View Full Version : Zeiss lenses coming in new mount - Zx?
sockeyed
09-02-2008, 15:19
Zeiss has announced that they will release their lenses in a new mount come September 15th. Some guess that it might be Canon EF (although there are patent issues to deal with there), or perhaps Sony or 4/3. Zeiss lenses are already available in Leica, Nikon, M42 and Pentax mount.
The announcement is advertised on Zeiss' homepage (http://www.zeiss.com/photo).
And Mike Johnston's blog (http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2008/09/new-zeiss-zx-mo.html) has a discussion going.
Anyone want to hazard a guess?
Sony, Za, is already listed on their website.
sockeyed
09-02-2008, 15:42
True, Rover.
The following are already identified on the Zeiss site as being under production:
Sony (ZA)
Zeiss Ikon (ZM)
SLR-lenses (ZF, ZK, ZS)
Hasselblad (ZV)
Hartblei Tilt and Shift
ALPA
Rollei
Sinar
ZA has been out for a while already, I am really really really hoping its a Canon mount, I have been bugging Zeiss to make this and take advantage of that fact that Cosina already has made lenses for this mount before. The only other thing I can think of is that Zeiss will start making 4/3rd mount lenses or m4/3 mount lenses, if they do that, then I would be very happy as well though I dont think that is where they are going with this.
Any other guesses? Maybe they are making Mamiya mount lenses for the new PhaseOne cameras or maybe RED mount lenses?
sockeyed
09-02-2008, 21:56
I can't think of anything that it could be other than Canon EF. It's obviously something pretty big or Zeiss wouldn't get folks all excited like they are doing. 4/3 is a possibility but that's a fairly small market I would think, plus they already have some pretty good Zuiko primes. m4/3 cameras haven't even been developed, so I can't imagine why they would build lenses in that mount. Contax and Leica-R are pretty small segments of the market that are also well-served with primes. Mamiya and Red are also small players.
Canon themselves focus mostly on big zooms with a few (large) exotic L primes thrown in and a some really old standard primes. The primes Zeiss offers may not be viewed as a threat by Canon, so they may let them use the mount. Canon also has never been strong with wides, so Zeiss could fill a niche there. Zeiss optics could also make images from Canon bodies look very, very good. Cosina has made EF-mount lenses before, of course, so the know-how is certainly there.
As a 5D user, I'm really hoping we're looking at ZE mount lenses mid september. I'm jonesing for a 25/2.8, 35/2 and 50/1.4. Heck, why not an 85/1.4 too.
I like the way you think there... If there is a mess of Zeiss lenses for Canon coming, which seems like the logical choice, I really cant think of any other mounts out there that they could come out with. 4/3 maybe but that would seem to require some serious retooling of their lenses, but then again they will have to do that for the Canon's also. I hope they keep the aperture rings most of all but also have a setting for being able to set the aperture in camera, kind of like the A setting on Leica 4/3rd lenses but more of an M. For M 4/3 they would have to completely redesign their entire set of lenses they are milking right now but whos to say in the future a few of the ZM lenses could not be retooled for such use as they are pretty much set up for that use already.
Mamiya is a small player in the amateur market, but a huge player in the pro market, so its not such a huge stretch, but still the line of lenses they are talking about here is their 35mm SLR line so yes, I think its going to be Canon. Contax or Leica R mount is probably not what they are thinking, Contax's already excellent line of Zeiss lenses coupled with my more preferred Yashica lenses making that an already very well rounded system, not to mention a dead end one. Leica R mount already has a spectacular lenses and a wide range from ultra wide to tele covered well. The only thing its missing is a more decent mid range zoom but that is just one hole.
If it is EF mount then I will stick to Canon and not make the jump to Nikon that I have been seriously considering more and more. While I like the Nikon bodies more, I highly prefer the couple of Canon L lenses that I do use, for instance the 70-200 2.8 L IS which is my fav in their line. If they retool the ZF lenses for EF mount, count me in, I will be looking for that 28 f2 as my first purchase.
ps. I have used that Zeiss 85mm in ZF mount a lot, its really awesome but the close focus is 1 meter, tisk tisk.
noimmunity
09-03-2008, 00:23
A totally uneducated guess, but my intuition says Canon.
