Carl Zeiss announces the ZF.2 version of its 25mm f/2.8 wide angle fixed-focal lens for Nikon F mount. Now this legendary lens comes with an electronic interface and delivers 25mm field of view on a full-frame camera and 38mm field of view an a sub-frame DSLR with 15x crop factor.

The electronic interface means that though it is a manual-focus lens it supports automatic exposure modes like Program, Aperture and Shutter priority modes. Moreover, you don’t have to manually set the focal length and speed data in the cameras as now all the lens-related parameters are passed to the camera and included into EXIF.

The lens would be ideal for photo enthusiasts who want to get creative, high-quality images while enjoying comfort of using automatic exposure controls. It can be used for nature photography due to its small closest focusing distance (0.17m).

The Distagon T* 2,8/25 features 10 elements in 8 groups in its optical construction, offer 80-degree diagonal angle of view and 83 x 55 mm coverage at close range. It is rather heavy – it weighs almost half a kilo!

In addition to Nikon F (ZF) bayonet, the lens is available with K bayonet (ZK) and M42 (ZS) lens mounts as well

Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2,8/25 ZF.2 – Specifications:

• Focal length: 25mm
• Focal length Equivalent: 38mm (1.5x Crop)
• Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
• Minimum Aperture: f/22
• Focusing Range: 0.17 m – Infinity
• 10 Elements in 8 Groups
• Angular field of View: 80°/70° (diag./horiz.)
• Coverage at Close Range: 83 x 55 mm
• Filter Thread: M 58 x 0,75
• Diameter and Length: 64 mm x90 mm
• Weight: 480 g
• Lens Mount: F (ZF), K (ZK), M42 (ZS)

Official Information: zeiss.com.

Sony 85mm ƒ/1.4 Carl Zeiss is a great lens for portraits, low light and midrange telephoto shooting. It takes on Minolta’s 85mm ƒ/1.4 model, but features an additional element in it s structure.

The lens is compatible with both full-frame and sub-frame cameras, delivering on the latter ~128mm equivalent focal length. It offers 0.13x magnification, and a relatively long close focusing distance of 2.8 feet.

Its optical construction combines 8 elements in 7 groups. The elements features advanced T* coatings to reduce flare and increase contrast. A nine-bladed aperture provides smooth out-of-focus backgrounds (bokeh) to add extra dimension of beauty to portraits and close-ups.

The 85mm ƒ/1.4 Zeiss uses an older mechanical focusing system, and a very smooth manual focus ring that gives you a solid feel in Manual Focus mode and doesn’t rotate in Auto focus mode. This function is called an Auto Clutch Function. There’s also a Focus Hold Button with the help of which you can lock auto-focusing even in continuous advance mode.

The lens’s front element doesn’t rotate, so it easily takes 72mm filters. It also comes with a circular-style hood.

Lens Reviews:

Slrgear.com:
This is an excellent lens, offering excellently sharp images at very wide apertures. It offers great performance and image stabilization.

Sony Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 – Specifications:

• Image Circle: 35mm
• Focal Length: 85mm
• Focal Length APS Equivalent: 127.5mm
• Maximum Aperture: f/1.4
• Minimum Aperture: f/22
• 9 Diaphragm Blades
• Lens Construction: 8 Elements / 7 Groups
• Diagonal Angle of View: 19 degrees
• Focus: Auto Clutch; Focus Hold
• No Front Element Rotation
• Closest Focus: 0.85m / 2.8 ft.
• Magnification Ratio: 0.13x / 1:7.8
• Filter Size: 72mm
• Length x Diameter: 72.5mm x 81.5mm / 2.9 in. x 3.3 in.
• Weight: 560g / 19.8 oz
• Included Accessories: Circular-Style Lens Hood
• Typical Price: US$1,300

Carl Zeiss adds a new macro lens, the Makro-Planar T* 2/100, to its ZE line of lenses. Now it is also available with EF bayonet and, being light-sensitive and versatile, it is perfect as a standard focal fix lens for portraits or still life photography.

By introduction of this lens Carl Zeiss gives the owners of EOS camera models possibilities to create wonderfully expressive and rich in detail macro images, in which sharpness and unsharpness are creative elements on a choice of a photographer.

The Makro-Planar T* 2/100 can create distortion-free images and renders objects in close-up on a scale of 1:2 even in tricky situations such like dusk thanks to its constant aperture of  f/2. Also, a low focal depth makes it possible to easily isolate the desired image from its disruptive surroundings, for instance an insect from a flower or a fruit in is sitting on.

