There is an interesting although a bit “vague” news posted by Zeiss today (Click here): “Another highlight will be the presentation of a design study, with which Carl Zeiss will offer a sneak preview of a new family of autofocus lenses for mirrorless system cameras (CSC) that will most likely be available in mid-2013. Due to their performance and high speed, these new lenses will be ideal for deliberate photo composition, making them perfect for more sophisticated photographers as well. Carl Zeiss plans to initially offer fixed focal lengths in the wide angle and standard range as well as a macro.”
They do not specify for which system! It’s my guess that these new Zeiss lenses will work like that two 19mm and 30mm Sigma lenses. They will have a “universal” design and a change in the mount only in order to fit on all different mirrorless system cameras. If it’s trues than this is good news! We need more high quality lenses like the Zeiss 24mm that is right now finally available in US (Click here at Amazon).
You have any lens on your wishlist that Zeiss should absolutely make?
Take some inspiration from the superb Zeiss ZM list:
[shoplink 10875 ebay]Distagon T* 2,8/15 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9803 ebay]Distagon T* 4/18 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9804 ebay]Biogon T* 2,8/21 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9804 ebay]C Biogon T* 4,5/21 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9805 ebay]Biogon T* 2,8/25 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9806 ebay]Biogon T* 2,8/28 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9808 ebay]Biogon T* 2/35 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9808 ebay]C Biogon T* 2,8/35 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9809 ebay]C Sonnar T* 1,5/50 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9809 ebay]Planar T* 2/50 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9810 ebay]Sonnar T* 2/85 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 9810 ebay]Tele-Tessar T* 4/85 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay)[/shoplink].
73 Responses
http://blogs.zeiss.com/photo/en/?p=2745
Zeiss states that news as a design study for a possible launch in 2013. Initially, Primes, including a Macro, Wide Angle and Standard.
Thanks a lot for the link. Very exciting!
I so hope they’re taking their awesome ZM optical schemes, add AF and do E-Mountlenses…
If they are AF lenses they will be new or modified designs – not just adaptations of the ZM lenses
Awesome news!!! 😀
am i the only one feels that 55 mm f/1.4 prototype looks like a ZA lens… although it said it’s ZE/ZF
Doesn’t look like a ZA lens to me, sorry.
Does look, however, like the first in a new range of VERY highly performing (and expensive) lenses for +40 MP FF-cameras.
It’s an older rangefinder lens from Zeiss. Not a new one. It’s been on Zeiss blog for ages.
“With a focal length of 55 mm and aperture of f/1.4, this lens is the first model of a new product family designed for demanding users. Thanks to a newly developed optical design, this lens is superior to conventional full-frame lenses,”
Current Zeiss Blog indicates the 55mm is a new design not an old rangefinder one.
Excactly … and of course this and following lenses can be used for mirrorless too, maybe even FF mirrorless.
The image you see on top here, on SAR is an old (probably) rangefinder lens.
That image is nothing but the year-old logo from the Zeiss weblog homepage and is not related to the specific news from the press release.
The 1.4/55 (probably a prototype) is pictured in the press release. Read it, is my advice 🙂
I expect this new range of AF mirrorless prime lenses to be manufactured by Cosina and offered initially in NEX- and m43-mounts (maybe Canon M, Fuji X and Samsung NX at some later stage).
Technically, even though it can be made for different mounts, doesn’t Sony have some type of exclusivity agreement with Zeiss that autofocus Zeiss lenses will be available only for Sony. As far as I know, all the Zeiss lenses made for other systems are MF only.
probably.
We know for sure that Zeiss works on Sony E-mount lenses so… this fits very well into this idea.
My thoughts exactly.
Perhaps AF for Sony only all others MF?
Still more Zeiss the better.
😉
Maybe the agreement only covers SLR cameras?
“… doesn’t Sony have some type of exclusivity agreement with Zeiss that autofocus Zeiss lenses will be available only for Sony.”
I never saw any statement from neither Zeiss nor Sony to confirm any such speculation on Sony exclusivity — and frankly, I don’t think any such exclusivity excists, why should it?
