Zeiss Otus Initial Impressions

[eml58]

Did you get the Otus before Christmas? There are lots of angry posts on the Zeiss website for late deliveries.

I did, but it's still sitting in Singapore while I'm in Australia, pick it up from my Office 18th Feb when I get back, perhaps then I can contribute.

The screen does not help at all. At least not to me... So miss the older split screen types. My XE2 has FANTASTIC manual focus aids...

That's sad, perhaps we try the Ec-B, I've read that the Ec-S fits into the 1Dx but doesn't work the way it was designed in this particular Body, only in the older bodies 1DMK IV 1Ds MK III etc, but I've had no experience with these manual focus screens so at $50 each it's worth buying a few and see which works best. I certainly need something as I gave up the Leica M9 due to my inability to precisely focus this Range Finder, wonderful Camera & Lenses, my eye sight just wasn't up to the system.

 

[Sporgon]

That's sad, perhaps we try the Ec-B, I've read that the Ec-S fits into the 1Dx but doesn't work the way it was designed in this particular Body, only in the older bodies 1DMK IV 1Ds MK III etc, but I've had no experience with these manual focus screens so at $50 each it's worth buying a few and see which works best.

Frankly I didn't really find a great deal of benefit from the Ex-S screens for manual focus. I found the most obvious benefit to be in seeing the real depth of field. In theory the point of focus should 'pop' in and out more, but in practice there is only a subtle difference.

In the days of manual focus slrs only the very cheapest (Zenit) had a plain ground screen with no other focusing aid such as microprism or split screen.

 

[mackguyver]

That's sad, perhaps we try the Ec-B, I've read that the Ec-S fits into the 1Dx but doesn't work the way it was designed in this particular Body, only in the older bodies 1DMK IV 1Ds MK III etc, but I've had no experience with these manual focus screens so at $50 each it's worth buying a few and see which works best.

Frankly I didn't really find a great deal of benefit from the Ex-S screens for manual focus. I found the most obvious benefit to be in seeing the real depth of field. In theory the point of focus should 'pop' in and out more, but in practice there is only a subtle difference.

In the days of manual focus slrs only the very cheapest (Zenit) had a plain ground screen with no other focusing aid such as microprism or split screen.

I can't speak for the 1DX or Otus, but with my EF-S focusing scree in my 5DII, I can accurately focus at f/1.2 with my 50L about 80-90% and 85L about 95% of the time. I put those lenses on my 5DIII and I miss focus 80% or more of the time when shooting wide open. It's probably the only reason I haven't upgraded my 5DII. The regular screen looks so grainy on the 5DIII it drives me nuts, not to mention that it doesn't give me an accurate bokeh preview. My slowest lenses are f/3.5, and I really hope Canon brings back interchangeable screens to the next 1D / 5D bodies.

 

[eml58]

Appreciate the comments Sporgon/Mackgyver, seems with the advent of "Live View" the manual Focus screens have lost some significance with the newer models from Canon, the fact that you can no longer legitimately change the screen on the 5DMK III is disappointing, I've ordered the Ec-A & Ec -B, see how they perform in the 1Dx with Manual Focus.

Again, appreciate the feedback.

 

[mackguyver]

Appreciate the comments Sporgon/Mackgyver, seems with the advent of "Live View" the manual Focus screens have lost some significance with the newer models from Canon, the fact that you can no longer legitimately change the screen on the 5DMK III is disappointing, I've ordered the Ec-A & Ec -B, see how they perform in the 1Dx with Manual Focus.

Again, appreciate the feedback.

I agree about LiveView, but when I shoot portraits, I find that manual focus at f/1.2-f/2 usually works better and unless it's on a tripod, LiveView does me no good. I hope the screens work out for you, and this beautiful lens, of course.

 

[Sporgon]

d. In theory the point of focus should 'pop' in and out more, but in practice there is only a subtle difference.

In the days of manual focus slrs only the very cheapest (Zenit) had a plain ground screen with no other focusing aid such as microprism or split screen.

