Zeiss ZK LBA - pics, notes, thoughts?

Franky2step · 04-27-2012, 09:16 AM

Damnit, why did I check out this thread!!!!!!!!!!!

lytrytyr · 04-27-2012, 06:17 PM

Picked up a ZK100/2 from forum member Andi today. Here's a first sample, handheld, on extension tubes:

Piotr · 05-15-2012, 01:04 PM

Pentax K-5 ,Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2/28 ZK 1/60s f/9.0 at 28.0mm iso80

Pentax K-5 ,Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2/28 ZK 1/320s f/8.0 at 28.0mm iso80

Pentax K-5 ,Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2/28 ZK 1/250s f/8.0 at 28.0mm iso80

zapp · 05-16-2012, 08:42 AM

21, 2/25, and the macros are really worth considering. All other Zeiss lenses are just interesting because Pentax does not match the specs in their line up.
The SL-II series from Voigtländer stopped in house competition of the 125 macro to the 100 Macro Planar - too bad. With the Zeiss line-up expanding, I am wondering what Voigtländer has to show at photokina - SL-III?

The 1.8/135 Zeiss for Sony would be an interesting addition in ZK mount.

Last edited by zapp; 05-16-2012 at 08:48 AM.

olimatt · 10-04-2012, 01:03 PM

the following ZK lenses:

18 f3.5
50 f2 makro- awesome wide open!!
85 f1.4- monstruous sharpness and resolution
and i would like to get the 100mm makro.. but hard to find!

thats it!

subidoc · 10-06-2012, 07:52 AM

Here's one of the first images of my ZK85 wide open at 1.4 - yeah, she sat still. The flower was with the ZK35 at f2.8. All are straight from the camera (*ist DS).
While the 35mm is my most used lens now, I am looking forward to exploring the use of the newly acquired 85.

**jpzk** · 10-07-2012, 06:57 PM

Originally posted by subidoc

Here's one of the first images of my ZK85 wide open at 1.4 - yeah, she sat still. The flower was with the ZK35 at f2.8. All are straight from the camera (*ist DS).
While the 35mm is my most used lens now, I am looking forward to exploring the use of the newly acquired 85.

I have the ZK 85/1.4 and I have a horrible time with it because of the focus shift inherent with this lens.

How did you manage to get a good shot at F1.4?
Did you have to fire 1000 before getting a good one?

JP

lytrytyr · 10-07-2012, 11:29 PM

Originally posted by jpzk

I have the ZK 85/1.4 and I have a horrible time with it because of the focus shift inherent with this lens.

How did you manage to get a good shot at F1.4?

Focus shift shouldn't be an issue
when you're focusing and exposing
at the same aperture.

subidoc · 10-08-2012, 06:12 AM

Originally posted by lytrytyr

Focus shift shouldn't be an issue
when you're focusing and exposing
at the same aperture.

I am not sure what you mean by focus shift in this case

... Of note, I did not have any problems focusing with this lens at f/1.4. The reason I have this is to shoot at this aperture. I really don't do stop down focussing for the reasons I have heard in that the focus plan shifts. I presume this is what is called focus shift, but I may be wrong.

Using ZK lenses is quite an experience.... a learning one in that they seem a little different, just can't articulate it clearly, but just seem a little different. I am seeing little of the 35/f2 in this forum, and wonder if I should have gotten the 24 or 28mm instead. It never occured to me to explore the wider world, but I guess I should be on the lookout. The 35/f2 seems to live on the camera most of the time, and I shoot wide open almost all the time.

**jeffshaddix** · 10-08-2012, 06:54 AM

Originally posted by subidoc

I am not sure what you mean by focus shift in this case

... Of note, I did not have any problems focusing with this lens at f/1.4. The reason I have this is to shoot at this aperture. I really don't do stop down focussing for the reasons I have heard in that the focus plan shifts. I presume this is what is called focus shift, but I may be wrong.

Using ZK lenses is quite an experience.... a learning one in that they seem a little different, just can't articulate it clearly, but just seem a little different. I am seeing little of the 35/f2 in this forum, and wonder if I should have gotten the 24 or 28mm instead. It never occured to me to explore the wider world, but I guess I should be on the lookout. The 35/f2 seems to live on the camera most of the time, and I shoot wide open almost all the time.

I've got the 35/2 - it's as close to perfect as they come. The resolution and rendering is superb. It's sharper wide-open than the FA35 and most 35/1.4@f/2 (including Zeiss' 35/1.4 IIRC). Here's a recent snap of mine:

Zeiss 35/2 @ f/2

lytrytyr · 10-08-2012, 07:28 AM

Originally posted by subidoc

I am not sure what you mean by focus shift in this case. Of note, I did not have any problems focusing with this lens at f/1.4. The reason I have this is to shoot at this aperture. I really don't do stop down focussing for the reasons I have heard in that the focus plan shifts. I presume this is what is called focus shift.

