Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 ZA SSM Lens Review

Carl Zeiss SAL Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 ZA SSM Sample Photos

Studio Shoot | 1/160 sec | f/8.0 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100

Studio Shoot | 1/160 sec | f/8.0 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100
High-Res

Studio Shoot | 1/160 sec | f/9.0 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100

Studio Shoot | 1/160 sec | f/9.0 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100
High-Res

Sharpness is good in the centre of the frame at maximum aperture | 1/125 sec | f/1.4 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100

Sharpness is good in the centre of the frame at maximum aperture | 1/125 sec | f/1.4 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100
High-Res

Stopping down to around f/5.6 results in outstanding sharpness in the cetre of the frame with excellent clarity towards the edges | 1/800 sec | f/6.3 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100

Stopping down to around f/5.6 results in outstanding sharpness in the cetre of the frame with excellent clarity towards the edges | 1/800 sec | f/6.3 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100
High-Res

Closest focus is 45cm, which is typical for a lens of this focal length and aperture | 1/1600 sec | f/2.8 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100

Closest focus is 45cm, which is typical for a lens of this focal length and aperture | 1/1600 sec | f/2.8 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100
High-Res

Flare can appear in extreme circumstances, but the anti-reflective T* coatings do a good job of retaining contrast | 1/160 sec | f/1.4 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100

Flare can appear in extreme circumstances, but the anti-reflective T* coatings do a good job of retaining contrast | 1/160 sec | f/1.4 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100
High-Res

1/100 sec | f/6.3 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100

1/100 sec | f/6.3 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100
High-Res

1/320 sec | f/1.4 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100

1/320 sec | f/1.4 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100
High-Res

1/500 sec | f/4.5 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100

1/500 sec | f/4.5 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100
High-Res

1/80 sec | f/6.3 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100

1/80 sec | f/6.3 | 50.0 mm | ISO 100
High-Res


Value for Money

There is no doubting that this lens performs well enough to justify the Carl Zeiss blue badge on the lens barrel, but whether it performs well enough to justify such a price will be debatable for many users.
For example, Sony's non-Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 only costs £300, which is a around a quarter of the price of this Carl Zeiss optic. This is a huge difference to pay, even if the standard Sony lens doesn't have a silent focusing motor. Sigma also offer a 50mm f/1.4 lens to fit Sony A-mount camera, which costs around £320 and has a silent focusing motor with full time manual override.

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