Over the years, Zeiss AF lenses have been made by many different partners like Contax/Kyocera (35mm SLR and 645 MF), Sony, Nokia, Logitech.
Zeiss is always very loyal to its partners, including always being very specific when certain lenses are developed for certain partners.
In this press release, no partner for the new lenses are specified, which to me indicate that this is more likely to be seen as an expansion of the succesful collaboration with 3drd party lens maker Cosina, already manufacturing ZE/ZF and ZM lenses for Zeiss.
There was a period when Zeiss was making the same SLR lenses for both Yashica and Rollei simultaneously so their loyalty only extends so far. Still some kind of deal exists with Sony as they’ve stated as much on their website, etc (same story with Nokia), we just don’t (and probably never will) know the specifics of it.
Zeiss is an independent lens designer and brand manager, they co-develop lenses and franchise the Zeiss brand to many partners.
The loyalty, I was referring to, is that when Zeiss introduces any specific lens, they are always very careful to mention if this lens is developed with any specific partner. So if this 1.4/55mm lens was developed for Sony, Zeiss would surely say so. They always do.
Whether Sony has franchised any exclusive right to Zeiss lenses with AF is purely speculation. If you want to beleive so, feel free. There is no information to confirm this AFAIK … and I have been a enthusiastic Zeiss user and follower for some 35 years 🙂
“I never saw any statement from neither Zeiss nor Sony to confirm any such speculation on Sony exclusivity — and frankly, I don’t think any such exclusivity excists, why should it?”
Then why are there so far no AF Zeiss in any other mount?
Now there will be … says the today’s press release.
Zeiss usees the sony SSM AF for their autofocus lenses so an agreement does exist, the lenses are made by sony, zeiss only offers the design.
My guess is that the new lenses are for NEX only, but then again they might have made a deal with m4/3 to make lenses for them with AF.
We will find out and see 🙂
4/3rd is also an open standard, so there’s a probability that Zeiss would make 43rd AF lenses as well.
Yes, I find that very likely too.
If there is an exclusivity agreement for AF lenses it may be only for DSLR lenses.
A Zeiss 55/1.4 or 58/1.4 would be sweet…
LOL, how come no one notices that the 55mm is a Distagon lens? That is quite intriguing to say the least (think of medium format).
Distagon means “retrofocus” not “wide angle” so there’s no focal length limitations on it. Just like they make a 50mm Sonnar.
That said, any moves to a larger format is welcome by me. There’s certainly a market out there for a digital camera with a similar ethos to the Mamiya 6.
Distagon is a trademark. Zeiss are free to label anything with it.
The press release says: “a high-performance, full-format SLR camera lens with manual focus” … which is most likely just that; A FF (35mm format) lens. I see no reason here to suggest otherwise.
AFAIK, however, the Distagon designation has never been used for FF lenses with focal lengths above 35mm … so this could be a first. Could be a rather complex design.
Probably because you don’t need a retrofocus design for a longer focal length.. wait, that’s the purpose of retrofocus, right?
Here’s the quote for the 55mm f/1.4:
“A must-see attraction is a high-performance, Full-Format SLR camera lens with Manual Focus. With a focal length of 55 mm and aperture of f/1.4, this lens is the first model of a new product family designed for demanding users. ”
Please note that it says FULL-FORMAT and MANUAL FOCUS. Therefore it IS NOT an Auto Focus E-mount lens.
PLEASE DISREGARD the ^^^^above post^^^^. Sorry about that!!!
Interesting that they specifically say the lenses will be ‘high speed’.
I imagine, all of them at or below f/2.
“a new family of AUTOFOCUS lenses” it says… hmm…
You got it 🙂
As usual Yawn..
Uhm,the Sigma 19 and 30mm lenses do not have replaceable mounts like the Zeiss CP series. They are native autofocus lenses for each camera system they are available for.
Also Carl Zeiss does not make autofocus lenses for other camera systems except for Sony’s.
Replaceable mounts won’t work with AF.
> If it’s trues than this is good news!
Not really. If Zeiss focuses on NEX, it decreases the probability of us getting new ZA lenses we need so much, like a 35 f/1.4 or a new 135 f/1.8 with SSM (just dreaming).
