Zeiss ZE 50mm f/1.4 Planar for Canon EOS

I’m using the new Zeiss ZE 50mm f/1.4 Planar on the Canon 1Ds Mark III. Like its big sister, the ZE 85mm f/1.4 Planar, it offers full electronic control with 1/3 stop apertures, just like a Canon EF lens, but it has silky smooth manual helicoid focusing, far better than any focusing mechanism on AF lenses. In fact, the focusing feel seems smoother on the ZE lenses than on the ZF ones—perhaps Zeiss made a change in lubrication. The same focus issues apply as with the 85/1.4 Planar—plan on focusing by eye, not by the “green dot”.

I really like the feel of the ZE 50/1.4 Planar on the Canon 1Ds Mark III; I enjoy the precise feel as I zero in on exactly what I want in focus, even way off-center.

While a bit larger than its ZF counterpart for Nikon, it’s the same optical design, but a lot more convenient to shoot on EOS than using a manual-everything Nikon-to-EOS adapter on its ZF cousin.

Poor Santa, he’s got to make the rounds even before the appointed day.

Reindeer love our winter-fresh grass
Canon 1DsM3 + Zeiss ZE 50/1.4 Planar @ f/5.6

Sometimes everyday things are just interesting when actually seen. Or maybe I was just bored. But I liked the lines here, and the yellow/red/green/gray combo.

Interjection
Canon 1DsM3 + Zeiss ZE 50/1.4 Planar @ f/16

This is winter in the San Francisco Bay Area. We had hail yesterday at 500' of elevation, something I really like. My daughter informs me that it tastes good with gum—I’ll have to try that sometime!

Anticipation
Canon 1DsM3 + Zeiss ZE 50/1.4 Planar @ f/8