Zeiss Lenses for 5D2
 

I'm spec'ing a system for my employer and am including Zeiss lenses. (I shot an internal corporate video using my own kit, and it's been a huge hit. Time to strike while the iron's hot!)

My first question is whether to get ZE lenses or ZF with adapters.

The ZE lenses have auto-confirm and solid mounts. I assume that they communicate the full EXIF data set on stills. (?)

ZF manual lenses (not ZF.2) are a couple hundred bucks cheaper per lens, so getting a fotodiox pro auto-confirm adapter per lens is still cost effective. This will confirm AF, but won't provide EXIF data.

I hear that with ZF lenses, you can remove the ball bearing detente for the aperture ring if you want a continuous aperture control. (I prefer the clicks.)

ZF lenses wouldn't have to be unscrewed for small aperture time lapse. (EF lenses go wide open between shots and can cause aperture flicker in time lapses.)

I'm torn. The ZE should work with all of the still exposure modes. On the ZF, Tv won't work and I'd have to set the aperture twice (on the lens and camera) for Av.

Thoughts?

My second question is on focus ring diameter. I'm looking at a RedRock follow focus. I'd be getting rings for the 21mm, 35mm, and 85mm lenses. Will "B" size work for all of them?

Thanks!

Jon- Saw this diglloyd: Guide to Zeiss ZF and Zeiss ZF.2 Lenses for Nikon, Zeiss ZE Lenses for Canon EOS by subscription.

Probably a great review, but for fifty bucks I'll pass. It would make sense to buy for people who are trying to decide on investing in Zeiss vs. L glass in search of the best images, but I've already decided on Zeiss due to the video focus control and reputation for great micro-contrast.

I have a feel for what to expect, image-wise. My mid-range Canon primes are nice, but the edges that I get from my EF 200mm f/2.8 L II look like they were cut with a knife. I expect more of the same.

I really just want to know two things: 1) do the electronics in the ZE offer any still photo benefit over an adapter with focus confirmation, and 2) do I need the B or C sized Red Rock ring for the 21, 28, 35, and 85mm lenses? (I believe that B will fit them all, but I'm not 100% sure.)

Regarding the electronics, I believe that the ZE will work properly in all exposure modes and it will report EXIF info. For an adapter, I think Tv won't work, Av will work if I dial both camera and lens to the same settings, and there's no way to get EXIF info. But I could be wrong.

I would be interested to know how much better lenses affect the video image quality with the line skipping (outisde of CA and distortion) of the video mode.

Jon- My ZF lenses with adapter to Canon 5D has some movement in the adapter mount (Fotodiox) when mounted on the camera body. It is not as solid as a lens designed for the Canon mount. I find it a bit disconcerting, and changing lenses is not as quick as with a lens that does not have a adapter. I original bought the Zeiss ZF's Nikon mount so I could use it with a Letus Ultimate. If money was not a issue I would purchase another kit of Zeiss lens ZE's with the Canon mounts. The Zeiss lens are smaller, and lighter than the Canon counterparts and just as sharp. As you know you do not have the full range of focal lengths as with the Canons. I think you would be happier with the ZE's!

Thanks Steve,

That's the way I'm leaning. This is for my employer's system, so I think I'll get the ZEs. They're simpler and won't need as much explaining. And frankly, I'm probably the only one who will do time lapses, so the physical aperture ring won't impress any other likely users.

Sorry to hear that you're getting some play with the fotodiox adapter. Is it the pro? I have one of those, and it seemed to be pretty solid with the Nikon lenses I used before I went with EF lenses.

they recently changed the fotodiox adapter slightly, it's a little more thicker around the mounts. And it doesn't have as much play as the older, but still has some play.

I must be one of the lucky few. There is no play with my fotodiox mount mated to a ZF 1.4/50. I can feel reasonably secure now to order a few more sets for the rest of my Zeiss primes.

There is absolutely no play or wiggle with my Cameraquest adapters. I use an F to EOS adapter with all my ZF lenses and with my Nikon lenses (including an 80-200/2.8 ED D that weighs a ton) and a C/Y to EOS adapter with my Contax Zeiss lenses.