I put those lenses on my 5DIII and I miss focus 80% or more of the time when shooting wide open. It's probably the only reason I haven't upgraded my 5DII. The regular screen looks so grainy on the 5DIII it drives me nuts, not to mention that it doesn't give me an accurate bokeh preview.
[/quote]

I suspect this may be more to do with the transmissive/translucent LCD displayed over the focusing screen on the 5Dmkiii. (Take the battery out of the camera and the screen will go dark). It is one of the reasons I changed from
Nikon in 2005 when I did much manual focus. Now Canon are fitting them . However since the advent of AFMA and BBF I really dont manual focus much now.

I agree with you on interchangeable screens for the mkiii, if for nothing more than to be able to see real dof and clean the inside of the thing !!

I suspect the best current camera to use the Otus on without an LCD overlay would be the 6D with 's' screen.

Now I know that by chance eml's son has one that his Dad could try.................

 

[leGreve]

Or get an external monitor…

I had a Cineroid monitor I was using for a bit, but didn't really like it. So I got a TVLogic instead. Stellar product!

Well, for video at least. So far I'm ok with the live view for focusing on stills.

 

[optikus]

Hi,

as said before, the missing of interchangeable focusing screens is a mess, not only concerning manual focus lenses - I prefer the split image as I am used to have it in my 1Ds and T90 (and added in a 10D by KatzEye), also concerning measuring purposes and architecture the grid-screens are very useful as well. So for the semi-pro and pro bodies it would be nice to see the interchangeable screens coming back with the next types.

In combination with the OTUS and other top-level-lenses a separate adjustment should be proceeded to get electronical and optical focal plane an accordance with the sensor. My 1Ds needed this, I first detecte some delta using the body with my Planar 2.0/110 and die 1.4/55 Color Ultron. I use (mostly) Dandelion programmable Chips for focus assist.

As a result of my findings I sent the body for adjustment to a workshop and then tested and adjusted the chips of the wide open lenses with a diagonal focus-test-chart until the focus indicator and the split image indicate focus simultanously.

That increases togehter with a correctly adjustes ocular the percentage of sharp images significantly.

J.

 

[leGreve]

Wauw.... So many beautiful words I dont know that I apparently need to know to take a photo.

Here I always thought if it works it works.

 

[Eldar]

a thoughtful horse at 1.4, soft but yet sharp and look at the hay, the main problem with this lens is still adding the sharpness plane where I want it at F 1,4 and without using live view

This is indeed a challenge. Below I have posted two images shot handheld within 3 seconds. They are a slightly different crop, but I was very confident that I had both her eyes and the candle light in focus. The first is dead on, the second is a clear miss.
Both images 5DIII, 1/100s, ISO1600, f1.4

 

[Eldar]

... and here is No.2. Eyes are very much in focus, but the candle is not ... This is a situation where the Ec-S focusing screen probably would have made a difference.

 

[Viggo]

It shows some pretty incredible IQ this lens, the color, contrast and punch is quite epic ;D

 

[Eldar]

To keep it going ...
5DIII, 1/50s, f1.4, ISO100

 

[Eldar]

My mantlepiece ...
5DIII, 1/15s, f1.4, ISO100

 

[Eldar]

30 knots wind and way below freezing outside (again), with nothing better to do ...
5DIII, 1.3s, f5.6, ISO100

 

[eml58]

I get the impression from your last posts a certain "Cabin Fever" element creeping in.

Still, good images in any case, I can see a toilet seat coming next.

Been raining non stop here in Jakarta since I arrived back, I've taken a load of images around the house as well with the Otus on the 1Dx, 5DMK III & A7R, waiting to get outside before I attempt to post anything, currently my Otus images all show signs of "Cabin Fever".

 

[distant.star]

.
Wow!

Your lens takes really good pictures!

 

[Eldar]

I get the impression from your last posts a certain "Cabin Fever" element creeping in.

Still, good images in any case, I can see a toilet seat coming next.

Been raining non stop here in Jakarta since I arrived back, I've taken a load of images around the house as well with the Otus on the 1Dx, 5DMK III & A7R, waiting to get outside before I attempt to post anything, currently my Otus images all show signs of "Cabin Fever".

He he, spot on i hadn't thought of the toilet seat, but I was planning a series on utensils

 

[RobertG.]

These pictures look really great. I should seriously start saving money...

 

[Eldar]

These pictures look really great. I should seriously start saving money...

The only drawback of this lens is manual focus. But since you already have several MF lenses, you would enjoy all its positive sides. It is truly amazing!