CZJ 35mm f2.4 - WOW!!

[Digiman]

Inspired by weekh's posts on CZ lenses but without the budget for "the real McCoy", I bought a CZ Jena 35mm f2.4 from a fellow CSer recently to get a taste of what the hype is all about. As Jena lenses are generally regarded as inferior to the West German CZs, I wasn't expecting much.

However, once I started using it, I was blown away. First of all, this lens is sharp edge to edge even wide open. Stopped down to f4 onwards, it is even more impressive.

Secondly, it focuses down to less than 0.2m giving a magnification of about 1:2 for some real macro work.

Thirdly, there seems to be absolutely no distortion or CA. Contrary to some reports, I also find minimum flare even when shooting almost direcly at the sun!

Here are some shots to share. All pics resized/ cropped only, with no other post processing (ie, no USM, saturation adjustment etc).

Original (with enlarged areas marked):


Enlarged centre (roughly) (100% crop):


Enlarged edge (100% crop):

[Digiman]

Here is a macro shot taken at f2.4 with flash:


100% crop of centre:


In summary, I think this lens is really value for money as a poor man's CZ!

[boopoo]

me have one too ,try on d60 wow very very gd on digtial and film

[Danntbt]

how much did ya paid for the second hand lens?

[Keltzar]

And the best part of it is that it's a "close focus" ... so it's the closest thing you can get to what would be a 50mm macro in 135format ... but in 1.6x crop you'd need something around 35mm i.e. 35x1.6 = 56/2.4 close-focus.

I've been searching for mine for a week... its somewhere in my cupboard!!

[pscion12]

Welcome to the fraternity bro, the lens is certainly value for money I thank my lucky stars I managed to buy mine from Parlin last time. Try the smc takumar 55mm too if you can, it has become my fav lens its sharp, good bokeh and the colours are amazing.

thank god for m42 lens.....

[Digiman]

pscion12: Thanks. I'm not sure about 55mm though. As it is, I wish for a wider focal length. I think something in the region of 20mm would be great with my 20D's 1.6X crop factor.

[Digiman]

Originally Posted by Keltzar I've been searching for mine for a week... its somewhere in my cupboard!!

WOW! That must be a really huge cupboard you have there!!!

[mckenzy]

but what about the adapter for Canon dslr mounts? thats the tricky part right? where to find?

[Digiman]

Originally Posted by mckenzy but what about the adapter for Canon dslr mounts? thats the tricky part right? where to find?

The adapters are easily available. I see them on sale at B&S all the time. If not, try Fotographix @ 2nd floor, Lucky Chinatown. Another alternative is buy from ebay - lots of these for sale.

[singscott]

Ya it so good I have four One for EOS, one for FD, one for pentax and one just sitting around. Edge to edge sharpness is unbelivable you must have one to see it

[ricohflex]

Thanks for the effort and sharing the photo. It is a good lens.
But there are other good lenses in the world.

A good idea to do same test with other lenses, say...for example
Leica R 50mm F2, Contax 50mm F1.7 Planar, Nikon 50mm F1.4, Rollei Planar 50 F1.8, Rollei 60mm macro Planar, Contax 60mm F2.8 macro Planar, Nikon 55mm F2.8 Macro, Nikon 60mm F2.8 Macro, Olympus 50mm F2 macro, Minolta 50mm F3.5 macro, Canon FD 50mm F3.5 macro, Canon (new) EF 60mm (for digital) macro, Leica R 60mm F2.8 macro, Olympus 50mm F3.5 macro

If I am not mistaken, most if not all of the above lenses will easily outperform the CZJ 35 F2.4 without even sweating.

So it is about self-induced frenzy over the supposed super qualities of a lens.
In this case fortunately it is reasonably priced.

That is why the Contax 21mm Distagon got pushed up so high in price, some idiot in USA wanted US$4,000+ for it on e-Bay?
Ridiculous.
I did not even buy it when it was Sing$1,700 in 2nd shop in Peninsula.

If you want to pay that much (US$4,000+), I think the Leica (new) R 19mm F2.8 outperforms the Contax 21mm F2.8 easily.

I am not against the CZJ 35mm F2.4. Like Singscott I have more than 1 of these.
But let us not get carried away in a self-induced frenzy.
It is nice, but not a really big deal.

[Digiman]

ricohflex, I think you are missing the point here. Nowhere in my post did I say that this lens is the best in the world. Far from it. The list of lenses better than this is probably too long to post here. I'm merely trying to show what you can get for $130.

Self-induced frenzy? Who is in a frenzy? Please don't over-react and get into a frenzy over nothing.

Originally Posted by ricohflex Thanks for the effort and sharing the photo. It is a good lens. But there are other good lenses in the world. A good idea to do same test with other lenses, say...for example Leica R 50mm F2, Contax 50mm F1.7 Planar, Nikon 50mm F1.4, Rollei Planar 50 F1.8, Rollei 60mm macro Planar, Contax 60mm F2.8 macro Planar, Nikon 55mm F2.8 Macro, Nikon 60mm F2.8 Macro, Olympus 50mm F2 macro, Minolta 50mm F3.5 macro, Canon FD 50mm F3.5 macro, Canon (new) EF 60mm (for digital) macro, Leica R 60mm F2.8 macro, Olympus 50mm F3.5 macro If I am not mistaken, most if not all of the above lenses will easily outperform the CZJ 35 F2.4 without even sweating. So it is about self-induced frenzy over the supposed super qualities of a lens. In this case fortunately it is reasonably priced. That is why the Contax 21mm Distagon got pushed up so high in price, some idiot in USA wanted US$4,000+ for it on e-Bay? Ridiculous. I did not even buy it when it was Sing$1,700 in 2nd shop in Peninsula. If you want to pay that much (US$4,000+), I think the Leica (new) R 19mm F2.8 outperforms the Contax 21mm F2.8 easily. I am not against the CZJ 35mm F2.4. Like Singscott I have more than 1 of these. But let us not get carried away in a self-induced frenzy. It is nice, but not a really big deal.

[ricohflex]

it is fairly good value if price is remains low
then again it is willing buyer and willing seller
condos have elaborately orchestrated soft launches before advertising for sale

[home]

Nice post Digiman, thanks for the info sharing.