Zeiss or Leica Primes?

[MachIII]

Hi all photography gurus,

I am exploring the possibilities to expand to prime lenses. There seems to be 2 high profile 3rd party lens such as Zeiss and Leica. My main use for the prime lens are especially for Portrait use. I would like to start off with a 50mm prime with possibly at f1.8 or f2.

Which make is better for portrait use? In terms if IQ and DoF. I understand using 3rd party primes will have to sacrifice AF but that is something that i have to overcome since these 2 makes produces just as good output as Canon or Nikon. Any pictures that i can be able to visualize physically to appreciate the goodness of their IQ?

BTW, i am using Canon body.

Here are the list of prime range from Zeiss and Leica.

Zeiss Primes

Leica Primes

From the Leica site, it seems that it has a more impressive LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50 mm f/0.95 ASPH. Price must be also.

Thanks a lot.

[proteonXPR]

first if you like the noctilux you cannot really use it properly on your canon body cuz its M mount.

your choices are either Zeiss in ZF(nikon) mount with a F-Canon adapter, or the two ZE Zeiss lenses in canon mount, or for leica, the R lenses with the R-EOS adapters.

with my limited experiences playing with a few zf lenses before sold them all to get leicas, the zeiss line up's all about resolution and contrast

i jumped over to leica to try and i'm hooked to how the pictures are rendered, especially the pre-asph lenses that are a little less biting sharp unlike the asph ones, a bit more organic. and for these lenses, its either you appreciate the coating or you dont, so if you dont see or feel the difference after trying them, stick to proprietary lenses of your brand :P currently i'm using a 90 cron and a 28 elmarit on F mount (leitax) and may be planning for a 50mm (if i ever get rid of my nikon afs 60mm micro)

[Anthony Lee]

Originally Posted by MachIII Hi all photography gurus, I am exploring the possibilities to expand to prime lenses. There seems to be 2 high profile 3rd party lens such as Zeiss and Leica. My main use for the prime lens are especially for Portrait use. I would like to start off with a 50mm prime with possibly at f1.8 or f2. Which make is better for portrait use? In terms if IQ and DoF. I understand using 3rd party primes will have to sacrifice AF but that is something that i have to overcome since these 2 makes produces just as good output as Canon or Nikon. Any pictures that i can be able to visualize physically to appreciate the goodness of their IQ? BTW, i am using Canon body. Here are the list of prime range from Zeiss and Leica. Zeiss Primes Leica Primes From the Leica site, it seems that it has a more impressive LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50 mm f/0.95 ASPH. Price must be also. Thanks a lot.

Nothing like laying your hands on one of these lenses and shoot the daylight out of it. The older CZ (CY mount) are very affordable especially the CZ Planar T* 50 f1.7 or 50 f1.4. Get yourself a CY - EOS adaptor with AF confirmation, all in for approximately $400 per lens. For Leica you can only look at the R series. The Leica Summicron R 50 f2 is about double the price of a CZ Planar 50, but it's reputed to be better in micro contrast and color rendition. The Leica Sumilux R 50 f1.4 is going around $1.3K and this is the ultimate 50mm, so I heard.

[MachIII]

Originally Posted by Anthony Lee Nothing like laying your hands on one of these lenses and shoot the daylight out of it. The older CZ (CY mount) are very affordable especially the CZ Planar T* 50 f1.7 or 50 f1.4. Get yourself a CY - EOS adaptor with AF confirmation, all in for approximately $400 per lens. For Leica you can only look at the R series. The Leica Summicron R 50 f2 is about double the price of a CZ Planar 50, but it's reputed to be better in micro contrast and color rendition. The Leica Sumilux R 50 f1.4 is going around $1.3K and this is the ultimate 50mm, so I heard.

Hi Anthony,

With CY EOS adaptor, can i be able to get the AF in either Zeiss or Leica? This is certainly a great news. Anyway, that will be a bonus as i am prepared to use MF if there are no options.

Appreciate it.

