The worldwide first Zeiss Loxia Full Frame E-mount lens preorder are now running at BHphoto:
Zeiss Loxia 35mm f/2 Biogon T* Lens for Sony E Mount (Click here).
Zeiss Loxia 50mm f/2 Planar T* Lens for Sony E Mount (Click here).
Zeiss Lens Hood for Loxia 35mm f/2 Lens (Click here).
Zeiss Lens Hood for Loxia 50mm f/2 Lens (Click here).
Zeiss Rear Lens Cap for Loxia Series Lenses (Click here).
Zeiss De-Click Key for Loxia Lenses (Click here).
Full Loxia press text on SAR (Click here).
0 Responses
Overpriced, I’ll get the 55 1.8
Why don’t you have the 55 1.8 already? Are you just blowing smoke up our a*ses?
That tickles.
I was waiting to purchase it untill more information of the newly announced Loxia line up was made available. Now that it is I have come to the conclusion that I find the price too high. I do not see any advantages over the already existing 55 1.8 so I see no reason to buy this pricey lens. I would certainly not blow smoke up your *ss, since you already seem to be full of sh*t I see no reason to add more junk in your useless body.
99.9 percent of lenses are overpriced. I’m with you on this one. I fancy some nice metal, but I’m pretty sure my kids lunchbox has the same amount for about 15 bucks. This is how these guys make the money. Metal build and manual use to mean outdated- now it means “luxury.”
Most of all I need a lens between 16 and 21mm. The existing 35 and 55mm are stellar. Come on with the wides, that’s what most of us want from Zeiss.
+1 they better pump out an awesome wide,of at least f/2.8 or faster.
Agreed. An 18 or wider would be awesome. A 135 would be great too. And it sounds like an 85 is coming. Hopefully, a wide aperture model. Thanks to Zeiss, this system will have a pretty well rounded lineup much faster than Sony’s usual pace. This partnership was a very good move.
Did someone say 135mm? Yes!
At that price, no lens hood?Damn!
Immediately when I saw the links, I thought the same thing.
950 – 1300 and the lens comes WITHOUT rear cap and hood!!!!!!
Neither the de-click key is sent into the box!
This is absurd!
If you hit “what’s in the box” it states the lenshood is included.
Zeiss just posted on their Facebook page, that the Loxia does come with the Lens hood, cap and de-clicker tool. I guess BHphoto has them listed separately as a replacement item.
Surely they can’t sell it without the rear lens cap. That doesn’t seem plausible. So it may be that those three items are available separately but DO come with. How could we tell from what we see now?
This 50mm f/2 costs as much as the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 art lol, but the Sigma gives you 1 more stop and autofocus. Yes the Loxia is slightly smaller, but it’s not going to beat the Sigma in IQ. The common detractor: “But I want a more compact and pleasing manual focus experience!” Then dish out a couple hundred for some of the awesome vintage/legacy glass that is out there (e.g. Canon FD 50mm 1.2L, Nikon Ais 50mm 1.2, Takumar 50mm 1.4, Nikon Ais 50mm 1.4, etc.). Honestly, who’s going to buy these Loxia lenses?!?!
Someone who wants a compact lens for their compact camera?
We will have to wait and see how the performance measures up to the Sigma, one thing for sure the Sigma is absolutely huge by comparison and not a native E-Mount.
“Honestly, who’s going to buy these Loxia lenses?” Someone who’s not interested in collecting antiques?
But this Loxia is antique already..
You sound ignorant.
“Slightly” smaller? The lens is significantly smaller and weighs two times less. And the lenses you mentioned will either require an adapter, not have a warranty, be bigger or heavier, or not provide EXIF data (mostly some combination of those).
Stoked on the 50mm, the samples I’ve seen so far look great!
28$ for a Zeiss screwdriver……
$75 dollars for a Zeiss dildo.
It’s metal and studded though.
