OVERVIEW

The newly released Zeiss 50mm F2 Makro-Planar ZE is the same lens optically as the the ZF version for Nikon released a couple years ago. For Canon owners the key differences in the ZE mount are:  automatic aperture operation, complete EXIF data, focus confirmation and no need for third party lens adapters. Using a Zeiss ZE lens is like using any other Canon manual focus EF lens - aperture is set via the controls on the Canon camera body, EXIF data shows the lens and exposure information - including the aperture selected, focus confirmation beeps and so on. The Zeiss ZE’s work on all EF and EF-S dSLR bodies.

BUILD QUALITY

After spending several years shooting with the Leica M8 and Leica M9, it is easy to grow accustom to Leica’s build quality. Leica lenses are known for tight tolerances, smooth focus action, lightly dampened focus rings and high grade materials. In comparison, the typical Canon lens lacks the tactile joy that a Leica lens offers. I am happy to write that the Zeiss 50mm F2 Makro-Planar ZE’s build quality and materials feel as a good Leica lens. I have owned five ZE lenses and the build quality has been excellent on all of them.

Compared to typical 50mm lenses such as the Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM, the Zeiss 50/2 ZE is not a light lens. Part of the weight difference is the all metal barrel construction. Zeiss uses very little plastic in their lenses. Also the Zeiss 50mm F2 Makro-Planar ZE employs a floating element design, so there are 8 elements. A typical kit 50mm lens has around 6 elements. Lastly, the ZE picked up 40 grams in added weight compared to the original ZF version - presumably the electronics for the auto aperture mechanism.

When focused at infinity (the lens’ shortest barrel length), the 50/2 ZE balances nicely on the Canon 1Ds Mark III. At the infinity position the lens is relatively compact - about the size of the Canon 35L. At 1:2 magnification  (the 50/2 ZE’s minimum focus distance) the 50/2 ZE is about 1.5 inches longer. Being a macro lens, the added length is expected. However, for those who have not owned a macro lens before, the extreme change in body length could be a surprise.

The front element is buried very deep in the lens, so to keep the lens kit a smaller, one could shoot without the included lens hood. WIth the front element being so deeply recessed, I am not sure if the lens even needs its hood except in extreme lighting conditions. Thus far I have been shooting the 50/2 ZE without a hood and have not encountered any lens flare with the sun to my back or side. A metal lens hood is included. To attach the hood, it rotates into place and locks into position with metal spring clips. On the upside, the 50/2 ZE uses 67mm filters which is a fairly common filter size.

Macro lenses usually have long focus throws for more precise control over the placement of the focus plane. On the Zeiss 50/2 ZE, racking the focus from infinity to the minimum focus distance is almost a full turn of the focus ring (about 330 degrees of rotation). The focus throw when focusing from 1M to Infinity is only about 30 degrees of rotation, so for normal walk-around pictures, the focus throw is a normal amount of distance.

The 50/2 ZE’s focus ring turns smoothly, but feels stiffer than 28/2 ZE and 21/2.8 ZE. Both the Zeiss 50/2 ZF and 100/2 ZF are infamous for their stiff focus rings, and it appears the 50/2 ZE continues in the family tradition. A stiff focus ring makes one more aware of the long focus throw when racking the lens. The stiff focus ring was very noticeable the first day, but after using the lens several times - either the focus ring is improving, or I am getting used to it.