Sony Zeiss Planar T* FE 50mm F1.4 ZA

[Mathias]

Hey there

 

Just got my FE 50/1.4 ZA yesterday, haven't had much time to shoot with it yet unfortunately, but took a few shots in my backyard for test purposes.

 

Here's a quick test shot with it wide open, nothing special but you may be able to get a glimpse of its character:

 

Blueberries [explored] by Mathias, auf Flickr

 

Love the rendering and the colors, very soft bokeh too (no swirly-bokeh and no onion-rings!).

AF seems on par with the FE35/1.4 and manual focus is great too, seems to be linear (180° throw), but need to test more.

The aperture ring is designed like the one on the 85GM, unlike the FE35/1.4 - I prefer this one, as the ribs go all around the ring which is more ergonomic.

In these first simple shots I couldn't find anything not to like... Haven't come across CA either... Will update when I have more.

 

Please share your images and opinions about this beautiful new lens.

 

 

Oh and make sure to enter my Flickr group if you shoot this lens too: https://www.flickr.com/groups/3010731@N20/

[duncanfoxphoto]

That's gorgeous. I would like to have this lens, but the cost is just too much. I already have the 55mm Zeiss, and the only thing I don't really like about it is the minimum focus distance is actually pretty long. Now, when Sony starts making some f/1.2 lenses that have a t stop rating of 1.2... I'll probably sell my first born to get a set of those. I can imagine eye AF with a native f/1.2 would be amazing.

[Mr_A7s]

Congrats on your new toy.

 

Looks great

[pic-pop]

love your new toy. Thinking of buying one as I have the 35 1.4 and the 85 1.4. I would consider selling my F4 24-70 as I prefer prime lenses and this is my only remaining zoom.

[Mathias]

I also own the 35/1.4, which was my favorite lens so far. Let's see if the 50 can top it though...

The 85GM is next on my wish list. So we would end up with the same set - which is not surprising of course

Yeah I feel you about that 24-70/4... My only zoom is the 16-35/4 (which is great though).

[Mathias]

Gazing off by Mathias, auf Flickr

 

Over the Rooftops by Mathias, auf Flickr

[Mathias]

One more for the bokehlicious

 

Bridal Bouquet by Mathias, auf Flickr

[Mr_A7s]

One more for the bokehlicious

 

Bridal Bouquet by Mathias, auf Flickr

 

 

Another wonderful photo

 

Visited your site and I really enjoyed all photos. Keep posting

[pic-pop]

Hy Mathias. thanks for the great photos. I had the F4 16-35 but traded it for the Batic 18 and am amazed at its sharpness. My favorite lens is the Sony 85 1.4

[Mathias]

Thank guys, appreciate it!

 

Here's one more, it's actually a selfie shot with the 10s timer and the camera on the ground.

Shot at Lake Cauma in Flims, Switzerland.

 

At the Lake in the Woods by Mathias, auf Flickr

[pic-pop]

WOW the picture pops out of the background

Jerry

[pa_925]

Beautiful shots. I agree regarding the rendering and the color.

I don't own the 35/1.4, but could you please describe the AF for the 50 in terms of the speed of the 85GM?

 

Paul

[Mathias]

Beautiful shots. I agree regarding the rendering and the color.

I don't own the 35/1.4, but could you please describe the AF for the 50 in terms of the speed of the 85GM?

 

Paul

Thank you. Unfortunately I can't comment on the AF performance in terms of the 85, as I don't own the GM. It's more relying and faster than the 90/2.8 Macro though.

Tracking works fine, but it takes a while to go from mfd to infinity. It's also slightly more noisy than the linear piezo drives (35/1.4).

 

Oh by the way, Manual focus is definitely linear! 180 degree throw no matter how fast or slow you turn that focus ring.

[JimmyD]

Just got mine yesterday and took just a few shots on a short evening walk.  Focus speed not fantastic but okay.  Sharpness fine at 1.4 - 2.0, really sharp 2.8 - 8.  Bokeh nice.  Most of all, and what I bought the sense hoping to get, the Zeiss 3D pop is clearly there.  Here is not a great pic but it is straight out of the camera and shows you the pop . . .  

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[JimmyD]

Here's another quick test pic straight OOC, this one at f/4 (pic above was wide open).

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[Mathias]

When you're looking through the front element at the aperture, opening it up can you too still see the blades even wide open at f/1.4? Just want to check if this is normal behavior (I think other lenses do the same, but am not sure).

[JimmyD]

The blades open up as I turn the aperture ring toward f/1.4.  At f/1.4, they almost but not quite disappear--I can still barely see the edges.

 

When yours is autofocusing, do you notice a minor noise (like a faint rubbing / grinding) ?  Lots of people have complained of pretty loud or harsh scraping / grinding with the 85mm 1.4 GM, but mine is not that bad.

[Mathias]

Thank you for checking. Seems to be normal, guess the inner barrel is a bit larger than f/1.4, so the blades are still visible. Read the same for some other lenses, including Leica and Zeiss.

 

About the AF: Yes, it's a bit noisy. It uses the same AF tech as the 85GM (Ring SSM vs. direct drive SSM on others). I think it's okay, not too loud, eventually it will get quieter over time.

[JimmyD]

Thank you Mathias, makes sense.  I am really enjoying this lens.

[Mr_A7s]

Thank you for checking. Seems to be normal, guess the inner barrel is a bit larger than f/1.4, so the blades are still visible. Read the same for some other lenses, including Leica and Zeiss.

About the AF: Yes, it's a bit noisy. It uses the same AF tech as the 85GM (Ring SSM vs. direct drive SSM on others). I think it's okay, not too loud, eventually it will get quieter over time.

To have 4 engines to pull full size suv doesn't make sense to me