
Outstanding build and optical quality in a normal lens..
The classic 50/2 Makro-Planar improved..
Outstanding build and optical quality in a medium tele..
The classic 100/2 Makro-Planar improved..
Background information on Zeiss lens designs and optics..
Brilliant imaging in a compact package..
Comparing the two 50mm options near and far, more comparisons coming..
Versatility in a “normal” lens and macro too!.
Ultra high performance apochromatic normal lens, first in the Otus line..
Ultra high performance apochromatic medium telephoto, overview and technical..
Rendering style, bokeh and 'transparency' without peer..
Peering into shadows at night with the very best..
King of bokeh! Corner-to-corner sharpness, world class..
Beautiful bokeh, razor sharp, superb color correction..

Nikon’s pro-body high speed low light wonder..

Lens performance at 80 megapixels..

High performance prime lenses for Sony NEX and Fujifilm X..
Zeiss ZF.2 and Zeiss ZE Lenses For Canon and Nikon.
Lenses for Leica M cameras, especially the M9.

Use DSLR lenses at ~native focal length, and gain a stop of speed..
Manual focus normal lens for full-frame mirrorless..
Normal lens for Sony NEX or Fujifilm X..

Relative sharpness and performance across cameras..
Six models to choose from..
- 50mm 4-way Comparison (M240, Fruit Platter)
- Compared: Noctilux, Summilux, APO-Summicron, Zeiss Planar (M240, Bristlecone)
- Compared: Noctilux, Summilux, APO-Summicron, Zeiss Planar (M240, Tioga Cabin #9 Chair)
- 50/2 APO vs Zeiss Makro-Planar on D800E (M240)
- Sony A7R: Noctilux, Summilux, APO Summicron, Zeiss 50/2 Planar (Red Barn)
- Ray Angle and Rangfinder Lenses: Leica 50/2 APO vs Zeiss 50/2 Planar (Wyman Cabin, Sony A7R)
Pleasing and relatively inexpensive normal lens.
Blog posts, reverse chronological
2018
2018-10-20 Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO-Planar Aperture Series: Waterfall Amid Aspen (Nikon Z7)
2018-07-15 Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO-Planar Examples: Monitor Pass Area
2018-07-06 Reader Question on Vignetting for Zeiss Loxia 50mm f/2 Planar
2018-03-11 Shootout: Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO-Planar vs Nikon 85mm f/1.4G: Boreal Ski Slope at Night
2018-02-27 Shootout: Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO-Planar vs Nikon 85mm f/1.4G: Tools Closeup
2016
2016-09-12 Zeiss Loxia 50mm f/2 Planar Examples: Eastern Sierra Variety (Sony A7R II)
2016-09-05 Sony A7R II + Zeiss Loxia 50mm f/2 Planar Aperture Series: Sunstar through Green Aspen
2016-08-11 Sony Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 ZA Examples at f/1.4 + Color Correction Evaluation
2016-08-09 Shootout: Sony Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 ZA vs Rokinon FE 50mm /1.4 (Dolls, Sony A7R II)
2016-07-11 NEW Sony Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA for Sony Mirrorless
2016-01-28 Zeiss 50mm f/2 Makro-Planar Examples: Sierra Autumn to Early White Mountains Winter
2015
2015-12-23 Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO-Planar and 55/1.4 APO-Distagon are Discounted (Instant Rebates)
2015-11-21 Zeiss ZE 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar: Examples in Lundy Canyon (Canon 5DS R)
2015-11-15 Zeiss ZE 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar: a Few Examples
2015-08-05 Zeiss Loxia 35mm f/2 Biogon and 50mm f/2 Planar for Sony Mirrorless now in stock
2015-04-19 Zeiss Loxia 50mm f/2 Planar Aperture Series “Sunstar Aspen”
2015-02-02 Zeiss Loxia 50mm f/2 Planar Aperture Series: White Glacial Erratic
2015-01-31 Zeiss Loxia 50mm f/2 Planar Aperture Series: Westering Sun Strafes Glaciated Highlands
2015-01-31 Zeiss Loxia 50mm f/2 Planar Aperture Series: Lee Vining Creek Morning Backlighting
2015-01-09 Zeiss Loxia 50mm f/2 Planar Aperture Series “Bristlecone, Earth Shadow Rises”
2014
2014-11-10 Zeiss Loxia 50/2 Planar Dual Aperture Series: Saddlebag Lake Pines At Dusk
2014-11-10 Ray Angle and Rangefinder Lenses: Leica 50/2 APO vs Zeiss 50/2 Planar (Wyman Cabin)
2014-11-09 Flare: Zeiss Loxia 35mm f/2 Biogon and Loxia 50mm f/2 Planar
2014-11-08 Zeiss Loxia 50/2 Planar Aperture Series: Understory Aspen Bokeh
2014-11-08 Zeiss Loxia 50/2 Planar Aperture Series: Glaciated Meadow
2014-11-08 Zeiss Loxia 50/2 Planar Aperture Series: Blue Erratic Progenitor
2014-11-07 Zeiss Loxia 50/2 Planar Aperture Series: Backlit Pines
2014-11-02 Zeiss Loxia 50/2 Planar Aperture Series: Pine Creek Sunlit Morning
2014-10-08 Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO-Planar: Full MTF Series from f/1.4 - f/16
2014-10-02 Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO-Planar: Flare Control
2014-10-02 Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO-Planar: First USA Shipments at Dealers Today
2014-09-14 Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO-Planar Aperture Series 'DeChambeau Yellow Wagon'
2014-09-10 Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO-Planar Aperture Series 'Trees, Tiles, Tower'
