Category Archives: Zeiss

Contax G-Mount, Leica M, Review, Zeiss

Review: Contax-G 16mm 8.0 Hologon

23 Comments

Introduction

hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Modified to Leica M-mount 16mm 8.0 Hologon on Leica M6

Over the decades some exotic lenses saw the light of day that have a bit of a legendary status now and these also happen to be my favorite lenses to review. One such lens is the Contax-G 16mm 8.0 Hologon, an eccentric ultra wide angle lens still made by Zeiss in Germany, when every other part of the Contax-G system had already been manufactured in Japan. The Hologon sure looks cool, it has a history, but is it also still relevant today? We will try to find that out, see how to change its bayonet for M-mount and I will tell you what cameras it can best be used on.
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII and 24mp Leica M10

Sample Images

hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M10 | Hologon 16mm 8.0
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M10 | Hologon 16mm 8.0
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M10 | Hologon 16mm 8.0
cinestill 800t 800 tungsten cinefilm kodak vision 3 review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | Hologon 16mm 8.0 | Cinestill 800T
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M6 | Hologon 16mm 8.0 | Fuji Superia X-Tra 400 ECN-2
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M10 | Hologon 16mm 8.0
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M10 | Hologon 16mm 8.0 | Center Filter
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M10 | Hologon 16mm 8.0 | Center Filter

Continue reading Review: Contax-G 16mm 8.0 Hologon →

Leica M, Review, Zeiss

Review: Zeiss ZM 18mm 4.0 Distagon

17 Comments

Introduction

zeiss zm 18mm 4.0 distagon review leica m10 m11 42mp 24mp contrast sharpness vignetting colors coma
Zeiss ZM 18mm 4.0 Distagon on Leica M10

The Zeiss ZM 18mm 4.0 Distagon is the second widest lens of the ZM family and one of the few 18mm M-mount lenses. Is 18mm being an unpopular focal length among Leica users the reason this lens has already been discontinued or is it because of its optical qualities? Let’s find out in this review.
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII and 24mp Leica M10

Sample Images

zeiss zm 18mm 4.0 distagon review leica m10 m11 42mp 24mp contrast sharpness vignetting colors coma
Leica M10 | Zeiss ZM 18mm 4.0 | f/4.0
zeiss zm 18mm 4.0 distagon review leica m10 m11 42mp 24mp contrast sharpness vignetting colors coma
Leica M10 | Zeiss ZM 18mm 4.0 | f/4.0
zeiss zm 18mm 4.0 distagon review leica m10 m11 42mp 24mp contrast sharpness vignetting colors coma
Leica M10 | Zeiss ZM 18mm 4.0 | f/4.0
zeiss zm 18mm 4.0 distagon review leica m10 m11 42mp 24mp contrast sharpness vignetting colors coma
Leica M10 | Zeiss ZM 18mm 4.0 | f/8.0
zeiss zm 18mm 4.0 distagon review leica m10 m11 42mp 24mp contrast sharpness vignetting colors coma
Leica M10 | Zeiss ZM 18mm 4.0 | f/8.0

Continue reading Review: Zeiss ZM 18mm 4.0 Distagon →

Analogue, Leica M, MS-Optics, Zeiss

Analogue Adventures – Part 13: Fujifilm 200

12 Comments
Fuji 200 Color Negative Film

I have mainly been using Kodak films so far, but one day a local store had some stock of Fujifilm 200 available, so of course I bought a roll. During the film era it was a fierce competition between Kodak and Fujifilm, but these days the situation is a bit different it seems…

fuji fujifilm e200 200 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 50mm 1.3 Slim | f/2.0 | Fuji 200
fuji fujifilm e200 200 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 50mm 1.3 Slim | f/2.0 | Fuji 200
fuji fujifilm e200 200 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 50mm 1.3 Slim | f/2.0 | Fuji 200
fuji fujifilm e200 200 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 50mm 1.3 Slim | f/2.0 | Fuji 200
fuji fujifilm e200 200 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 Apoqualia | f/2.0 | Fuji 200

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 13: Fujifilm 200 →

Leica M, lenses, Review, Sony E-mount, Zeiss

Review: Zeiss ZM 35mm 1.4 T* Distagon

52 Comments

Introduction

zeiss distagon 35mm 1.5 zm t* adapter leica m a7rII a7r a7s a7 sony review
Sony A7rII with Voigtlander VM-E close focus adapter and Zeiss ZM 35mm 1.4 T* Distagon

The Zeiss ZM 35mm 1.4 T* Distagon has often been referred to as being one of the best 35mm lenses available, combining high sharpness as well as microcontrast and smooth bokeh in a small yet very pricey package. But is this still the case in 2023?
Update March 2023: general update

Sample Images

sunstar sun sunburst blendenstern diaphragm stroke 10 7 8 14 18
Sony A7rII | Zeiss ZM 35mm 1.4 Distagon | f/11 | higher resolution
zeiss distagon 35mm 1.5 zm t* adapter leica m a7rII a7r a7s a7 sony review
Sony A7s | Zeiss ZM 35mm 1.4 T* Distagon | f/1.4 | full resolution
zeiss distagon 35mm 1.5 zm t* adapter leica m a7rII a7r a7s a7 sony review
Sony A7rII | Zeiss ZM 35mm 1.4 T* Distagon | f/1.4 | full resolution

Continue reading Review: Zeiss ZM 35mm 1.4 T* Distagon →

lenses, Manufacturers, Sony E-mount, Zeiss

Review: Zeiss Batis 2/40 CF after the Firmware Update

85 Comments

The Zeiss Batis 2/40 CF is a lens of a very popular focal length / aperture class that was missing in the FE lineup from the beginning. When we released our review 6 months ago there were some serious issues and Zeiss released a firmware update some time later. Read our review to check if that could solve all the issues.

Sample Images

Sony A7III | Batis 40 CF2 | F2.5 | 1/80s | 400 ISO | David Mathar
Sony A7III | Zeiss Batis 2/40 CF | f/5.6 | full size
Sony A7III | Batis 40 CF2 | F2 | 1/50s | 500 ISO | David Mathar

Sony A7III | Zeiss Batis 2/40 CF | f/8 | full size

Sony A7III | Zeiss Batis 2/40 CF | f/5.6 | full size

Continue reading Review: Zeiss Batis 2/40 CF after the Firmware Update →