Rob Galbraith asked 20 questions of Kornelius J. Mueller, Marketing Manager of Zeiss’ camera lens division, about the new ZF (Nikon F mount) and ZS (M42 screw mount) SLR lenses.
Tag: lens
New Zeiss lenses announced: ZF (Nikon F mount) and ZS (M42 mount)
Zeiss announced their new range of ZF lenses a day early in issue 23/Jan 2006 of Camera Lens News.
Highlights:
- As previously hinted, they will indeed be in Nikon F mounts. They will all be primes.
- Announced are a 50mm Planar T* (7 elements in 6 groups) and an 85mm T* Planar (6 elements in 5 groups). Both are f/1.4 – f/16, click-stopped in half-stop increments. There’s a technical data sheet here. They’re expected to be available in early summer 2006.
- They will have "round" irises but the number of blades wasn’t mentioned.
- As a surprise, the same lenses will be issued in parallel as the ZS range with identical optics but with M42 mounts, with the idea that they be used with adpater rings, which will make this range useable on, among other systems, Canon EOS and FD bodies as well. I didn’t see any mention about whether the lenses will be shorter to compensate for the thickness of the adapter ring or not, so infinity focussing ability for the ZS range is currently unknown [to me].
- The lenses will be made by Cosina.
- Zeiss will be setting up a new distribution network to replace? in addition to? their normal distributors. Details will be announced at www.zeiss.com/photo
There’s also a Q&A about the range with Dr. Winfried Scherle, VP & General Manager, Camera Lens Division and Kornelius Mueller, Marketing Manager of Zeiss.
Another quasi-update on the new Zeiss lenses
Zeiss’ Camera/Cine Lenses page says that they’re releasing new lenses for SLRs (see previous posts 1 and 2). After a few hints over the last few weeks, it now says, "The solution will be revealed on 01/18/06. Until then, you will find out a little more each week from our images.".
So far, they’ve said "ZF", so they’re likely in Nikon F mount, and there’s now a picture of a lens labeled "Planar 1.4/50".
Quasi-update: Zeiss lenses in new SLR mounts? Lookin’ like Nikon!
Zeiss promised “More” today about the “Millions of SLR Photographers Will Soon Discover a New Dimension in Photography†hint on their Camera/Cine Lenses page (see previous post). Teases that they are, all they’ve done is say “Carl Zeiss Presents ZF!” and cover the previous message with a “Top Secret” folder. Which is to say that they’ve told us a lot: it’s likely a line of Zeiss lenses with Nikon F mounts. Yay for Nikon shooters!
More info is promised for Wednesday, 28 December 2005.
Zeiss lenses in new SLR mounts?
The main Zeiss Camera/Cine Lenses page has an image that says “Millions of SLR Photographers Will Soon Discover a New Dimension in Photography”. Innnnteresting!
Is the excellent Zeiss 45mm for Contax G too much to hope for in an EF mount with FTM (Full-Time Manual focus)? (Both of Canon’s 50mm offerings exhibit severe barrel distortion are are useless for me in full frame.) While they’re at it, adapt the Contax G 28mm Biogon for use as a normal lens on APS-C digital sensors.
The Zeiss page says that more info will be available tomorrow, 21 December 2005.
Liquid lenses for camera phones
According to this article on The Register, “Camera phones will soon have lenses made from nothing more substantial that a couple of drops of oil and water, but will still be capable of auto focusing, and even zooming in on subjects. So says Etienne Paillard, CEO of French start-up Varioptic.”