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On left the Loxia 35mm corner at f/2.0. On right the ZM at f/2.0 (Image 3D-Kraft)

As you know the new Zeiss Loxia FE lenses are based on the current Zeiss ZM lens design. There were some worries that the new Loxia may be just the same ZM lenses with an E as mount. Well 3D-Kraft compared the new Loxia 35mm lenses with the “older” ZM 35mm lens. And as you see form the images on top there is a clear optical advantage on the Loxia. 3D-Kraft writes:

Although the Zeiss Loxia 2/35 uses a similiar (and proven) lens design like the ZM Biogon 2/35 (designed for range finder cameras), it is distinctly and visibly better optimized to requirements of the Sony digital A7 / A7R sensors.

Zeiss Loxia preorders:
Zeiss Loxia 50mm f/2 Planar T* Lens for Sony E Mount at BHphoto, Adorama., WexUK, CameraPro.
Zeiss Loxia 35mm f/2 Biogon T* Lens for Sony E Mount at BHphoto, Adorama, WexUK, CameraPro.
Zeiss Lens Hood for Loxia 50mm f/2 Planar T* Lens at BHphoto and Adorama.
Zeiss Lens Hood for Loxia 35mm f/2 Biogon T* Lens at BHphoto and Adorama.
Zeiss 52mm Front Lens Cap for Touit and Loxia Lenses at BHphoto and Adorama.
Zeiss De-Click Key for Loxia Lenses (5-Piece Set) at BHphoto and Adorama.
Zeiss Rear Lens Cap for Loxia E-Mount Lenses at BHphoto and Adorama.

Image courtesy: ePhotozine.

The following text is from Ingo Schäder (Thanks!:

“Yesterday I tested the NEW Voigtlaender 15mm M-Mount on the Sony A7 yesterday and … it is awesome on the A7 !!! In this link you have a lot of test pictures (from the booth) you can post along with my findings if you want.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rxrw6ol4u4hxdi3/AACeymu1npFSH798kQHsgkima?dl=0

Right now I use an Sony A7 and an A6000 with various manuell lenses (and some Sony lenses) and I´m kind of happy with everything…Except for the fact that there is (was !) no small “rangefinder like” ultra-wide angle available for the A7/A7r series which works well…Yesterday I visited Photokina in Cologne (1 hour drive from where I live) and had the chance to check out the new Voigtlaender 15mm for M-Mount II !! I was really happy that I had my A7 and my Leica M to NEX with me when I heard that I could use it on my own camera and take pictures with it J (Delivery should start in February 2015!!!)So, I thought I would give my findings to you and all lovers of the A7 series. Summary:
I could see no or maybe a REALLY small amount of color cast in the corners ! (maybe it was only a tiny bit of vignette?)
I could see no or maybe a REALLY tiny bit of vignette !
The sharpness is nice and NOT much mush in the corners !

I sold my 15mm M39 only 1 week before so I can tell you, that the differences are HUGE ! I will preorder it for my A7 the day it becomes available ! (depending on the price of course) No word on the price so far, but I´m really looking forward to February 2015 and not only because I have my birthday there… ;-)
Thx everyone and good night.

Best regards,
Ingo Schäder
www.Fotoingo.com

Translated from the german specs sheet :
Super Wide Heliar 15mm F4,5 VM II aspherical
Here we proudly present a completly new ultra wide angle lens :
Current high resolution digitalcameras are demanding and so they often need a new lens construction to satisfy those megapixels in regard to sharpness, detail, colour and so on.
A lot less colour-shift in the corners even (when combined with really high resolution)
and better contrast, especially when using the widest aperture, are the main differences between the current and the NEW Heliar 15mm.
The NEW 15mm Heliar consists of 11 elements in nine groups.“

Note: The following is a review from Cinoflex (cinoflex.com  and Facebook) and T M Camera Solutions. And it has been first published on SAR. Images copyright from Cinoflex (please do not reause them without permission).

Cinoflex tested three 85mm lenses on the Sony A7s.

Cameras and Lenses used:
Sony A7s (here on Amazon, B&H, Adorama, eBay)
Cinoflex Camera
Zeiss Otus 85mm (here on Adorama, BHphoto, CameraPro.)
Nikkor AIS 85mm (here on eBay)
Canon FD 85mm (here on eBay)

Here is a first comparison showing the performance at full aperture (Click on image to enlarge).

Here is the reviewers text:

This lens really is as good or better than you have heard. The technical aspects live up to all the specifications and quality touted, but the real impressive element is the pure characteristic and personality.
The fall-off is truly magnificent. Just a beautiful immediacy to the range and fall-off when shooting at T1.4, sharp images in focus, and very gentle images out of focus.
The Otus 85mm T1.4 is built to a supreme standard, and you can feel that throughout each contour of the barrel, the elements, and the highly precise mechanics.
The most astonishingly, and obvious factor for the Otus vs. the Nikkor AIS and Canon FD “L” – 85mm – lenses, is the CLARITY. The Otus 85mm is so clear and precise. The glass really blooms under bad conditions. The reproduction is so accurate hat you be surprised, even by the Zeiss standards.
The Zeiss Otus 85mm T1.4 lens presents qualities and elements that combine some of the factors most desirable in today’s cinematography culture, all in one tightly machined and perfectly presented package.

