Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

Optics are world-class. Be aware that wide open you'll see some mild pink and green color-fringing just in front of and behind the focus point, but other than that it's anything-goes.

Macro capability limited by the 1:2, so if big-magnification macro is your thing then there are better choices.

Ergonomics: beautiful (heavy) metal construction, including the hood. When the hood is reversed (ie. resting) you can't access the focus ring properly. That inconvenience - alongside lack of autofocus and vibration reduction - mean it's not a quick point-and-shoot piece of kit. Better to work slowly with this lens. If you care about image quality above everything else, there isn't a better dslr lens in this focal range. Otherwise grab one of the plastic-fantastic alternatives.

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

I bought the ZEISS 100mm Makro-Planar lens for my new Nikon D800. I very much favor prime (and not zoom) lenses. I'm using this lens in conjunction with 2 Nikon lenses - the 60mm f/2.8G ED Micro lens ands the 24mm f/1.4G ED. (The combination is fabulous for someone like me who doesn't shoot wildlife or sports.) The D800 demands a superior lens, especially if one is doing architectural photography. I use the 24mm for the full-image shots and then focus on details (studies, as I call them), using the ZEISS 100mm. I do not miss autofocus; other of course will feel that a manual-only focus lens is a deal-breaker. If one needs instant "action-oriented" focusing, then the ZEISS lens is not the right lens. But for landscape photography (100mm is my sweet spot, if I'm not not shooting 24mm wide angle), architectural photography or portraiture, this lens is stunningly good. In the latter case of portrait photography, I have never seen bokeh quite like it. Even my Canon 135mm f/2 (yes, I was once a Canon guy) does not measure up. The ZEISS lens is that good. I do not believe that the Nikon 105mm lens favorably compares. That said, it is half the price!

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

I purchased this lens a little more than a year ago for dual use on a D300 and D700. As stated in an earlier review, it is 1:2 on the D700 and about 3:4 on the D300. I don't get hung up on the precise ratios as it is not my thing. The quality of the lens and the resulting quality of the images IS important and this lens does not disappoint. The fine focus and the sharpness of the image amazes me constantly. Not being a pro or a theorist, I am not sure why but the colors and detail when using this lens seem to POP! I use the lens for portraiture, close up (macro), and just when I want the fine detail that a 100mm lens brings (over a 50mm).

The manual focus made me re-learn to frame, focus and shoot (I shot manual film for years but got lazy over the past few with AF lenses). It is second nature again. Obviously not great for action sports and other more rapid-fire uses but, if you have the time to frame the shot and focus, you cannot beat this lens for the resulting image will exceed your expectations.

As stated elsewhere, build is solid. Lens hood (included) is solid and locks in place easily. Not a scalloped shaped plastic shade cover provided on many (even Nikon) lenses. Focus ring turns nearly a full rotation.

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

I'm a new owner of this lens, so my comments are based on limited shooting time, but the experience I have had with this lens has left immediate impressions, so here goes:
By far the best general purpose Macro lens I have ever used. I expected it to be very good close up; it should be and it is, but it's performance outside it's nominal Macro design range is really noteworthy. This lens is fully as good at infinity as it is at 2 feet. I have used another Macro lens (specifically another "floating element" design) that did a good job close, but really never delivered critically sharp images at longer ranges. As a 100mm lens, focused to infinity, it is better than any other 100mm lens option I have ever used, period. Now that's good value for money and vindication for the "floating element" concept.
My first real test of what this lens can do involved a seagull (which had earlier "decorated" my car) posing on a concret pillar at about 10 feet distance (I could get no closer). Not Macro, but quite close and a reasonable portrait working distance. The resulting print required a heavy crop to tightly frame the bird. I was stunned by the color and structure detail in the gull's eye, the modelling of the pinfeathers around the eye, the tactile look to the bird's beak, and most of all the astonishing depth of detail that was revealed in the bird's breast feathers. All of this was not readily apparent to my own eye when I made the photograph, but the lens captured it for the print.
Needless to say, I'm a happy camper. If you can afford this lens and are not bothered by it being heavy, then I don't think you will be disappointed. It's built for a lifetime of use. To date have used it exclusively on a Nikon D3X, where it has worked flawlessly.

