The Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1.4 is not an Otus, but it is as close to one as I have seen a less expensive lens come. And it fills a gap in lenses that, as a close-up photographer, I need, although I have other 35mm lenses, but I don’t “like” them. Is it sharp? Yes, it is sharp, not ultra-ultra sharp, but sharp enough to pass the “sharp” test with me, easily. It does not distract me for lack of sharpness.
The color is good. There is some very, very minor fringing, I believe, but not enough for me not to use the lens. I am not so concerned with traditional one-off photos, but more in how the lens will stack. It stacks well for a wide-angle. Does it take extension? Yes, it takes the K1-Ring, 5.8mm of extension... pretty well, which is good for a wider-angle lens. It has 9 rounded blades.
The close range is 11.81 inches (30 cm), which is excellent. The filter is 72 mm. It is manual focus, which is all I use anyway. It has an ample focus-throw, which is wonderful, since many wide-angle lenses have a short focus-throw. According to all sources, this is a brand-new lens design, not the warmed-over of previous Zeiss lenses, and it shows. This is something new, a high-point for Zeiss with lower-priced lenses.
The only fault I have found so far (and it can be anticipated) is that it does not do super-well with highlights and light areas. It’s OK, and I can work around it, but the highlights seem to wash out a little early IMO.
I order, but send many lenses back. I believe I will keep this one.
Nikon D810, Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1.4