As to its optical construction, the lens consists of 8 elements in 6 groups and features Carl Zeiss’s acclaimed “floating elements” design. Such lens alignment provides for high optical performance across the entire focusing range, from 0.24 m to infinity.

The lens is optimized for analogue and full-frame digital SLR cameras. It is available with F bayonet (ZF) and K bayonet (ZK).

Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZE – Specifications:

• Focal Length: 100 mm
• Aperture Range: f/2 - f/22
• Number of elements/groups: 9/8
• Focusing range: 0.44 m - infinity
• Angular Field: (diag./horiz./vert.): 25/21/14 °
• Coverage at Close Range: 72 x 48 mm (close-up)
• Image Ratio at Close Range: 1:2 (close-up)
• Filter Thread: M 67 x 0.75
• Dimensions (with caps): ø 76,0mm
• Length: 115mm
• Weight: 680g
• Mounts: ZE (EF bayonet), ZF (F bayonet), ZK (K bayonet)
• Accessories: Lens Hood

According to PhotographyBLOG.

Carl Zeiss expands its existing ZE line of lenses with a new macro lens, the Makro-Planar T* 2/50, which is now also available with EF bayonet. This light-sensitive and versatile lens is as well perfect as standard focal fix lens for portraits or still life photography.

Thus Carl Zeiss enables the owners of EOS camera models to create wonderfully expressive detail-rich macro images, in which sharpness and unsharpness are creative elements on a choice of a photographer.

The Makro-Planar T* 2/50 can render objects in close-up on a scale of 1:2 even in tricky situations such like dusk thanks to its constant aperture of  f/2 and create distortion-free images. Moreover, a low focal depth makes it possible that the desired image is easily isolated from its disruptive surroundings, for instance an insect sitting on a flower or a fruit.

In terms of its optical construction, the lens consists of 8 elements in 6 groups and includes Carl Zeiss’s acclaimed “floating elements” design. Such lens alignment enables high optical performance across the entire focusing range, from 0.24 m to infinity.

The lens is optimized for analogue and full-frame digital SLR cameras. It is available with F bayonet (ZF) and K bayonet (ZK) as well as in ZF.2 version.

Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 2/50 Lens – Specifications:

• Focal Length: 50 mm
• Aperture Range: f/2 - f/22
• Lens Construction: 8 Elements in 6 Groups
• Focusing range: 0.24 m - infinity
• Angular field: (diag. /horiz. /vert.): 45/38/26 °
• Coverage at Close Range: 72 x 48 mm
• Image Ratio at Close Range: 1:2 (close-up)
• Filter Thread: M 67 x 0.75
• Dimensions (with Caps): ø 75,4mm
• Length: 91mm
• Weight: 570g
• Mounts: ZE (EF bayonet), ZF & ZF.2 (F bayonet), ZK (K bayonet)
• Accessories: Lens Hood

According to Photographyblog.

Carl Zeiss introduced of a new series of lenses for the semi-professional Nikon DSLR cameras: the ZF.2 with F bayonet. All of them are equipped with a built-in CPU to transmit EXIF data and support a range of photographic functions.

The new ZF.2 series are targeted at photo enthusiasts who need creative freedom and high-quality images as well as comfort of automatic settings for a change. As Martin Klottig, Marketing Manager of the Camera Lens Division at Carl Zeiss AG, says : “The ZF.2 lenses are ideal tools for photographers who want to concentrate more on the subject than on their camera equipment.”

There is a total of  8 ZF.2 lenses, with two 50mm optics in the line-up, first five of which will be available from the end of November, and the release of the last two is scheduled to Spring 2010.

• The 18mm F3,5
• The 21mm F2,8
• The 35mm F2
• The 50mm F1,4
• The 50mm F2
• The 85mm F1,4
• The Distagon T* 2/28 ZF.2
• The Planar T* 2/100 ZF.2 Macro

As you see, all of them are fixed focal length lenses that are known for their high light sensitivity and precise manual handling.

The lenses’ electronic interface (CPU) allows them to support all- important operations such as the automatic mechanisms for time, aperture setting and program. The CPU also supports manual exposure settings, including those for camera casings that are not AI-compatible.

The lenses now transmit the EXIF data such as manufacturer, date, metering system and exposure to the camera, and this results in quicker and faster handling capabilities, which is especially useful under challenging shooting conditions.

The manufacturer promises that the lenses will easily cope with situations that demand extreme photographic creativity and maximum image quality.

According to Photographyblog.