A new look at the Zeiss ZM 50mm Planar f/2 Lens

A new look at the Zeiss ZM 50mm Planar f/two Lens

This is not a lens overview, just a refresher of a lens I reviewed a few years again. The Zeiss Planar has been with me for a couple of days via LenRentals.com and I have appreciated it so considerably I had to publish down some views about making use of it on the Leica M and MM. Appreciate!

The offer of the century..is that not what a lot of of us are usually on the lookout for? Well, the Zeiss 50 Planar f/2 here lens for Leica M mount could not be the “Deal of the Century” but it is a slam dunk bang for your challenging-gained buck if there ever was 1. This tiny 50mm f/two lens is Excellent and I reviewed it a handful of several years again on the Leica M9. It is a single of my older testimonials so it might not be that extended or detailed but it does have a lot of samples that were shot on the M9. The very good news? It would seem to do just as effectively on the new generation of Leica cameras and in these days of $4000-$ten thousand Leica lenses it is refreshing to see an underneath $900 lens complete just as properly as its Leica counterpart.

The Zeiss fifty Planar on the Leica Monochrome â€" click it for 1600 pixel vast variation to see how sharp it is at the emphasis level (whiskers)

I keep in mind this lens and ever because that 2009 assessment period and ever because then I have toyed with the thought of possessing it simply because I remember it gave me people Zeiss colours and Zeiss pop alongside with the Zeiss 3D depth that the Leica did not give me. I remember the lens becoming tremendous sharp as well but how will it hold up nowadays on the Leica M 240 and Monochrom? At beneath $900 how could this lens contend with the famous Leica 50 Summicron that sells for $2295? Can it? Effectively indeed it does, and it does so extremely well certainly. In some methods it is greater than the Leica fifty Cron (unique, not APO) and in others it is not. Nicely, largely in 1 location only, and that is construct.

It seems many have experienced the very same issue as me: “Which lens need to I get? Zeiss ZM 50 Planar or Leica Summicron”? Yet again, the cron is now $1400 far more costly than the Zeiss Planar and underneath I will go above how I come to feel the Zeiss compares with the famous cron as nicely as talk a teeny bit about the Zeiss 50 Sonnar C one.5 as effectively.

I do not have a fifty Cron here anymore to examine but I have extensive expertise with it on film and electronic, so I know it well. I know its rendering, its bokeh good quality and its construct. It is a fantastic lens and a favourite of mine but the Zeiss belongs correct up there with it, specially contemplating the expense. Be positive to click on the photographs listed here to see them larger with a lot more details.

The Zeiss on the Monochrom broad open up at f/2

The Breakdown

Construct top quality will go to the Leica with out question. The Leica, as I mentioned, is legendary. It is a issue free lens and the construct has never experienced any significant problems as opposed to the Zeiss that often can build “focus slop” over time. The evaluation sample I had a long time ago had the slop and stickiness and Zeiss despatched that one particular to me immediate! It did not influence the concentrating efficiency but it did really feel free and sloppy. The one particular I am using now is a rental from lensrentals.com and it is perfect in feel and use but develop smart, it is lighter than the Leica and you can explain to it just is not created as effectively as the mighty cron. I’d say it is 80% of the Leica create. The Leica also has a constructed-in slide out hood. The Zeiss hood is an added $80.

Flare management goes to the Zeiss. I experimented with to get it to flare and just could not but the Summicron is known for flare. I never had also numerous issues with the cron and flare but have knowledgeable it quite a number of instances previous 12 months. The Zeiss is flare free. Period.

The M240 and Planar at f/2

Sharpness wide open could go to the Summicron but it is near. Sharpness from two.8 on..the Zeiss is a monster. There is gobs of detail when capturing this lens at f4 to the level that you could not get any sharper.

Bokeh goes to the Zeiss. The Zeiss can get severe at occasions but the cron can get harsh far more of the time. The Summicron is one lens in which you possibly love or dislike the Bokeh. The Zeiss is smoother, creamier and a lot more pleasurable to appear at.

M 240 and Planar

3D Pop/Depth â€" Zeiss wins in this spot.

Colour - Zeiss will give you prosperous saturated shades the place the Summicron will render a bit cooler and with less saturation. To some the Zeiss colors could be overkill but they can be toned down if necessary. The Zeiss is also much more contrasty.

M 240 and fifty Planar at f/2

Value - The Zeiss is underneath $900. The Leica is $2295. Impression quality is a small different but I would not classify either as much better. You just go with the search you like most but again, $900 for a high top quality Zeiss fifty f/2 for your Leica..Manufacturer NEW? No brainer if you want to conserve some income. I know how it is following buying a Leica M body..often you have quite little still left over for a lens.

Resale Worth â€" Leica will constantly have far better resale price with their lenses but if we just take a seem at resale values of the Zeiss Planar and Leica Summicron 50 (most recent non APO model) we can see that the Zeiss is not so negative of a choice when it will come to resale in comparison. I have observed the Zeiss promote for as reduced as $625, that is $275 significantly less than new. I have noticed the fifty cron promote employed for $1350-$1500. That is $800 to $950 considerably less than new. You get rid of much less by reselling the Zeiss.

Ive been using this rental for a while and grew to become so tempted to just buy one particular to incorporate to my 50mm assortment. So much so that I just did get 1 right now. It will be my 4th 50mm so I guess I have a 50mm habit, lol. It does not give up anything in efficiency when compared to the Leica equal and some will favor the Zeiss palms down.

Element and Crops

So how does this lens really do on the M240 or Monochrom? Consider a look beneath at the a few pictures with one hundred% crops embedded. You will have to click on on them to see the larger views with full one hundred% crop. BTW, these were all at f/2 but the cat at the bottom from the Mono was at 2.8. Outstanding depth right here.

One particular con with the Zeiss is that there is some distortion if you shoot up shut at the minimum target distance when taking pictures straight traces. You can see this in the 2nd crop graphic above with the fly. I do not keep in mind at any time seeing this with the Summicron.

What about the C Sonnar one.five from Zeiss?

This a single is Simple. If you are a 50mm enthusiast then GET Equally. For $2100, $two hundred much less than the Leica 50 Summicron you can have the Planar and the Sonnar and you will have TWO totally different appears. The Zeiss Sonnar 1.5 is a traditional design and style and your images will have that classic seem and feel. Use the Planar when you want sharpness and element and far more “perfection” and use the Sonnar when you want “dreamy and creamy”. I adore the two of these lenses and equally are stunning in their personal approaches. Below are 3 pictures from the Sonnar employing the lovely Leica Monochrom:

The Sonnar just has a classic appear and really feel to the pictures and the Bokeh is a lot various from the Planar. This one particular runs about $1200 and is an additional of my all time favorite 50mm lenses and indeed, I caught that butterfly extensive open at 1.5 :)

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Zeiss ZM - Effectively worth the price, a correct deal. 

I can effortlessly and extremely recommend this lens for anyone who shoots with a Leica M8, M9, Monochrom or M 240. It is a respectable offer in the world of Leica mount lenses and the lens is a stunning piece of package that really does no improper. It is flare totally free, straightforward to focus, has one/3 aperture simply click stops, focus dial is clean (unless you get a sticky a single), and from what I hear the services from Zeiss is prime-notch if you at any time have issues. The Zeiss Planar ZM is a hell of a lens my friends and it will not break the lender when it comes to placing a lens on your Leica M or Zeiss Ikon.

You can buy this lens at B&H Photograph Below. PopFlash also sells it

A pair much more samples under: