Thanks to all for continuing this thread. I oscillate a bit between keeping my ZA and going in a newer direction (perhaps the GM 1.2). Every time, I land back on keeping it. It's too good and seems to stand the test of time.
JRHill wrote:
Thanks to all for continuing this thread. I oscillate a bit between keeping my ZA and going in a newer direction (perhaps the GM 1.2). Every time, I land back on keeping it. It's too good and seems to stand the test of time.
I think GM and ZA are very different. The ZA reminds me a little of the Batis 40/2 in terms of colours, contrasts, liveliness and image impression. The ZA may be a Sony lens, but it seems to have a lot of Zeiss genes. The GM is certainly a very good lens. But anyone who has had the ZA for many years will certainly have to get used to the GM. Going to the GM is out of the question for me. Preferably both lenses...
I own the GM but I remember back in 2017 I was attending a beginner’s photography course and one the guys in my class had an A7RIII and the 50mm f1.4 Planar. I remember being blown away not only by his images but also how they looked, gorgeous rendering.
I held off on buying the Planar as at the time I wanted a smaller lens so I got the 55mm f1.8 which I still own but use for street now. I also own a Voigtländer 50mm f1.2 Nokton Aspherical but that’s another story :-)
My GM gets used for portrait work now and its an absolute masterpiece.
I've tried them both recently, and I'd have a hard time picking between the two if I had to decide. (I own the GM)
The ZA's rendering is very pleasing, and stopped down the lens is just as sharp. And while the GM has better autofocus, I didn't feel that the Zeiss' was bad by any stretch.
akashyap wrote:
Very cool. What’re your thoughts about the 50 ZA vs Batis 40?
It is difficult to compare the two. I photographed almost my daughter's entire childhood with the 50/1.4 ZA. Faces are rendered beautifully alive. I just shift the white balance to the cooler range and I like the face tones because they look very natural. The images are vivid and I like the sharpness gradient. I never felt the need for that
50 gm to switch.
The Batis 40/2 CF was never meant to replace my 50 ZA. As soon as I saw the first pictures of the batis, I knew I wanted it, even though it was criticized so much at the time. With the strong, very beautiful colors, the very pronounced micro-contrasts, the image depth and sometimes unusually three-dimensional image reproduction, the Batis often creates a unique image look. Color reproduction, micro-contrasts and "Zeiss-Pop" are in a different league compared to the Planar. It just doesn't have an f1.4, but it only weighs 360 grams. Although it only has an f2, I now often prefer the Batis for portraits. I think the Batis' strong micro-contrasts and color rendition help a little to isolate the subject. A picture like the one above that I spontaneously took of my daughter with f1.4 is probably not possible with the Batis.
mattmackenzie4 wrote:
Rendering on the ZA is gorgeous. I sold it for the GM for three reasons
1. Faster AF
2. More consistent sharpness across the frame (no mid zone dip)
3. GM sharpness at 1.2 is equivalent to ZA sharpness at 1.8-2.0
Both are excellent specimens in the E mount range
Yea...I wish GM retains the rendering of ZA while having these traits, but then these traits do not impede and are not required by the ZA to take great portraits.
So I think the conclusion is once again reaffirmed:
ZA for amazing portraits.
GM for all other applications that don't need the Zeiss magic?
FMTopFan wrote:
Does anyone here still own and keep both the ZA and GM for different uses?
I had the ZA and sold it when the GM came out, but I was recently looking through my photo library and I came across quite a few images from the ZA that I was very impressed by, so I'm considering picking up another one and using both.
I'm glad I still own the 50 ZA. Along with the Batis 40, it's my favorite lens. I wouldn't trade it in for a more "modern" 50mm lens. Only the weight bothers me a bit sometimes.
FMTopFan wrote:
Just curious, will you be carrying both at the same time when out shooting or do you plan on using one for specific scenarios only?
I'm just a hobbyist, so to be honest, I'll probably just pick whichever one I feel like shooting with at the time haha. For moving subjects, definitely the 50GM, but I think for street photography or portraits, the 50ZA.
devin.choi wrote:
I'm just a hobbyist, so to be honest, I'll probably just pick whichever one I feel like shooting with at the time haha.
To have the freedom to do so is great!
devin.choi wrote:
For moving subjects, definitely the 50GM, but I think for street photography or portraits, the 50ZA.
For me, ZA for portraits for sure. There is something magical about it.
