New EF Mount Zeiss Compact Primes

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Zeiss announced today they will be releasing their Compact Primes with EF mount for HDSLR cameras. Also the mount is interchangeable, so they can be converted to PL mount as well. Read more about these new lenses here - http://blog.abelcine.com/2010/02/18/zeiss-compact-primes-in-eos-mount/

Here are some more specs:

ZEISS Compact Prime II:

- covers a full frame, 24x36 sensor
- lenses will be available in both EF and PL mount versions
- interchangeable mount system allows for easy upgrade
- cine style ergonomics
- manual focus with well damped resistance
- barrel dimensions are identical and lenses feature internal focusing
- each lens weighs between 2.0 - 2.2 pounds
- support bracket is included for additional lens stability
- 300 degree focus rotation
- 14-blade aperture
- geared for standard follow-focus
- calibrated focus scales
- 8 focal lengths available from18mm - 85mm
- estimated list price for a set of 6 lenses is under $20K. Lenses will also be sold in a Custom 3 Lens Set or individually.
- shipping May 2010
 
The 28mm is an T2.1 so that's very decent.

Really not bad when you consider their size, weight, and the sensitivity of the cameras you'd use it on (M-X included).

Compact Prime 18mm T3.6
Compact Prime 21mm T2.9
Compact Prime 25mm T2.9
Compact Prime 28mm T2.1
Compact Prime 35mm T2.1
Compact Prime 50mm T1.5
Compact Prime 85mm T1.5

They are sharp wide open right? Anyone know where there might be some wide open charts to look at? I think there was a ZF test at Reduser.
 
USLatin said:
They are sharp wide open right?
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Depends on what camera you're using them on. ;)

ZFs (and the corresponding Compact Primes) get very washed out and quite a bit of chromatic aberration when used wide open. If you're using them on a 7D/5D/GH1, it doesn't matter -- add a little bit of contrast in post and they're as razor sharp at wide-open as they are at any other f-stop. But if you're talking about a camera that's able to fully resolve (like a Red, or film, or something like that) then no, you'll see the wide-open softness.

They're the same as the ZF lenses.
 
USLatin said:
The 28mm is an T2.1 so that's very decent.

Really not bad when you consider their size, weight, and the sensitivity of the cameras you'd use it on (M-X included).

Compact Prime 18mm T3.6
Compact Prime 21mm T2.9
Compact Prime 25mm T2.9
Compact Prime 28mm T2.1
Compact Prime 35mm T2.1
Compact Prime 50mm T1.5
Compact Prime 85mm T1.5

They are sharp wide open right? Anyone know where there might be some wide open charts to look at? I think there was a ZF test at Reduser.
Click to expand...

Like the PL mount compact primes I think they are pretty sharp wide open (compared to older SLR lenses, anyway), with some softness appearing as you get closer to the corners (which probably wouldn't be a factor on a Full Frame cropped sensor like S35).

They aren't the fastest, but they aren't the most expensive either. I wish I could grab some.
 
Yea... other than the faster 50mm ZF CA isn't an issue when factoring their cost and mechanics, and IQ of course.

28mm on a FF35 is plenty wide to "depend on" as your widest fast lens, right?

T2.1 isn't amazing, but it is hell-a fast at ISO1600 on a 5D.

I've always liked ZF's... always wanted to buy some...

Oddly enough these are making me think of the upcoming 17-50mm T2.9 Red zoom for $6,000.- Obviously nowhere near to a direct comparison, like at all... primes/zoom, S35/FF35. But "similar" speeds and the zoom is actually quite small... heavier maybe, but not as big as the RPPs... I don't know... I guess it is in the same bargain category though!

I think I am with Matt, wishing someone made some fancy aespherical magic and delivered the first really fast FF35 prime set (but I'll take flawless 5k coverage with real wides)... Canon is hinting at a new fast wide, right?
 
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Another thought:

Remember these are T-stops, not f-stops.