Who needs Zeiss on a compact camera? Those are designed to be small, not pro quality. It’s like those Zeiss branded optics on mobile phones.
As mirrorless system cameras gain traction in the market place, we’ll see them diversify into models that are not only designed to be compact but also for professional use with larger bodies that handle well with larger lenses and offer sufficient room for external controls. Those cameras will benefit from shooting with Zeiss primes.
WA doesn’t need to be larger.
They are only telephoto lenses than must be large. Anything in WA-standard range should not be huge as on DSLR.
Zeiss can do both small and pro quality. Think Contax G. It won’t be cheap, though.
A-mount 50mm f1.2 SSM
excited by zeiss lenses because of the quality the lenses have, but scared as well by the fact that zeiss lenses are expensive as hell. imo, they’re worth the money, but i doubt i’ll buy another lens that is as expensive (for me) as my zeiss 24mm f1.8.
What about the A-mount Zeiss? not coming anymore??? :O
o_O where did you read that? Sure it’s coming 🙂
yeah thousand of people are waiting to buy manual zeiss lenses? – most companies understand the need ($) to cater to a broader audience, just because 5 people wants a fast manual 135 f/1.8?
If the coming 35mm on the Nex will be of optical quality between the 24mm Zeiss and the 50mm Sony, then I will be satisfied. Something faster than 1.8 would be very Welcome on a Nex anyways
“…these new lenses will be ideal for deliberate photo composition…”
So they don’t work in Auto-Portrait mode or Smile Detection?
dictionary is that way ->
They gonna have to work pretty hard to beat the old PEN-FT Zuiko 40mm f/1.4 adapted to NEX. That little buggar is the tops of anything at any aperture. I mean… it’s insane how freaky awesome that lens is adapted to mirrorless. Wide open it’s like a lazer, even in the corners.
Just make a modern version and put a Zeiss logo on it… KahChing!
Hasselblad ?!?
Hassy switched bed som time back and is now spooning with Fuji.
Fuji designs and manufactures all Hasselblad cameras and lenses now and have done so for years. Without Fuji, Hasselblad is nothing but a brand management arrangement. So I guess Hasselblad won’t rock the boat by flirting with Zeiss.
Wow, I’m excited to see a Zeiss MACRO coming! That could be some serious bug hunting gear! 🙂
A Zeiss 60 mm macro f2 could be wonderful !!!
http://photorumors.com/2012/09/06/carl-zeiss-at-photokina-2012-new-distagon-55mm-f1-4-mirrorless-lenses/
I love the Zeiss ZM lenses! I also have a two ZE lenses for my Canon. This would be really exciting!!
hope zeiss macro coming is 100mm/f2 SSM 😀 that would be great for sony alpha 😀
Documensony works for Sony and stirs speculations and corrects misconceptions in this website. I would take everything he says as if he was speaking almost on behalf of Sony or with a depth understanding of Sony’s strategy.
That being said, he is mistaken to mention that the partnership between Zeiss and Yashica/Kyocera was similar to that of Sony today. Contax was always a Zeiss brand and Yashica initially began the production of Contax branded products and lenses (all Zeiss/Contax branded for the SLR MF line) in the 1970s that worked for Zeiss to revive a legendary name in the camera industry but without having to invest in the factories and instruments to manufacture cameras. Yashica made the cameras (later Kyocera) and did the R&D for the bodies, where Zeiss did the R&D for the lenses and passed the designs to be manufactured by Kyocera/Yashica for Contax.
When Kyocera decided to stop the manufacturing of all cameras (Yashica and Contax branded) they did so still retaining the Contax branding which was, by contract, reverted back to Carl Zeiss’ ownership this year (just) so a digital Contax G3 would have been the wish of many but it never materialized unfortunately.
