Zeiss Planar 35mm f2 G

[Full Lumen]

There seems to be a load of rubbish talked about this 35mm lens for the Contax G series being of lesser quality then the other lenses in the G series, which persists to this day.

It would seem to have come about because Contax published theoretical MTF specifications for each of the G lenses and the 35mm lens had a slightly lesser set of performance graphs than its siblings (still better than anything else out there at the time, mind you). The MTF performance gazers on the web and in the magazines took this to mean that the lens was unsharp and unworthy.:eek:

This simply NOT TRUE (sorry for shouting but I get annoyed:redface:). The Planar 35mm is super sharp at all apertures including f2, draws really well, renders tones of colours exactly as a Zeiss lens should and is an outstanding performer.

How do I know? Because it it is my most used lens and I have used it in all practical situations to great effect.

I cannot say that of my Zeiss Biogon 35mm f2 ZM sadly, as this really is soft wide open at f2 and benefits from being stopped down a couple of stops after which it is superb. However the Planar 35mm f2 G knocks the spots off it wide open.:D

One of the strange effects of these persistent rumours is that the 35mm Planar G is one of the cheapest of the G series lenses on the second hand market and thus an absolute steal.;)

So if you don't have one of these lenses for your G outfit, then go ahead an pick up a bargain.

[digitalintrigue]

This is exactly my thought as well. I'd put the 35/2 G up against the 35/2 Summicron ASPH, it would be a fair fight. :) I also like how small the 35 is, compared to the 45.

[JBC]

The 35 may test out weaker than the other G lenses, but it is still an EXCELLENT lens as are all of the G lenses. the 35 is the lens that I use the most.

[Jaap]

The 35 planar is indeed a little jewel. But wide open it can improve a lot in sharpnes and contrast. At f4 it,s already in full flight. Besides that it hard for me to believe that the planar is better wide open then the biogon actually I dont believe it altough I don,t own the biogon.

[Full Lumen]

The 35 planar is indeed a little jewel. But wide open it can improve a lot in sharpnes and contrast. At f4 it,s already in full flight. Besides that it hard for me to believe that the planar is better wide open then the biogon actually I dont believe it altough I don,t own the biogon.

Ah belief and fact are not the same thing. I firmly stand by what I say about both lenses, owning and using both. The 35mm Planar G is sharp wide open compared to the 35mm Biogon ZM which is really soft by comparison.


Also the build quality of the ZM lens is a bit iffy, for example the focusing ring on my 50mm F2 Planar ZM has developed a wobble - a not uncommon occurrence for ZM lenses from what I understand from other ZM lens users.

[Jaap]

The planar wide open is only sharp in the very centre of the image and degrades to horrible levels at the frame of the image like the overall contrast. The perfomce wide open of the biogon is far more even. From what I have seen of it. The biogon is also a lot bigger so one would expect it to be more even wide open.

[koji]

G-Planar 35/2 is soft at wide open, but it has some sort of grow around
the objects, I like that effect. This lens handles highlight quite remarkably.

[Full Lumen]

The planar wide open is only sharp in the very centre of the image and degrades to horrible levels at the frame of the image like the overall contrast. The perfomce wide open of the biogon is far more even. From what I have seen of it. The biogon is also a lot bigger so one would expect it to be more even wide open.

Ah well my 35mm Biogon is very soft in the centre, sharpening a bit (but not much) towards the edges, whilst my 35mm Planar is very sharp in the centre, softening a bit (though not at all horribly, just a bit) towards the edges. I know which I prefer.

I cannot comment on other examples of these lenses owned by others only on the two that I own myself; your own examples are obviously different to mine.

Interestingly the Carl Zeiss web site themselves say the following about the Biogon 35mm f2 "When stopped down, the lens accurately captures the smallest details, yielding images with very good contrast and ‘sparkle’." So even CZ know that their Biogon 35mm f2 is soft wide open and lacks the ability to render micro detail as well as when stopped down. I find that at f4 and beyond this lens is outstanding, but below f4 it is soft. My 35mm Planar performs better at f2.8 and f2, though again it too really comes into its own at f4 and beyond.