So a T2.1 is probably equivalent to an f/1.8-2.1 depending on the specific lens. I understand most photographic lenses tend to be a little optimistic about their capabilities.
 
Sttratos said:
Hmm, very interesting news. Does that kill Hot Rod cameras still to be released PL convertion ?
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I don't see why it would. These are for two totally different purposes, and the CP2's aren't even close to release. Did you notice that the prototype CP2 is sitting on a Nikon camera in the pictures from Creatasphere HD Expo?

Let's not forget about all the other great PL mounted glass that will work with the hotord conversion:

MasterPrimes, Ultra Primes, Cooke S4, S5, Panchros, Hawk 1.33 anamorphics, Dalsa 4k, Superspeed Zeiss, Standard Speed Zeiss, Canon K35's in PL, the list goes on and on...

The Hotrod mount is Available TODAY. If you get in touch with Mr.Friedman he is indeed accepting payment for PL7Ds.

So, if you can show me how Vapor(hard)ware kills an existing product, I'd be happy to listen.
 
Sttratos said:
Hmm, very interesting news. Does that kill Hot Rod cameras still to be released PL convertion ?
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No, for a couple of reasons.

1) The EF mount Zeiss CPs are new. For people that own PL mount CPs, that kit will provide the necessary connectivity.

2) There is a whole mess of PL mount cinema glass out there. Zeiss, RED, Optima, Cooke, Panavision, all provide some really outstanding lenses in PL mount, but definitely not EF.
 
Not at all -- why would it? The Compact Primes being available in EF mount is a nice new option, but Hot Rod lets you use *all* PL-mount lenses, not just the CP's.
 
Sorry, didn't mean to start anything.

But I definitely think it will bite a chunk off of Hot Rod's market, probably even for the GH1 since EF to 4/3 adapters are much cheaper. Think about it. Before the only option was a conversion. Now you have an easier option which doesn't require a hack. You gonna say that doesn’t make any difference? Maybe kill was too strong of a word, yes, but there has to be some who would get the Hot Rod who will just go for this now. There’s certainly an overlap of interests there.
Yes, there are a whole lot of PL lenses out there of even better quality than the CPs but we are talking about using these lenses with a DSLR camera. I doubt any of these cameras can see that difference or if people are willing to pay more for them for DSLR use. But even if, for those who do not have PL lenses yet they may find it more interesting using the money they would pay for the conversion to buy CPs EF mount lenses and not having to hack their cameras in the process. For those who rent, they may find it more interesting to rent CFs and not have their cameras hacked.
The only market I see for the Hot Rod now are the few who privately own PL lenses and those are even fewer when you talk about Master Primes and Cooke S4/5 which are the only ones I think are of noticeable better quality than the CFs. I don’t think older lenses like standard speeds, super speeds and the like are of better quality. Sorry Michael, Panavision does not have PL mounted lenses as far as I'm concerned.
But as I said, seeing any major quality difference on a DSLR sounds like splitting hairs to me. Just my opinion.

And it’s not like the Compact Primes will ship in 2012 Dan, the article says they will ship in 3 months and I would hardly call it vaporware. It’s Zeiss we are talking about here after all, not RED. :)
 
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Regarding the difference between lenses, it's not something that correlates directly as "better than" or "worse than."

I would say the difference between Cooke S4's and Master Primes is like comparing a watercolor brush and a Pen Brush (painting terminology borrowed from my fiancee) they both do the same thing - paint, but they paint a picture very differently. One could spend an eternity debating the differences between these two lens types and the images they are capable of creating. I'm sure the lenses aren't really far off from market, but I would argue that in three months Canon will have announced a new DSLR with even better video than the 7D. HotrodCameras could still potentially mod that future camera too.

The notion of the PL mount is to allow the 7D to be introduced into professional level commercial and motion picture and television work where camera assistants and cinematographers have been bashing their heads against a brick wall using the relatively poor mechanics of EF lenses. EF lenses are by nature made to focus electronically (Electronic Focusing - EF) and the manual focus ring on them is a vestigal appendage that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.
 
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