SAR reader Laszlo (Thanks!) noticed that the new 50F14Z is now shown on the carl zeiss website. As you may remember Sony Japan (Source DC.watch) delayed the launch of the new Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 A-mount lens because of the “exceptional high demand of preorders“. The lens is set to ship in early July according to Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
UPDATE: Some brand new image samples can be seen at Klubkm.pl.
The Zeiss preorders can be taken at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and SonyStore USA (via AlphaCameraDeals). In Europe at Wex UK, Amazon DE and Technikdirekt DE.
Reminder: The brand new Zeiss Touit for NEX are in Stock and shipping at BHphoto (Click here). You can get both! The 12mm lens (Click here) and the 32mm lens (Click here).
39 Responses
Sony Carl Zeiss 50mm F1.4 example photos:
http://klubkm.pl/forum/showthread.php?t=47956
Smooth & Nice bokeh, thanks for the link.
the message comes two weeks too late.
too late for what?
It is no longer news … but knew a long time.
And ?
then why you didn’t post the link? this lens looks very tempting
Nice bokeh indeed. 🙂
Looks like much more affordable Sigma 50 1.4 images to me. But I’m sure the price tag makes these much much better.
The Sigma is a very boring lens. It is sharp but that is all. Even the Sony 1.4 deliver images that has more character.
This Zeiss, so far looks only second to the Leica 50mm r
It is also shown on the Sony website. However, at €1499 I will skip this beast and set for the unbreakable Minolta 50.
To be expected. My next lens for sure.
Given the late number of pre-orders, are there any SAR readers willing to admit to having places a pre-order?
Just curious….
I’ll admit it – I did – no shame in my game. I did it back in late Feb thru Amazon.
i figured why not, they won’t charge me until the order is fulfilled, so it gave me time to really think it over more, read rumors, and maybe see some samples images pop up, plus when the time came I’d be further up the list to get my order than others.
I also figured that maybe my pre-order would help keep it alive. Sounds silly I know (and maybe i conjured that idea to offset the expensive nature of the lens). But don’t forget around that time everyone on SARs was killing off A-mount, so I didn’t want this 50 to get killed due to the ‘jumping ship’ vibe many seemed to espouse. Now it seems there are more promising reports of A-mount products so i figured glass like this will endure (even if i need to use an adapter in the future if i ever go e-mount).
I love 50 – it’s a great distance. I hope this lens has the chops of my CZ24-70 and 135.
The sample portraits at F1.4 at klubkm.pl (full size) are a joke. Lack of contrast and sharpness – overall not much better than my Minolta 50/1.4 wide open.
If that is all the lens can do – not many will buy it.
I have the Sony 50mm 1.4, which is slightly better than the old Minolta, since it has a better manufacturing and coating, Regardless of what the minolta owners may think. Anyway to make it short, the sony wide open is not as good as this Zeiss.
Only on your wildest dreams.
The minolta and the sony, if used in similar condition, would deliver more fringing and aberration to begin with. they are almost as sharp. The contrast…. i’m sorry it would not be the same.
Bokeh looks very nice. Pity the pictures were shot with bad focus or poor technique.
Don’t mean to be a party pooper, but I see the classic Zeiss problem with green and/or purple fringing in high(er) contrast transitions… I’ve seen this in the Sony/Zeiss 85 1.4, the Zeiss M 50 1.5… The Voigtlanders have the same issues, whereas the Leica Summicron and Summilux have extremely low to non existent levels of this… The problem shows up even on hair when shooting portraits with the sun towards the camera… And yes, you can kinda fix it in LR, but I would love for someone to tell me why it’s like this. Is the glass itself? To much lead in it? I don’t know…
You are referring to Longitudinal (aka Axial) Chromatic Aberration, also known as LoCa. This is not anywhere near as easily corrected as lateral chromatic aberration.
See http://www.image-engineering.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=510
This is common in lenses at very wide apertures, and is corrected by stopping down.
A lens designed to defeat this issue is called “apochromatic”.
Much easier to correct with the recent Adobe converters.
The Lightroom tool for “correcting” this type of aberration is a kludge that desaturates ranges of green and purple values, given some hints from the user. It can be effective with many images, but it is much better avoided.
Isn’t purple fringe a common problem with any fast lens at wide open? I don’t know about Leica though. If that’s true, then it’s not surprising given that Leica glasses are even more expensive.
With the Leica, the problem would be marginally better. With the Canon and the Nikon it would be as bad or slightly worst.
Not with the Zeiss 135mm f/2 😉
Not with the Zeiss 135mm f1.8 either; very minimal
I’d have upgraded from my old Minolta 85mm f1.4 if the Zeiss 85mm had handled this as well as the 135mm does.
From the klubkm link, I’m not seeing any huge issue though
They look amazing on the forums but the eyes are all soft in those sample shots when viewed at the original size. Is it the lens or miss focus?
It is mis focus.
When shooting close portraits at f1.4, you may have no more than 15mm of usable DOF. I would say that 95% of the shots will be like that. It is nearly impossible to get a lot of tack sharp images on the eyes, unless the model is leaning the head on some wall or sofa back rest and the camera is on a tripod.
that is the reason why mostly amateurs shoot wide open and world leading fashion photographers do hardly waste their time on such practice.
Hmmm? Wait for RX1 mk2 or go for this lens plus an a99? RX1 will cure my LBA for sure. a99 will cost more and this will probably break me so this will be a fixed lens on the a99.
Do you want a fixed lens, pocket camera or a large ICL camera with viewfinder?
Bokeh is a little too harsh for my liking… I prefer a creamier Bokeh…
Whats more impressive is those beautiful European women! Lens is great too though 🙂
I’m not seeing a £1300 lens here. I think you’re better off with a better value 50mm, the old 50mm f1.4 might not be tack sharp wide open, but then this doesn’t look tack sharp either! Either that or grab a 50mm f1.7 and save a small fortune.
I can see pre-orders getting cancelled if these images are accurate IQ wise.
Look pretty soft indeed
Bokeh is too harsh for a lens of this price tag
I have seen fine art inkjet prints of photos made with this Zeiss 50mm and a Sony a99.they were stunning.
I still thing the leica 50mm r has a better look, especially contrast wise, but it does not have AF…..
for $1299 I bet, no thanks.
Theoretical MTF is better or similar to ZA 85/1.4 so is performance wide open.
No wonder those women look so hungry–those cupcakes are fake!
Images are obviously backfocused, but you can see pretty amazing detail in the hair.
Still, I’m quite happy with the Minolta 50/1.4.
And we’ve maxed out their bandwidth (doh!)