Neither lens formulation is ideal for a 35mm f2 - a Planar is pushing things for a 35mm focal length lens and a Biogon is pushing things a bit to be faster than f2.8 i.e. f2.

Mind you, these lenses are as good as they get for lenses whose designs do not use aspherical elements nor special glass elements. If you want really sharp wide open then choose one of the latest Leica lenses - if you can afford them which I sadly cannot.

Anyway that's my two penneth, apologies for ranting on.

[sharonk868]

There seems to be a load of rubbish talked about this 35mm lens for the Contax G series being of lesser quality then the other lenses in the G series, which persists to this day.

It would seem to have come about because Contax published theoretical MTF specifications for each of the G lenses and the 35mm lens had a slightly lesser set of performance graphs than its siblings (still better than anything else out there at the time, mind you). The MTF performance gazers on the web and in the magazines took this to mean that the lens was unsharp and unworthy.:eek:

This simply NOT TRUE (sorry for shouting but I get annoyed:redface:). The Planar 35mm is super sharp at all apertures including f2, draws really well, renders tones of colours exactly as a Zeiss lens should and is an outstanding performer.

How do I know? Because it it is my most used lens and I have used it in all practical situations to great effect.

I cannot say that of my Zeiss Biogon 35mm f2 ZM sadly, as this really is soft wide open at f2 and benefits from being stopped down a couple of stops after which it is superb. However the Planar 35mm f2 G knocks the spots off it wide open.:D

One of the strange effects of these persistent rumours is that the 35mm Planar G is one of the cheapest of the G series lenses on the second hand market and thus an absolute steal.;)

So if you don't have one of these lenses for your G outfit, then go ahead an pick up a bargain.

Well, great work! You have helped me to improve my knowledge about this field. Thank you so much for sharing.

[chrisk]

Pour avoir possédé le 35mm planar avec mon Contax G2, je regrette que celui-ci ne possédait pas la formule biogon, qui lui est bien supérieure pour les objectifs grand angles.
A 2.8 le c-biogon 35mm est bien supérieur que l'est le planar à cette meme ouverture.
Cela dit, ça reste quand meme un très bon objectif.

[jawarden]

1There seems to be a load of rubbish talked about this 35mm lens for the Contax G series being of lesser quality then the other lenses in the G series, which persists to this day.

It would seem to have come about because Contax published theoretical MTF specifications for each of the G lenses and the 35mm lens had a slightly lesser set of performance graphs than its siblings (still better than anything else out there at the time, mind you). The MTF performance gazers on the web and in the magazines took this to mean that the lens was unsharp and unworthy.:eek:

This simply NOT TRUE (sorry for shouting but I get annoyed:redface:). The Planar 35mm is super sharp at all apertures including f2, draws really well, renders tones of colours exactly as a Zeiss lens should and is an outstanding performer.

How do I know? Because it it is my most used lens and I have used it in all practical situations to great effect.

I cannot say that of my Zeiss Biogon 35mm f2 ZM sadly, as this really is soft wide open at f2 and benefits from being stopped down a couple of stops after which it is superb. However the Planar 35mm f2 G knocks the spots off it wide open.:D

One of the strange effects of these persistent rumours is that the 35mm Planar G is one of the cheapest of the G series lenses on the second hand market and thus an absolute steal.;)

So if you don't have one of these lenses for your G outfit, then go ahead an pick up a bargain.

[jawarden]

21

[jawarden]

This is my third post but the software won't let me share an image taken with the 35. I'll try one more time.

[jawarden]

This is my third post but the software won't let me share an image taken with the 35. I'll try one more time.

My post was going to show problems in the corners. Close your eyes and imagine it and I'm sure you'll agree, the 35mm Planar has problems.

:redface: