Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85 F1.4 field report - part 1/5
by minman, February 2007
As promised, since I have a chance to play around with new Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85 F1.4 SAL-85F14CZ lens for about a week. So, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you my personal opinion about this superb lens. Especially, I will stress more on comparison between this Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85 F1.4 SAL-85F14CZ and my Minolta Minolta AF 85 F1.4 G D.
As you can see from the pictures, design of the new CZ is very close to the Minolta one. However, the CZ version is longer (2.5mm) and more heavier (80g) than the Minolta. Overall build quality of the CZ is better as well since construction is made from metal almost 100%.
Outer lens element has similar in size but different coating. The CZ has green coating while Minolta has purple in color.
The last element, however, of the CZ one is slightly bigger. Coating seem to be similar as front element.
From this view, we can see the different in size quite clearly.
At closet distant, both lens will protruding in similar manner.
But the last element of both lens act in different manner at close focusing. For the CZ, it will move toward inside lens barel. While Minolta version, it move toward inside until around focusing distant of 1.5m then it will move back to the same position as at infinity which is leveling with the lens mount.
Hood of this lens is also have very well design. The lens look better when attach the hood rather than not.
Optical design is different as you all should already know.
Original content taken from www.photohobby.net and used with the kind permission by Minman