mustha's reviews

  • Carl Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Planar T* 1.4/50

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Exc Image Quality and Sharpness, Smooth and Accurate Focus

    I bought this lens to replace my Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AI. I use it with an Nikon Fm2 camera, I also have a Nikon 50mm f/ 1.4D AF Nikkor, so my opinions are always drawn in comparison with my experience with the two Nikon lenses.

    I admit that electronics might be useful though I don't miss it.
    The focus ring is extremely smooth and accurate, more than the Nikon lenses, and the lens is excellently built.

    Overall image quality exceeds both Nikons, notably in sharpness and colour accurateness.

    I noted a slight barrel distortion on f/2.8 but less than the Nikon lenses.
    I haven't tested it in digital cameras.

    The following links will take you to some of the images produced with the combination "Nikon FM2+Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1,4/50 ZF + Fuji PRO 160C":

    <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mustha/2078852888/"> image1</a>
    <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mustha/2056106978/"> image2</a>
    <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mustha/2055320597/"> image3</a>
    <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mustha/2056099588/"> image4</a>
    <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mustha/2056097992/"> image5</a>
    <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mustha/2050790118/"> image6</a>
    <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mustha/2044698944/"> image7</a>
    <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mustha/1923295104/"> image8</a>
    <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mustha/1923281040/"> image9</a>

    reviewed November 28th, 2007 (purchased for $550)

  • Carl Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 Planar T* 1.4/85

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    excelent sharpness, beautiful color rendition, extremely acurate focus
    lens cap

    This is a special lens for special purposes, as said before by other reviewers, is not meant to chase around fast moving subjects or close range work. It will take long to move from close focus to infinity. It's a manual focus with all the compromises of tele: f/1.4 at close range is unforgiving of focus error.

    Used on the proper subject it shines. Bokeh and color are just amazing. There is no distortion to speak of and very little vignetting.

    Here are some images taken with either Nikon D700 or Nikon FM2:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/mustha/tags/planart1485/

    Construction wise is very sturdy, a bit heavy with a smooth focus ring and a precise aperture ring.

    The lens cap is a bit tricky to use, specially when you have filters. It may easily jump off in your bag our out of your hands.

    reviewed September 18th, 2012 (purchased for $900)