Carl Zeiss ZF on D3

I am considering a ZF 35 / 2.0 for my D3. How troublesome is it to manual focus on the D3? I understand we can use A and M modes and how has it created issues, if at all? What about flash accuracy (on SB900 and SB400 that I own)?

FWIW, I came from manual gear FM2 (with primes) but has been spoiled by all these AF lenses - currently has AF-S 24-70/2.8 and AF 20/2.8.

Want to hear some experience sharing.

Thank you.

I just got the 35mm f2 ZF last week and am mostly using it on my D700 but will put it on the D300 too.

My subjects are not moving so I put the cam in Live View mode and zoom in tight so I can really pinpoint my focus. The focusing is more precise than my Nikkors and i have some of the best. I'm in love with this lens so far and recommend it if you don't need AF.

--
http://www.ricmarderimagery.com

If you have good eyesight, and your eyes can focus on the finder screen of the D3(mine can w/ glasses on + a slight adjustment of the diopter knob), then you can manually focus the ZF 35. Overall, the focus and shoot operation will not be as fast as with modern AF equipment.
-KB-

http://www.focusingscreen.com/

get one of these.
I have a Canon Ec-L and it is a superb matte.

FM2 said:

I am considering a ZF 35 / 2.0 for my D3. How troublesome is it to
manual focus on the D3? I understand we can use A and M modes and how
has it created issues, if at all? What about flash accuracy (on
SB900 and SB400 that I own)?

FWIW, I came from manual gear FM2 (with primes) but has been spoiled
by all these AF lenses - currently has AF-S 24-70/2.8 and AF 20/2.8.

Want to hear some experience sharing.

Thank you.

Click to expand...

--
http://photos.berny.at

I have a D3x, not a D3, some this may or may not apply.

I was a little disappointed when I tried the 24-70mm on the D3x, so I looked at Zeiss glass.

I started with the 35mm f/2 and the 100mm f/2, and I just added the 50mm f/1.4 to my collection. I absolutely love the colors and the out-of-focus areas rendered by those lens (well, on the 50mm, you need to sop down a little for that, f/1.4 is not its forte for bokeh).
Focusing proved to be reasonably easy. I have to say my eyes are good, though.
I'm using those lenses in full manual mode. I've learned a couple things:

1) If I really want full manual, I need to turn off all the 'other' auto things...
like auto-ISO & auto D-lighting. I've got some real surprises with those.

2) I've learned to check the histograms after most pictures, as I've got some way out of range pictures. See above.

3) I might consider a new focusing screen. Katz eyes does not make one for the D3/D3x, though...

4) All manual (focus + exposure) is essentially taking you back to the late 70s or early 80s. You'll either hate it because it slows you down or love it because it slows you down.

5) I'm maintaining a set of AF/Zoom lenses in parallel to my Zeiss collection for the reason mentioned above.

Hope this helps,

• Alain.

kanzlr said:

http://www.focusingscreen.com/

get one of these.
I have a Canon Ec-L and it is a superb matte.

Click to expand...

--

Isn't that a Canon screen? I don't think I'd be able to cram that into a D3 or D3x.

It's funny...A friend of mine has a 5D2, and thinks that the D3 is easier to focus, but when I looked at his 5D2, I thought IT seemed easier to focus than my D3! The grass is always greener???-KB-

35mm ZF on the D700. No PP sharpening (set on 3 in cam).

I don't find a need for a special focus screen, as much as that might help.

If you want to be really precise, pay attention to the focus dot and the arrows. But just eyeballing it is pretty reliable, too, as long as you aren't shooting at f/2, win which case minding the focus dot is smart. I use a D700.

FWIW.....I purchased a 35 zf for my Fuji S5pro. wow....I loved that lens so much I bought the 501.4 zf for my Canon 5D2. They are both amazing lenses (they are actually my two favorite lenses, and I have a bunch.

I find the focusing very easy on the S5pro (D200 body, focusing) The green dot works perfect for me. I bought A KatzEye focusing screen, but, oddly enough, the green dot works better. I like to start with close focus and slowly move out towards infinity...as soon as the green dot appears I stop and take the shot. With this method I get about 80% spot on...even at f2.

