Hands on your credit card! Here comes the world’s best wide-angle lens from Zeiss. The new 28mm f/1.4 Otus! It comes in Nikon and Canon mount but of course it works fine (or even better because of the focus aids) on Sony E-mount cameras. Price has yet not be determined and the lens will ship in Spring 2016 only.
Diglloyd is already testing the lens and writes:
The Sony A7R II makes an excellent platform for Otus, due to its built-in EVF for focusing.
Press text and images on SAR.
Official presentation at Zeiss.de.
Full Technical details can be seen on that pdf file (download here).
Leaflet with image samples (pdf file here).
Image samples on Flickr.
Press text and coverage on other sites:
Dearsusan. Photographyblog. DSLRmagazine (spanish). Focus Numerique (French). Matt Granger reports the lens is 200g heavier than the Otus 85mm!
55 Responses
http://www.zeiss.de/camera-lenses/de_de/camera_lenses/otus/otus1428.html
Uff another one from the bodybuilder series
Wow, 154mm, 1.35 – 1.39kg and a 95mm front filter thread. It’s big even by Otus standards 🙂 (85mm 101mm, 1.14 – 1.2kg, 86mm front filter thread, and 55mm was 144mm, 0.97 – 1.03kg, and a 77mm front filter thread) Looking forward to seeing all the samples though!
Samples up at https://www.flickr.com/photos/carlzeisslenses/sets/72157657249840463
Forged from wrought iron and glass…
Perfect for astrophotography or any kind of staged shot…
Whoever uses this for street photography should get an award for even trying…
For someone with an unlimited budget though I think the Leica 21mm f1.4 would be a better choice for astro though
Price? I can’t wait
It looks like this time it’s just an announcement – price TBA and shipping 2nd quarter of 2016.
wow… 2Q of 2016? Did Zeiss have issues during development? sounds like the 28mm focal length wasn’t the initial design and were far behind schedule
That’s how it went with the 55mm. It was announced and put on display without much information until 6 months or so later if I recall correctly.
I just had a look back at the announcement of the 55mm, it was announced early Oct with a price and shipping end of Oct. The 85mm was announced early Sep and shipped late Sep. But this one might have been harder to design than they originally predicted? Doh! Still, I’d much rather wait and have them do it right than rush it and cut corners.
Zeiss originally showed the 55mm at Photokina in 2012 without the Otus name and without the neon lettering on the barrel. It was in a pre-release stage for much of 2013 until the release announcement in October 2013.
Ah! Apologies, I wasn’t aware of that. Interesting, then in that case haha the 85mm is the odd one out.
No apologies needed. The 85mm came out quickly.
Wow, that’s a massive assortment of metal and glass. 🙂
But even if I’d be on Canikon I would probably not consider this lens, because I think for the price you’ll get three Milvus. This fragmental plus of IQ and BQ would for me not justify the tremendous price tag.
Currently on my A7RII I’m happy with my 95%-Otus called Batis. 🙂
Many people are happy with even m43 sensors with good lenses which cost much less than your A7rII. It all boils down to how much you are willing to compromise.
A friend shoots exclusively with m43 and can’t believe people pay $3k+ for cameras considering they will be worthless junk in around 5 years.
He feels m43 can shoot 95% of FF at base ISO and sane aperture settings. At high ISO of course FF is noticeably better but not by a huge amount anymore.
Calling a five year old camera worthless junk sounds a little bit like your friend being envy of people being able to effort the investment.
If he is fine with m43 – so be it. But he may not talk such BS.
I have a friend who is professional Canon photograph for more than 30 years now.
And he is working with a 1DsII and a 5DII, and he is earning good money with this “worthless junk”. (just remind that the 1DsII is a 10 year old body)
I apologize if you took offense to my post. It wasn’t meant to be offensive.
My friends main point was that everyone has different yardsticks for quality so while you are happy with your Batis my friend is also very happy with much cheaper equipment.
I personally use an A7 and A7 II and an old Minolta 85mm f1.4 lens which I want to upgrade to the Batis down the line when I can afford it.
Also my main point was that after 15 years I am willing to bet the Otus will be still commanding a premium price while most camera bodies no matter the cost will be lying in some junk pile somewhere so there are many people who don’t think twice in buying an Otus lens cause its something that is likely to last for decades at at time. So the overall cost is still far cheaper than something like an A7rII.
Fair enough.
I didn’t took it personally. It felt a bit offensive without further explanation.
You are thinking right in TCO relation. Therefore I gave the example of my friend. When he bought the 1DsII in early 2006 it was about 8k€ RRP. Sounded crazy for someone just looking at the price.
But now, almost 10 years later it is a different view. Somewhat like 100€ per month.
So if I’d keep my A7RII for about 36 month, it’ll be a draw. 🙂
Lenses always have a much higher long-term maintenance of value, and the more special they are, the better their value will remain.
If your friend is shooting for fun and isn’t earning money with iOS camera that may be the right attitude for his situation. For others that rely on cameras every day for income, other more expensive bodies make more sense (and are quickly recouped).
Yes he is shooting for fun not for work but that wasn’t the point of my post.
My first point was that people have different yardsticks for quality.
There are plenty of pros using old bodies like 1st gen 5d bodies which they are happy with. However those at the top of their game always buy the best available. So while Dirk is happy with his 85mm Batis some will find it not good enough and want the Otus. Others (like my friend) will find cheaper lenses than the Batis to be good enough for him.
My second point was that lenses are far cheaper than bodies when you consider total cost of ownership over long periods of time.
So this Otus cost of ownership is actually far cheaper than something like an A7rII which will last 10 years tops while the Otus will probably be around for 50+ years if not more.