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

I use this for carefully posed portraits and it is quite nice!

Beautiful bokeh, quite sharp, great handling and build quality! The total focus throw is incredibly long since it is also a macro lens.

However, this won't slow you down on focusing since you will be stuck in a 'focus range' when doing portraiture. e.g. 1/2 of the throw is for the last 2 feet or so. Long enough of a focus throw to fine tune the aim, but short-enough so that it is relatively fast to focus.

Relatively lightweight and physically short enough to be easy to handle.

Not a fan of the lens cap or lens hood. The lack of AF can be rough for some but it was surprisingly easy for me to do manual focus on a nice body like the D3. If you are pretty careful when you take your portraits, I think you will find the MF vs AF issue is moot or not nearly as big a deal as you might think.

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

Zeiss is known for making really good lenses. However, once in a while even Zeiss surpasses itself with a product so good that you have to wonder where it's been all your life. Such is the Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens. It is a fast lens that, although not labeled as such, performs as if it were apochromatic. It is essentially distortion-free. Its build quality is excellent. The smoothness of its focusing helicoid enables truly precise focusing for macro-type shooting. Color rendition, sharpness, contrast, and bokeh are all excellent. It delivers images lacking any true color fringing, and demonstrates superb flare avoidance, with only modest vignetting wide-open.

Its build quality comes at a small price, however. The size of the lens, although not exceptionally large, belies its weight. You don't get this kind of lens performance without some serious glass in it.

Not surprisingly, its price reflects all of this quality, but if you seek the very finest optical performance, you owe it to yourself to put this lens at the top of your wish list.

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

I use this lens for portraits and photographing my wife's textile projects. It takes a while to get a lot of keepers due to the manual focusing and the shallow DOF, but when you get used to it, it's fantastic, and it should be for the fantastic price. I used manual focus lenses before there were autofocus lenses, but my eyes were better then. I was concerned that I would have trouble focusing, but it is manageable on a D700. When I was using a D200, I don't think that viewfinder would have worked very well for me.
When I was considering this lens, someone suggested that I rent it first to see if I would like it, but I just went ahead and took the plunge and it has worked out OK.
All of my other lenses are screw-drive autofocus. I don't think I could go with ALL manual focus, but I've wanted to try this lens for years and it does not disappoint in the least.

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

This lens is incredible. I own two other macro lenses, and the 100 MP is better than both. In addition to obtaining razor sharp images, the color, contrast, and "Zeiss" rendition of images is outstanding. And then there is the build quality; it surpasses most other manufactures. The barrel is all metal, as is the lens hood, numbers are engraved, and it has a depth of field scale. This lens will outlast me. Works wonderfully with the Nikon "G" lenses and delivers all of the desired EXIF information. F/2 aperture allows for easy focusing. Can't say enough good things about his lens. Bokeh is beautiful too.

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

I am a beginner that just jumped right in to the photography world and found this little gem. First off I shoot with a Nikon D7000 (great camera) and this lens just makes you never want to take it off. Wide open this piece of glass is just as sharp as you will ever get. All across the range it stays very sharp and renders colors that will amaze you. I was worried a little at first about the manual focus but it is very quick and easy to get use to. I have taken some pictures of my daughter playing in the yard and they are Tack sharp. Yes this lens is expensive but you will be able to use it so many more ways than you could ever imagine. On the macro side its pretty good, somebody looking for 1:1 your going to have to look else where because the Zeiss lens is a 1:2 ration. This is a wonderful lens that you will enjoy day after day and will become addicted to!

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

i use to photo product, food and portrait

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

Let me summarize this entire review in a few words. This lens is fantastic. Exceptional. Outstanding. Phenomenal. Incredible... Add whatever positive accolade you wish, it's that good. All the previous reviewers here (and everywhere else on the internet) praising the heck out of this lens actually have reason to do so.

This lens caught my attention in its original ZF form when it was introduced a few years ago. Even then, I was highly intrigued reading about its optical performance. At that time, I thought that the asking price for this optic was quite high. Then Zeiss/Cosina introduced the ZF.2 version, which was (if I am not mistaken) one-and-a-half times the price of the original non-chipped lens. Once again, the glowing praises poured out, and I got even more curious.

