50(-ish) mm optical marvels compared

As the opportunity occurred (10 years ago) we did an exciting evaluation of 3 exceptional 50(-ish) mm focal plane optical marvels: we compared the then new and shiny, statement effort by the legendary German lens manufacturer Carl Zeiss, named Otus, with an our own Carl Zeiss workhorse of the Makro-Planar series and a trusty Nikon one.

The results were not unexpected but the magical qualities of the Carl Zeiss Otus blew our minds nevertheless. It was mostly the rarely easily combined qualities of overall softness and plasticity of the image with share quantity of details captured that impressed us most. The detail is there in abundance yet the image remains calm and fluffy. A truly exceptional combination. And the masterful apo-chromaticity. What an aberration-free image it produces!


Pictured below:

• Carl Zeiss Otus Apo Distagon 1.4/55 ZF.2 (the biggest)
• Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/50 ZF (middle-sized)
• Nikon AF Nikkor 50 mm 1:1.4 D (the smallest)

And here’s some random shot with the Otus showcasing the otherworldly bokeh as well as impeccable APO-chromatic qualities:

Above: Nikon D800 with Carl Zeiss Otus 1.7/55 ZF.2 at 1/400 – f/2.0 – ISO 100