35 zf is stellar wide open (aside from some PF) The 501.4 is so-so until about 2.8, after that it is AMAZINGLY sharp....probably the sharpest lens I own. I'm getting an adapter to put the 35 zf on my 5D2...I'm very excited about that.

Evan

gorgeous capture

i don't understand how you can MF focus in recent cameras without a focusing screeen
i just can't (with narrow DOF of course)

--
rui lebreiro
http://www.yesterdayslife.com/photofront/ruilebreiro

Thank you all for your response and input. I will go have a look at a ZF 35 tomorrow - as a start...

By the way please stop giving me any more encouragement especially stop saying good things about the ZF series.... because I want to avoid getting a ZF 50/1.4, and then ZF 100..... please please no...

I know what you mean...! I couldn't get the 100/2 out of my head, and had to buy it eventually.. 'It was calling my name in the darkness of the night' as someone said.

Here's a couple of wide open shots with it on my D700:











All at f2.0

--
'These are my principles - if you don't like them, i have others!'

• Groucho Marx

Peter,

I can relate. I purchased the Zeiss 100mm f/2 two weeks ago, and I absolutely love it on my D3. Now I am considering the 50mm f/2 makro and the 35mm f/2.

Peter is right.
Firstly I bought the 50mm Planar 1.4 which was the only ZF lens in my budget.

I was so happy with it that I bought the Distagon 35 mm thinking that I would never buy a MF lens more expensive..

Finally, I HAD to buy the ZF 100 Makro. The most wonderful lens I have ever owned.
Now my lens lust is gone (until Zeiss release a new magic lens).

Arnaud

I use the 100mm f/2 on the D700 and rely mainly on the focus confirmation dot. But I am used to MF with my M8.

--
Alex

In addition to all the other divine qualities of the 100/2, i also find it quite wasy to MF with. It is such a pleasure to handle!

--
'These are my principles - if you don't like them, i have others!'

• Groucho Marx

Glaudus said:

Peter is right.
Firstly I bought the 50mm Planar 1.4 which was the only ZF lens in my
budget.
I was so happy with it that I bought the Distagon 35 mm thinking that
I would never buy a MF lens more expensive..
Finally, I HAD to buy the ZF 100 Makro. The most wonderful lens I
have ever owned.
Now my lens lust is gone (until Zeiss release a new magic lens).

Arnaud

Click to expand...

Funny, the ZF1.4/50 was also my starter drug to the ZF line. Bought a ZF28 and a ZF100 some months later. Some weeks ago I could not resist and added the ZF35.

I sold all my Nikon primes in that range, only ones left are 20/2.8 AI-S, 135/2 AI-S and a 180/2.8., which I like but rarely use. After shooting almost only ZF lenses for a year, I lately decided to blow the dust off my AF-S 28-70 and took it out for a day with friends. It's a great lens, but I hard a hard time when I saw the results and now it is up for sale too. I just love the ZF rendering and quality too much.

And yes, the ZF100 is nothing less than outstanding.

FM2 said:

Thank you all for your response and input. I will go have a look at
a ZF 35 tomorrow - as a start...

By the way please stop giving me any more encouragement especially
stop saying good things about the ZF series.... because I want to
avoid getting a ZF 50/1.4, and then ZF 100..... please please no...

Click to expand...

From the 3 Zeiss I have, I'll say the 100mm is the best...

I still need to give the 50mm some time (I just got it las week end and it has been raining since). What I really enjoy is the common color rendering between those lenses... so you can easily mix & match pictures in a set from different lenses.

• Alain.

Just wanted to ask.
Do you have any over exposure problems with the 100mm Zeiss.

--
PhotoGo

I don't have any over exposure problems on my D3. I haven't used it on my D300 yet, but I expect similar results as I have achieved on the D3.

PhotoGo said:

Just wanted to ask.
Do you have any over exposure problems with the 100mm Zeiss.

--
PhotoGo

Click to expand...