Carl Zeiss ZK 50/1.4
Posted 17/02/2010 - 21:40 - Helpful Comment
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I've no experience with it but I believe no one has the lens here, I've thought about buying one though so I did some research.
The build quality is obviously good but the Bokeh is not super in my eyes it's quite distracting the sharpness is good it's a bit sharper wide open but around f/4 they are the same.
If you want to use the lens wide open then the Zeiss lens is better but at around f/2 and up I would go for the DA*55 which is there for the same money but has a slightly better bokeh and AF and weather sealing.
Where do you want to use the lens for if I may ask, do you need the 50mm or can you do with a bit longer, the FA77 limted for example might be a better lens for portrait and a bit longer you've the Zeiss 85m.
The build quality is obviously good but the Bokeh is not super in my eyes it's quite distracting the sharpness is good it's a bit sharper wide open but around f/4 they are the same.
If you want to use the lens wide open then the Zeiss lens is better but at around f/2 and up I would go for the DA*55 which is there for the same money but has a slightly better bokeh and AF and weather sealing.
Where do you want to use the lens for if I may ask, do you need the 50mm or can you do with a bit longer, the FA77 limted for example might be a better lens for portrait and a bit longer you've the Zeiss 85m.
Stefan
K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ
K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ
Posted 21/02/2010 - 19:38
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Thanks for your advice Stefan, it has really helped me. I tend to use my camera while mountaineering, I have always used manual focus and have never had an autofocus lens. Your suggestion of a FA77mm is good and I think I will look to get one.
Posted 21/02/2010 - 20:19
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You could also look at a few older Pentax primes if you don't need AF:
Pentax-A 50mm f1.7 (or f1.4) - great lens for a fraction of the price of a new Zeiss
SMC Pentax 55mm f1.8 - amazing lens, from the original 1975-77 K series
Pentax-M 28mm f3.5 - great all round lens on digital, with the crop factor it's close to the classic 50mm focal length. Very sharp, little or no distortion.
I have all three of these and paid around £100 for the lot. The 28mm and 50mm are always in my camera bag, if I had space I'd keep the 55mm in there too.
Pentax-A 50mm f1.7 (or f1.4) - great lens for a fraction of the price of a new Zeiss
SMC Pentax 55mm f1.8 - amazing lens, from the original 1975-77 K series
Pentax-M 28mm f3.5 - great all round lens on digital, with the crop factor it's close to the classic 50mm focal length. Very sharp, little or no distortion.
I have all three of these and paid around £100 for the lot. The 28mm and 50mm are always in my camera bag, if I had space I'd keep the 55mm in there too.
Matt
Shooting the Welsh Wilderness with K-m, KX, MX, ME Super and assorted lenses.
Shooting the Welsh Wilderness with K-m, KX, MX, ME Super and assorted lenses.
Posted 22/02/2010 - 10:10
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Hi Mike,Just a heads up.SRS have a Zeiss 50mm 1.4 Planar in the /Pentax/Used Equipment/MF lens section.
Also i have the Voigtlander 58MM 1.4 and find it a great walk about lens combined with the 21Limited.Tony.
Also i have the Voigtlander 58MM 1.4 and find it a great walk about lens combined with the 21Limited.Tony.
K7,DA*50-135, 35mmLTD Macro, 21mm Ltd, Voightlaender 58mm 1.4 NOKTON SL,Ricoh GRD,GRX, Zeiss 100mm f2 Makro Planar.Zeiss Ikon ZM,Zeiss f1.5 C Sonnar.
It ain't no sin to take off your skin,and dance around in your bones.Tom Waits.
It ain't no sin to take off your skin,and dance around in your bones.Tom Waits.
Posted 22/02/2010 - 11:08
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Dangermouse wrote:
You could also look at a few older Pentax primes if you don't need AF:
Pentax-A 50mm f1.7 (or f1.4) - great lens for a fraction of the price of a new Zeiss
SMC Pentax 55mm f1.8 - amazing lens, from the original 1975-77 K series
Pentax-M 28mm f3.5 - great all round lens on digital, with the crop factor it's close to the classic 50mm focal length. Very sharp, little or no distortion.
I have all three of these and paid around £100 for the lot. The 28mm and 50mm are always in my camera bag, if I had space I'd keep the 55mm in there too.
Another vote for a Pentax-A 50mm f1.7. I got one recently from the classifieds on here , and it has rarely been off my camera since (and the times it has I've been using the Pentax-A 28mm f2.8 I bought at the same time).You could also look at a few older Pentax primes if you don't need AF:
Pentax-A 50mm f1.7 (or f1.4) - great lens for a fraction of the price of a new Zeiss
SMC Pentax 55mm f1.8 - amazing lens, from the original 1975-77 K series
Pentax-M 28mm f3.5 - great all round lens on digital, with the crop factor it's close to the classic 50mm focal length. Very sharp, little or no distortion.
I have all three of these and paid around £100 for the lot. The 28mm and 50mm are always in my camera bag, if I had space I'd keep the 55mm in there too.
If AF isn't that vital to you (I thought I'd miss it but I really haven't), you could do a lot worse than trying some of the Pentax-A lenses. They are great optically and you will always be able to sell them for what you paid if you decide on upgrading to something like a Zeiss or a Voitlaender (I do like the look of the Nokton and Ultron lenses).
If you can't say something nice about Pentax, you won't say anything at all.
Apparently.
Apparently.
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7 posts
16 years
Does anyone have any experience or thoughts on this lens? I am not too worried about the lack of weather sealing or no autofocus. Any help and guidance is appreciated. How does it compare to the Pentax 50mm f1.4 versions?
best wishes
Mike