FS7: Zeiss 21-100mm T2.9-3.9 Lightweight Zoom LWZ.3 Lens

V

Vintegreo

Well-known member
Has anyone actually used and/or purchased this lens yet?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...9_289_21_100mm_t2_9_3_9_lightweight_zoom.html

Granted, it has compromises, but they all do. Some cost too much, some (like this one) lose a bit of light over the length of the zoom, some have other issues.

For me and my budget, this is a serious contender. I also think it's something that could stay in the kit for quite a few years given the mount versatility.

All that said, I'd love to hear from someone who's actually used it on a project.

Thanks!

Tim
 
I haven't used one, but I wouldn't get hung up too much on the light loss. I have a 17-120, which has essentially the same "iris ramp" of a little under a stop and in most real world scenarios, you aren't going to really notice.
 
There is a 6 month backorder on them. you don't notice the ramp at all in real life and it is less than a stop.
 
The Zeiss also gives you a t2.9 where it matters most the 21-40mm range there it has a significance in DOF at 80-100 you will see little difference between t2.9 and 3.9 also you will spend more time in the 21-40 vs 50-100 range
 
With my lens purchase, I'm also pondering the investment piece of the lens. I find myself wondering if it's a lens that will still be in my kit when the Sony FS7 isn't. For example, when I rent the camera (haven't purchased yet) I often rent 35MM Zeiss primes that are 30 years old.
 
I think a split between the mount and the price.

Of course $10K is nothing compared to what some real lenses cost, but that's for that 1% IMO.
 
I would only buy an E-mount lens more than a few K if I was planning on using the E-mount camera I had for several more years.

If I were to invest $10K in a manual lens, it would most likely be an EF mount lens.
 
I had the Zeiss in order but canceled and bought the Fuji. I'm sure the Zeiss is a better lens but it's twice as heavy has a 300 degree focus rotation which is too long a documentary lens when you pull you own focus but mostly it's the size/weight the Fuji allows for a very light handheld setup which is where I need a zoom. At sub 4K the emount only is forgivable and I don't see any reason to switch to a different camera any time soon.
 
For what I do, IF I HAD to choose between the Zeiss 21-100 and Fuji 20-120(no servo to keep it even), I'd go Fuji, just on the grounds of the extra reach. The Zeiss is $1600 less, but doesn't have the reach and arguably the ~.5 stop "advantage" on the back-end/mid range isn't that big of a deal. At least for me, the reach/range is more important than the ~.5 stop. But everyone needs to weigh out what THEY need and is most important and what they have to have and what they can live without.
 
There is no right or wrong every zoom lens covering s35 will be some kind of compromise you just have to choose the one that hurts you the least.
 
NorBro said:
I would only buy an E-mount lens more than a few K if I was planning on using the E-mount camera I had for several more years.

If I were to invest $10K in a manual lens, it would most likely be an EF mount lens.
Click to expand...

you are aware the Zeiss has a switchable mount for PL EF E N and even m43?
 
Yes, and that's a good point to mention here, but why are you telling me?

I wouldn't pay an additional $390 to get the lens switched to the mount I needed.

I would buy the EF mount version and use a very cheap adapter for every other camera (or of course just use the lens with an EF mount camera, which would be the most likely situation).
 
Is it a 'user swappable' system or does it have to go in to a lens tech?

I just paid WAY more than $390 to have a swappable lens mount system put on my Canon.
 
icarusfilm said:
I had the Zeiss in order but canceled and bought the Fuji. I'm sure the Zeiss is a better lens but it's twice as heavy has a 300 degree focus rotation which is too long a documentary lens when you pull you own focus but mostly it's the size/weight the Fuji allows for a very light handheld setup which is where I need a zoom. At sub 4K the emount only is forgivable and I don't see any reason to switch to a different camera any time soon.
Click to expand...

Icarusfilm, the Zeiss weighs 2 kg and the Fujinon 2.4 kg without servo and 2.9 kg with servo. Where did you see that the Zeiss is heavier than the Fujinon?

Are you happy with your Fujinon 20-120mm ?

I really hesitate between these lenses, I find the image circle of the fujinon a little bit short (28.5mm) versus the Zeiss (31.1mm) because I would like to use it on others cameras.

I agree with you about the Focus ring, the 300° of the zeiss is a little bit too much, for a documentary shooting when you are alone.

I also hesitate because the Fujinon is heavier and more expensive but I like its focal range !
 
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