Test: Einzeltest: Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZF (ZE) (on Canon EOS) - Lab /
Zitat: Zeiss Z-series lenses are controversial beings because they lack auto-focus. However,
Zeiss is a legendary brand name and some lenses do live up to this reputation - the
Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 does qualify here - mostly at least.
The lens is capable of producing bitingly sharp results when stopped
down a little. The vignetting characteristic is about typical for a lens in this class.
Distortions are a non-issue. The quality of the bokeh is very good although its direct
competitor, the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 USM L II, still has an edge here.
However, there´re also has a few weaknesses. The Zeiss lens shows a somewhat "dreamy"
contrast characteristic at f/1.4. Whether this is a bug or a feature is a matter of
application - portrait photographers will like it whereas still-life photographers
probably won’t. Typical for ultra-large aperture lenses there´s also some degree
of purple fringing at large aperture. Due to the large front element the T* 85mm f/1.4
isn´t quite as resistant against flare as its (Zeiss) cousins but certainly not worse
than comparable lenses.
The build quality is also exceptionally high and a reminiscent of times when plastics
were not the dominant form of mechanical design. The price tag of the Zeiss comes almost
as a surprise - at 1100 €/US$ it costs quite a bit less that the
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 USM L (~1800EUR/US$) - so a deeper thought may not be as bizarre as it
seems if you´re shopping in this lens class.