Waltitia
I understand your interest in the ZF series as I too share a new found love for this nicely constructed lens series. I recently purchased the 25mm f2.8 instead of getting the nikkor 17-55mm - nothing wrong with the nikkor mind you, in fact, I found the zoom quite a treat (I prefer my primes). I just wanted to try out this much-talked about and maligned lens to see for myself how it handles in real life - rather than what someone has to pass on about someone else's opinion obtained probably in a forum.
I got to shoot with the 85mm as well as the 50mm but went with the wider lens - my widest currently excluding the nikkor 10.5 fish is the Sigma 30mm f1.4, a lens I use a great deal and enjoy tremendously.
Anyway, about the Zeiss ...... first impressions were WOW! None of my fast nikkors feel or look (clearly a personal and subjective matter) like the ZF, not even close. The build of the 200mm f.2 comes the closest but even then not quite.
Next, my attachment to AF lenses became apparent. This is not a lens you carry around for casual Sunday shots of the kids and a walkabout the neighbourhood, the lack of AF requiring you to think about and prepare yourself before depressing the shutter. Convenience scores a ZERO, making it a lousy choice depending on your intended usage.
Thirdly, when you get used to manual focusing, you will delight in the super glide quality of the focusing ring. Quite the opposite was the zoom ring on the 17-55mm nikkor.
Fourth point is the precision of the markings when focusing at infinity. It is spot on - zero slippage.
Fifth, you get to reacquaint yourself with setting the aperture on the lens. That took some getting use to I have to say. I forgot quite often when shooting, dialling on the D2X to change aperture. Neither a good nor a bad thing. Simply an observation.
I must say I got to practise shooting using hyperfocal distance and thinking like they did in days past when that was the only option. I must say, I am extremely excited about rediscovering photography as an art again with this lens. The past two years have been for me a whirl of indiscriminate and excessive use of the shutter button. So I am pleased to "settle down" in my photography. A lot more thinking and planning the shot now, in an unhurried manner.
So am I about to discard all my nikkor AF and AFS, VR lenses? I think not. I think the ZF has limited appeal for general use, that gap far better filled by the existing array of great nikkor lenses in circulation. But for those willing to part with the extra dollars, the ZF can allow for the appreciation of a fine piece of optic, albeit in a somewhat narrower set of circumstances - where picture taking is a joy in itself rather than a scientific comparison of sharpness, bokeh and aperture size. Is it better than a nikkor? Will it do things the nikkor is incapable of? Hmmmm, a Toyota can be as comfortable as (some would say more than) a Ferrari and achieve the same task of getting me from point A to point B for less money - doesn't mean I will always want to take the Toyota.
And all this writing would be incomplete without showing you some imagery. Here's to rediscovering the art again in picture taking. I hope you enjoy your ZF 50mm f1.4 - do share your images here please!
David