Originally Posted by proteonXPR first if you like the noctilux you cannot really use it properly on your canon body cuz its M mount. your choices are either Zeiss in ZF(nikon) mount with a F-Canon adapter, or the two ZE Zeiss lenses in canon mount, or for leica, the R lenses with the R-EOS adapters. with my limited experiences playing with a few zf lenses before sold them all to get leicas, the zeiss line up's all about resolution and contrast i jumped over to leica to try and i'm hooked to how the pictures are rendered, especially the pre-asph lenses that are a little less biting sharp unlike the asph ones, a bit more organic. and for these lenses, its either you appreciate the coating or you dont, so if you dont see or feel the difference after trying them, stick to proprietary lenses of your brand :P currently i'm using a 90 cron and a 28 elmarit on F mount (leitax) and may be planning for a 50mm (if i ever get rid of my nikon afs 60mm micro)

Thanks proteonXPR. I am seriously considering 3rd party primes since i believe they produces very good quality shots. My concern to visiting retails before research could be disastrous act as i could be at the mercy of some agents.

It seems that you have used both makes and lean towards Leica. I believe there could be a strong reason to spur this switch.

I will google more on the Leica ASPH models. Is it possible to post any non "classified" photos here for those in my shoes?

Thanks a lot.

[Yoricko]

All Leica lenses are MF, I don't know about Zeiss but I think they're manual too.

Leica ASPH lenses are very sharp (and high quality too!), but some old timers find it too sharp to their liking and prefer the pre-asph lenses.
Leica lenses are wonderful, but make sure you don't burn a hole in your pocket.

[fuwen]

My experiences with Zeiss
http://www.fuwen.net/photos_gallerybylens/index.php

[Anthony Lee]

Originally Posted by fuwen My experiences with Zeiss http://www.fuwen.net/photos_gallerybylens/index.php

Very very impressive. Thanks for sharing.

Hi TS, CY - EOS adaptors can come both with and w/o AF confrirmation. Whichever, you still need to focus manually.

[PrimePhotog]

Leica 50mm f2 definitely!I like the look of the 50mm f2.Got the distinctive L glow.

[jnet6]

IMO can you afford a leica lens?
If yes, then is worth the penny else zeiss is good enough too.
However different ppl have different taste, so you got to see for yourself.

[FortyNine]

Shooting with both canons and nikons, i find Canon has more choice of good portrait lenses than nikon e.g 50mm L, 85mm L. Its the nikon guys who are suffering - no USM primes, no modern f1.2s, no adaptor

Perhaps u shud give the Ls a try before grappling with Leicas and Zeisses. Sure they are branded ( and I use them ) and give a different image but they don't necessary give a BETTER image in terms of overall look. Its all matter of taste and Canon's fast L primes are pretty good with distinctive contrast and colours.

I always miss them now I'm shooting nikon. Perhaps u can check out the L group on flickr and see some of the images.

50mm 1.2L group pool on flickr
http://www.flickr.com/search/groups/...8516%40N00&z=t

[FortyNine]

Shooting with both canons and nikons, i find Canon system has much better portrait lenses than nikon e.g 50mm L, 85mm L. Its the nikon guys who are suffering - no USM primes, no modern f1.2s, no adaptor

Perhaps u shud give the Ls a try before grappling with Leicas and Zeisses. Sure they are branded ( and I use them ) and give a different image but they don't necessary give a BETTER image in terms of overall look. Its all matter of taste and Canon's fast L primes are pretty good with distinctive contrast and colours. Of course, they don't come cheap but u get what u pay for.

I always miss them now I'm shooting nikon. Perhaps u can check out the L group on flickr and see some of the images. Below's the 50mm 1.2L group pool on flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/search/groups/...8516%40N00&z=t

[fuwen]

Well, personally I do not like to shoot with lens adaptor, that make things slow for certain situation, and stop down metering and open up for focusing kind of troublesome for me. Practically the most ideal for Canon users will be to use Canon original lenses, or the Zeiss ZE series of lens with Canon EOS mount and electronic data transfer.

