Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

I used this product recently on a trip for business to LA on a 7D body.. i own the 18,35, and 50mm in this Zeiss series , i mainly bough them for shooting HDSLR video but began using them more and more for still photography. The manual focus allows you to really concentrate on composer of your shots, it slows you down so its not just snap snap snap, It is definitely difficult to get super sharp images at 1.4 so makes sure you have a tripod. I find with the zeiss usually 1 stop up from the lens lowest aperture gains you the sharpest image even in the edges... this lens is just amazing.. zeiss contrast beautiful bokeh.

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

The Carl Zeiss 85mm F/1.4 ZE is a nice moderate telephoto lens for someone looking to move around during a portrait session. The lens is long enough to compress perspective but it's not too long which allows you to keep getting close or backing away from your subject. There is minimal distortion as well since the lens is longer than 50mm.

The build is my favorite build out of the three Carl Zeiss lenses I own. I have the 21mm and the 50mm. The focusing ring feels the most rigid and solid over the three.

Technically the lens is at its sharpest from F/4.0 to F/16.0 the sharpness does degrade a little but is still acceptable from F/2.8 and F/2.0 and below F/2.0 the sharpness is pretty poor and you will run into your usually problems shooting completely wide open. However I personally like the look of the imperfections below F/2.0, as this lens is a portrait lens not a landscape lens and flaws in portraiture can make interesting photographs.

The only cons I could find that are not too bothersome but still worth pointing out are the lens lets in flares more than it should for a telephoto without the lens hood on in harsh lighting. And of course the weight, if you're doing a short shoot this isn't a problem but if you walk around for hours like I do the weight of the lens can get to you.

Overall I still love this lens and I am happy with my purchase.

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

this is an excellent lens for photography and video. there is nothing to mention. if you can afford buy this and use especially in interview shooting in documentaries, you'll get exciting results.

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

I have only used the lens for a couple of weeks now with an EOS 5D MKII but can already see a difference in my photography. Most noticeable is the depth and clarity in what would have been dark almost hidden areas if I had taken the shot with my Canon EF85 1.8USM. I think this is what some reviewers refer to as the 3D look when using Zeiss glass. Colors are richer and more saturated as well. Focusing is pretty easy with EF-S screen. Focusing ring is robust and smooth as silk. Yes I have to think more about my shots but that is a good thing that I had become accustomed to taking for granted. Nice soft bokeh. I feel its sharp even at f1.4 but does have a very narrow dof at that aperture. I don't find the weight to be a detraction and love the solid attachment of the metal hood. Only minor negative is that if you are going to use filters I wouldn't want to use anything on it other than Zeiss or maybe B&W and these get pretty expensive.

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

I purchased this lens for my new Canon 5D Mark II camera, primarily for video and occasional stills shooting. I am amazed at the way images "pop" with this lens. The separation from the background is AMAZING, with its high-quality optics producing phenomenal "bokeh" (soft focus background blur).

Fast (f/1.4) and contrasty in low-light, and tack sharp edge-to-edge throughout its aperture range.

The mechanical build quality of this lens is also superb -- using all metal construction. The focus ring is long throw and smooth as butter!

I highly recommend this lens. One of the best I've ever owned!

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

This is an excellent lens. Sharp. I use it mainly for HDSLR video, which means the manual focus isn't a downside. In fact, the ease of focus with this lens is excellent, especially compared to my Canon 24mm L lens. I consider this lens to be a very good value. At this price, I expected a lot and was not disappointed at all.

Build quality is excellent. The lens is appropriately heavy. The hood is metal and attaches easily and securely.

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

When I first started using this lens more than a year ago, I was disappointed. It wasn't as sharp as I was expecting on my 5DmkII when shooting wide open, and sometimes even as I started stopping it down. I slowly discovered that many of my issues were user error, that my technique had become sloppy and that this lens expected me to put out my best performance every time I used it. When thoughtfully used and properly focused and supported, this lens is capable of producing results that are downright "magical".

In fact, magical is the best word I can use to describe it. Every once in a while I produce a shot with this lens that redefines my expectations of my own photography, and then I spend days, weeks and sometimes months practicing to master the technique that led to the discovery. This is an extremely challenging lens to use. Focus shift means you need to use live view to get the best results. And use a monopod for better support when shooting live view. The change of character from milky smoothness wide open to biting sharpness stopped down makes it several lenses in one, each with its own unique drawing style and way of looking at the world.

Get this lens, explore it, savor it and learn from it. It will challenge you. It becomes the master and makes you the learner. Sit at its feet for a while and don't get discouraged. It will surprise you and show you that you are both a better and worse photographer than you had every dared to imagine. If you don't give up then you and your photography will be changed because of it.

