Nikon vs. Zeiss

R

ryvac

Veteran
I got a ZF 50mm f1.4 lens, so I had to see how good it was.
one is just the Nikon 50mm f1.4 ($100) vs. Zeiss 50mm f1.4 ($500)
I have to say it's not 5 times better......
nikona.png

zeiss.png

lens are both set f1.4
HVX was set to f4 or 5
The adapter I used is.......well maybe you can tell :)

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/ryvac/zeiss.png
 
The top image seems to have a bit better contrast and resolution... (imo). Which lens is which? Where did you get the Zeiss lens?
 
by the way, I'm no expert so sorry for the low qualiy. plus, I didn't change the while balance after I shot the first one...
 
Yes, the top is Nikon and the bottom is Zeiss.
I guess they should sell the Nikon's for $500!!! haha.

here is another. top is Nikon and then Zeiss.
I just wanted to see how the texture of my bag would look.
nikon1.png

zeiss1.png

both set at f4
HVX is at f4 or 5
black is the worst color to look for texture but I just did it.
 
i like the nikon shots better. i have the 55mm1.2 would be cool to compare to 50mm 1.4 .just completing my nikon set wow this test makes my day. thanks
 
A) What Adapter?
B) What Camera?
C) Nikons Primes are in no way as sharp as Zeiss primes in an all around set. It's pretty hard to make a Soft 50/1.4 but even the Zeiss 50/1.4 is still rated the sharpest of all.

Try that with a 28/2 vs a 28/2 Zeiss and tell me what you think.
 
wow, the nikon looks so much better to my eyes. maybe the zeiss looks better stopped down? if not thats alot of money for pretty average results.
 
I'm still waiting to see full-res grabs.

Beyond optics, the Zeiss has much better build, smoother focus ring (in my experience), etc. I own all Nikon glass, but have used a lovely set of Zeiss primes for a feature shoot from RPLens.com and was pleasantly satisfied (I also didn't have to buy them!)
 
the nikon to me certainly looks better. imo. a nikon 50 1.4, a nikon zoom 17mm to 35mm, and 70 to 210mm should keep you in the game against the zeiss primes.

like apple, the name and marketing goes along way.
 
What's the stop of these tests? Wide open is nothing to write home about with either. I find once you get to functional or a optimized stop (2.0 or 2.8 and above) the Zeiss is noticeably sharper. Also, it wipes the floor with the Nikon when it comes to build and focus draw.
 
I like the Zeiss images better mainly because there is less vignetting and better light transmission in them (they're considerably brighter overall). This is consistent with other same-spec Zeiss vs Nikon testing I've seen. What isn't shown in either of your shot comparisons is another factor that would likely show the Zeiss as superior: edge sharpness, especially at f1.4. If you have a chance, perhaps you could try shooting a subject where the entire field is in focus. That, combined with the other benefits, is what you're paying more for.

Premium gear almost always costs more proportionally (percentage-wise) than its advantages might logically suggest. Smaller and smaller refinements get increasingly expensive to make...

The Nikon is $300 new by the way:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/97413-USA/Nikon_1902_Normal_AF_Nikkor_50mm.html

...and the Zeiss is $517 (from B&H).
 
You can find Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AI or AIS for between $100 and $200 (used obviously).

While this certainly isn't the most scientific lens comparison out there, it certainly has anecdotal qualities :)

I agree, you are paying a lot for the Zeiss name. And optical quality. And build quality. And many more factors that make the price worth it if your market can handle it.
 
The ZF 50mm f1.4 is one of the softest lenses in the ZF series (when wide open), The ZF 50mm f2 should be sharper wide open. Stop them down and try the test again to see if the zeiss outperforms the nikon, also a test like this should be done with a dslr and some sort of lens chart.
 
trudd said:
You can find Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AI or AIS for between $100 and $200 (used obviously)
Click to expand...

Right, as previously stated (re $100)...

But it's pointless to make a case that the Zeiss is "five times the price" when in fact you're comparing a new lens to a used one. A used Zeiss might be only be $300-400 - that's a lot closer to double than five times...
 
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