The Best Carl Zeiss Lenses in 2020 [for Sony, Canon, Nikon ...

Carl Zeiss lenses are some of the best for photography and video due to their ability to create images that achieve a rich, 3D look that has ... Skiptocontent typeinyoursearchandpressenter TypesofLensesOpenmenu PrimeLens ZoomLens AnamorphicLens LensBasics MoreAboutLensTypes FocalLengthsOpenmenu WideAngleLens(14mm–35mm) Standard(35mm–70mm) TelephotoLens(70mm–200mm) MoreFocalLengths SpecialtyLensesOpenmenu MacroLens FisheyeLens Tilt-ShiftLens Split-DiopterLens DeakinizerLens LensBrandsOpenmenu LensBuyingGuide CanonLenses CarlZeissLenses SigmaLenses CookeCinemaLenses ZeissShowreel CreateFreeShotList CarlZeisslensesaresomeofthebestforphotographyandvideoduetotheirabilitytocreateimagesthatachievearich,3DlookthathasbecomethetrademarkofmanyCarlZeisslenses.Cameralensesareasignificantinvestmentwhichrequiressomeseriousresearchbeforebuying.That’swhywe’vegoneovereachoftheCarlZeisslensestoshowyouwhichshouldbeinyourcamerabag. CarlZeissLenses101CarlZeisslensseriesI’mgoingtobrieflybreakdowntheZeisslenslandscape.Zeisshasafewdifferentseriesoflensesthatarecompatiblewithoneormorelensmountoptions,sothislistwillbeseparatedbymanufacturer. ZeissLenses—BatisSeriesAslongasyoufindthesectionthatcorrespondswithyourcamera’slensmount(oradapter)you’llbeabletogodownthelistandfindwhichZeisslensseemstofityourspecificneedsasaphotographerorvideomaker.Zeissalsomakescinelenses,butwewillnothavethoseinthislist. Foreachsection,we’regoingtolistthebestZeisslensesthatcorrespondwiththespecifiedlensmount.Thatway,you'llknowwhichZeisslenses,eveniftheyarefromapreviousseries,arethebestforyourneeds.ThelastthingI’llbrieflymentionisthatSonyteamedupwithZeissatonepointtocreateafewlenses,specificallytheSonySonnarandSonyVario-TessarwhichincludetheZeissT*Anti-Reflectivecoating.Technically,thesearenot“Zeiss”lenses,sotheydon’tmakethelist. ZeissLensesforSonyBestZeisslensesforSonyEMountCarlZeisslensesforSonyhaveafewdifferentE-Mountseries,someofwhichwerereleasedinthelastfewyears.ZeisslensesforSonyincludetheZeissLoxiaseries,whichareallmanualfocusonly.ThereistheZeissTouitseriesandZeissBatisseries,whichfeatureautofocuslensesthatuseafocus-by-wiresystemratherthanamechanicalfocussystem.Whatdoesfocus-by-wiremean?Focus-by-wirelensessendelectronicmessagestothefocusring,whereasmechanicallenseshavetheirfocusdirectlycontrolledviathefocusring.Manyprofessionalfilmmakersandphotographersfrownuponthefocus-by-wiresetup,butthatdoesn'tmeanyoushouldcounttheBatisorTouitsout,becausetheyarestillsomestellarglass. TheZeissLoxiaandZeissBatisarefull-framelenses,whereastheZeissTouitseriesismadeupofAPS-Cformatlenses,sokeepthatinmindtoo.ZEISSBATISFORSONYZeissBatis40mmf/2CFlensThis40mmZeissprimeisanicestandardlensthatfeaturespartialdispersionelementsthatgreatlyreducecolorfringing,distortion,andotheraberrations.Thesefeaturesgiveyousharp,clear,andcolor-accurateimages. MostZeisslenseshavetheirT*anti-reflectivecoating,whichreducesflareandghosting,allowingforbetterimagesindifficultlightingsituations.Youhaveaprettyfastlensherewiththemaxapertureoff/2.CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissBatis40mmf/2CFLensMaxAperture: f/2Stabilization:NoAutofocus: YesFocalLength:40mmLensMount:SonyEFormatSize:Full-FrameMSRPPrice: $1,124.00 