Don’t forget the 58 quality check points it passed through…
Sony please make these lenses at these prices, if Samsung can make them why can’t you? my friend owns these two lenses and they are super sharp and include really cool features such as VR, water resistant, function button and it is a 24-70 f2.0- f2.8? wow, and they both make really sharp photos. they are only missing the Sony mount. 🙂 LOL check them out. I very close to just buying this system and stay with my Nikon for my paid work. 🙂
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007261AZE/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-16-50mm-2-0-2-8-Camera-Black/dp/B00HV6KMQ8/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1409682510&sr=1-5&keywords=samsung+lens+f2.8
Hmmm those prices.
The Loxia 2/50 will be a hard sell between the stellar FE 55/1.8 and the (seemingly spectacular) Mitakon 50/0.95.
Even more so for the 2/35. It will very difficult to convince people to fork over $1’300 when there is the choice between the FE 35/2.8 (at half the price) and the Voigtländer 35/1.2. The sample images with smudged corners are not helping.
The Mitakon is a bit of a brick, but the FE55 is indeed a nice competition. For the 35mm, you can also throw in the Voigtlander 40mm.
84$ lens hoods FTW!
i think thats a bummer bhphoto preorder bonus only.
when you look at the zeiss site its not listed as a optional item, neither is the screwdriver. just wait till you can order it officialy in a couple days.
Check it again.
If you click the bh link and click ‘what’s in the box’ it lists the hood and the key
I didn’t see that it was any kind of limited time bonus
awesome!
you must be “working” on this for a long time?
Good job for quite some time now Admin!
I wish someone can explain to me how the minds of the product development teams in these companies work!
I can only assume that these lenses are minor tweaks, so effectively little more than a rebadging exercise of something that they already make, because they are precisely the two focal lengths that aren’t actually needed!!
Bizarre, Completely and utterly bizarre.
“Completely and utterly bizarre”, which summarizes most of your comments.
His comment has more likes than yours. Just saying.
I must thank you, as I always struggle to find good examples of irony.
Most people are mistaken in their understanding of the word and it can be hard to explain, but you have provided a superb demonstration!
Well, it seems “the minds” are doing just what they are paid for.
A manual aperature ring that can be “de-clicked.” 5 buck add on there. Made specifically for use with EVF’s- how? What’s so special about that. Weather resistant GASKET. As in, no weather resistance but we slapped a gasket on the bottom. ARE…..YOU…….CRAZY!!!!!!
The automatic focus magnifying feature is obviously the EVF optimization, as no OVF can do it.
The lens is weather resistant as every modern Zeiss lens. They don’t have to mention it 3 times. The A7 body can also take some rainshower so it’s nice it’s there.
Why can’t you stop complaining? Obviously this lens is not for you! Not your system, not your AF.
I can’t stop complaining because the lens can’t stop from not being awesome? I don’t know. Anyhow, yeah so maybe it’s a good buy maybe it isn’t. I’ll wait for the endless onslaught of personal reviews and then make a final decision. Once I get wacked in the face with a back to back cameralabs, stevehuff, ThatCameraGuy, FroKnowsNothing, Ken Rockwell, dxomark, TheCameraStoreTV, DigiRev and if I”m lucky maybe one of those will be decent. I can then rent it, throw it down a couple flights of stairs, try it out again and then if it’s still working then….just then….maybe. Until then my endless persuit of optical perfection will begin with a critical analysis follow by denouncing the product then being swayed by its charm and then emptying my wallet. In that order too…….
When the f are we going to see some 1:1 tele-macro lenses for mirrorless systems? Were are the fast, wide angle lenses? When are we going to see some actual weather resistant gear? I’m sick of all these 35s & 50s. Just more boring, overpriced, old tech. I don’t want fancy collectibles. I want tools I can use!
They choose these two lenses to start out with? Amazing! WTF are they thinking/smoking?
They’re smoking money, rolling it up and lighting it on fire apparently.