I have in my possession the 105mm f/2.5 Ai Nikkor, and I can tell you that is a fine lens. Stopped down to f/4 and beyond, it really sings on my D700. Still, I missed an ultra-wide aperture lens (and autofocus) for portraiture. I also own the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 AF macro lens, and I once again have very nice things to say about that lens. It performs very well (sharpness and bokeh) on both my D700 and D90. So why was I looking at the Zeiss even though I was looking at an autofocus portrait lens? Well, the legendary name along with the rave reviews and not to mention the very impressive spec sheet made me give this lens a long, hard look. I must admit that there was another contender in the race - the 105mm DC Nikkor which offered both autofocus and the defocus control feature. At the end of the day at the suggestion of my wife, I got the Zeiss. And I am very happy that I did.

Whatever has been said about this lens is true, but let me say this, and I am sure that a lot of other owners will agree with me. This lens performs extremely well in the standard battery of tests that are thrown at it (test charts et al.), but there is something beyond the razor sharpness and buttery bokeh. There is a subjective richness and warmth that this lens imbues images with, coupled with a three-dimensional rendering that has to be seen to be believed which cannot be described in words. Also, unlike most macros which are soft at longer distances while being optimized for close-up performance, the Zeiss 100mm Makro(!) Planar performs sharp as a tack from infinity right down to its minimum focus distance. It might be the voodoo of the floating focusing system, but how many lenses do you know that can boast of that kind of performance? Ergo, this lens is a fantabulous macro lens, portrait lens and landscape lens. Yes, I have to manual focus, but I cut my teeth years ago on a Canon A-1 film camera with manual focus FD lenses, so manual focus is not something challenging for me. I do not regret a bit sacrificing autofocus. This lens urges you to slow down, take a deep breath, engage with the process and create a work of art, not just a photograph. Focusing manually in low light is a problem, but one could use the viewfinder focus confirmation and thank goodness for live view! Yes, this is not a lens for shooting fast-moving subjects like children - there are other lenses for that, but if you have the time, the patience and the inclination, this lens will reward you with images that are out of this world.

Wide open, this lens is sharper edge-to-edge than my Tamron macro stopped down. Stopped down, it produces images with resolution and sharpness that I have never seen in my life. I have not seen a lens that is capable of resolving details in an image the way the Zeiss can. The proverbial edge-to-edge sharpness actually exists, and it is produced by this lens, and that too on full-frame! It is a sheer joy to turn the silky smooth, heavily damped focusing ring which is blessed with a generous 360-degree focusing scale that allows very fine focus adjustments. There is absolutely no play in the focusing ring either. The lens body and included lens hood are beautifully crafted out of metal. Nifty touches are the signed approval sheet included in the box by the inpecting technician. The lens out of the box was in immaculate condition, with nary a speck of dust outside or within. Since I got this lens, it has not left my D700 body.

For people complaining that this lens does not go down to 1:1, I must disagree. I'd rather have the performance that this lens offers as opposed to a full-range 1:1 lens with compromised performance in different focus regions, and if I need greater magnification, I can use one of my extension tubes, in particular the Nikon PN-11, which should give around 1:1 performance. The lack of 1:1 focusing is, IMHO, absolutely not a show stopper or for that matter any reason to complain about.

Speaking of complaints, there is one universal complaint. The supplied lens cap is absolutely lousy. I had read this before ordering the lens, and I made sure that a Tamron 67mm lens cap was part of my order with the Zeiss (Tamron makes GREAT lens caps, btw). Other than this minor quibble, I must say that I would buy this lens again in a heartbeat if I had a chance. If you are considering this lens and don't mind spending, and if you do not mind working slowly to get the best possible image possible which includes careful focusing, then I say don't even look anywhere else. Just hit add to cart, take the plunge and then be prepared to be amazed.

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

Use with D3x both for Macro and for scenic images. Love its color and definition for both. Really like that it works well for more distant images as well as for close up macro. Its manual focus and less than 1:1 Macro is not an issue.
I find that it is increasingly my favorite lens to have on camera. Absolutely superb.