[Anthony Lee]

Originally Posted by FortyNine Shooting with both canons and nikons, i find Canon system has much better portrait lenses than nikon e.g 50mm L, 85mm L. Its the nikon guys who are suffering - no USM primes, no modern f1.2s, no adaptor Perhaps u shud give the Ls a try before grappling with Leicas and Zeisses. Sure they are branded ( and I use them ) and give a different image but they don't necessary give a BETTER image in terms of overall look. Its all matter of taste and Canon's fast L primes are pretty good with distinctive contrast and colours. Of course, they don't come cheap but u get what u pay for. I always miss them now I'm shooting nikon. Perhaps u can check out the L group on flickr and see some of the images. Below's the 50mm 1.2L group pool on flickr. http://www.flickr.com/search/groups/...8516%40N00&z=t

Apart from the L lenses, most of the other Canon non-L primes are rather flat and not very contrasty. I have tried some of the Ls and they are all excellent lenses. I happen to own only one L but it's a 70-200 zoom and boy, I sure know its quality. The 24 L, 50L and 85 L are all very pricy and this is the main reason that drives me to look for alternatives. For example, I can go for a Leica R summilux 50 f1.4 for half the price of a 50 L f1.2. Similarly, I can get an old CY Planar 85 f1.4 for 1/4 or less the price of a 85 L f1.2. If budget is not a problem, then IMHO, it's a no brainer.

[proteonXPR]

where are the pictures!! too much text in the thread :X

[Anthony Lee]

Originally Posted by proteonXPR where are the pictures!! too much text in the thread :X

Shot of my grandson with a cheap CZ Planar 50 f1.7 at 1.7

[MachIII]

I have just called up CP. Leica 50mm f2.0 is priced at $2,550. That is M mount. For Canon system, a converter will be required and cost approx $200++.

For quality, that is justifiable.

[flipfreak]

dream zeiss on dream canon

[proteonXPR]

Originally Posted by MachIII I have just called up CP. Leica 50mm f2.0 is priced at $2,550. That is M mount. For Canon system, a converter will be required and cost approx $200++. For quality, that is justifiable.

no lah.. get the r-mount one.. $500-$800 used.. and the adaptor $130 from leitax can already

[ZoomP]

Originally Posted by MachIII I have just called up CP. Leica 50mm f2.0 is priced at $2,550. That is M mount. For Canon system, a converter will be required and cost approx $200++. For quality, that is justifiable.

Bro, find a used Summicron-R 50 f2 for abt 850 and get a china made adaptor for Canon. I just scored a really mint Summicron-R 50 f2 and a not so mint with dust Summilux-R 50 F1.4. The lux is at leica now for a servicing and hopefully can clean the dust (even a hair inside). Didn't realised the dust was inside the glass. Seller was less than honest. Chose to ignore after I smsed him when I took the glass back.

Was unable to confirm when I viewed the glass. Saw some dust but didn't have a blower or cloth to clean it. Seller advertised on CS as without dust. Obviously he knew I was a sucker, or else he would have replied me after that.

Now I am thinking whether to get a 35 Summicron f2.

[proteonXPR]

Originally Posted by ZoomP Bro, find a used Summicron-R 50 f2 for abt 850 and get a china made adaptor for Canon. I just scored a really mint Summicron-R 50 f2 and a not so mint with dust Summilux-R 50 F1.4. The lux is at leica now for a servicing and hopefully can clean the dust (even a hair inside). Didn't realised the dust was inside the glass. Seller was less than honest. Chose to ignore after I smsed him when I took the glass back. Was unable to confirm when I viewed the glass. Saw some dust but didn't have a blower or cloth to clean it. Seller advertised on CS as without dust. Obviously he knew I was a sucker, or else he would have replied me after that. Now I am thinking whether to get a 35 Summicron f2.

must be the same dishonest one whom sold me a fungussed cron after having said "i dont sell fungussed lens" explicitely in pm, i still have all the PMs kept in inbox. still alleged that i could have changed the front element. :mad: