Zeiss Normal 50mm f/2 Planar T* ZM Manual Focus Lens for Zeiss Ikon and Leica M Mount Rangefinder Cameras - Black

Comments about Zeiss 50mm f/2 ZM Lens - Black:

I had a Hasselblad and liked how Zeiss optics drew the image. When Zeiss started new 35 mm lens series I jumped in and bought a ZE 35/2 and an old Canon 1N body. It is like having a Hasselblad in 35 mm format. But this combination is heavy. Eventually I bought Zeiss ZI and a 35/2 lens and later added 28/2.8 and 85/4. They are outstanding lenses - no flare, high contrast, good out of focus, sharp. Also ordered 50/2 from B&H and took some shots - excellent optics as well. Unfortunately the copy was mechanically defective - turning focusing and aperture rings produced a distinct grinding sound. Other lenses are smooth and silent. Clearly a quality control at Cosina is not perfect. Returned to B&H without a problem and am going to order another copy. ZM lenses ARE good. (Note: I shoot B&W).

Comments about Zeiss 50mm f/2 ZM Lens - Black:

Coming from the DSLR world, my usual gear typically consisted of a Canon 1Ds III and a bevy of prime L glass. Tired of being dragged down by the weight of a big DSLR body and looking to get back to the fun of photography, I bought an M8 and a pair of Zeiss lenses (35mm and 50mm... both f/2). After my first solid week of shooting with the Zeiss 50mm, I was utterly blown away by the quality of the images from this lens.

Some critiques I read before purchasing this lens described the sharpness as "clinical". After reviewing my first 8GB card full of images, I can tell you that maybe 1/4 of my shots did in fact have a clinical sharpness that was punctuated by ultra blurry OOF backgrounds at F2. Before any work in post I found those images a little too punchy, but it's so easy to soften up in PS/LR I wouldn't ever consider it to be a negative. Better to be too sharp than not sharp enough. The remaining 75% of images were absolute perfection... assuming I exposed correctly of course.

I've never had a 'Cron or 'Lux to compare this lens to, but I can tell you that it beats the heck out my Canon 50mm f/1.2L when shooting at f/2.
Besides the thing that matters the most- the RESULTS- the Zeiss has an excellent build quality and handles like an absolute quality product. As cool as it would be to have Leica glass, I think this lens will hold me over for many years to come.

Comments about Zeiss 50mm f/2 ZM Lens - Black:

I use this lens with leica m9 for daily use. I think this is a good example of a fantastic compact lens. It gives fast speed, great sharpness while wide open at f2. Quality is great with everything metal. The rings are smooth. I absolutely love it. There is no other lens at this price range would perform like this one.

Comments about Zeiss 50mm f/2 ZM Lens - Black:

I have been an amateur photographer for about 25 years, and in the past few years have become more serious than ever in collecting gear and finding what works for my own artistic tastes.Although I shoot regularly with a digital SLR, I enjoy the slower pace and deeper involvement of using a rangefinder camera.I have owned several rangefinder lenses in the past few years, and when I was looking for a nice 50mm for my Leica M6, I did tons of research. I ended up buying a Zeiss 50/2 instead of a comparable Leica product.Let me just say that this lens is incredibly underrated. It excels in so many ways, it's crazy that Zeiss can sells it for their price point.This lens produces a 'wow' factor in a way that few other lenses can. Sharpness is incredible. Color depth is rich. Contrast is intense but controlled. The bokeh effects are neutral but pleasant.Is this lens for every rangefinder fan? No. Some people will not like the way it renders. I will definitely say this lens has that certain 'Zeiss' character -- strong color, razor sharp, and bold contrast.I find many of the Zeiss rangefinder lenses share these same qualities. They produce a 'modern' look that's not soft and relatively forgiving like a 1950's Summicron, considered by many (including myself) to be a fabulous 'classic' lens. The Zeiss almost seems clinical at times, in how it captures the image. Is this a bad thing? Not in my opinion.So who would really buy this lens? I think it's for open-minded camera enthusiasts (and pros) that don't want to break the bank and still get a fantastic price / performance ratio. Is it worth it to spend almost $1000 to get a Summarit, and lose 1/2 a stop on the aperture ring, not to mention more plastic on the body on 1/2-stop clicks? I really don't think so.This lens is world-class and Zeiss has knocked it out of the park with this product.

Comments about Zeiss 50mm f/2 ZM Lens - Black:

I bought this lens to go on my NEX-5 using the Voigtlander NEX to M-Mount adapter. The lens is sharp wide open, no problem. It is beautifully built with 1/3 stop aperture ring and a very smooth focus operation. If the Leica crowd poo poo this as inferior build quality they have some very high standards indeed.

Sharp, good shallow DoF, pleasure to use.

Need to watch for strong backlighting which can make the bokeh a bit busy. Otherwise bokeh is good (not spectacular, but good). Also, as a DSLR user, the minimum focus distance is just a touch longer than I am used to. Not really a problem, but if you are always at minimum focus distance with your DSLR, be warned.

Comments about Zeiss 50mm f/2 ZM Lens - Black:

Wonderful lens and at a fraction of the cost of the leica. Shoot it wide open no problem, tack sharp.

Comments about Zeiss 50mm f/2 ZM Lens - Black:

This is a great product that continues the Zeiss legacy. It is a product assembled by Cosina in Japan, but the lens design is German and 100% Zeiss.

I have not used this lens on a digital camera, but I have used it on a Bessa R3A and a Leica M6. It is so incredibly sharp, it is astounding. The color rendering is also fantastic -- deep, vibrant color splashes from the image. Contrast is very balanced and background blur (bokeh) is neutral but tasteful. This lens definitely has a subtle "signature", and it's quite enjoyable.

Chromatic aberrations are extremely well controlled, even wide open. Vignetting and distortion are virtually non-existent, at least in none of the real-world shots I've taken.

If you're into rangefinder photography, I highly recommend this lens. It also is getting good reviews from people using it on non-Leica digital bodies via 4/3rds adapters.

Comments about Zeiss 50mm f/2 ZM Lens - Black:

This lens is built incredibly well...I put it on a voightlander Bessa r3a body and I am getting clarity that is astounding. With the price of this lens, I find it hard to believe that leica can claim much of anything on the system I put together for only a grand. It naturally does not produce that Leica look, but it gives the Hass 500 series type feel only in 35 mm ....which I love so much...I shoot high ISO ilford film and adore what this lens is doing. I will get the 35 mm next. I would love to try it on a Leica M8 body. Photography equipment at its finest...I feel arrogant even reviewing it.

Comments about Zeiss 50mm f/2 ZM Lens - Black:

At this price you simply won't find anything that compares. If you've been looking at the prices of used Summicrons on internet auction sites, stop wasting time looking for a deal and drop that money on a Zeiss; you won't be disappointed.