A first look video and snaps from the new Zeiss Loxia lenses for FE Mount
A few days ago I received a package from Zeiss. I opened up the box and there they were. TWO lenses. The Zeiss Loxia 35 f/2 and 50 f/2. I opened the packaging expecting these huge big lenses but nope, they were quite small. They were solid, just about as solid as most Leica M lenses, and only slightly larger. I attached them to my A7II and A7s and WOW. The focusing action was smooth as silk, yet damped, almost like it was floating in a barrel of oil, lol.
The aperture rings clicked solidly yet smoothly. Someone at Zeiss did their homework and realized there is a large market for lenses like this for the Sony FE system. I went out, took a few shots (not too many yet as I was busy with the Zeiss 35 1.4 FE) and WOW. It’s all here. The Zeiss POP, the Zeiss COLOR, the Zeiss Depth. No issues. No colored edges. No vignetting. No distortion.
After testing them out for a day I thought “these are priced VERY well for what we get with these lenses”. The 50 f/2, appears to be just as lovely as the Leica 50 APO, at 1/7th the cost and only a little larger. Metal construction, metal hood INCLUDED and fabulous build. THESE are lenses ANY Leica lover wold enjoy on their A7 system.
Oh and they also have close .3 meter focusing!
A video showing the size of these lenses – smaller than I was led to believe.
I will have a full review up in the next few weeks but yes, I highly recommend these for your Sony A7 series. I did do a test between the Sony/Zeiss 35 1.4 and Loxia 35 f/2 which will be in my full Sony Zeiss review, but both are different. I preferred the rendering from the Sony 35 1.4 but the size of the Loxia. The Loxia was a bit more clinical and the DOF difference, even at f/2 on both lenses was MUCH different with the Sony being more shallow, which is why I feel the Sony gives a true Leica “Lux” look.
In any case, these lenses are very hard to get as Zeiss told me they are doing much better than anticipated. I can’t wait to see what is next for the Loxia line.
A few quick samples below during my one day of snapshots 😉 Will have MANY more in my full review. EXIF is embedded.
PopFlash is also a Zeiss Dealer.
A7s – 50 f/2
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The 35 at ISO 1000 – A7II
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The 35 – A7II – ISO 1000 – click to see detail in crop!
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A7s – 35 at f/2 – click to see detail in crop
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A7s – 35 f/2
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A7s – 35 f/2
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35 f/2
Hi Steve,
I was wondering if you’ve compared these to their ZM counterparts? I know there will be differences in the minimum focusing distances and exif data and the like not being passed to the camera. But I wanted to know if there is any difference in the optical performance? As the Loxia’s are fair bit more pricey in the UK and they are 50% heavier. And buying the ZM versions allows you to keep the lenses if you change mirrorless systems.
Thank you in advance for any reply.
Much different optical qualities, yes. These are MADE for the Sony FE system. The ZM’s are made for Leica M mount.
I notice you like the Zeiss of these…
Is the aperture reported back to the camera?
Yes it is.
I love my 35/2 and 50/2 Loxia lenses. They are the perfect size for the A7 series, amazingly sharp, and produce a very nice pop. My 55/1.8 has gotten a lot less use now.
I’m looking forward to your comparison with the new Sony Zeiss 35/1.4.
Hey Mike! Interesting to hear.
which of both Loxias do you prefer?
Best
Sascha
Hello Steve, I totally believe you when you say that you don’t read other reviews – not to be influenced. Still you say that you were mislead about the size of the Loxias. I wonder if I’m responsable for it, because I guess you need to read guest articles, before you publish them. If so, I’m sorry.
I’m one of those A7x buyers that come out of the M-mount corner, and initially was hoping for a size much like the ZMs. The Loxia is thicker and has the size of the adapter added to each lens. But after a period of getting used to it, I think the Loxia size is just right. Only when “stealth” shooting with the 2/50, I think one better removes the hood.
BTW, congratulations for the video in this article. IMO you nailed it already with every statement you make, even with the few shots that you made. The comparison with the APO Summicron was something that I suspected, finding that the Loxia IQ is so very close to Otus and most reviewers judge the Otus IQ to be slightly better than the Cron’s. But of course I didn’t want to write that, because I never tried the Cron. But at a price of 1/7, the Loxia is a no brainer indeed.
I have a request for you, Steve. Comparing the 2/35 with the 1.4/35, you say you prefer the 1.4 for its rendering. IMO those lenses are for a different use. But I’d like you to compare the rendering also for larger DOF, say between f/4 and f/13.
Last thing: the I find the automatic VF magnigication, combined with carefully dosed focus peeking to be perfect for fast but critical focusing. This is indeed the greatest way of manual shooting that I ever experienced. By far.
Steve, the 35mm Loxia indeed has a 0.3m focusing, however the 50mm has .45m
You are correct! Thanks!
I feel comfortable using both Auto focus and Manual focus (under 85mm, at the moment).
From the spec I think Loxia 35 wins FE 35 easily.
But for 50. There are FE 55 which perform great and virtually the same price (9xx or sometime 7xx usd).
If possible please consider to have some handful section in your full review to help me make the decision between Loxia 50 and FE 55 easier. I mostly concern about image quality and rendering different between both.
Oh another thing is, i don’t have a sharp eye when someone says this picture have/don’t have Zeiss’s 3D POP. So could you show the same composition taken with a lens with Zeiss’s POP and another without and you point out where to look at. So that i might be able to notice it too.
Thank you.
Loxia 50 is better than the 55 1.8 in color, pop, bokeh, detail. The Sony/Zeiss 55 is a bit sterile in comparison.
Why is, from your Point of view, the Bokeh on the Loxia better than on the Sonnar? From my point of view the Sonnar has a quiet homogenious and calm Bokeh (the strength of the Sonnars anyway) whie the Loxias Bokeh seems more harsh and turbulent). Always depends on what People preffer of course
Actually the Sonnar has a pretty harsh bokeh and the Loxia is smooth. The Sonnar Bokeh is unique but going down the line to all Sonnar designs, they all have one thing in common. The Bokeh will be harsh in many circumstances. There are only a couple of lenses with truly beautiful Bokeh. Leica Noctilux and Canon 85 1.2L.
Steve, how come your trainers are so clean?! Thank you for your reviews. Looking forward to the full account.
What’s a trainer?
Shoes
Sneakers. I’m an American living in the UK, and the Brits call them Trainers. Same language, different words.
Learned something new.
They called shoes, not trainers. Trainer is a soft sports shoe suitable for casual wear and chucks aren’t sport shoes.
It’s a type of general purpose sneaker commonly worn during workouts.
Looking forward to your full review! How does the Loxia 35 compare to something such as the Voigtlander 35 1.2 II ? Now that all of these good quality lenses are being made for A7 with no need for adapters, would you lean more towards putting them on the A7R?
Well the Loxia are f/2 where the strength of the Voigtander is the f/1.2 aperture. The Loxia is sharper, shorter, has a more Zeiss rendering.
Great lenses at a great price. Your dog is the cutest little thing.
These guys look great.Should also be good for video.Look forward to your full reviews .Been holding out for a while but the A7 II ,new 28mm and Loxia lenses will be hard to resist.Cheers.
These are perfect for the A7 series; they fit the size and weight of the bodies much better than the new Sony 1.4’s.