Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/09/24

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Subject: [Leica] OT: Zeiss ZF 85/1.4 for Nikon
From: msadat at gmail.com (mehrdad)
Date: Wed Sep 24 19:22:35 2008
References: <5f1be6b50809241849y546532aq980e30078d6b2a33@mail.gmail.com> <003c01c91eb4$cde9d4d0$80f510ac@chris0436b6050>

i also have no issue focusing these lenses on a d3. i do use the
brightscreen viewfinder

On Wed, Sep 24, 2008 at 7:16 PM, Chris Williams
<leicachris@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
> Eh?
>
> The Nikon 85/1.4 weighs 1.2lbs and has a 77mm filter ring
>
> The Zeiss 85/1.4 weighs 1.2lbs and has a 72mm filter ring.
>
> I was focusing pretty well on a D3 with the Zeiss 85mm during sunset with a
> portrait shoot earlier this evening. Found it pretty easy to focus.
>
> But that's just me.
>
> Chris
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Keenan" <ausdlk@gmail.com>
> To: <lug@leica-users.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 8:49 PM
> Subject: [Leica] Re: OT: Zeiss ZF 85/1.4 for Nikon
>
>
>> I had this lens in the ZF mount.
>>
>> In fact, I had the ZF 28mm, 35mm, and 50mm also. (All bought used on
>> eBay.)
>>
>> I bought these lenses to use with my new D700.
>>
>> All were back on eBay in a week's time.
>>
>> I'm sure that optically they are stellar. The build quality is second to
>> none.
>>
>> But, these lenses are huge and very heavy.
>>
>> And, despite having a split-prism focusing screen in my camera (from
>> Brightscreen), I found it nearly impossible to accurately focus unless I
>> really concentrated and I ended up staring at the Focus Lock indicator in
>> the VF and hardly even looking at my subject.
>>
>> Focus quickly on something moving -- forget it.
>>
>> The focusing helical on these lenses is very long -- lots of turning for
>> little change in focus compared to other lenses. I think that this is what
>> slowed me down more then anything.
>>
>> I wanted to return to the days of my Nikon F and use manual focus lenses
>> but
>> no dice.
>>
>> The equivalent AF Nikkor's in these focal lengths are tiny in comparison
>> and
>> I bought all four (28 f/2.8, 35 f/2, 50 f/1.4, and 85 f/1.8) used on eBay
>> for the price of the ZF 28 or 85 alone!
>>
>> I am disappointed but my camera bag is TONS lighter and there is a lot
>> more
>> green in my pocket. And I can manually focus the AF Nikkors if I really,
>> really want to.
>>
>> Dave.
>>
>> --
>> 2008 PAW Gallery: www.david-keenan.com/paw
>> Web Site: www.david-keenan.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>



-- 
 -------------------------------------
 regards, mehrdad

In reply to: Message from ausdlk at gmail.com (David Keenan) ([Leica] Re: OT: Zeiss ZF 85/1.4 for Nikon)
Message from leicachris at worldnet.att.net (Chris Williams) ([Leica] OT: Zeiss ZF 85/1.4 for Nikon)