What is with these new Zeiss lenses and lacking AF

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What is with these new Zeiss lenses and lacking AF

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bmxdad

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There are in the blog area a list of new lenses: copied from blog

Focus will still be manual, but now “these new Zeiss lenses 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. Since the lens now transmits the EXIF data such as manufacturer, date, metering system and exposure to the camera, photographers no longer need to set the parameters manually

So they have electronic connection so why not add a simple pin drive to allow D90 and up Nikon bodies to AF with theses lenses, not that I am in a market for one right now

What do you think

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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Honestly, what are they thinking?
'I know, let's limit our market to people who never caught on to AF...'
People can still MF lenses that AF, Zeiss. (Not that I'd buy one right now, either, Pete.)

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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jonnyapple said:
Honestly, what are they thinking?
'I know, let's limit our market to people who never caught on to AF...'
People can still MF lenses that AF, Zeiss. (Not that I'd buy one right now, either, Pete.)

Even if I do not plan to buy one it would actual be a bonus to Nikon if they did AF, then if want Pro Zeiss glass with AF you better not run canon pro gear, right

Pete

BTW I can not understand why it would be so hard to implement AF, you get that in our low cost 50mm F1.8. I really think it kind of a snub thing, Look here I shoot with Zeiss glass and don't need any stinking AF system on my D3s, or metering system cause I shoot in M mode too

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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Exactly. Why doesn't Nikon pay Zeiss or at least waive the f-mount licensing fee for any lens Zeiss will design with the screw-AF contact?
(Actually, 'The Screw AF contact' would be a good name for this Zeiss CPU addition, though it might get confusing: 'Oh, that's got Screw AF?' 'No, Zeiss says screw AF.' ;-)

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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bmxdad said:
I really think it kind of a snub thing, Look here I shoot with Zeiss glass and don't need any stinking AF system on my D3s, or metering system cause I shoot in M mode too

That's what I wanted to say, but I didn't want any MF snobs getting after me. Thanks for sticking your neck out, Pete.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Back in my day cameras didn't have no AUTO focus BS. The real photogs used manual everything and we liked it!

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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Uh oh, here it comes, Pete. ;-)

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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jonnyapple said:
Uh oh, here it comes, Pete. ;-)

Only our body Niko, do you think his eyes can even focus without the help of AF

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

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Niko - back in time some day ppl used to walk from one city to another, and now they drive, fly :)

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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adamz said:
Niko - back in time some day ppl used to walk from one city to another, and now they drive, fly :)

I don't know about flying with all these flying video's on that other thread

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
ted2001

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I very much want the Zeiss 100/2 macro and couldn't care less about AF or VR for my uses. In fact, I'd rather not have the cost and complication that would result. I'd much prefer a smaller, slimmer, less cumbersome 105/2.8 AFS VR macro from Nikon and wouldn't mind not having AF or VR. I'm happy they now have the exif info.

Posted 3 years ago #
mb

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Voigtländer, or should I say Cosina, has this feature for some time, Nikon calls this Ai-S if I remember correctly and it is just a stupid chip with couple of contacts than provides the lens info to the camera.
It is much more difficult to add AF mechanism or, good forbid, AF-S motor to the lens, but most people buying those lenses do not care about AF, most of them do not care using one at all.

Posted 3 years ago #
kanuck

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Yes an AF Zeiss with Nikon mount would be a dream come true. I have the 35mm ZF F2 Zeiss lens for my Nikon D300 and its truely a remarkable piece of glass. I bought it originally for when I made the jump to FX, but here I am 8 months later and still with DX because of the price.

One significant thing that bothers me with the ZF series is you are not able to use the 3D 51 point auto tracking. As far as manually focusing,for landscapes its fine especially with a tripod. The lens does focus quickly. Anybody else on this board have any Zeiss glass? I wouldn't mind the 85mm, but so far the 35mm is my only one. The camera district here in Seoul has the full lineup used or new. I even hear there will be a 35mm 1.4 with a floating glass element. Sweet...

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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I don't mind AF, but seriously, I can't do a lot of things without AF. So everything needs to be very deliberate.

Plus, with the D40's small ass viewfinder, I can't focus very accurately anyway.

I still wouldn't mind picking up some of these lenses if I had money to spare though.

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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I wonder how Nikon figured out how to make their pin drive AF work on their $ 140 50mm lens, You can not tell me that would that difficult to make $1000+ Zeiss lens have a Nikon pin drive AF with an Off switch for the people that have to have no AF function, Yes certain things can be done in M/F but what is wrong with using AF last time I tried it my D300 is actual very good at it, we are not shooting Canon after all, I would not bother with SWM focusing that will only add bulk and most people buying lenses like this would certainly shoot with a body with pin drive

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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Good point there, as long as they keep the markings on the lens and the aperture ring.

