The focal length of the Planar T* 1,4/50 is equal to the perspective of the human eye. Its fast aperture and exceptional compactness are its outstanding features. This lens produces pleasing portrait style quality at the widest aperture and sharpens considerably beyond f/4 for any general purpose application.
Technical Specifications:
| Focal length | 50 mm |
| Aperture range | f/1.4 – f/16 |
| Focusing range | 0.45 m – ∞ |
| Number of elements/groups | 7/6 |
| Angular field, diag./horiz./vert. | 45°/38°/26° |
| Coverage at close range | 24 x 16 cm |
| Filter thread | M 58 x 0.75 |
| Dimensions (with caps) | ø 69-71 mm, length 66-71 mm |
| Weight | 330 g - 380 g |
| Camera mounts | F Mount (ZF.2) EF Mount (ZE) |
The famous symmetric lens design invented by Dr. Paul Rudolph at Carl Zeiss in 1896. The Planar lens is the most successful camera lens design – and, by the way, the most plagiarized – ever created. It provides the lens designer with numerous means to correct aberrations extraordinarily well. And its performance is very constant over a wide range of imaging ratios, enabling such a versatile lens variety as the Makro-Planar lens.
| Planar with 7 lens elements in 6 groups |
Great low-light shots start with a great lens for your DSLR camera. A high-speed lens captures as much light as possible. A lens with a wide maximum aperture offers the best results in difficult lighting conditions.
Photographers want to guide the observer through the image. Minimal depth of focus is often used as a design element. This keeps the background intentionally blurred to keep the attention of the observer on the main subject. These different representations of the blurred areas, as well as the quality of the transition, are referred to as the Bokeh of a lens. The finely tuned features of the optical design on Carl Zeiss SLR lenses ensure a particularly harmonious effect of the blurred areas of the image. The nine diaphragm blades and the resulting, virtually circular aperture on Carl Zeiss SLR lenses are crucial to favorable rendition of highlights in the fore and background.
The Carl Zeiss range of T* lenses offers the highest possible standards in terms of performance, reliability and, of course, image quality. Quite simply, they are superior in every way. You can count on highly advanced flare control for crisp and brilliant images, for example. And virtually zero geometric distortion, ensuring precise accuracy when reproducing shapes – especially useful when photographing products and architecture.
Rich, vibrant colors are vital to creating a lasting impression. Stray light in the lens, however, would lead to a brightening of the image, which is particularly visible in shadow areas. Image contrast is lowered; the image appears dull and bleached. We combine various, elaborate techniques to reduce unwanted stray light. For example, all lens elements are coated with the famous Carl Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating. Additionally, a jet black special paint is applied by hand to all lens element edges to ensure that reflections are prevented from the start.
Noticeable quality and high value stability qualify ZEISS lenses for decades of intense use. The high-quality craftsmanship of the all-metal mounts, the easy-to-grip metal focus and aperture ring and the robust front bayonet and filter threads ensure an amazing photographic experience.
photographyreview.com
"In this era of plastic-barreled mass-produced lenses, the Zeiss ZF lenses stand out in sleekly-elegant fashion..."
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diglloyd.com
"Meets or beats any other 50mm f/1.4 lens, with very high contrast and resolving power. The 50/1.4 Planar is the most..."
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imaging-resource.com
"Sean Reid, Imaging Resource contributor and publisher of Reid Reviews, has just completed what we believe is the first..."
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popphoto.com
"In 2007, German lensmaker Carl Zeiss branched out from the medium-format lenses it had concentrated on for decades..."
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FotoHITS Profi-Tipp
Issue 09, 2008 (German Magazine)
The Best Photo Gear of the Year
popphoto.com