So, anyone pre-ordered a Zeiss Milvus?

GHP

GHP

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It's almost time for this new range of (manual focus) lenses to hit the shops.
So, has anybody ordered one? Or even want one?
Even though they are around a third of cost of the equivalent Otus counterpart, they are still pricey.
Although I am very tempted by the 21mm for landscapes.

Anyone itching to get hold of one?
 
GHP said:
It's almost time for this new range of (manual focus) lenses to hit the shops.
So, has anybody ordered one? Or even want one?
Even though they are around a third of cost of the equivalent Otus counterpart, they are still pricey.
Although I am very tempted by the 21mm for landscapes.

Anyone itching to get hold of one?
Click to expand...

Would probably have bought one if I hadn't picked up a 21mm Distagon a couple of months back, in any case, being Zeiss, they're going to be cracking lenses.
 
I've been thinking about the 21mm Distagon for a while now, and as far as I know, the Milvus is exactly the same optically, just a new weather sealed housing.
I also expect them to be cracking lenses.
 
GHP said:
I've been thinking about the 21mm Distagon for a while now, and as far as I know, the Milvus is exactly the same optically, just a new weather sealed housing.
I also expect them to be cracking lenses.
Click to expand...

They're not cheap new, picked up mine for around the £700.00 2 months old and hardly used. Yes, the latest range looks great, but little point in forking out all that extra cash when you can get the same for a lot less!
 
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minnnt said:
They look absolutely beautiful.
Click to expand...

And they will be optically beautiful too.
A friend has the 21mm Distagon, and it is a thing of engineering beauty, and amazing optically, with no distortion, no CA etc etc.
Although not so vital for the 21mm, I'm still amazed they haven't gone down the AF route though.
I'm not sure but I read that there is something to do with Patents or something?
Either way, I'm sorely tempted to get one for landscapes.
 
I think the old ZE lenses look nicer!!!
The large smooth curved area between the focus ring and hood just doesn't work asthetically for me (same with the Opus range) and I much prefer the premium feel of a metal focus ring than rubber.
Also, they don't look right without the hood attached and for me I'd rarely use it to reduce size.
Having said that, I've not held or used one so they do intrigue me.
 
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Cosmetically I prefer the more traditional look.

Whilst I accept that these lenses will offer very good image quality I personally wouldn't be interested in using manual lenses on modern DSLR's other than for macro/pseudo macro stuff. I briefly tried manual lenses on my 5D and I found achieving critical focus which would stand up to pixel peeping difficult with just an unaided OVF. I found MF ok for zone and hyperfocal use as long as I didn't look too closely but if tempted to pixel peep maybe not good enough to completely satisfy an obsessive.

Manual focus is much easier with the magnified view available with mirrorless cameras and that's partly why all I own now are mirrorless cameras although I suppose I'd be happy with these lenses if used with a tripod mounted DSLR and a magnified view on the back screen via live view. I wonder how many people will buy these lenses and give up on MF after a while.
 
My only interest in this lens would be for landscapes, so critical focus via magnified live view would probably be the method I would use anyway.
I agree as far as manual focus on portraits and the like, very tricky to get it right.
I have the Samyang 85mmf1.4, and rarely use it, despite it being very good optically.
 
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