ZeissBatis40mmf/2HandsOnReview|TheCameraStoreTVZeissBatislenseshaveanOLEDdisplayonthelensbarrel,whichshowsyouthefocusdistanceanddepthoffieldrange.Thisisareallyniceaddition,andthey’reilluminatedwhichhelpsyoureadinthedark. TheseZeisslensesalsohaveautofocuscapabilitiesandareabout⅓thepricetagoftheamazingOtusseries,andcheaperthantheZeissLoxia.AsfarasZeisslensesforSonycamerasgo,thisisagreatchoice. CARLZEISSBATISZEISSBatis85mmf/1.8lensThis85mmZeissprimeisanicetelephotolensthatisgreatforportraitphotography.ThisZeisslenshasanOLEDdisplayonthelensbarrel,theT*anti-reflectivecoating,andimagestabilization,whichiscool.CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissBatis85mmf/1.8LensMaxAperture: f/1.8Stabilization:YesAutofocus: YesFocalLength:85mmLensMount:SonyEFormatSize:Full-FrameMSRPPrice: $898.00 SonyFE85mmvsZeissBatis85mmFieldTest|TheCameraStoreTVThepriceisgreatalongwiththef1.8,theimagestabilization,andtheversatile85mmfocallengthmakethisZeissasmartlonglensbuy.ZEISSLOXIAFORSONYZEISSLoxia35mmf/2.4lensThis35mmZeissprimeisbasicallyastandardlens,andisthefirstLoxiaonthelist.Ithasthemechanicalfocus,butnoautofocuscapabilities.TheZeissLoxiabokehisbetterthantheBatis,andmoredurable.CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissLoxia35mmf/2.4LensMaxAperture: f/2.4Stabilization:NoAutofocus: NoFocalLength:35mmLensMount:SonyEFormatSize:Full-FrameMSRPPrice: $1,169.00  ZeissLoxia35mmLensReview|JaySonyAlphaLabLoxiaZeisslenseshavetheT*anti-reflectivecoatingtoreduceflareandghostingandallowsforbetterimagesindifficultlightingsituations.Thef/2apertureissweet,thelensqualityisgreat,andthepriceisnice. ZEISSTOUITFORSONYZeissTouit50mmf/2.8MacroLensThisishandsdownoneofthebestZeisslensesforSonyshooters,andthat’sbecauseitisbothversatile,unique,andpricedreallywell.DespitethisbeinganAPS-Cformatlens,thisistheonlymacrooptionfromZeissforSonycameras,andthepicturequalityisreallyamazing.CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissTouit50mmf/2.8MacroLensMaxAperture: f/2.8Stabilization:NoAutofocus: YesFocalLength:50mmLensMount:SonyEFormatSize:APS-CMSRPPrice: $899.00 ZeissTouit50mmMacroLensReview|JaySonyAlphaLabTheAPS-Cmakesthisa75mm-equivalentprime,andyoucanuseitforportraits,orforclose-upmacrophotosandvideo.Ithasalife-size1:1maximummagnificationratioandaminimumfocusingdistanceof5.9". ThisZeisslenshastheT*anti-reflectivecoating,afloatingelementssystemtokeepconsistentimagequality,andaDCautofocusmotorthatgivesyoufastandquietfocusingperformance.ZEISSBATISLENSESZEISSBatis25mmf/2lensThis25mmZeissprimeisanicewide-anglelenswiththesamepartialdispersionelements.ThisZeisslenshastheT*anti-reflectivecoating,andtheOLEDdisplayonthelensbarrel,aswithalloftheBatisseries.It'sagoodpriceforawide-angleZeisslenswithautofocus. CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissBatis25mmf/2LensMaxAperture: f/2Stabilization:NoAutofocus: YesFocalLength:25mmLensMount:SonyEFormatSize:Full-FrameMSRPPrice: $1,064.00 ZeissBatis25mmLensReview|PeterLindgrenZeissBatisTelephotoZEISSBatis135mmf/2.8LensThis135mmZeissprimeisanicetelephotolenswithpartialdispersionelements.ThisZeisslenshastheT*anti-reflectivecoating,andtheOLEDdisplayonthelensbarrel.Thepricewillgetyouthough,andthe135mmlengthisn’tasversatileasmanyoftheotherlensesonthislist.CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissBatis135mmf/2.8LensMaxAperture: f/2.8Stabilization:NoAutofocus: YesFocalLength:135mmLensMount:SonyEFormatSize:Full-FrameMSRPPrice: $1,529.00 