ZF - Turned out to be Nikon F mount lenses

Avotius · 01-17-2006

But then again we already new that huh...

oh but lookie what I found!!!

CLN: Canon users would love to be able to use Zeiss lenses, too!
Müller: …and they keep telling us day-in day-out. So along with the ZF line, we are also introducing "ZS" lenses. Carl Zeiss ZS lenses come with the same optics as the ZF line; only the mount is different. ZS has the M-42 screw mount, the one that used to be called the "Universal SLR mount." We don't think the M-42 screw mount is going to take the market by storm, but it has a unique advantage: there are M-42 adapters available for any SLR bayonet mounts, including Canon EOS and FD. So you can adapt a ZS lens onto any 35 mm SLRs (and many other applications as well) if you crave the optical characteristics of this lens line and are willing to get along without the convenience functions of recent lenses.

Something else interesting too http://www.ogisaku.com/

celluloidprop · 01-17-2006

I like that news, as I'm looking to buy a Nikkormat FTN and maybe a FM3A soon-ish. A Zeiss 50 would undoubtedly be high on my list (if they come in at the same price as ZM mount lenses).

Trius · 01-17-2006

85/1.4 is sweet. GeneW, you gonna have GAS over this now that you don't have the Zuiko 90?

01-17-2006

Would these Zeiss be AI, AIS or non-AI?

Trius · 01-17-2006

And ZS (M42) mount is being introduced, too. Crap, I have a M42 to OM adapter. I'm dead.

pbjbike · 01-17-2006

Nikon F Mount seems to be having a bit of a reanaissance--my new-to-me 80mm Planar in LTM came with a Nikon F focusing mount as well. The lens is like a Viso lens: the head unscrews and you remount it on other mounts. Not sure what other mounts were made by "Rollei", but the lens is amazing. Another marketing debacle IMO. Never saw the lenses , let alone this great feature advertised. I'm dying to use it for some macro work.

GeneW · 01-17-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trius

85/1.4 is sweet. GeneW, you gonna have GAS over this now that you don't have the Zuiko 90?

Don't do this to me! Yes, that is a sweet one. However, I just picked up a great buy on a used Nikkor 85/2 so I'm okay -- I think...

Gene

Trius · 01-17-2006

Gene: f2? Be serious! Bwaaahaaa haa haa!!!!

wlewisiii · 01-17-2006

Oh my aching wallet... M42 mount too... which means FD with an adaptor...

William

Trius · 01-17-2006

William: Just about ANYTHING SLR with an adaptor. Damn Zeiss ba^tards.

VinceC · 01-17-2006

From the Zeiss site:
>>The first ZF lens will be the Planar T* 1,4/50 ZF, which, in its Contax RTS version, was rated the world's best fast standard lens by "Popular Photography" in 1999. It will be followed by the Planar T* 1,4/85 ZF, which in its Contax RTS version became known as a great portrait lens and story-teller.<<

So these are essentially existing lenses (that had no real market) being refitted for the Nikon mount (now that Nikon is cutting back on its manual focus lenses).

Alec · 01-17-2006

Hm wait, I don't want to spoil the party, but I remember I had to stop down manually when using my father's M42 lenses on my Minolta SRT with the original Minolta adapter.

Will aperture preselection work with these lenses/adapters ?
(ie the ability of post-1960 SLRs to keep the aperture fully open until the shutter is pressed)

If it won't, we'll be better off dusting up the Visoflex lenses than buying these... :/

Alec · 01-17-2006

OK, so after reading the Zeiss blurb, probably the ZF [Nikon] have complete coupling, at least with current pro-level and all older Nikon D/SLRs.

But I fear the ZS [M42] will be about as usable as lenses with a stuck iris - always full aperture, or a dark viewfinder...

Avotius · 01-17-2006

http://www.ogisaku.com/

RJBender · 01-17-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbjbike

Nikon F Mount seems to be having a bit of a reanaissance--my new-to-me 80mm Planar in LTM came with a Nikon F focusing mount as well. The lens is like a Viso lens: the head unscrews and you remount it on other mounts. Not sure what other mounts were made by "Rollei", but the lens is amazing. Another marketing debacle IMO. Never saw the lenses , let alone this great feature advertised. I'm dying to use it for some macro work.

Would you please upload a picture of that lens? I'd like to see what it looks like.

R.J.

Mazurka · 01-17-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by VinceC

So these are essentially existing lenses (that had no real market) being refitted for the Nikon mount (now that Nikon is cutting back on its manual focus lenses).

It's so very odd that Zeiss and Yashica/Kyocera offered and developed the Contax SLR line to a non-existing market for 30 years, a little longer than even the original RF Contax line from 1932-1961 which was never threatened by something called "digital photography."

VinceC · 01-17-2006

I meant current market. I don't follow it closely, but I'd understood the Contax/Kyocera line had been dropped a short time ago. So you've got some first-class lens designs out there looking for a new home.

Trius · 01-17-2006

Alec: Some very nice photos have been made with stopdown metering on Pentax Spotmatic (pre Spotmatic F) and other M42 bodies.

Right now the onloy short tele I have on my OM is the Zuiko 100/2.8. It's a really nice lens, but sometimes I'd like something in the 80-85mm range. And f1.4? Yeah baby! I'm under no illusion that it will go for pocket change, though.

MP Guy · 01-17-2006

Looks like more than just 2 lenses. I see a 14 which equals 21 on nikon crops.

Mazurka · 01-17-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jorge Torralba

Looks like more than just 2 lenses. I see a 14 which equals 21 on nikon crops.

I don't think those Digiprimes are offered in F mount.

Mazurka · 01-17-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trius

Right now the onloy short tele I have on my OM is the Zuiko 100/2.8. It's a really nice lens, but sometimes I'd like something in the 80-85mm range. And f1.4? Yeah baby! I'm under no illusion that it will go for pocket change, though.

With an M42 adapter on the OM body, the Planar will become a little longer and slower than 85mm f/1.4 - unless you give up infinity focus.

peter_n · 01-17-2006

Now I'm glad I didn't sell my F3!

leafy · 01-17-2006

The MRSP of the 2 initial offerings are almost twice as much as what the Contax equivalent asked for. Might as well buy a C/Y adapter and Contax lenses if you don't have an F-mount camera. What interest me is the Distagon that has max aperture of 2. I don't remember such equivelant in the latest Contax line (only the long discontinued 28/2 rang the bell).

Mazurka · 01-17-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by leafy

The MRSP of the 2 initial offerings are almost twice as much as what the Contax equivalent asked for. Might as well buy a C/Y adapter and Contax lenses if you don't have an F-mount camera.

Don't forget Zeiss and Kyocera had 30 years to recoup their C/Y investment.

There is no C/Y to F adapter. Anyway there are almost 50 years' worth of Nikon bodies - and 30 year's worth of Contax and Yashica SLRs - to fit any budget.

varjag · 01-18-2006

Finally! Now I can enjoy the glorious marriage of 50/1.4 Planar with Zenit-E!