Yes, that is correct.

Originally posted by subidoc

I am seeing little of the 35/f2 in this forum, and wonder if I should have gotten the 24 or 28mm instead. It never occured to me to explore the wider world, but I guess I should be on the lookout. The 35/f2 seems to live on the camera most of the time, and I shoot wide open almost all the time.

I have both the ZK 25/2.8 and ZK 35/2, and enjoy them both.
The ZK 35/2 is more straightforward, while the ZK 25/2.8 is quirkier.

The Zeiss shop still offers a ZK 25 and 28:
https://photo-shop.zeiss.com/en/Categories/Objektive/ZK
but they're getting hard to find now.

subidoc · 10-08-2012, 10:45 AM

Originally posted by lytrytyr

The Zeiss shop still offers a ZK 25 and 28:
https://photo-shop.zeiss.com/en/Categories/Objektive/ZK
but they're getting hard to find now.

What are you trying to do to me? Ruin me financially??

Now you have me looking.... again!

PS: what makes the ZK25 quirkier?

lytrytyr · 10-08-2012, 12:40 PM

Originally posted by subidoc

what makes the ZK25 quirkier?

The close focusing distance, 17cm from the sensor,
and the rather strong field curvature.
So despite the short MFD,
it's by no means a flat field macro lens.

However, the field curvature can be used to advantage,
either to throw the edges out of focus,
or to match a subject where the center
is further away than the edges,
like the sample I posted earlier in this thread,
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/36041-zeiss-zk...ml#post1901981

**jpzk** · 10-08-2012, 12:43 PM

Originally posted by lytrytyr

Focus shift shouldn't be an issue
when you're focusing and exposing
at the same aperture.

Pardon my ignorance, but what do you mean

??

I did buy this lens in order to shoot wide open at f1.4, so I use it that way: wid open, no stopping down.

JP

lytrytyr · 10-08-2012, 12:57 PM

Originally posted by jpzk

Pardon my ignorance, but what do you mean?

"Focus shift" as the way spherical aberrations
make the point of sharpest focus change
as you go down a stop or two from fully open,
even though the focus ring doesn't move.

That means that if the image looks sharp
(say on live view) at f/1.4,
it will no longer be sharp exposing at f/2 or f/2.8
unless you move the focus ring
a tad closer to the minimum focus distance.

Photozone has a good display of the effect on
Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZF (ZE) (on Canon EOS) - Lab Test / Review - Analysis
. . . try and "Move the mouse cursor over the f-stop marks"

04-27-2012, 06:17 PM	#152
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Picked up a ZK100/2 from forum member Andi today. Here's a first sample, handheld, on extension tubes: Last edited by lytrytyr; 06-30-2012 at 11:44 AM.

05-15-2012, 01:04 PM	#153
Piotr Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warsaw Photos: Gallery Posts: 338	Distagon 28/2 Pentax K-5 ,Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2/28 ZK 1/60s f/9.0 at 28.0mm iso80 Pentax K-5 ,Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2/28 ZK 1/320s f/8.0 at 28.0mm iso80 Pentax K-5 ,Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2/28 ZK 1/250s f/8.0 at 28.0mm iso80

10-04-2012, 01:03 PM	#155
olimatt New Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 15	i own... the following ZK lenses: 18 f3.5 50 f2 makro- awesome wide open!! 85 f1.4- monstruous sharpness and resolution and i would like to get the 100mm makro.. but hard to find! thats it!

10-08-2012, 06:12 AM	#159
subidoc Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Somewhere near the middle... Posts: 325	Originally posted by lytrytyr Focus shift shouldn't be an issue when you're focusing and exposing at the same aperture. I am not sure what you mean by focus shift in this case... Of note, I did not have any problems focusing with this lens at f/1.4. The reason I have this is to shoot at this aperture. I really don't do stop down focussing for the reasons I have heard in that the focus plan shifts. I presume this is what is called focus shift, but I may be wrong. Using ZK lenses is quite an experience.... a learning one in that they seem a little different, just can't articulate it clearly, but just seem a little different. I am seeing little of the 35/f2 in this forum, and wonder if I should have gotten the 24 or 28mm instead. It never occured to me to explore the wider world, but I guess I should be on the lookout. The 35/f2 seems to live on the camera most of the time, and I shoot wide open almost all the time.