Posted 3 years ago #
shivaswrath

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german elitists I tell you (in Japan)!!!!

Yeah, shouldn't cost much more. . .especially given the astronomical prices of the Zeiss lenses as is. . .

I'm still waiting out an AF version. . .this is a step in the right direction, and hopefully they'll get a clue from an uptick in sales and tack on an additional 1-2% to the prices for AF'ing ability (no built in AF, now that's just TOO expensive for let's say lenses like the 18-55 VR, lol). . .

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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NSXType-R said:
Good point there, as long as they keep the markings on the lens and the aperture ring.

The lenses AF drive should not make the lenses look any different, they would be just the same to use as they are with the exception that they can AF, I still think it is this snub thing, high look at me I shoot Zeiss and know how to M/F my pictures, come on what is wrong with using one of the best prime lenses to take pictures of your kids running around in AF to actually catch a few in focus.
I would love to have one of their 50mm lenses, but only with AF

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
kanuck

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Yes bmxdad nothing like shooting AF primes like the new 50mm 1.4 G is a superb lens. All the 50s are great nice and fast. Nikon sure makes unreal primes. The main reason I got my 35mm Zeiss was I happen to have been in my camera district and noticed it in the display window in perfect shape but used. I got it for just $650 CDN its sharp as hell and nice creamy bokeh and contrast. However the 28mm 2.8 AIS (damn manual again) nikon lens is just as good I find.

Posted 3 years ago #
Panamon_Creel

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I guess Zeiss like Voigtländer/Cosina are only interested in the "nostalgic" MF enthusiasts market and don't see it necessary to add AF to their lens line up.

Posted 3 years ago #
ted2001

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While I like AF for some things, for macro work it is useless. I'll take the 100/2 the way it is. I find AF a mixed blessing at times and often manually focus. I know the AF mechanism in Nikon lenses cannot be that expensive, but I also know that Nikon uses a lot of plastic to keep costs down. The Zeiss lenses are all metal and all sufficiently fast they should focus easily. The 100/2 will not be available (w/EXIF) until next spring, so I'll let you know if it warrants it's hype. If that is as good as people say, I might go after another.

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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ted2001 said:
While I like AF for some things, for macro work it is useless. I'll take the 100/2 the way it is. I find AF a mixed blessing at times and often manually focus. I know the AF mechanism in Nikon lenses cannot be that expensive, but I also know that Nikon uses a lot of plastic to keep costs down. The Zeiss lenses are all metal and all sufficiently fast they should focus easily. The 100/2 will not be available (w/EXIF) until next spring, so I'll let you know if it warrants it's hype. If that is as good as people say, I might go after another.

But it could not add any more than maybe $30-50 to the lens, the lenses are expensive it would only make them slightly more expensive,

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
ted2001

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The old mechanical lenses had bi-metal helical mechanisms - brass and aluminum I believe. They last a lifetime and are made to extremely tight tolerances. When I look at my new AFS-VR (etc) Nikon lenses, I doubt they will work as well after 30 years as my old AIS lenses. I don't look at the Zeiss lenses as anything but a supplement to what Nikon makes and wonder whether auto-focusing mechanisms might effect their optical performance. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against auto-focus (I bought the Contax G2 over the M-6 for auto-exposure/auto-focus), but with a fast lens on an SLR, I don't mind focusing sometimes.

I prefer using both AF and MF lenses. They bring out different things in how I shoot. Somewhat the way a rangefinder feels different than an SLR and influences how you shoot.

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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ted2001 said:
The old mechanical lenses had bi-metal helical mechanisms - brass and aluminum I believe. They last a lifetime and are made to extremely tight tolerances. When I look at my new AFS-VR (etc) Nikon lenses, I doubt they will work as well after 30 years as my old AIS lenses. I don't look at the Zeiss lenses as anything but a supplement to what Nikon makes and wonder whether auto-focusing mechanisms might effect their optical performance. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against auto-focus (I bought the Contax G2 over the M-6 for auto-exposure/auto-focus), but with a fast lens on an SLR, I don't mind focusing sometimes.

I prefer using both AF and MF lenses. They bring out different things in how I shoot. Somewhat the way a rangefinder feels different than an SLR and influences how you shoot.

I most admit that I have actually newer tried a Zeiss lens, I don,t know how tight the focusing action is, does it turn easy and smooth, if it did all really that is needed is a pin drive that allows your camera to focus, and yes the lens can also M/F

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
shutterdancer

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Here is a point I haven't heard mentioned....back when I was using a MF Nikon....the screens were actually worth a damn. With my bad eyes, the modern screens are terrible if you want to use MF.I mostly do macro and closeup work....but like I said because of inferior DSLR focus screens and my bad eyes, I usually have to use a MF AF combo. This always results in more deleted shots than I would like.

Posted 3 years ago #