If it is going to be "Z-EF" then I hope it will be chipped so it'll have AF confirm.
I'd be more than happy to have Zeiss glass for Canon but I seriously doubt it. (A Canon 5d with Zeiss lenses - a dream come true) I don't think Canon will let a premium brand make lenses for their mount, and Zeiss definitely will not 'backward design' it.
Four thirds? Probably, but I don't think manual focus is a good idea for those small viewfinders. (except E-3)
Most probably they will make manual focus lenses for Sony, which is not at all that big news as they already have the ZA line with af. But the rather strange thing is that on their 'teaser ad' the ZA mount is missing. Maybe because they're going to extend it in a way?
But apart from all that I think the greatest news for all of us would be a Zeiss Ikon Digital announcement at Photokina :)
Ray Nalley
09-03-2008, 00:54
The ZI digital would at least make more sense than still more lenses. It isn't like we aren't already awash with lenses to play with.
Wishfull thinking CONTAX CONTAX ................CONTAX
Darren Abate
09-03-2008, 02:55
There are two things I am demanding – yes, demanding – from Zeiss: Canon EF glass and a digital ZI. As long as they provide me with those two things, then I won't have to reprimand them. :rolleyes:
There are two things I am demanding – yes, demanding – from Zeiss: Canon EF glass and a digital ZI. As long as they provide me with those two things, then I won't have to reprimand them. :rolleyes:
I agree but on the other hand if they make it, I'll go seriously bankrupt :)
anyone think it will be nikon rf mount?
I wouldn't care too much for Z-EF but a ZI digital [FF of course] that'd be nice. And I'd go bankrupt, too :(. Btw a LOT more going on at Zeiss than at Leica, or maybe the Red Dot will surprise all of us at Photokina...
sockeyed
09-03-2008, 08:34
anyone think it will be nikon rf mount?
I don't believe so. If you look at the teaser graphic on their site, it shows a series of three SLR lenses labelled ZF (Nikon), ZS (M42) and ZK (Pentax), and a space with a question mark. To me this implies a continuation of the SLR series of lenses but in a new mount.
And Zeiss has already make a Nikon RF lens - the C-Sonnar 50/1.5, right?
Colin - I'm with you on the "A" setting if it's going to be an EF mount. It would be nice to use all the auto settings in the body rather than just aperture priority and manual.
I'm not clear, the viewfinder darkens as you stop down with ZK and ZS lenses right? Does it darken with ZF on Nikon? Should we expect it to darken with ZE on EOS (assuming that's what's coming)...
The EF mount is not patented per se. The code in the chip is a proprietary trade secret and must be licensed from Canon. You can reverse engineer the code, as Sigma has done with mixed results.
sockeyed
09-03-2008, 12:17
I'm not clear, the viewfinder darkens as you stop down with ZK and ZS lenses right? Does it darken with ZF on Nikon? Should we expect it to darken with ZE on EOS (assuming that's what's coming)...
Simon - I think that if you use them on the appropriate body (ie, ZF on Nikon, ZK on Pentax), all Z* lenses have automatic aperture that closes down when you fire the shutter, leaving you to compose and focus with the lens wide open. When you start using adapters, like mounting a ZF lens on a Canon body, then you have to deal with stopped-down lenses. If they made an EF-mount series of lenses, I think that they would function as they should - with automatic apertures (and hopefully full AE capabilities).
wlewisiii
09-03-2008, 12:46
I must admit that the idea of a 50/1.4 T* Planar on my A2E is quite a tasty. Disasterous for my wallet, but tasty... ;) Still they have always answered that EF was unlikely whenever I've emailed them asking for it & a nice 28 Biogon.
William
shadowfox
09-03-2008, 12:59
Want: ZO for my Olympus OM-1 and OM-4 :D
Chance: less than zero percent :(
Leica R fit?? Nah, its got to be a ZEF, with NO coding )Hey us ZF users can't have it so why Canon). Is this really a Ikon thread?