BestportraitlensforSony|LALoveCreativeTheseZeisslensesalsohaveautofocuscapabilitiesandareabout⅓thepricetagoftheamazingOtusseries,andcheaperthantheZeissLoxia.AsfaraZeisslensesforSonycameras,thisisanicechoice. RelatedPostsTheBestNikonCameraLenses→TheBestSigmaCameraLenses→TheBestCanonCameraLenses→CarlZeissLensesForCanonBestZeisslensforCanonEFMountCarlZeisslensesforCanonEFmountscaneitherbepartofthevariousclassicseriesorpartofthenewerZeissMilvusandZeissOtusseries. It’simportanttonotethatnoneoftheZeisslensesforCanonhaveautofocus,whichmeansthey’llallrequireyoutomanuallyfocus.TheZeissOtuslensesareabsolutelyamazing,buttheycomewithaprice,andaheavyoneatthat,soyou’llwanttokeepthatinmindaswell.ZEISSOTUSFORCANONZEISSOtus55mmf/1.4ZELensTheZeissOtus55mmisthecheapestofalltheOtusSerieslensesforCanon,andithasascorchingmaxapertureof1.4.TheZeissOtusgivesyouedge-to-edgesharpnessandlowfieldcurvature,andithastheZeisslenshastheT*anti-reflectivecoatingthatmakesZeisslensessounique.CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissOtus55mmf/1.4ZELensMaxAperture: f/1.4Stabilization:NoAutofocus: NoFocalLength:55mmLensMount:CanonEFFormatSize:Full-FrameMSRPPrice: $3,552.00 Sigma50mmArtVsZeissOtus55mm|JaredPolinTheOtuslensesarereallydurableandheavy.TheseZeisslensesarebasicallytheequivalentofacinelens,butaretechnicallybuiltandlabeledasphotographylenses.IfyouhaveachoicebetweentheOtusandtheZeisscinelensesforarentalsituation,gowiththecinesfortheincreasedfocusthrow.CARLZEISSOTUSZEISSOtus28mmf/1.4ZELensTheZeissOtus28mmisalmost$1000morethanthe55mm,anditsharesthesamemaxapertureof1.4.TheZeissOtusgivesyouedge-to-edgesharpnessandlowfieldcurvature,andithastheZeissT*anti-reflectivecoatingthatmakesCarlZeisslensessounique.CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissOtus28mmf/1.4ZELensMaxAperture: f/1.4Stabilization:NoAutofocus: NoFocalLength:28mmLensMount:CanonEFFormatSize:Full-FrameMSRPPrice: $4,491.00 ZEISSOtusLensFamily|ZEISSCameraLensesTheOtuslensesarereallydurableandheavy.TheseZeisslensesarebasicallytheequivalentofacinelens,butaretechnicallybuiltandlabeledasphotographylenses. ZEISSMILVUSFORCANONZEISSMilvus85mmf/1.4ZElensTheZeissMilvusserieshasasetofsuper-speedlenses,whichincludethis85mmprime.Italsohasstandardspeedlenseswhichfillinsomeofthemore“unusual”focallengthswithmuchslowerapertures.CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissMilvus85mmf/1.4ZELensMaxAperture: f/1.4Stabilization:NoAutofocus: NoFocalLength:85mmLensMount:CanonEFFormatSize:Full-FrameMSRPPrice: $1,427.00 ZeissMilvus85mm|ZEISSCameraLensesThisisoneofthebestZeisslensesforCanonusersbecauseit’sgoodforportraitphotography,andhastheZeissT*anti-reflectivecoating.ZEISSPLANARLENSESZEISSPlanar50mmf/1.4ZElensTheamazingthingaboutthisZeissPlanar50mmprimelensisthepricetag.Thisisareallyhigh-qualitylenswithasuperfastf/1.4ratingthatallowsforreallygreatlow-lightperformanceandshallowdepthoffield.CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissPlanar50mmf/1.4ZELensMaxAperture: f/1.4Stabilization:NoAutofocus: NoFocalLength:50mmLensMount:CanonEFFormatSize:Full-FrameMSRPPrice: $652.00 ZeissPlanar50mm|RaymondSetiadiIfyouwatchthevideoabove,youcanseehowtheimageproducedisactuallymore3DthanyougetwiththeMilvus.Botharegreatlenses,butthePlanarisabout$400cheaperandinmanycases,abetterlens.CARLZEISSMILVUSZEISSMilvus50mmf/1.4ZElensJustbecausetheZeissPlanargetsyousomereallygreat3Dimagesforasmallerprice,thatdoesn’tmeantheMilvusseriesisn’tagreatchoice.TheZeissMilvus50mmf/1.4isareallysharplens,andthecheapestoftheMilvuslenses.Ago-toifyouwantreallysharpphotography.CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissMilvus50mmf/1.4ZELensMaxAperture: f/1.4Stabilization:NoAutofocus: NoFocalLength:50mmLensMount:CanonEFFormatSize:Full-FrameMSRPPrice: $1,079.00 ZeissMilvus50mm|ExploringFilmmakerRelatedPostsWhatisChiaroscuroinFilm?