The question is in the title!

I shoot a lot of fine art for catalogue reproduction.

The 50mm focal length is my stock in trade (for sculpture, I use the astonishing 90mm TSE).

If Canon made a 50mm lens that was as good as the 90mm, I wouldn't be asking this question. So, what's the answer?

By the way, I shoot entirely manually - focus, aperture, shutter speed - so, there is no issue with losing connectivity with the cameras features. I am ONLY interested in getting the most from the 21Mp. That's all.

Currently, I use the 50mm macro. No bad, but not good enough.

Thanks.

D.

Lloyd Chambers is very complimentary about the Zeiss 50mm Makro-Planar he's been using on a ID MKIII.

http://www.diglloyd.com/diglloyd/2007-07-b...00mmMakroPlanar

(about half-way down the page)

Photozone shows very high performance for this lens at

http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/Nikkor%20/...-report?start=1

It has a bit of distortion, whereas the Canon has practically none. Their test grid looks like the distortion would barely be noticeable. Perhaps PTLens or other such software would eliminate it. The Zeiss has almost no CA.

If it wasn't necessary to stop the Zeiss down manually, I'd trade my 50mm Canon macro for one in a heartbeat.

Ken

I think the canon 50mm f2.5 compact macro is one halava lens.... I use mine in the studio unless I need to compress an image more with a longer lens.

Your question is hard to answer without knowing what you want to shoot.

I've been extremely happy with both my leica 50mm f/2.0 summicron and 50mm f/1.4 summilux. Both are vastly better in terms of IQ than my Canon 50mm f/1.4 was but you have to be able to live with manual focus and aperture step down.

My Oly 50mm Macro is awesome very sharp edge to edge and actually really great for landscapes and my oly zuiko 55mm f/1.2 is just super for portraits.

I don't own a canon 50mm anymore. Probably if I had to have just one it would be the leica f/2 since its small light and very very good.

quick answer - the contax zeiss 50mm either the 1.9 or 1.4.

amazing lens won every single comparison of 50mm SLR lens test out there. (yes, including Leitz) + cheap to find secondhand, and adapters for EOS cameras easily and cheap to get on eBay. not AF or auto stop down of course if you use adapter.

if you are doing close up/ macro work, then there are other answers, but for general purpose this is a huge step forward from Canons regular 1.4

For your application you might want to consider this lens:
http://diglloyd.com/diglloyd/free/CoastalO...Optics60f4.html

My copy of the Canon 50mm macro is quite exceptional on my 1DS3 with no fringing even wide open, and very sharp. I recently compared this lens to the 50f1.2L and that was an eye opener, lots of fringing and not particularly sharp until f4, and even then not great. I think that in general, especially with the likes of Canon and Nikon, sample variations are more likely and with Zeiss and Leica less so.

This week also tried on a friends D3 was a Zeiss ZF 50f1.4, which at f2.8 and close up was scary sharp, about the same as my 55f2.8AIS, but the Zeiss contrast was considerably higher which gave some added punch but no more resolution. The Zeiss ZF 50macro is meant to be quite something and can be used with a Canon adapter, but i have no personal experience, only a discussion with someone i trust who is selling his 50f1.4ZF to buy the macro.

Regards, Gary.

EricW, that Oly DZ 50mm macro is acknowledged as an exceptional lens, but unfortunately the image circle will only cover a 4:3 sensor and it doesn't have an aperture ring, making aperture control difficult. Great on 4:3, no-go on 35mm.

what about the 45mm ts-e?

The diglloyd link above doesn't work.

I'd be grateful if someone could direct me to that lens elsewhere.

TIA

D.

If your remaining fine art is flat copy work I would suggest a Ziess 60mm Macro - flat field, NO distortion or CA, super sharpness corner to corner - totally unlike and Canon lens in that range....and a truly superior macro capability with no tubes necessary.

I use an older German version myself (not a "C") and it is a joy.

Is this the lens you're referring to?

http://slrlensreview.com/content/view/379/96/

Thanks.

D.

ps. The diglloyd link is working again now. At that price, it's way out of my league!

