> On 22 Jan 2017, at 16:36, Steve Cottrell <[email protected]> wrote: > > On 22/1/17, P. J. Alling, discombobulated, unleashed: > >> KEH.com has a ZK 50mm f1.4 T* for a not outrageous price. "A" mount >> equivalent. I'd buy it but I'm broke at the moment. > > How do you think it compares optically to the Pentax M50/1.4 ? >
I used to have an M 50/1.4 and a Zeiss T* 50/1.4 when I had the Contax kit. I preferred the Zeiss, and I'd go as far as to say that the Zeiss lenses I had, from 20mm up to 300mm and just about everything in between were the best I've ever owned[1]. I'd previously owned a full range of Pentax lenses, including the M* ones, so I think I have a fair basis for comparison. That was in the film days, but Contax never brought out a decent compatible digital body, and the Zeiss lenses didn't work well with the Olympus 4/3rds bodies I bought. Everything I've read and heard about the current Zeiss lenses suggests they're just as good as my old ones. I wouldn't hesitate to buy Zeiss if I had the appropriate camera and money. [1] current Leitz stuff might be better, but all my Leitz lenses were bought second-hand and are quite old - 1960s to 1980s. I have no plans to buy new ones. Of course this all depends on how you define good, and in this sort of discussion I don't forget that people like HCB, Capa etc. did OK with old lenses, and that spm photographers, like James Ravilious, deliberately seek out old lenses for particular qualities they have which suits their subject matter. B -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