2014-09-09 Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO-Planar: Versatility for any Challenge
2014-09-09 Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO-Planar Arrives Soon at B&H
2014-09-08 Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO-Planar Aperture Series 'Wet Aspen Trunk'
2014-09-08 Yes, it snows in August
2014-09-08 Uber Lens: Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO-Planar offers Unprecedented Performance
2014-09-08 Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO-Planar: Exceptional Optical Efforts
2014-09-08 In Depth Review of the Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO-Planar
2014-09-08 Filters for the Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 APO-Planar
2014-05-31 Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 Planar: Dual-Focus Aperture Series 'Radio Towers' (D800E)
2014-05-13 Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 Planar on Sony A7R: Usable Full-Frame Area
2014-04-25 Hy6 Mod2 with Leaf 80-Megapixel Back: Aperture Series with Zeiss 110mm f/2 Planar PQ
2014-01-11 Leica 90mm f/2 APO-Summicron-R ASPH Planar Subject: Moots Mooto X YBB Aperture Series
2013
2013-10-28 Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 Planar: Bokeh Study (Aspen at Dawn, Nikon D800E)
2013-10-04 Compared: Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 Planar vs Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 (X-E1, Cabin Curtains)
2013-08-03 Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH: Field Curvature and Focus Shift on a Planar Subject
2013-07-11 Compared: Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 Planar vs Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 and 18-55/2.8-4 (X-E1, Ellery Lake Green House)
2013-07-10 Compared: Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 Planar vs Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 (X-E1, Cabin Table)
2013-07-03 50mm Compared: Noctilux, Summilux, APO-Summicron, Zeiss Planar (Leica M Typ 240, Lounge Chair)
2013-06-30 50mm Compared: Noctilux, Summilux, APO-Summicron, Zeiss Planar (Leica M Typ 240, Bristlecone Pine)
2013-06-04 Zeiss Touit Lenses Starting to Ship
2013-05-31 Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8 Distagon: Aperture Series Sharpness, Bokeh (Picnic Table, Sony NEX-7)
2013-05-28 Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8 Distagon: Field Curvature
2013-05-28 Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8 Distagon: Examples (Alpine Creek, Sony NEX-7)
2013-05-28 Wide Angles in the Creek (Sony NEX-7, Touit 12mm f/2.8 Distagon)
2013-05-23 Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 Planar: Reader Question on Field Curvature (and field curvature in general)
2013-05-22 Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 Planar: Aperture Series At Close Range (Sunflowers, Sony NEX-7)
2013-05-22 Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 Planar: Aperture Series (Sunflowers, Sony NEX-7)
2013-05-22 Compared: Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 Planar vs Sony 35mm f/1.8 OSS on Sony NEX-7
2013-05-19 Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 Planar: Evening on the High Line in NYC
2013-05-18 Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 Planar: MTF and Distortion and Vignetting Charts (for Sony NEX + Fuji X)
2013-05-18 Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8 Distagon: Examples, Evening Architecture
2013-05-17 Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8 Distagon: MTF and Distortion and Vignetting Charts (for Sony NEX + Fuji X)
2013-05-17 Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8 Distagon: Examples in New York City, Part 2
2013-05-17 Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8 Distagon: Examples in New York City, Part 1
2013-05-16 Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 Planar: Portraiture in NYC
2013-05-16 Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 Planar: Bokeh (Glassware)
2013-05-16 Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8 Distagon: Portraiture with an Ultra Wide Angle
2013-05-11 Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 Planar: Examples
2013-05-11 Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 Planar: Correcting Distortion in Adobe Camera Raw
2013-05-10 Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 Planar: Distortion Correction in JPEG, vs RAW
2013-05-09 Zeiss Touit Lenses: the Birds Roost
2013-05-09 Zeiss Touit Lenses to Arrive Friday
2013-05-09 Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 Planar: First Look with Full Aperture Series at 1:20 (Sony NEX-7)
2013-05-05 Zeiss 50mm f/2 Makro-Planar: Future Potential on ~56 Megapixel DSLR
2013-05-04 Zeiss Touit Autofocus Lenses for Sony NEX or Fuji X Now Available for Pre-Order at B&H
2013-05-04 Lens Corrections for Native Lenses on Sony NEX and Fuji X
2013-05-03 24 Megapixel APS-C Shootout: Sony NEX-7 vs Nikon D7100 (with Zeiss 50/2 Makro-Planar)