Why not go ask Zeiss customer service directly if they are going to offer Canon compatible lenses soon?
The ZF 2.0/100 Makro Planar is so good that it is worth picking up an old Nikon film SLR just to be able to use it (F3 for me). A new lens line will be very interesting, whatever it may be. Kiss your L lenses goodby, maybe?
LJS
On the Zeiss website they say the new lenses are ZE so I think we can be sure they are giving into all the emails I have sent them about making canon mount lenses as long as E does not stand for (Olympus) e420 :)
I am quite interested to see how they will deal with aperture linkage, it's going to be interesting.
The EF mount is not patented per se. The code in the chip is a proprietary trade secret and must be licensed from Canon. You can reverse engineer the code, as Sigma has done with mixed results.
A pro friend of mine fried his 1DMKII with a Sigma zoom. Canon fixed the camera no questions asked as it was still under warranty. Sigma took back the lens and gave him another one. With the camera back from Canon he tried it again with the replacement Sigma and LOL it happened again!
One really has to wonder about that. I have seen peoples canon cameras completely freeze when a third party lens is on it or even a focus confirm adapter but on the nikon side I have never seen a cam have problems with third party, not to mention higher end nikon legacy supprt. I also hear canon on purpose makes it difficult for third party lenses be tweeking their code differently on various bodies. Seems like dirty bussiness to me.
This is pure speculation from my side - but could the new mount on the Zeiss glass have something to do with the full frame Sony 24Mp? It would make sense as they already make the lenses for the Alpha series.
Now, a 100f2 Planar on a 24Mp sensor with good noise ratio would be something!!!!!
photogdave
09-07-2008, 22:08
This is pure speculation from my side - but could the new mount on the Zeiss glass have something to do with the full frame Sony 24Mp? It would make sense as they already make the lenses for the Alpha series.
Now, a 100f2 Planar on a 24Mp sensor with good noise ratio would be something!!!!!
Most of the Zeiss Alpha lenses are already full frame. They were thinking ahead!
Most of the Zeiss Alpha lenses are already full frame. They were thinking ahead!
yeah and plus they are already called ZA lenses, so I dont think that is what we will be seeing here. Not to mention all the ZA lenses are auto focus and none of the ZF breeds are. Seems like the only place they were not thinking ahead was that many of the ZA lenses dont have super sonic motors in them and just that annoying drive screw crap. That really turned me off to the entire Sony line.
Zeiss website already updated. It mentioned ZE now, so should be EOS mount.
Not a changeable lens system for Nokia phones? N-mount ??? haha
leica007
09-08-2008, 01:57
Zeiss website already updated. It mentioned ZE now, so should be EOS mount.
YES, it's ZE. Zeiss website clearly shows it.
photogdave
09-08-2008, 07:08
YES, it's ZE. Zeiss website clearly shows it.
Maybe it's for Olympus...
fotobiblios
09-08-2008, 07:23
I guess it will be EF, and I also expect some other Zeiss lenses to come out in the Sony mount.
However what would be really new would be for Red to announce a still camera on that day and Zeiss to be the lens maker.
Maybe not next week - but will that happen one day? what do you think?
Zeiss doesnt work with Canon.
I´m pretty sure it will be E for the Exakta mount... ;)
sojournerphoto
09-12-2008, 14:45
E for easy to fit to your ...
rfrangefinder
09-14-2008, 07:53
ZE is for EOS. the dslr market now getting interesting. as a contax n user i have been contemplating which system to adopt for a while now. i will continue to wait awhile. zeiss lenses are a must for me, as is v good longevity for the mount (once bitten twice shy with contax). scenarios unfolding:
canon with zeiss ze (now with the new 5d replacement, i might convert all my n lenses too)
nikon with zf (strong bet, looking good, D3 with excellent nikon ergonomics and superb low-light performance)
sony with za (that way i can get some excelent zeiss zooms to replace my current excellent zeiss zooms)
...and wait for it, RED dslr with contax n mount. perlease!
and then all i need is a really good nikon/zi/anything rf digital in m mount.
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