yog_sothoth Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Why aren't their Zeiss Lenses for the Canon EOS cameras? Did Canon and Zeissget into some sort of spat in the past? It seems odd that Sony is getting Zeisslenses but Canon has not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PuppyDigs Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 I don't miss them. I suspect sales would be extremely low and not warrant production. Besides, aren't they merely made in Japan under license from Zeiss? I'm sure if Zeiss desired to do so, they could pull a Sigma and reverse engineer the lens ROM code. No need for Canon's blessing. Sometimes the light’s all shining on me. Other times I can barely see. - Robert Hunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobatkins Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 You could always get a magic marker and write "Zeiss" on something else. There's no magic to Zeiss lenses. They probably make them for Sony because Sony are stuggling along with the old Minolta lenses and could maybe use some help. Back in 2006 Zeiss commented that there were some patent issues related to making lenses in an EOS mount, but since Sigma, Tamron, Tokina and a few others have been doing it for 20 years and Canon haven't sued them yet, the patent excuse sounds like BS to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_mckone Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 The "Zeiss Lenses" I've seen are on the little Sony point-and-shoot cameras. They are tiny and aren't detachable. Does Ziess really make these lenses, or did they just sell their name? In any case, I'm guessing that they might not be appropriate for an SLR camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
14mm 2.8l Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Any week you can pay 1/2 of B&H new on minty Nikon Mount Zeiss on ebay and for $10 more simply adapt it to eos bodies. Now that I finially bought a pair of f2.8L Eos made lenses I have to say insanely fast autofocus function is a Big Plus. This big plus is one you do not get with manual focus zeiss as a 3rd party manufacturer in any other mounts since they make no 3rd party glass with autofocus function that I know of other than Sony/Minolta AF. Lindy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommyinca Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 You get no more function from a mechanical EOS mount Zeiss lens verse one via a Nikon to EOS adpter Zeiss (ZF) lens. At lease the one with the adapter actually get a focus chip option. Zeiss lens are available in ZF (Nikon), ZK (Pentax K-mount) and ZS (M42) mount. That cover Nikon, Canon (via Nikon Adapter), Olympus (via M42 or Nikon adapter), Sony (via M42 adapter) and Penatx K-mount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yog_sothoth Posted March 30, 2008 Author Share Posted March 30, 2008 "You could always get a magic marker and write "Zeiss" on something "else."" The people at Ebay told me to stop doing that, actually :-) The Zeiss C/Y 28mm 2.8, the 85 1.4, and the 50mm 1.4 are amazing lenses, and I would love to see them for the Canon without the whole stop-down metering thing. The photozone results for the 50mm ZF and the 85mm ZA are on par or better than the equivalent Canon L lenses, and I like the colors on the vintage 50mm. Why you can get a cell phone with a Zeiss lens but I need to get the adapters from Hong Kong to put them on a Canon camera is beyond me. If Sony manages to make a small full frame 20+ megapixel camera in a few years and they get the full stable of Zeiss primes that will be tempting. I don't feel like switching systems, so I hope they come out with some EOS mount lenses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 The real Zeiss Jena lenses, not those Capitalist copies der von Westen kommt, are available in Exakta and Contax S (M42) mounts and will work beautifully with the appropriate adapters on modern EOS cameras. Use them and enjoy your genuine Zeiss lenses. (Of course, I'm joking, but only a little. The old "aus Jena" lenses are often very good indeed, especially the Biotar) Here's an example of an Exakta Biotar on a 20D with a picture taken with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Oops hit the button too soon, here's the picture.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seismiccwave Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 One simple work around is to get a Nikon body. As soon as I got my Nikon D300 the Canon 5D just sits.;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack_franklin Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Hansen, since you no longer use your 5D do you want to sell it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommyinca Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 May as well sell your Zeiss lens too, since the D300 use only 45% of its image circle ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven_moseley1 Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 I assume all the Canon 'L' lens users are quite happy that their lenses are...... "merely made in Japan?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven_moseley1 Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 "Back in 2006 Zeiss commented that there were some patent issues related to making lenses in an EOS mount, but since Sigma, Tamron, Tokina and a few others have been doing it for 20 years and Canon haven't sued them yet, the patent excuse sounds like BS to me" ...who cares? Just maybe Zeiss just do not want to make EOS lenses..why should they? The Carl Zeiss company has been making very nice profits thank you, for many years, unlike their seemingly terminaly in trouble Leica mates. The camera lens making division of Zeiss is just one small part of the Zeiss business and PN users seem to be oblivious to this fact. They do not need it at all, so just do as they want... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_ballou Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 I have a Canon EOS adaptor coming for my Hasselblad Zeiss lenses tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnvphoto Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 I used Zeiss glass on my Contax film cameras for over 25 years.I used the 35mm 50mm and 85mm f1.4's on the 35mm and 55mm, 80mm and 140mm on the 645. Superb lenses, fabulous bokeh, exquisite colour inceredible sharpness, perfect contrast, damn, I've run out of superlatives.... If you don't see the difference in these lenses then you probably have never used them. If you HAVE used them and see no difference then why bother telling us so? You CAN see the difference between these and other manufacturers lenses, even down to 8"x6" prints! I now use Canon digital, and have yet to see a Canon lens that impresses me, and yes I HAVE seen the L series. Why Zeiss don't make them, I don't know, and may I suggest that you lot don't either. If they DO start making them, I'll buy them, no arguement, no hesitation. If they don't start making them, I'll just have to hope that Sony sorts out its lack of ability to keep up with other manufacurers output from their chips, then I'll dump the Canons and MOVE UP :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred_c1 Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 The Zeiss-branded alpha zooms are average performers. The conspicuous absensce of tech info on the Zeiss site may be another indication that they are merely "licensed by Zeiss" like the Panasonic "Leica" lenses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenn nk Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 An interesting link showing which lens systems will fit on which bodies: http://forum.mflenses.com/canon-eos-and-manual-focus-lenses-t3361,highlight,register+table.html The Olympus 4/3 bodies have the largest selection of other lenses that will achieve infinity focus, followed by Canon, etc. with Nikon and Fuji bringing up the rear and being the least flexible in this respect. PS - don't dump the 5D yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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