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

This lens takes beautiful portraits.

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

I use this lens for Outdoor Portraiture
This Lens it's the best 85mm available for DSLR Full Frame Bodies
No other brand can beat this Lens Color Reproduction,Detail,Micro Contrast and more ...
i wasn't sure about the manual focus because i learn Photography in Autofocus Cameras.
I try it the first week with my friends but i was 50% in keep it and 50% returned.I decide to give it one las try with a Professional model and after that i figure out than the lens not just show me its Superb Image Quality or That unbelievable Contrast Without Burn the Highlights and Show Some Detail in the Shows,It Show me How Wrong i was letting the camera decide for me my point of Focus.
This is an Extraordinary Lens,Build to Last,Superb and there's no other 85mm Like this one Out There.
This is More For Less and Please don't put and UV filters in the front of it !!!

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

If you like the Zeiss 50/1.4, you'll love this lens. At big apertures it has an old-fashioned rendering that is very nice, especially in black and white. Stopped down, it's super sharp. It's really two lenses in one, just like the ZE 50/1.4. Buy it, you won't regret it!

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

brilliant. pure zeiss quality. easy to focus, amazing results
This is a portrait lens so if you shooting wide open, you should expect soflty flattering images.

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

Used it the first time on some portraits last week. Astounding. Love it.

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

[...] I was able to sign for it and break the gem out of the box before leaving for a reception. First impression was it looked and felt like a throw back lens of the '70s. Heavy and well constructed. It is all metal and I like that feel. Late evening photos were in my back yard of some early spring flowers shot at f1.8. WOW! The images were crisp but with a well balanced fall off and bokeh. Early signs are I will use this lens a lot. I shot some portraits where I normally use my Canon L glass 24 to 70mm zoom. This was a nice change and the manual focus does not bother me at all. Having that bokeh with background is an added value to the portrait. One down side I would not shoot wide open. The depth of field is really just several mm deep and shallow. Overall I really like it.

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

works perfecet with my canon 5D and my canon 7D, great performance in video!!!

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

Outstanding. If this lens is ever removed from my camera, it will be because I have gotten a new camera.

I didn't want to plunk down so much money on an unknown, but this lens is unbelievably awesome!

The manual focus is superbly precise, viewfinder clarity is excellent, and the magically thick (or thin--you decide) DOF is worth every penny. The wide aperture means snapshots at midnight at 800 ISO or lower are actually pretty easy.

The image and build quality of this lens are similar to the legendary 55mm Planar sold with the Contarex Professional--speaking from experience, each lens es muy delicioso.

There is some edge aberration when used on the 5dmkii but it's addressable in post--many lenses on the mkii have this characteristic.

The lack of autofocus is not for the timid--focus screen changes may alleviate some jitters--if you shoot from the hip, save up your money for the Canon 85 2.8 or whatever.

If you grew up using MF, or if you simply cannot stop looking at photos taken with Zeiss lenses, buy this. You will not be disappointed!!

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

Excellent clarity, micro contrast, color and sharpness. Everything you would expect from Zeiss. Definitely not for the beginner photog. Manual focus, focus shift on certain Canon bodies that must be compensated for but once you make it work for you the results are amazing. Many have doubted this lens online but if you know what you're doing it can produce stunning images all the way from F1.4.

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

This lens is incredible... from the construction to it's performance, it is an impressive lens. I own the Planar f/1.4 50mm, and I just had to invest in this one as well. I use it with my Canon 5d Mark ii and it's been very responsive (the lack of aperture ring had me worried). It takes beautiful portraits, gives me consistent and beautiful color and I have nothing bad to say about this lens whatsoever.

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

I put off buying this lens because the first Zeiss 85mm I tested in the ZF mount was not any better than my Canon EF 85mm 1.8. But I was itching to buy another lens, so I decided to try this ZE version. Well, it is much better in the corners at f8, and slightly better in the center. This is important to me as I print 40" x 60". And, of course, I'm hoping that Canon will so come out with a 28mp full frame soon, so I want a lens that will match that sensor. I feel confident this new Zeiss will do that.

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

Rented this lens for a week, to compare to my Canon 85mm f/1.8. Own Zeiss 100mm f2 Macro, 50mm f1.4, and 21mm f2.8, all of which are outstanding lenses. The 85mm was a disappointment to me, especially with the vignetting that occurred wide open. Didn't see the 3D snap I get with other Zeiss lenses. May be due to being a rental, but doesn't appear to be worth the $800 difference versus the Canon 85/1.8, which may be the best value in the Canon lineup.

Comments about Zeiss Telephoto 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS:

Beautiful Images.