10-08-2012, 06:54 AM	#160
jeffshaddix Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,473	Originally posted by subidoc I am not sure what you mean by focus shift in this case... Of note, I did not have any problems focusing with this lens at f/1.4. The reason I have this is to shoot at this aperture. I really don't do stop down focussing for the reasons I have heard in that the focus plan shifts. I presume this is what is called focus shift, but I may be wrong. Using ZK lenses is quite an experience.... a learning one in that they seem a little different, just can't articulate it clearly, but just seem a little different. I am seeing little of the 35/f2 in this forum, and wonder if I should have gotten the 24 or 28mm instead. It never occured to me to explore the wider world, but I guess I should be on the lookout. The 35/f2 seems to live on the camera most of the time, and I shoot wide open almost all the time. I've got the 35/2 - it's as close to perfect as they come. The resolution and rendering is superb. It's sharper wide-open than the FA35 and most 35/1.4@f/2 (including Zeiss' 35/1.4 IIRC). Here's a recent snap of mine: Zeiss 35/2 @ f/2

04-27-2012, 09:16 AM	#151
Franky2step Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Niagara Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 793	Damnit, why did I check out this thread!!!!!!!!!!!

05-16-2012, 08:42 AM	#154
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,388	21, 2/25, and the macros are really worth considering. All other Zeiss lenses are just interesting because Pentax does not match the specs in their line up. The SL-II series from Voigtländer stopped in house competition of the 125 macro to the 100 Macro Planar - too bad. With the Zeiss line-up expanding, I am wondering what Voigtländer has to show at photokina - SL-III? The 1.8/135 Zeiss for Sony would be an interesting addition in ZK mount. Last edited by zapp; 05-16-2012 at 08:48 AM.

10-07-2012, 06:57 PM	#157
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Originally posted by subidoc Here's one of the first images of my ZK85 wide open at 1.4 - yeah, she sat still. The flower was with the ZK35 at f2.8. All are straight from the camera (*ist DS). While the 35mm is my most used lens now, I am looking forward to exploring the use of the newly acquired 85. I have the ZK 85/1.4 and I have a horrible time with it because of the focus shift inherent with this lens. How did you manage to get a good shot at F1.4? Did you have to fire 1000 before getting a good one? JP

10-07-2012, 11:29 PM	#158
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by jpzk I have the ZK 85/1.4 and I have a horrible time with it because of the focus shift inherent with this lens. How did you manage to get a good shot at F1.4? Focus shift shouldn't be an issue when you're focusing and exposing at the same aperture.

10-08-2012, 07:28 AM	#161
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by subidoc I am not sure what you mean by focus shift in this case. Of note, I did not have any problems focusing with this lens at f/1.4. The reason I have this is to shoot at this aperture. I really don't do stop down focussing for the reasons I have heard in that the focus plan shifts. I presume this is what is called focus shift. Yes, that is correct. Originally posted by subidoc I am seeing little of the 35/f2 in this forum, and wonder if I should have gotten the 24 or 28mm instead. It never occured to me to explore the wider world, but I guess I should be on the lookout. The 35/f2 seems to live on the camera most of the time, and I shoot wide open almost all the time. I have both the ZK 25/2.8 and ZK 35/2, and enjoy them both. The ZK 35/2 is more straightforward, while the ZK 25/2.8 is quirkier. The Zeiss shop still offers a ZK 25 and 28: https://photo-shop.zeiss.com/en/Categories/Objektive/ZK but they're getting hard to find now.

10-08-2012, 10:45 AM	#162
subidoc Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Somewhere near the middle... Posts: 325	Originally posted by lytrytyr The Zeiss shop still offers a ZK 25 and 28: https://photo-shop.zeiss.com/en/Categories/Objektive/ZK but they're getting hard to find now. What are you trying to do to me? Ruin me financially?? Now you have me looking.... again! PS: what makes the ZK25 quirkier?

10-08-2012, 12:40 PM	#163
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by subidoc what makes the ZK25 quirkier? The close focusing distance, 17cm from the sensor, and the rather strong field curvature. So despite the short MFD, it's by no means a flat field macro lens. However, the field curvature can be used to advantage, either to throw the edges out of focus, or to match a subject where the center is further away than the edges, like the sample I posted earlier in this thread, https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/36041-zeiss-zk...ml#post1901981

10-08-2012, 12:43 PM	#164
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Originally posted by lytrytyr Focus shift shouldn't be an issue when you're focusing and exposing at the same aperture. Pardon my ignorance, but what do you mean ?? I did buy this lens in order to shoot wide open at f1.4, so I use it that way: wid open, no stopping down. JP

10-08-2012, 12:57 PM	#165
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by jpzk Pardon my ignorance, but what do you mean? "Focus shift" as the way spherical aberrations make the point of sharpest focus change as you go down a stop or two from fully open, even though the focus ring doesn't move. That means that if the image looks sharp (say on live view) at f/1.4, it will no longer be sharp exposing at f/2 or f/2.8 unless you move the focus ring a tad closer to the minimum focus distance. Photozone has a good display of the effect on Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZF (ZE) (on Canon EOS) - Lab Test / Review - Analysis . . . try and "Move the mouse cursor over the f-stop marks"

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