Zeiss Otus 55mm f1.4 - official thread - reviewed!

[Thomas]

And here's some new material at f1.4: Nightshots to show oof-blur and coma (compared to the Nikon 58/1.4G):


Zeiss_55f1-4_Otus_at_f1-4_72221 by Thomas, on Flickr


Zeiss_55f1-4_Otus_at_f1-4_72184 by Thomas, on Flickr


Nikon 58f1.4G vs. Zeiss 55f1.4 Otus by Thomas, on Flickr

[Bob Andersson]

.
That's a beautiful result for the Otus. The street lights are better but the extra detail in the correctly exposed areas is startling. What was the exposure time?

Bob.

[Thomas]

Exposure time was 0.8 seconds for both shots.
But don't over-estimate the value of this shot regarding sharpness! I found it very hard to focus correctly at night so the Nikon might suffer from some sub-optimal focusing here. Although I doubt that this will explain much of the resolution-difference.
You can draw your own conclusions with the full resolution images for both lenses:
Nikon: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38912116@N ... 7478657386
Zeiss: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38912116@N ... 8207721726
I'll supply a more conclusive answer with my full review or the "normal-lens shoot-out" at a later point in time...

[Thomas]

Put the lens in a deep freeze today to test the focus-ring movement under extreme cold. Here are the results:
At 0°C the focus mechanism is only slightly less pliable.
At -22°C the focus-ring is clearly stiffer. But it was NO problem at all to move it even with gloved hands.
So none of the reported problems with other Zeiss lenses in a cold winter.

[Thomas]

Caught some close-up action with this Oyster shell:


Oyster 72424 by Thomas, on Flickr

Shot at f16 to get some dof. Click through the image to get access to the large original with all the details!

[Thomas]

Small things (might) matter!
See the distance and dof scales of the Nikon AF-S 50/1.4G (left) vs. the Zeiss Otus 55/1.4:


Distance Scale Nikon vs Zeiss Otus 72630 by Thomas, on Flickr

The Otus clearly has a big advantage here. the scale from the Nikon and other similar modern lenses really is not worth the color it is printed with.
But the Otus' can clearly be read and judged even under adverse lighting conditions.
---
P.S.: You can also clearly see that the focus ring of the Otus is more than 4x as wide as with the Nikon.

[Thomas]

Here are some comparisons as to size:


50-60mm full-frame lenses for Nikon_72729 by Thomas, on Flickr


50-60mm full-frame lenses for Nikon_72728 by Thomas, on Flickr

And a look from behind:

50-60mm full-frame lenses for Nikon_72736 by Thomas, on Flickr

[RexGig]

Thanks for your continuing updates and images. I can foresee ordering an Otus as a post-retirement gift for myself, using a bit of tax-deferred savings. Hmm, a D4, a D800E, and an Otus; that should keep me occupied for a while.

(I may well acquire a D800E before retiring, if the financial planets align properly in 2014-2015.)

[Thomas]

I wish you luck RexGig. After continued testing and comparing to the new Nikon 58/1.4G I have no reservation in saying that the Otus is well worth the extra money. I've never tested a large aperture prime that performed so flawlessly wide open - if you know how to focus manually!
Btw. after getting some experience my hit-rate regarding focus is getting quite good. But that is only with static subjects.

[Thomas]

Just wrapped up all my insights in my complete Zeiss Otus review and submitted it to Gordon for editing and updating my currently published review-in-progress.
It's my most comprehensive review of a fixed focal lens ever and it contains many test-shots that are directly comparable to my soon-to-be-updated review-in-progress of the Nikon AF-S 58/1.4G.
With both reviews completed, the Sigma 50/1.4 review already published, and all the comparable material for the Nikon AF-S 50/1.4G already on my Lightroom database I plan for a direct 4-way shootout pitching those four lenses directly against each other to make it super-easy for you to see the results of each lens standing vis-a-vis.
I'll keep you posted.

[Thomas]

The complete review is now up here.
Enjoy!