The focus scale and macro magnification markings are engraved on the lens barrel, so the markings and paint should age well. The knurling on the focus ring is very fine. It is likely that finger oil and dust will accumulate in the ridges, so wiping down the lens with micro fiber lens cloth is good preventive maintenance. The lens does not come with a pouch or lens case. Considering the $1280 US price tag, a lens pouch would be nice.

As mentioned in the 28/2 ZE review, the front lens tends to pop off as the lens is pulled out in placed into the camera bag. At first I thought the caps lacked enough grip, but that is not the case. When putting the front cap back on, it tends to sit crooked. With a bit of extra wiggling the cap will sit flush. A half twist helps to “lock” the cap into the filter threads. Most people like “pincher” style caps because the lens hood can be left in place and the lens cap taken on and off the lens relative easily. Zeiss’ design concept is fine, it just needs some refinement so that front cap stays in place better.

The 50/2 ZE is my fifth ZE lens, and all have good build quality. The fit and finish has been consistent. The only niggle I have with the 50/2 ZE is the stiffer focus ring - which seems to be relaxing (improving) with use. Though, I doubt the focus action will ever be as light as that of the 21/2.8 ZE and 28/2 ZE. The 50/2 ZE’s focus ring is NOT stiff enough to be considered a problem, just stiffer than the other ZE lenses. Stiffness is nowhere as stiff as the Hasselblad 110mm F2 Planar, Hasselblad 120 F4 Makro Planar, or Hasselblad 50mm F2.8 Distagon. Those Hasselblad lenses set the bar when it comes to defining stiff focus.

HANDLING - MANUAL FOCUS AND AUTO APERTURE

Like the other ZE lenses, the focus ring is well positioned. The ring is about a half inch wide and easy to find by touch. Focus confirmation works fine with the 1Ds Mark III, beeping when focus is achieved for the selected auto-focus point. The Canon focus points cover an area larger than the specific point on the focus screen, so whether focus confirmation beeped for the exact point for where focus was intended may or may not be the case. If shooting at extreme close distances, Live View can be very helpful - as well as a tripod. Using the “grid” focus screen in the Canon 1Ds Mark III, focus does not really “pop” into place. Some people may find the Canon “S” focus screens beneficial for manual focusing:

1. •EF-S Screen for Canon 40D & Canon 50D Cameras
   

2. •EG-S Super Precision Matte Focusing for the 5D Mark II
   

3. •EC-S Screen for the Canon 1Ds Series
   

Eventually I had to give up the grid focus screen and buy the Canon EC-S screen. It helps for sure. Focusing the 50/2 ZE requires attention and a sharp eye. The focus confirmation beep puts focus in the right right area, but hitting the exact point takes added effort. The 50/2 ZE’s long focus throw can complicate matters. First, going from one end of the range to the opposite end takes several twists. Next, once the focus is in the right range, deciding whether focus should be tweaked forward slightly, or backed-off by a hair can be difficult to judge. Again, Live View can make the focus process much easier when trying to “nail” focus.

On the Zeiss ZE lenses the aperture is 100% automatic, thus eliminating stop-down-metering. The process is simple - focus wide open, turn the focus ring to the desired aperture and take the picture. While the process is simple, it requires added time. While turning the aperture ring, sometimes I moved the camera, or the subject moved, or the composition changed. With the ZE lenses aperture is like any other Canon EF / EF-S. The aperture value is set via camera body and when the picture is taken, the Canon body sends a signal to the lens to close the aperture to the set aperture value.