2013-05-01 Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 Planar — Autofocus Normal Lens for Sony NEX or Fuji X
2013-04-30 Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8 Distagon and 32mm f/1.8 Planar
2013-04-25 Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8 Distagon and Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 Planar for Sony NEX and Fuji X (and Sony NEX-7 L Plate)
2013-04-23 Zeiss Touit 12mm f/2.8 Distagon and 32mm f/1.8 Planar for Sony NEX and Fuji X
2013-04-13 Shootout: Leica M Typ 240 / M240 + 50/2 APO ASPH vs Nikon D800E + Zeiss 50/2 Makro-Planar
2013-03-03 Zeiss 135mm f/2 APO-Sonnar vs Zeiss 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar
2013-02-25 Discussion: Zeiss 135mm f/2 APO-Sonnar vs Zeiss 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar
2013-01-20 Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Planar vs 50/2 Makro-Planar on Nikon D800E
2013-01-03 Zeiss 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar on Nikon D800E (Pine Creek Tungsten Mine Aerial)
2012
2012-10-08 Zeiss 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar or Zeiss 135mm f/2 APO-Sonnar?
2012-07-30 Focus Shift — Zeiss 50mm f/2 Makro-Planar and Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Planar
2012-07-16 Understanding Longitudinal Chromatic Aberration with the Zeiss 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar
2012-05-14 Nikon D800 Lens Evaluations— Limitations of a Planar Target
2012-04-07 Reader Asks: Coastal Optics 60mm f/4 UV-VIS-IR APO-macro vs Zeiss 50mm f/2 Makro-Planar
2012-03-18 Comparison: Zeiss 100/2 Makro Planar to Leica 100/2.8 APO, Nikon 105/2.8G
2012-02-25 Reader Asks: Zeiss 50mm f/2 Makro-Planar on Nikon D800?
2011
2011-12-09 Reader Feedback on Zeiss 50/2 Makro-Planar, Live View
2011-10-04 Reader Now Favors Zeiss 50mm f/2 Makro-Planar
2011-04-16 Reader Feedback on diglloyd Guides and Zeiss 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar
2010
2010-12-23 New examples with Zeiss 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar
2010-12-19 New Zeiss 50mm f/2 Makro-Planar examples
2010-12-13 Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Planar new examples
2010-12-12 Zeiss 50mm f/2 Makro-Planar vs 50mm f/1.4 Planar vs Nikon 50mm f/1.4G, Machinery
2010-12-11 Zeiss 50mm f/2 Makro-Planar vs 50mm f/1.4 Planar, close range
2010-12-10 Zeiss 50mm f/2 Makro-Planar vs 50mm f/1.4 Planar, another comparison
2010-12-10 Zeiss 50mm f/2 Makro-Planar vs 50mm f/1.4 Planar (comparison)
2010-06-06 Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 IR-Planar and 85mm f/1.4 IR-Planar
2010-05-09 Zeiss 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar vs Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR
2010-02-11 Zeiss ZF 100mm f/2 Makro Planar vs Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS
2010-02-08 Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS compared to Zeiss ZE 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar
2010-02-06 Zeiss ZF / Zeiss ZE 85mm f/1.4 Planar as a lens for landscape
2010-02-02 Zeiss ZF.2 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar for Nikon released for sale
2010-01-24 Zeiss ZE 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar for Canon EOS released for sale
2010-01-11 Zeiss ZE 50/2 Makro-Planar in stock at B&H
2010-01-09 Zeiss 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar compared to Nikon AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8G
2010-01-06 Zeiss ZE 50mm f/2 Makro-Planar examples on Canon 5D Mark II
2010-01-04 Zeiss ZE 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar examples on Canon 5D Mark II
2010-01-03 Zeiss ZE 100/2 Makro-Planar aperture series
2009
2009-12-21 Zeiss ZE 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar examples on Canon EOS
2009-12-20 Zeiss ZE 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar for Canon samples
2009-12-09 Zeiss ZE 50mm f/2 Makro-Planar examples
2009-12-09 Carl Zeiss announces Zeiss ZE 50mm f/2 and Zeiss ZE 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar for Canon EOS
2009-02-23 Leica 100/2.8 APO macro vs Zeiss ZF 100/2 Makro-Planar
2009-01-26 Zeiss ZF 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar
2008
2008-12-23 Nikon D3x and Zeiss ZF 100mm f/2 Makro Planar
2008-12-16 Zeiss ZE 50mm f/1.4 Planar for Canon EOS
2008-11-12 Update on Zeiss ZE 85/1.4 Planar AF issue
2008-11-11 Zeiss ZE 85mm f/1.4 Planar for Canon EOS focus problem
2008-11-10 First look — Zeiss ZE 85mm 1/4 Planar For Canon EOS
2008-08-25 Reviews by the numbers: Zeiss ZF 50/1.4 Planar
2007
2007-09-28 Zeiss 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar “ARRI” optics
2007-07-31 Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 Planar T*
2007-07-30 Zeiss 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar
2007-07-12 Zeiss 50mm f/2 Makro-Planar
2007-07-08 Zeiss 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar — best of the best