Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/50 ZF video test

[Sanjin Jukic]

http://www.sanjinjukic.com/extras/zeiss_50mmZF.jpg
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/50 ZF

Official Zeiss lens page
http://www.zeiss.com/c12567a8003b58b9/Contents-Frame/588d7115824e6aa9c125711b005ddd76

The ZF lenses description:
"ZF lenses provide Nikon F-mount cameras with the creative potential and phototechnical performance available
so far only in the Contax system. In addition, ZF lenses incorporate new technical advances from the ZEISS Ultra Prime®,
Master Prime® and DigiPrime® lenses for motion picture cameras. Results have been seen in feature films like
"Lord of the Rings", "Alexander", "King Arthur", "Air Force One", "Collateral", "King Kong" and many commercials and music clips."

http://www.sanjinjukic.com/extras/two_bears.jpg

This lens test is done with Sony FX1E HDV camcorder + Redrock Micro M2 35mm lens adapter + Redrock Micro Follow Focus +
Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/50 mm ZF + + Vocas Matte Box.

In this video you can see a five parts that show the 5 f stops usable to show.
The focus is moved from the front Union Jack Bear
(measured focusing distance between the lens and the object is about 50 cm)
to the black/white stripy bear in the background
(measured focusing distance between the lens and the object is about 90 cm).
Those are the following useful f stops/apertures: f1.4, f2.0, f2.8, f4.0 and f5.6.
Unfortunately the f stops 8, 11 and 16 were unusable and dark to see at the small size of the
web video like 640x360 px. I cut it off all three. The video compression codec is Photo-JPEG 75%.
The file size is 49.7 MB, duration 33.15 sec.

The video "Two Bears" is scaled from 1080p to 640x360 px
and color corrected in Apple Shake 4
using "Truelight" color plug-in with the profile
"Kodak Vision Primer">>
>>display set for "rec709"
>>colour space set to "lin".
Than it was cut in FCP 5 and output to the file's current Photo-JPEG 75% codec.

Download is temporary open during the next 72 hours.

This test does not have any scientific purpose. It is about to inform only.

Two Bears FTP (the best is to use Firefox web browser for download)
ftp://84.112.86.213/Library/FTPServer/FTPRoot/Movies/two_bears1_ZF50mm.mov

72 hours expired. Please wait for the next test download. Coming soon.

[Jarred Land]

thanks for the test man... ive wondered how that lens performed.

[Sanjin Jukic]

Jarred, thanks...so what can I say more...I am not a lens or camera specialist either...the test is a bit improvisation of the real one that will be done with the RED later this year...about the lens in particular I would say it is quite good and lens breathing problems during focusing could be at least tolerable if you could live with still lens limitations. It's a rock-solid mechanical construction to match and compete with Nikkor quality...in this new range of interchangeable lenses Zeiss claims the following:

Distagon T* 2,8/25 ZF has "Impressive sharpness",

Planar T* 1.4/85 ZF "Distortion is practically non-existent.",

Distagon T* 2/35 ZF - "High optical performance available across the frame throughout the focusing range.",

Makro-Planar T* 2/50 ZF - "Fastest 50 mm macro lens for the 24 x 36 full frame."

Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF - The first photo lens with ARRI/ZEISS Master Prime optics from Hollywood’s movie industry, enabling exceptionally selective focusing.

An excellent and affordable line of Zeiss lenses for a low budget 4K acquisition with the RED ONE.

[Sanjin Jukic]

Below the text is Apple Mac OS X server's report that shows download of the Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/50 ZF video test. Number of downloads are pretty good for this huge file of about 40 MB. I have an old and robust home server running on upgraded g3 to g4 machine. It works well.

The next test would be about the wide angle lenses. It should start with a mid wide vintage Nikkor N 1:2.8 f=24 mm Nippon Kogaku. The lens choice is also a subject to change without notice. Stay tuned.

http://www.sanjinjukic.com/extras/server_report1.gif
The server report for "Two Bears" lens test.

[Sanjin Jukic]

Lens breathing is still lenses the biggest issue and limitation in comparison with motion picture lenses.

One question for 40 or more people who were downloaded "Two Bears" Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/50 ZF video test:

- How Zeiss 50 mm ZF's lens breathing is tolerable for you in this test?

The field of view in 16x9 matches the same as you would shoot with 35 mm cine camera. I checked it out using MarkV Director's Viewfinder.

So tell me what you think?

[donatello b]

i think the still breathing issue will have workable solutions down the line ( post workflow reframing during focus change = you would have to shoot framing slightly wider ...

so i think for still lens it comes down to focus marks .. somebody could make some gearing that resulted in the 1/8 inch turn on lens barrel ends up being 1/2" turn on follow focus ...

[Sanjin Jukic]

Donatello,
thanks and it is interesting solution, good idea, maybe...we have to figure out something like that when the RED ONE is in our hands. One day we'll see it!

[Sanjin Jukic]

After ** Zeiss Planar T* 50 mm ZF f/1.4 video test shot on my box like balcony will follow an exterior shooting test with the same lens, after that the wide-angles lens tests with 24 mm, 28 mm and 35 mm:


https://www.leicashop.com/bilder/shop_gross/12159_8.jpg
** Nikkor-N 24 mm f/1:2.8

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/ais2828.jpg
** Nikkor AI-S 28 mm f/1:2.8

https://www.leicashop.com/bilder/shop_gross/12715_2.jpg
** Nikkor-AI 35 mm f/1:1.4

Stay tuned.