No, that is the "C" - compact version. I understand that in making this later copy lighter and more ''compact' the optics were slightly compromised.

The lens I use is

http://slrlensreview.com/content/view/446/96/

Carl,

Thanks for the reply.

Just being doubly sure, this is it....

http://tinyurl.com/5h7pbv

Right?

D.

That is it, but I was thinking more of a second hand one.

They are very rare in new condition - hence the price in that ad.

You should be able to find one for less than £400, which is a bargain.

I can't stress how good this lens is.... I did read somewhere that this lens design was used for photographing drawings to make integrated circuits many years ago before the whole process became digital! - but don't quote me!!

All best,

C

A nice page with sample images about the different Zeiss ZF lenses (including the Makro-Planar 50mm f/2): http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=333263

The bokeh that these lenses display is simply amazing.
(Nikon (D3 or D300) is beginning to be luring to me. I don't like the idea of having to stop down manually with these lenses on a Canon body.)

Any views on the Zeiss 50mm f2 Makro Planar T, as opposed to the 60mm?

Thanks.

D.

digilloyd has a pay for review of the zeiss zf line, including the 50 macro planar.

I've got a 35 f2 and it's a super lens, but (obviously) not what you're wanting.

Mike

I have just got the 50f1.4ZF for the 1ds3 and have to say that it certainly has an exceptional richness of colour and contrast. By f2.8 it's bitingly sharp all the way through to f8, however has some minor fringing from 1.4-f2.

By all accounts the 50ZF macro is virtually free from all C/A and fringing even wide open. It is also just as sharp as the 50f1.4 just one stop down. There is a very good free review of this and most other ZF lenses on 'Photozone', and i find there conclusions relating to lenses which i use to be very accurate.

Gary.

Dinarius,

I read your post - but for the benefit of others I provided the information. I don't get why you felt the need to be flippant especially when I took time to answer your question. I use the 90mm tse and its one of my favorite canon lenses. The Leica R 50mm summicron is miles ahead of the canon 90mm so you'll most likely be very happy. It won't require modification to the mirror and you can get a focus confirm adapter. Quite a lot of used 'crons on the market and you should be able to pick one up for less than $200.

Eric

Eric,

You're right. It does read as a bit catty. Apologies. No offence was intended, I can assure you.

Back on topic......

I used to use Olympus cameras (still have them, but never use them) and I forgot that I had a Zuiko f3.5 50mm macro. I also have an adapter allowing me to use my Zuiko lenses on my Mk3.

Tried both it and the Canon macro this morning and, while optically there is nothing between them, the Canon has some colour fringing that requires correction, whereas the Zuiko has none.

Now have someone looking for one of the Zeiss 60mm makro planar Ts.

D.

The obvious considerations:

- The 50mm is a ZF lens, meaning it has a Nikon F-mount, which can be an advantage if you ever get a Nikon body. You won't need an adapter then, and the diaphragm will be automatic (no manual stopping down). Might you want to sell the lens, that will also be easier with a ZF lens.

- The 50mm (f/2) is a full stop faster than the Zeiss 60mm (f/2.8) C/Y.

- The 50mm will probably be more expensive because of the previous point.

Thanks for that.

I'm only interested in Canon fit. No intention of getting a Nikon body.

On the other point, speed is of no issue to me. The camera is permanently on a tripod.

D.

The ZF lenses fit on a Canon with a Nikon to Canon adapter, which is exactly how i described it, no need to buy a Nikon to use it on. The ZF lenses for use with a Canon is as good a solution as any for several reasons: Available new, current design, Nikon fit more popular than Contax if decided to sell.

Gary.

and some cracking lenses:)

I wasn't suggesting that ZF lenses can't be used on Canon...
You need an adapter, just like with C/Y lenses.

Just as a sidenote: don't you think that using a ZF lens on a Nikon body is more convenient, because the aperture closes down automatically, meaning that your viewfinder doesn't turn dark (when you use a small aperture) before making a shot? That would make handheld MF shots (last moment corrections) much more feasible. This might not be an issue for Dinarius, but I would definitely prefer the automatic aperture.