Look at the tests below. See for yourself!

Links to the three larger images:
Otus chart JPG (Click here)
Canon chart JPG (Click here)
Nikkor chart JPG (Click here)

Bokeh with the Otus and A7s

Cineflex note:

Lenses are designed by different manufactures, for different uses, and different markets. To label one lens better than another is silly. Each lens displays characteristics in line with the intention of the manufacturer. At CINOFLEX we test lenses to create an analysis of character and personality into which each lens fits the creative design of a project. The 85mm OTUS is a great lens, period. But the Nikkor AIS, or CANON FD L lens is not inferior, the Panavision Primo lens is not better, they are simply different. When reading reviews that constantly profess the absolute “FACT” that one lens is better than the next, this could not be further from the truth. Keep in mind, most tests and endorsements are created by individuals who are not professional camera technicians, nor IATSE 600 ICG members, making their qualifications very suspect. Respect the tools of cinematography and use tests to find the lens that you think is best!

Any questions or comments please contact us @ INFO@CINOFLEX.COM
CINOFLEX and T M CAMERA SOLUTIONS in all publications and social media.

I really have a lot of respect for Sigma. They are a small “family company” doing great lenses without outsourcing anything of their production process. And some of the best A-mount lenses we have so far are from Sigma:

– The 50mm f/1.4 ART lens which is almost as good as the 4 times more expensive Otus: The lens can be preordered in USA Amazon at BHphoto and Adorama. And in Europe at WexUK and WexDe.

– The 18-35mm f/1.8 fastest zoom of the world (here on Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.).

And Sigma promises a lot more exciting product releases in 2015. Sigma CEO MR.Kazuto Yamaki have been interviewed at Reviewed and at Cnet. And those are some of they key info he released:

1) Sigma said they are working on unique zoom and prime lenses and they hope they can release them both in 2015.

2) Interesting story about the 18-35mm f/1.8 lens: “When I started the project I told the engineer, “You don’t need to care about the quality, because it’s the world’s first. It’s really challenging. Your mission is just to make the lens f/1.8 zoom, period.” And I did not expect, actually, that high quality!”

3) When asked if Sigma will make lenses for the FE system the answer is: “I can’t comment on any specific product, but in general we would like to expand our product lineup for compact system mirrorless cameras.”

Panasonic’s new FZ1000 is forcing Sony to react quickly. I am not surprised to have received that rumor from an anonymous source:

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX20, mid Oct 2014, Same Sensor (20,1 MP, 1″), Same lens (24-200 F2.8), little ergonomical upgrade, 4K video Recording, XAVC-S Codec just like at AX100, 1080p frame rates remains the same, but at 720p @ 120fps will be possibile. S-LOG2 will not be available. Price 1300 USD/1050 GBP, Predecessor remains in the market, with a 100-200 USD price drop.

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Sources can send me anonymous messages here:

For readers:
Plenty of rumors and stuff coming the next days! Do not miss any rumor and join us here:
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Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!

I really had a laugh when reading that part of the Canon interview released at Dpreview. DP asked Canon why their sensors cannot compete with Sony sensors in terms of dynamic range. The answer was:

I’m not sure what measurements you’re looking at but when it comes to dynamic range for example we consider image quality as a whole, from low to high ISO sensitivities and on balance we consider our sensors to be the best.

Canon really believes their sensors are “currently the best on the market“! They are really living on another planet :)

I am not trying to play down Canon. Their DSLR are in many aspects superior to Sony SLT cameras. But when it comes to sensor performance they really denied the evidence. While every test from DxOmark shouldn’t be taken as a holy grail or as an absolute truth the difference in performance is really huge:

Like I told you in my previous post both companies will offer new kind of FF sensors in the upcoming 2015 cameras. That’s going to be exciting!

One more thing: Canon you make the best sensor? Than why you use the same RX100m3 sensor inside your new G7x? (Source: CanonWatch).

Carl Zeiss Lenses – Otus 1.4/85

Zeiss posted those two new videos. You can use both lenses on your E-mount camera. One is the world’s best 85mm lens, the Zeiss Otus.  and the other one is the 35mm f/1.4 M-mount lens. And it may be that one day this new 35mm Distagon will be the “basic” for the Loxia version.

Carl Zeiss Lenses – Distagon T* 1,4/35 ZM

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Otus  and ZM Preorders:
BHphoto with Nikon mount (Click here) or Canon mount (Click here) version.
Adorama with Nikon mount (Click here) or Canon mount (Click here) version.
In Australia at CameraPro.
Distagon ZM preorder at BHphoto (Click here).