$84 for a lens hood? u srs? what kind of scam is this?
I can buy a 50mm f/1.7 AF lens for only $80 on ebay and it comes with a lens hood!
I’m buying just the lens hood itself and brag about how I own a zeiss made high quality photography product.
Two words come to mind when I think of manual focus- SLOW and METHODICAL. Is the A7 series really a good camera for this? The battery life is horrid. I’d rather shoot film and use a rangefinder. Have to match the right body for the job with the right lens for the job. That’s the question- regardless of the lens- is the A7 series optimum for shooting MF lenses????????
why do you even care? Just shut up and stay with your a-mount! We know your opinion now. Different systems for different people…
Ouch…touchy touchy. I will take your advice though…a-mount it is. Now about those slow e-mount lenses……………..
I’ve been using manual lenses on all 3 A7 cameras since the R came out, mostly Contax Zeiss and Leica R but also some Leica M. The results have been the best I’ve ever got–this is after going through the D700, 5D2, Nex 7, and 6D (and before those a bunch others). The ergonomics are fine but not perfect–I’d like a forward-oriented shutter release, for example. But overall this is definitely the best set-up I’ve used, and the best balance among IQ, weight, ease of use, and cost.
I used a film Contax camera for a while, one of the small ones. I liked the ergonomics a lot and the simplicity, but I don’t know about changing film mid action or shooting in lowlight… (That said I’m thinking of getting a Leica R body as a stopgap while I wait for A7S prices to fall.)
As for battery life, not sure what you mean by “horrid” but if I turn on airplane mode, a full charge usually lasts me a full day, or about 400 shots. Shooting manual I tend to shoot less and compose more anyway.
Well, I appreciate the perspective. I’ve never really attempted to use dedicated manual lenses but I’m interested no doubt. I just noticed no one had referenced the A7’s battery life. I also understand that prolonged use of the LCD heats up the sensor and can cause increased noise. Maybe that is no longer a problem- don’t know. I usually use the LCD verses the EVF when manually focusing on a mirrorless camera- which means I’d be leaving the A7 on. Anyway, guess I’ll have to wait for the reviews then.
Actually, it is not slow at all. Manual focus doesn’t really have a speed; with practice, you can focus really quick, not to mention that you can prefocus without even turning the camera on. Otherwise, everything that has an EVF and a moving screen is great for MF.
So…like many, I was very excited this morning when I heard the official announcement of the Loxia lenses. I was aware of the similarity of the 35mm to the ZM version, and that got me worried about the ray angle issues with cameras like the A7R, but I was giving Zeiss the benefit of the doubt. Just had to wait for samples.
Then I saw these:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/carlzeisslenses/sets/72157645178252329
https://www.flickr.com/photos/carlzeisslenses/sets/72157645178720498
Look at the photos with stronger pinpointed highlights (the flower meadow one in particular). With ugly bokeh like that, I don’t see the point of these lenses. They are manual focus, fine. But it seems like they’re just another set of cheap (by Zeiss standards) lenses that simply traded metal build for AF on the Sony/Zeiss-branded lenses.
Even if they have to be more expensive, these lenses needed to have great image quality. But if those samples are real, at least to my taste, the image quality is horrible (I’ve never owned a lens with such bad bokeh). Also, stopping down to get rid of that defeats the purpose of the f/2 feature.
Anyone else wondering about why Zeiss went down this route? The Loxia line just looks like another Touit line for the FE mount (except the Touit lenses might render more nicely).
Maybe wait for a few more samples?
