EXCERPT page containing first few paragraphs. 2024-04-17 22:24:49
UA_SEARCH_BOT_null @ 3.143.17.128
For full access, subscribe here. Or click title to login. 
50/1.4 Planar vs 50/2 Makro Planar vs Nikon 50/1.4G (Poinsettia)
The Nikon 50mm f/1.4G is included here for reference with the Zeiss 50/1.4 Planar. Shot using the 36-megapixel Nikon D800E.
Immediately evident in Live View mode on the Nikon D800E is the strongly hazy appearance of the f/1.4 lenses (caused by a high level of uncorrected aberrations). This is a real impediment to focusing both the 50/1.4 Planar and Nikon 50/1.4G. Stopping down to f/2.8 for focusing in Live View mode is strongly advised (unless exposing at f/1.4 also), but this was not done here intentionally.
- All of the lenses have some focus shift, so that peak performance stopped down to f/2.8 - f/4 - f/5.6 is not as good as more optimal focus.
- The f/1.4 lenses are so hazy wide open that correct focus cannot even be determined exactly.
- The focus shift for the f/1.4 lenses is large compared to any tiny focus differences seen here; even f/8 does not regain the lost sharpness.
- Bokeh is also affected by focus shift since focus moves rearward; it is best to examine the entire aperture series for bokeh evaluation.
- This study is really only about the central area; field curvature and small focal length differences and the subject all make off-center areas not particularly useful for comparison in this case.
Article continues for subscribers...
Diglloyd Guide to Zeiss is by yearly subscription. Subscribe now for about 21 cents a day ($75/year).
BEST DEAL: get full access to ALL 8 PUBLICATIONS for about 75 cents a day!
Diglloyd Guide to Zeiss offers comprehensive integrated coverage of Zeiss DSLR lenses for Canon and Nikon. Nearly a decade in the making, it covers everything you need to know for every lens in the ZF.2, ZE, Milvus and Otus lines. Guide to Mirrorless and Zeiss ZM rangefinder lenses in Guide to Leica.
- Make better images by learning how to get the best results right away. A “cheat sheet” saving months of ad-hoc learning—Guide to Zeiss is much more than lens reviews.
- Save money by choosing the right lens for your needs the first time. A year’s subscription covering ALL these lenses is a tiny fraction of the cost of just ONE lens.
- Make better images, a sort of “cheat sheet” saving yourself months or years of ad-hoc learning—Guide to Zeiss spells out best practices.
- Real world examples with insights found nowhere else. Make sharper images just by understanding lens behavior you won’t read about elsewhere.
- Jaw-dropping image quality found nowhere else utilizing Retina-grade images up to full camera resolution, plus large crops.
- Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
- Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.
Want a preview? Click on any page below to see an excerpt. And see Lloyd’s articles for Lenspire.Zeiss.com.
