Rumor: Zeiss will announce a new Otus lens this week

[Jan Anne]

Apperently Lloyd is on his way to Germany for a Zeiss press release later this week:
http://diglloyd.com/blog/2015/20150907_1458-Germany-ZeissPressEvent.html

According to this rumour we can expect 24 or 25mm 1.4 lens:
http://www.canonrumors.com/new-zeiss-otus-coming-in-september-cr1/

What do you guys think, would you buy one or would you for instance prefer a 35/1.4?

Personally I hope Zeiss will also announce a Loxia 15mm for My First Sony

[Jakov Minić]

Jan Anne, I am very excited.

[Michael Erlewine]

I have waited about a  year for this and bought the Sigma ART 24mm in the meantime. I have a real use for this lens and, after that, all I need is an Otus macro lens to be content.

[Michael Erlewine]

Well, that didn't happen.

[Jan Anne]

Nope, but we got six other revamped lenses instead

[Michael Erlewine]

Nope, but we got six other revamped lenses instead

 I understand that all but two of them are just re-worked lenses that are pretty much what we have now. However, I have faith that the Otus is still coming.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

Well, no. They have weather sealing and the material of the focusing rings should be nicer to the touch in extremely cold weather than the all-metal past versions of the now renamed "Classic" line. These are at least to me very important characteristics.

[Michael Erlewine]

Well, no. They have weather sealing and the material of the focusing rings should be nicer to the touch in extremely cold weather than the all-metal past versions of the now renamed "Classic" line. These are at least to me very important characteristics.

They are important, I agree. But what is more important is the image quality that the lenses produce, which in this case is not much improved, and therefore of no real use to me. I have heard this from someone who has actually used these new lenses. They are nice, but image-wise no real improvement, or not much.

I am waiting for the next Otus WA lens and I will sell what I have to to buy that. I continue to be impressed with the quality of the Zeiss Otus series. Here is a recent example with the Otus 55mm and the Nikon D810. I like what this lens does.

[Frank Fremerey]

Try the Scheider APO Digitar series and...

[Michael Erlewine]

The Schneider lenses are not fast enough for my work. I need something fast wide-open for what I do. They seem like nice lenses, though I have never had one.

[Frank Fremerey]

ok.

[Akira]

Nope, but we got six other revamped lenses instead

At least 50/1.4 and 85/1.4 Milvus lenses are completely redesigned.

http://www.zeiss.com/camera-lenses/en_de/camera_lenses/milvus/milvus1450.html

http://www.zeiss.com/camera-lenses/en_de/camera_lenses/milvus/milvus1485.html

[bobfriedman]

its interesting that they eliminated the 21/2.8 from the "classic" line and put it in the "milvus" line..  with the same "mustache" distortion.. albeit, the curves are somewhat different implying that the optical design changed but upon comparison with the element design looks almost identical

[Akira]

Zeiss actually removed all lenses that are "converted" to the Milvus line: Distagons 21/2.8 and 35/2.0, and Makro Planars 50/2.0 and 100/2.0.  The completely redesigned Milvus 50/1.4 and 85/1.4 haven't (yet?) replaced the classic Planars.

[Michael Erlewine]

According to my sources, the Milvus 21mm f/2.8 is the same ZF.2 optical design, with improvements in flare, and with better coatings and a new housing. In fact, the whole series, aside from the 50mm and the 85mm, are just the same, aside from the coatings and housing. As for the Planars. I always liked the 50mm, just because I did not have many close-up lenses in that lens range. However, the 100mm is so uncorrected (IMO) that I never use it. In fact, I sold off the 50mm and am selling the 100mm now. So the idea of a matched set of all these lenses has no appeal to me. I am waiting for the next Otus, which I am assured is still coming.