Carl Zeiss partnership with Sony is more about the continuation of the sale of SLR lenses (the alpha line) that died with Contax. As the Contax G series also perished, the ZM was born in order to counteract the seeming dominance of Leica in the rangefinder market (one that Zeiss took great advantage of by selling fantastic ZM lenses at a fraction of Leica prices with performance matching or exceeding – especially the 25mm biogon)
Carl Zeiss, curiously enough, already had a 17-35mm AF design for the Contax N series (a series of AF lenses that had no more than 5 lenses for it) which was trickled down to Sony with a 16mm wide end along with the 85mm design. All in all, if Zeiss is to dedicate AF mirrorless research for the future, I think they will work with the ‘open’ systems (NEX and m43) first because I doubt whether Canon and Fuji have released the specifications of their mounts and compatibility electronic comms.
Your historical resume is basically correct, thank you. The only real difference between Zeiss’ collaboration with Yashica (later bought by Kyocera) and Sony is that Kyocera licensed the Zeiss brand for lenses as well as the Contax brand for cameras, whereas Sony only licenses the Zeiss brand for lenses. Kyocera as well as Sony have used Zeiss lenses for a wide variety of camera systems.
P.S. I am sorry to maybe disappoint you now, but I am in no way affiliated to Sony. I happened to have my first Contax RTS with three Zeiss lenses back in 1977 … and I happen to have been making a living analysing large corporate businesses for a couple of decades. Apart from that I am now merely an enthusiastic Nex7-owner with the Sonnar 1.8/24 and a growing selection of legacy Zeiss glass 🙂
What I’d like to see:
1. 85mm f/1.8 Planar I’ll willing sacrifice 2/3 of a stop for smaller size and lighter weight!!
2. 100mm f/2.0 Makro Planar
3. 180mm F/2.8 Sonnar
Unfortunatly it ain’t gonna happen. What we’ll probably get is a 50mm f/1.8 Planar and a 55mm f/2.0 Makro Planar and no long lenses ever.
Zeiss lenses for CY-mount include Tessar 2.8/85 (compact), Makro-Planar 2.8/100 and Sonnar 2.8/180. All these lenses are very good and can be used for Nex with adapter. They are easily found on eBay and are probably a lot cheaper than what such Zeiss designs would cost in native Alpha or Nex mounts (there is also a Makro-Planar 2.0/100 already available in ZF/ZE mount)
“Zeiss lenses for CY-mount include Tessar 2.8/85”
there are no such lens ever …
The CZ Sonnar T* 2.8/85 for Y/C mount really was a tiny gem, and it’s lens elements are raised for a second life as SAL85F28 😉
The SAL85F14Z has no similarities with any 85 mm Y/C Planar or the 85 mm Contax N Planar, which is an IF design and not a classic extended double gaussian design.
You’re absolutely right – it’s Sonnar (not Tessar). This is the one: http://applications.zeiss.com/C12578620052CA69/0/4F17B9727341EBD8C125786900345AD3/$file/sonnar2-8_85mm_e.pdf
Do these Zeiss CY lenses Auto Focus with NEX cameras???
You can also get adapters to use the Hasselblad 6×6 Zeiss lenses on an E-mount camera. But they don’t Auto Focus.
I could get an LA-EA2 and use a SAL85F14Z 85mm f/1.4 A-mount lens. It would Auto Focus, but it is way to big/heavy to use on a NEX camera.
What I’d really like is Zeiss Auto Focus lenses in E-mount. I know I won’t be kewl ’cause I ain’t using legacy-lenses, but I can live with that 🙂 🙂 🙂
> I could get an LA-EA2 and use a SAL85F14Z 85mm f/1.4 A-mount lens. It would Auto Focus, but it is way to big/heavy to use on a NEX camera.
No, it’s not. You should try it.
CY lenses are manual focus only (and they work just great with focus peaking).
New AF-lenses from Zeiss is coming!!
With no commitment to a single brand in this announcement the biggest market for Zeiss is Canon and Nikon, with Sony a much smaller market. When Zeiss brings out these lenses for all three plus maybe others it would pull any exclusivity right out from under Sony. And be very good for photography.
Aren’t you mixing apples and pears here, Walter?
Zeiss’ manual focus SLR lenses come in Nikon and Canon mounts only already. And they will continue to do so.
The new range of AF mirrorless lenses from Zeiss will most likely come in m43 and Nex mounts (since cameras these two mounts are the most widely spread.
zeiss 12mm is mine . At now you can make e -mount fast zoom f2.8 and I will get as well.