Tag : zf manual, lens nikon, slr system, f ai, 2 0, makro planar

Company : Zeiss List Price : $1,582.35 Amazon Price : $1,582.00 Used Price : $1,329.00 Average customer review :

SimilarProduct

• Tiffen 67mm UV Protection Filter
• Nikon SB-800 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
• Nikon EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery for D200, D300, D700 and D80 Digital SLR Cameras

Accessoies

• Tiffen 67mm UV Protection Filter
• Giottos Optical Cleaning Kit with Rocket Air Blaster, Brush & Liquid.
• Adorama Slinger Soft Lens Case Small, 5" High x 86mm Diameter, Black.
• Tiffen 67mm Photo Essentials Filter Kit

Features

• The first photo lens with ARRI/ZEISS Master Prime optics from Hollywood's movie industry, enabling exceptionally selective focusing
• Far superior in optical performance, even wide open, from infinity to the close-focus limit at half life size
• Optical system of fantastic performance and longlife full metal precision mechanics

Product Description

The Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF is the first photo lens with ARRI/ZEISS Master Prime optics from Hollywood's movie industry, enabling exceptionally selective focusing. Far superior in optical performance, even wide open, from infinity to the close-focus limit at half life size. Optical system of fantastic performance and long life full metal precision mechanics. Compatibility of ZF Lenses: Nikon Nikkormat series, F, F2, F3, EL, FA, FE, FG, FM, FM2/A, FM3A; You can use the Carl Zeiss ZF-lenses on these cameras without limitations. The aperture transfer works either with the AI lever or with the shank-coupling. Nikon F50, F55, F60, F65, F75, F80, F401, D50, D70, D70s, D80, D100, Kodak Pro 14n, Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro (cameras without AI lever) While manual focus lenses (Carl Zeiss ZF-lenses) can be fitted to these cameras,the cameras will provide no metering to assist exposure. The cameras can be usedin manual exposure mode in conjunction with an external exposure meter. Nikon F70, F90/x, F100, F301, F501, F601, F801, F4, F5, D1, D1X, D1HF70, F90/x, F100, F301, F501, F601, F801, F4, F5, D1, D1X, D1H Manual focus lenses (Carl Zeiss ZF-lenses) can be used on these cameras with limitations on exposure modes and metering options. With manual focus lenses onecan use the exposure modes A (aperture priority) and M (manual). For metering one can use centerweighted or spotmetering. Note that it may be necessary to activate a cust

Customer reviews

My favorite macro
First off, I am not a professional photographer. I know little about MTF charts like the esteemed and clearly knowledgeable Mr. Kwok, who wrote the first review here. However, I love photography, especially the macro variety which I engage in both for personal enjoyment and some product work for my small online business. My macro lens experience runs from the newest Nikon 105mm f2.8 VR lens, Nikon 105mm f4 micro, the Sigma 150mm f2.8, Nikon 60mm micro, lester a dines 105mm, Nikon 85mm PC, Vivitar Series 1. I have a Canon 20D, so I have also used their famous 100mm macro, and the 65MM MP-E lens. So I've used a lot of them, generally for brief periods. Like a lot of people, I am always looking for something a little better, the next newest thing that will make me a better photographer.

Allow me to share a couple of lessons learned. First, I sincerely feel the thousands spent constantly searching for THE lens or THE camera, would have been better spent learning technique, studying great photographers and their work, in a word - education. The equipment is merely a tool. A baseball bat in my hands, even if it cost $10,000 and made with the finest wood is worth a whole lot less than a beat up old bat in the hands of say, a Babe Ruth. The talent is in the person, not the equipment.

Having made this point which is probably obvious to everyone else, I will say that of all of the macro lenses I have ever used, this one is the best. And not by just a little, but quite a bit better. The colors and contrast are unlike any results I have ever gotten with any other of the lenses I've mentioned. See the photo I posted here in Amazon using this lens. The bokeh characteristics of this lens is also the best I have seen among all the other lenses I have ever used. Some have said that $1600 is a lot to pay for a manual lens - and a price that keeps going up because of the continued weakening of the US dollar. Sure is, I agree though what is expensive is quite subjective.

But then I'll share the second lesson I have learned. Although reading these reviews is a good idea, nothing substitutes for experience. For me personally, this is the best lens I have ever owned and worth twice the price. Others think it is overpriced for a lens actually made by Cosina in Japan, not Zeiss in Germany. This does not matter to me. I only care about the results. I don't find the manual focus a negative. I prefer it, especially for macro work where precision is of the utmost importance. If manual focusing bothers you, there are many other fine choices available to you.

So bottom line - I LOVE this lens. It is the BEST lens I have ever had the privilege to own, great color, contrast, resolution, superb build quality, stunning bokeh. I highly recommend it to anyone who is passionate about macro and can afford one. Sorry that this is not a very scientific review, and that my lack of knowledge of the subject is probably apparent. Just sharing my own personal journey that led me to this wonderful piece of equipment based on what I see with my own eyes.

Superb Medium Telephoto Macro Lens From Carl Zeiss
The first lens ever made by Carl Zeiss that uses ARRI/ZEISS Master Prime cinematography optics, the Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f2 lens may be the best medium telephoto macro lens ever made. Judging from the MTF charts which available online from Zeiss (www.zeiss.com), this lens' performance at f4 is virtually indistinguishable for both normal medium telephoto and macro photography, offering the same degree of superb resolution and contrast in both circumstances. It can focus down to 0.44 meters at a close-up ratio of 1:2 without any additional extension tubes or filters. Perhaps more impressive is the fact that there is virtually zero distortion present, demonstrating that this is also a useful lens for architectural photography too. Without question, this fine lens is among the most impressive designs that Zeiss has introduced for its new line of Zeiss ZF lenses for Nikon F-mount SLR cameras, including the latest ones such as the Nikon D3 (This lens should also be available in Zeiss ZK mount for Pentax K-mount SLR cameras too.).

I had a chance to handle this lens at Photo Plus East in October 2007. I was most impressed by its solid, extremely sturdy, construction. It is a lens that is capable of rugged use, even under less than ideal field conditions. I found it quite easy to focus, easily turning its focus knob all the way from infinity down to 0.44 meters. I was also delighted to see that it accepts 67mm filters, like its normal lens twin, the Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 50mm f2 lens; another spectacular new lens design from Zeiss. If I have any regrets, then it is my acute disappointment that this lens is not yet available in Contax/Yashica mount; if it was available, I wouldn't hesitate adding it to my current collection of Contax Carl Zeiss lenses. Hopefully one day soon, this lens will be available to fellow Contax users like yours truly.

Stunning performance, stunning bokeh
I now consider the Zeiss 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar [datasheet] one of the finest lenses I've ever used (perhaps the finest, see my July 30 blog entry). I use the 100mm Makro-Planar on my Canon EOS 1D Mark III with a CameraQuest Nikon-to-Canon adapter, as well as on my Nikon D3 and Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III.

The Zeiss 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar might be the finest lens I've ever used--and I have many, both Canon and Nikon. I don't rate lenses just by how sharp they are, though the 100mm qualifies in that regard, with stunning detail across the frame wide open at f/2 that simply eclipses the performance of the Canon EF 100mm macro

Lens performance is about a combination of things, including sharpness and contrast, color rendition, distortion, flare, and bokeh, the way the out-of-focus areas render. I don't think I've ever had the pleasure of using a lens with more beautiful bokeh than the Zeiss 100mm. The velvety-smooth out-of-focus rendition combined with high resolving power at high contrast is stunning--it creates a 3-dimensionality that I've not seen before.