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Choice of Wide Angle Zeiss

Extiger

New Member
Before I ask this question, I anticipate what you might ask me. Namely, "What do you intend to shoot?" Unfortunately, I don't really know.

But, I want to buy one wide angle lens. To accompany my 80mm normal, and my 150mm portrait lens. If you were to own only 3 Zeiss lenses, what would be your choice of a wide angle.

To guide your answer, I can say this from experience. During my decades of shooting with 35mm, I really loved the 24mm Nikkor lens for wide angle work. It had minimal barrel distortion, and no "squeezing" effect at the edges. I depended on it for outdoor scenic shots, and for groups of people in a room that was too small.

In the 6x6cm format, what lens matches those requirements?

Gary Curtis
 
If 24 mm WA in 35 mm cameras was your favourite you will be quite happy with a 40 mm CF or CFE lens.
The older 40 mm C series lens is a great alternative for half the money.

Most used WA in medium format is the 50 mm Distagon lens.
The 50 would make your kit the classic 50/80/150.


Vic
 
I am more of a wide angle shooter and if I can only take one camera/lens out of my burning building it would be the 38mm Biogon. I only shoot with 38mm, 60mm and 120mm and am very happy with this combination.
 
Hello,

I own the 40/4 IF CFE. A wonderful lens with outstanding performances.

Yes, I think that 40mm would be appropriate if you were used to 24mm in 35mm photography.
 
I have the 50mm lens. I found that it covers most of the wide angle photographs.

Later I got the 38mm SWC because of the rectilinear lens rather than the 40mm lens. When I started thinking about getting the FlexBody, I thought that maybe I should have gotten the 40mm lens instead. So I downloaded the FlexBody instructions. Low and Behold, I saw that there is not a whole bunch of shift that one can do with the 40mm lenses. So folks, the one time in my life that I was wrong, I was right anyway!

By the way I have: CF 38mm, CF 80mm, CF 150mm and CF 250mm lenses.

Steve
 
The Flexbody and normal lenses from Zeiss do not allow a lot of shift.
The flexbody idea was good only Hasselblad should have ordered some dedicated lenses for it.

Better look for an Arcbody with Schneider lenses.........


Vic.
 
If the Flexbody is ever going to a consideration in the future, the 50mm CFi is the best choice with 11mm of shift.
They increased the filter size from B60 to B70 - which removed some mechanical vignetting which limited the shift to 5mm on the 50mm CF versions of the lens.

Donald.
 
Thanks Donald!


Stacking filters on a 50 CF lens will also result in vignetting.
As far as I knew this was the main reason to enlarge the mount from the 50CFi lens.


Vic.
 
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