I feel like I must be one of the only few readers of this site that not only appreciates these lenses but feel the quality is completely there and worthy of a Zeiss name and its price. Though it seems outrageous to want to pay more money for the 50mm than for the superb 55mm Sony-Zeiss when it’s ‘only’ manual focus, I think many of you are missing the point. At least to my eyes, these lenses have that “classic” lens look to them, almost a “dreamy” sort of softness to them without actually being soft. While there is no doubt in my mind the Sony-Zeiss 55mm is sharper (at least compared to the initial photo samples released) I also feel these lenses offer something completely different. The Sony-Zeiss gives you a “clinical” sharpness that defeats anything technical you can throw at it, while the Zeiss 50mm offers a different feel altogether.
It’s fitting IMO since the people I would presume, to prefer manual focus lenses, are also after that “classic” look of old Zeiss or Leica lenses. It could all just be in my head of course, but when I saw the sample photos, I thought, yes, this is what a Zeiss lens is all about. And let’s also not forget people, the old Zeiss lenses of yore were not known to be the fastest primes around, so a 35 and 50 F2 is expected in my book.
I think you put too much weight on “feel”, which is probably based on a psychosomatic brand bias. Fact is, these should be cheaper and they probably will be significantly discounted in time.
Ben, are we looking at the same samples? I know what you’re saying, as I own many other Zeiss lenses for the EF mount, and love the look (yes, dreamy bokeh, but not so dreamy that it lacks character). And I’m with you. I’m fine with manual focus and am willing to pay even more than what they announced if the image quality is there.
But the harshness of the bokeh discs in those samples wasn’t pleasant to me (the photos of the flower meadow and gears for the 50mm, or the one with the blurred building in the background for the 35mm). Sure, we could call it taste, but they’re a lot harsher than any of the ZE lenses I own. If you’ve seen other samples, please post the link, as I desperately want to believe otherwise.
I suppose we are looking at the same samples then. I’m no lens connoisseur, but I just saw something in those images that appealed to me. I however, am one to add a bit of grain and vignetting back into my images while processing my photos, so I’m probably just a sucker for “flawed” lenses.
I can see what you’re probably getting at though with the unsettling bokeh, particularly with the flower shot. I actually never much preferred the Leica look for their particular rendering of foliage, and almost felt as though many of the photos were spinning in the background if that’s even possible. I can’t say for sure if Zeiss has my sale, but at this point, I’m certainly intrigued.
Hopefully more samples will come out soon enough for us both to enjoy, Kaz.
Do you have the ZE 35/1.4? Focused at mid-distance (5-15 feet or so) it too can create agitated bokeh. As does my Contax 35/1.4, its ancestor. But I tend to think bokeh quality is given undue importance on the internet. Microcontrast and color richness are far more important, and then resolution.
I run a site about photography and asked Zeiss why a 35mm and a 50mm. The answer is too long to post here, but it’s on my site at http://photographicwanderings.com/2014/09/02/zeiss-introduces-loxia-lenses-for-sony-full-frame/
Nice. It makes sense, I suppose, if their target is the video people. But it is disappointing to me that I feel like I fall into a part of the market that is often neglected.
As a wildlife & nature guy, my needs are certainly not unique but I have yet to see any mirrorless system offerings that are even remotely useful for the type of photography I am interested in (specifically items on the wide end and medium tele).
Hopefully something I can use is on the horizon, because I really would like some quality E-mount manual glass.
I’m sick of lugging around that chunky DSLR but so far nothing compares with its utility.
I also want to relegate my EF DSLR system to just action and serious events.
There are supposedly three more primes being planned in this lineup (for now). They only started with the most popular ones, but many, like us, are waiting for other lenses. Wider, ultra-wide, macro, tele portrait, etc… I’m sure they’ll round out the lineup.
Looking at the ZE/ZF.2 lineup gives us an idea. There, we have a 15 f/2.8, 25 f/2, 85 f/1.4, 100 f/2, 135 f/2, as well as some faster standard focal lengths, and odd 18, 21, and 28 focal lengths. No 1:1 macros, though… An APO macro would be nice.
I wonder how wide and how long they can go with consistent M52 filter thread across the entire lens line?
in that case, i might as well get a rx1 better…………?