Absolutely true. Not every “pro” (=somebody making a living from earning money with his photographs) likes to carry a (or several) 3 pound lenses around. Think of documentary, news or travel photographers. Have fun going to a riot or on dangerous grounds with your Nikon 4D and two Otus! And not every photographer rolls in money. After all, it’s a business. If you don’t spend 5k on a lens but only 1k, you have 4k more profit to put aside for bad times. A lot of serious photographers use old, trusted gear. New gear needs to be tested, validated and learned inside out. You simply have no time to constantly checking the latest, greatest gizmo, only to find out that it makes things differently but not all better.
Most people on forums or blogs talking about pro photographers or pro gear are simply amateurs and have very little knowledge about the business of photography.
Pros shoot old bodies because they’re broke, good day rates are gone, too many hobbyists doing it for free. OTUS ownership, like here on SAR, is often by “Wireless phone techs from Texas” namely Max (Anton) Berlin. Most pros cannot afford, nor justify the OTUS. Most pros don’t give a crap about shooting a pile of twigs in Yosemite, too many hobbyists doing that, therefore there’s no market for twig photography.
An old 1DSll, 24-70, 70-200 & 50 f/1.4, that’s what most pros actually shoot (out of necessity)!
I’ve mixed it up with weddings for my own interest. The M43 pictures I’ve taken with primes- as you stated- they really aren’t that far off from what I got with the A7II and Zeiss glass. I’d take that statement as far as 1600 ISO is concerned. How the glass renders has more of an impact IMO than the sensor size and that’s why I’m convinced- you most certainly could shoot a wedding professionally with M43.
I cannot believe these same people are often prepared to spend north of $3000 on a car to drive 1/2 a mile to the local gym either. Some people have little “proper” perspective as they make these decrees from within there 1500 square foot single occupancy homes.
Everything including us (people) will become junk sooner or later 🙂 The A7r2 will obsolete next year, and you’re right – it won’t worth much at all in 5 years, but you’ll get 5 years of amazing pictures.
This line of thinking is exactly what Zeiss has in mind I think. Zeiss can make something in limited quantities and still have it be ‘in production’ and it looks good for them to be the producer of the best primes available for any system. This 28mm will sell a bunch of 28/2 Distagons and maybe even 21/2.8 Loxias. I just think it’s cool that they make it, even though I personally don’t think ANY of the Otus lenses have practical applications. They’re way to big! And I am a heavy user of the Zeiss 50/1,4 Planar even at weddings. That’s my favorite lens, it renders so beautifully.
1500 euro?
lol
No, $1500. That’s slightly cheaper, but do consider VAT. Anyway, I’d wait a year for used ones. Their price will be in $800-$900 range.
lolol
Based on previous Otus prices, my guess (only a guess of course) would be US$ 4,999
I can bet $1 it won’t go over $4500 in the US.
I dont understand, are you bargaining or what? That is your final offer?
Sold. What’s you shipping address? 🙂
…or perhaps 3000-4000 euro.
I am guessing these are manual lenses and both are E-Mount lenses too?
Yes, both Nikon and Canon version are E-mount too.
Full-frame Zeiss lenses…
Otus: (ultra-high performance) MF lenses for DSLRs (Canon and Nikon)
Milvus: MF lenses for DSLRs (Canon and Nikon)
Batis: AF lenses for mirrorless (E-mount)
Loxia: MF lenses for mirrorless (E-mount)
this is going to be the same as the 85mm otus or more. Expect to pay 5k
Congratulations, Zeiss, you’ve made a freaking three pound manual focus prime. (I mean I’m sure it’ll be flawless, but still, O_o …)
These Otii are halo products, with limited practical use, and are designed to lift the perceived value of the Milvus, Batis and Loxia lenses.
…And they’re doing that job nicely. For a second there I almost thought $1500 was a fair price for the Loxia 21mm f/2.8! Then I heard today’s news about a likely Sigma 20mm f/1.4, something that probably won’t cost more than $1000-$1200. All of a sudden I realize that Zeiss is still Zeiss. An expensive name.
I remember the new Milvus 85/1.4 is 3 pounds too?
True, but longer than 35mm or so I think a lens can be expected to weigh a lot more, most all 70-200 2.8’s out there weigh 3 lbs, and that’s a standard lens for anyone who does portraits or events.
But as someone who goes backpacking with 2-3 camera bodies and 3-5 lenses, I like my lenses to be as light as possible. I’d rather have 2-3 Rokinon 1.4’s than a single behemoth with better image quality.
If only Zeiss made those available for A-mount, it would be a better fit for cameras like the a99. It has an EVF and a sturdy construction.
Bet some of these shots were taken on a Nikon. no way can any canon camera recover some of the shadow details i am seeing
That’s the D800. Wondering why they didn’t use the 810 or at least the 800E for the maximum sharpness?
Zeiss should make an official Otus EOS to E-mount adapter,
with automatic aperture control and lens info.
That seems like a lot of distortion for a huge and optically “perfect” lens. My biogon 28mm has much less. Not as sharp or fast but less than 1/10 the size!
Your Biogon 28 has 1% distortion, this has only a little more. Your Biogon has the classic Biogon falloff, at more than 2 stops at f/2.8, so it’s more slower than this than you might think.
Has anyone noticed the new 35/1.4 from Miyazaki? It’s practically the exact opposite of this, cheap, low performance, ultra light…That’s a lens actually goes well with the a7 series IMO
Failed to find any reviews on it. A link, please?
It’s not actually out yet 🙂 You can see some specifications at leicarumors.com, and some comments from the producer if you understand Japanese. And even after it’s released you might see one review or two tops, since it’s such a niche product produced in low quantities.