than the OTUS with a helicoid adapter, superb handling on an A7R, very sharp even wide open and amazingly “cheap” compared to the OTUS. What is also nice is the built in hood.
You should try to get a better sample if your sample isn’t good.
Found a 90mm Summicron III, 35x,xxx, be a 1990 lens, I can have for $800.
I think I have found my 90.
Yes, blows all Leica away per all reviews.
Even by the price tag as well! 😉 This is one spectacular lens, no doubt. Designed specially for a Nikon or a Canon DSLR.
Unfortunately most of those DSLR aren’t designed to use a MF lens 😉
Indeed a lens made for pretty large clearance, 40mm – 50mm will always be less than perfect on something that uses 17mm. At least the Leica M lenses are in the ballpark.
Leica Summicron 50mm APO manages amazing performance while only weighing 330 grams.. this is a big difference!If you don’t carry it you don’t shoot it!
Grow a pair and lift some weights. Leica is made for tiny Asian school girls. Skip the bribery of buying them a Leica and go straight to the panty vending machine. You’ll save yourself enough money to buy an Otus and a camera that doesn’t lock up every 30 frames.
I can’t decide man. This lens just looks so good- but Sigma is rumored to be developing an 85mm 1.4 ART. Price really isn’t the issue, it’s whether the performance is worth it over the supposed Sigma. I keep looking at some comparisions between the two 50’s and looking at screen pics doesn’t do it- I need to view some large prints. Probably not going to happen. I just wish people who have this stuff would offer reviews in that context- large large prints.
But you got to wait another year to see the 85mm 1.4 ART.. Do You need the lens right now or you can wait for alternatives to show up? If you need it now, get the Zeiss. You can sell it later and get funds for the Sigma…sort of cashback.
Yeah, your right- bad episode of G.A.S. this past week. I don’t have an 85mm 1.4. It’s like the one prime in FF I don’t own. Maybe I should just pick up the Zeiss and call it a day for now.
Thanks for the review. I always like to read these reader articles. It would be good to see more of them.
This lens would be great in Sony A-mount because SLT cameras makes it easier to focus manually…Sadly, Zeiss wouldn’t make it in A-mount because they aren’t going to sell…
I read a review that stated even Zeiss was suprised by how well the 55 sold- they had to open a second line for production. They actually thought it would do more to advertise the line by showing what Zeiss can do and direct consumers to more of their modest priced optics. I guess there are more pixel peepers out their then they thought. I’d love to have it, but it would be a trophy piece for me.
The Otus 55 is not a trophy piece. Once you have it and shoot it, it’s indispensable because you refuse to settle for the images other lenses produce. It’s not just resolution as the FE55 is close in Imatest. The difference is in so many other aspects especially surrounding CA, color, contrast, all that and with the highest resolution.
Well sounds like as soon as lensrentals has it available I’ll be trying it out.
Hopefully we will see these two OTUS lenses in FE mount.
I agree that it’s a bit easier to manually focus these lenses on an a7R but my first choice with this lens would still be the D810 (I own both a D810 and an a7R and have numerous Zeiss manual focus lenses and have extensively used the Otus 55mm). The reason is that the D810 now has available an electronic first curtain shutter. The difference between photos taken with MLU and first curtain electronic shutter on and just MLU is pretty significant. Even with a bigger body like the D810, shutter vibration is an issue so having that available really helps. Since the a7R does not have that capability and definitely suffers from some shutter induced vibration, the D810 will produce sharper shots on average, especially as the shutter speeds get a little slower than the 1/250 that the reviewer is limiting himself to. Additionally, the new D810 LCD makes manual focus significantly more precise and easier to achieve in Live View than the D800 so the foucsing challenge isn’t as much as it was.
I feel like if your spending this kind of cash then you should be mounting it on the best camera for the job. I think it’s the D810 for now.
The best camera is the one you already have. If it’s an A7r I would not go and buy the same sensor in a bigger package just to use this lens with a bigger grip 😉
Zeiss is not making Sony mount for the Otus lenses, but actualy most people buying it uses it on Sony cameras. What the heck Mr Zeiss? Lazy about admitting it? Why the heck you do not want to introduce the Sony mount?
Since you give a S***** about Sony users, I’ll will not get the Otus. I do not like adapters.
Till soon maybe, or by by forever… Zeiss
Sigma Art 50 is only 5% worster then the Otus… why to buy Zeiss then. You can’t spot the difference with the naked eye (not talkin’ about design of the lens but the final output)
And yes Sony is the Best lens for the Otus! Canon and Nikon go sleep.
PS
By far, Sony has actually best sensors. Is this so hard to admit this? Yo, hello, Nikon and Canon lovers? I know, yes it is hard for you as you are loosing the top place on the photo market, and that nobody like to loos. But being used to be on top makes Canon and Nikon asleep… Anyway Nikon’s heart is already Sony, yes you have Sony sensors inside! Soon Canon will do the same as their Canon sensors just sacks.
OK, do not worry Canikon guys, your cameras are still good. I have nothing against you, just your comments are so geek. LIke mine about Sony haha we are ecqual about that just with better images from Sony cameras. Ciao
I’m sure they’d like to make it in FE mount, but the bean counters said no. They don’t make those decisions based on personal feeling but market data. It’s a decision based purely on economics. If you can afford that type of lens then you can also afford a body just to go with it. I can’t, so I stick with my Sony Zeiss. You are right about the Sigma Art though. It’s dang hard to tell the difference even pixel peeping but it is there. If that 5 percent is worth it then buy the Zeiss. I don’t do large prints and I don’t want an adaptor either so it’s a no go for me. I plan on picking up the Zeiss 85mm 1.4 for now.
Hi there. Great Review by the way. I was just wondering if there would be a problem with using the Otus 85mm with a sony A7 given that the sensor is a lot smaller. What is your input on this? Thanks!
does the ef version with metabones iv activate magnification when turning the focus ring? thanks