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

I use this lens on a D-700 for landscapes, candid street photography, portraits and for macro work. I've used Nikon's finest autofocus lenses for these purposes in the past. Autofocus has infuriated me for the last time. This Zeiss lens has an extraordinary fit and finish, focussing is an absolute joy:
1. I CHOOSE what I want in focus in my image, not the camera.
2. The subject STAYS in focus, regardless of the position in the image.
3. I can preset the focus for a particular range at an fstop like 8 or 11, and have adequate depth of field for candid work with NO FOCUSSING DELAY.

Autofocus isn't a missing feature on this lens!!!! Perfect control is. Other photographers gripe and complain about the focussing screen on modern digital cameras, since they are plain matte, no focussing aids. Well, if you want to learn to focus manually again, this lens makes it trivially easy. It's bright F2 maximum aperture, and the 100mm focal length is so fast for anyone to focus, don't worry about your focussing screen!

Optical Quality is better than anything I've owned. Forget advice from anyone who says you can't see the difference. YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE. It's a perfectly flat field of focus combined with acutance that surpasses belief when you compare your images a 1X. Yes, you can see even more at 2X, but at 1X it is an enormous difference.

I found the Nikkor 200mm Medical lens to be almost as good, but at the expense of several additional pounds and thus no use for day to day shooting. You can carry the D-700 with three Zeiss primes, this, a 50 and a 25 for days without noticing. Try that with modern Nikon zooms!!

If you want the ultimate in quality, the ultimate in optics and to be totally in control of your image, BUY THIS LENS!!!!

And yes, the other posters are right. Make sure you buy a Nikon lens cap, the Zeiss lens cap is easy to drop, easy to scratch the lens with.

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

This lens is great for portrait work, sharp/crisp from edge to edge, love it!!

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

After losing out on a Voigtlander 125mm f4 APO Lanthar, my search for a macro lens led me to the Zeiss.

I owned the Nikkor versions, the tamrons, the sigmas, and they all left me with something missing.

The Zeiss is splendid. The "3-D" effect, the gorgeous bokeh, the contrast and the build simply stand out.

The only weakness that I have come across is the lens cap.

I use mine without a protective filter. The contrast suffers to a noticeable degree if you have unnecessary or low quality glass in front.
My main camera is a Nikon D300.

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

So far I´ve used this lens for macro photos, portraits and for street photography. As a walk around lens it takes of course a bit getting used to the manual focus - it takes a full 360 degrees of the focus ring to go from inifnity to closest distance, so I often keep it around 2 m focus distance to save time. When you get it right though, its very much worth it! The rendering of this lense gives good photos an extra level of quality. Selling my Sigma 105mm macro, because it´s stayed on the shelf since I bought the Zeiss. For macro shots the bokeh is so creamy and the infocus areas so incredibly crisp, that it simply puts a big grin on your face when you see the results. I´m using it with a D3, and with the big bright viewfinder focusing is predictable, but with f2 at 100mm at 20cm distance the depth of field is incredbly small -challenge accepted!

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

Simply excellent.

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

I love this lens. If you are interested in Macro Photography this is a great lens for you.

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

I love using this lens. After researching and saving up for 2 years, I purchased this lens for it's close up capabilities, tack sharpness and legendary bokeh. I've been taking close up (it only goes to 1:2 so some say that's not macro) photos of plant life for 2 weeks and I'm thrilled at the quality of my shots. Having a lens that's tack sharp from f/2 through f/22 really allows the creative isolation juices to flow. Manual focusing with this lens is a joy to use and is precise without any play, which illustrates its top notch build quality. If achieving 1:2 is important, then I suggest using a focusing rail to simplify the process. I've yet to try it as a landscape lens, but I think it will make a sweet pano lens as well with it's minimal distortion. Because it's manual focus, it naturally inspires me to think about composition, using my tripod and getting the correct exposure. It makes me want to be a better photographer.

Comments about Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Cameras:

Zeiss continues to prove they are among the best lensmakers! The 100 f/2 ZF2 lens has a solid construction with extremely sharp image quality. Even though it is manual focus, focusing is fast, precise, and easy. It reminds me of the great Leica R and Hasselblad V lenses of yesteryear. I use my 100 f/2 ZF2 primarily with the Nikon D3 and F6 bodies but it also works well on my F3. This is a very versatile mid-range telephoto lens for more than just macro images.