The obvious benefit to the ZF lenses is that you can use them with a Nikon. Since I also shoot stills with a D700, the ZF's see double duty.

For what it's worth, I have been using Zeiss Contax mount lenses with AF confirm adapters for years with Canon cameras. In my opinion they are a better buy for the money, being less expensive than the newer ZE and ZF lenses. Not to mention that there is a much larger selection to choose from.

All the Best!

My personal lenses are mid-level Canon EFs. I'm buying the ZE lenses for my employer's system. If they really rock, I might just upgrade my personal kit from my EFs to Zeiss/Contax.

Once you use the Zeiss lenses its hard to go back, it's the closes your get to using cinema lenses on your 5D.

Which zeiss lens are you using?

ZF's: 28/2.0 & 100/2.0
C/Y's: 21/2.8 & 35-70/3.4

Bill, any favorites or preferences among those?

I'd recommend ZF over ZE.

Few reasons :

1) ZF is less expensive even with adapters factored in.
2) I like manual aperture as I can't tell you how many times I've scrolled the aperture wheel to stop down quickly and the camera not respond fast enough.

I do wish the focus ring direction was the same but eh...pros outweigh the cons.

I LOVE my Zeiss lenses. :)

I feel slightly guilty after starting the Nikon lens on 5DMkII craze on this forum all those moons ago but I would now recommend the ZE lenses wholeheartedly. In my kit I have the 28mm, 50mm and 85mm. For me focussing the correct way is a big plus if you are using them alongside Canon zooms or regular video cameras. I do still use Nikon glass but mostly on rigs where I can use a follow focus with a reverse gear.

The Contax/Zeiss lenses are great too, I own several. Don't forget to check out Voigtlander lenses if you are on a budget.

Dan

Jon: Quite frankly, they are all good (I don't even own any Canon lenses). Depends on the shot/scene/application. However, in terms of bang-for-the-buck the C/Y 35-70 is a real winner. You can't use it as a normal zoom (it is push pull) or with a follow focus, but it is like a series of primes in those focal lengths. Not the fastest (3.4) but it makes very pretty pictures. And, it only cost me around $275.00!

For zooms, I use Nikons: 14-24 and 24-70 with a 16:9 adapter and an 80-200 with a F to EOS adapter.

Hey Jon - I've been using the Canon mount 28mm Zeiss for a couple of months - it's a fantastic lens. Clean lines, close focusing, very little wide angle distortion.

-andy

I am definitely a strong proponent of alternative glass. I have a collection of Zeiss ZF 21, 28, 35, 50, 85 used exclusively for video work. I no longer own any Canon lenses.

Jon,

Did you get the Zeiss glass yet?

What about the new set of zeiss lenses that are due out in may, they might be a little pricey but they seem pretty future proof.

Yes! They're totally solid, the focus rings rock, and the images look good.

My employer now owns the 21/2.8, 35/2, and 85/1.4 ZEs. I've been busy with work, so I haven't shot all that much, and haven't done any head to head comparisons. In fact, my EF 28/1.8, 50/1.4, and 85/1.8 don't really compete at the same level, so I don't plan to do any special tests.

The 21mm lens is wonderful. It's the lens I've tried the most, since I don't have anything that wide. The corners are sharp, falloff is minimal, and distortion is wonderfully controlled. The focus ring turns about 120 degrees.

I've done the least with the 85mm, but the focus ring turns about 240 degrees. I'm looking forward to trying this out on tracking shots after we get the RedRock system

The 35mm is really clean, but the focus travel is only about 120 degrees. For the money, I'd like a longer throw and a faster speed. (It's just a 58mm filter ring.) This lens needs to earn its keep on image quality alone, but, again, I haven't done controlled tests and pixel peeping.

Looking closely at some photos, I missed focus a bit when using the AF auto confirm. You move the lens, the dots blink, but you can't stop immediately. Rocking back and forth still doesn't allow you to nail it. I would have done better with Live View, the Z-Finder and x10 magnification than auto confirm. With that method, there's no question when you're spot on.