→TheDifferentTypesofCameraLenses→GuidetoUnderstandingCameraLenses→CarlZeissLensesForNikonBestZeisslensforNikonFMountCarlZeisslensesforNikonFmountscaneitherbepartofthevariousclassicseriesorpartofthenewerZeissMilvusandZeissOtusseries. It’simportanttonotethatnoneoftheZeisslensesforNikonhaveautofocus,whichmeansthey’llallrequireyoutomanuallyfocus.TheZeissOtuslensesareabsolutelyamazing,buttheycomewithaprice,aheavyonetobesure,soyou’llwanttokeepthatinmindaswell.ZEISSOTUSFORNIKONZEISSOtus55mmf/1.4ZElensTheZeissOtus55mmisthecheapestofalltheOtusSerieslensesforNikon,andithasascorchingmaxapertureof1.4.TheZeissOtusgivesyouedge-to-edgesharpnessandlowfieldcurvature,andithastheZeissT*anti-reflectivecoatingthatmakesZeisslensessounique.CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissOtus55mmf/1.4ZELensMaxAperture: f/1.4Stabilization:NoAutofocus: NoFocalLength:55mmLensMount:NikonFFormatSize:Full-FrameMSRPPrice: $3,552.00 ZeissOtus55mm|MattGrangerTheOtuslensesarereallydurableandheavy.TheseZeisslensesarebasicallytheequivalentofacinelens,butaretechnicallybuiltandlabeledasphotographylenses.IfyouhaveachoicebetweentheOtusandtheZeisscinelensesforarentalsituation,gowiththecinelenses.NIKONZEISSOTUSZEISSOtus28mmf/1.4ZELensTheZeissOtus28mmisalmost$1000morethanthe55mm,anditsharesthesamemaxapertureof1.4.TheZeissOtusgivesyouedge-to-edgesharpnessandlowfieldcurvature,andithastheZeissT*anti-reflectivecoatingthatmakesCarlZeisslensessounique.CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissOtus28mmf/1.4ZELensMaxAperture: f/1.4Stabilization:NoAutofocus: NoFocalLength:28mmLensMount:NikonFFormatSize:Full-FrameMSRPPrice: $4,491.00 ZEISSOtusLensFamily|PhotoShelterTheOtuslensesarereallydurableandheavy.TheseZeisslensesarebasicallytheequivalentofacinelens,butaretechnicallybuiltandlabeledasphotographylenses.ZEISSMILVUSFORNIKONZEISSMilvus85mmf/1.4ZElensTheZeissMilvusserieshasasetofsuper-speedlenses,whichincludethis85mmprime,butalsosomestandardspeedwhichfillinsomeofthemore“unusual”focallengthswithmuchslowerapertures.CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissMilvus85mmf/1.4ZELensMaxAperture: f/1.4Stabilization:NoAutofocus: NoFocalLength:85mmLensMount:NikonFFormatSize:Full-FrameMSRPPrice: $1,427.00 ZeissMilvus85mm|MattGrangerThisisoneofthebestZeisslensesforNikonusersbecauseit’sgoodforportraitphotography,andhastheZeissT*anti-reflectivecoating.CLASSICZEISSPLANARZEISSPlanar50mmf/1.4ZElensTheamazingthingaboutthisZeissPlanar50mmprimelensisthepricetag.Thisisareallyhighqualitylenswithasuperfastf/1.4ratingthatallowsforreallygreatlowlightperformanceandshallowdepthoffield.CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissPlanar50mmf/1.4ZELensMaxAperture: f/1.4Stabilization:NoAutofocus: NoFocalLength:50mmLensMount:NikonFFormatSize:Full-FrameMSRPPrice: $652.00 ZeissMilvus85mm|ChristopherFrostPhotographyThisisoneofthebestZeisslensesforCanonusersbecauseit’sgoodforportraitphotography,andhastheZeissT*anti-reflectivecoating.CARLZEISSMILVUSZEISSMilvus50mmf/1.4ZElensJustbecausetheZeissPlanargetsyousomereallygreat3Dimagesforasmallerprice,thatdoesn’tmeantheMilvusseriesisn’tagreatchoice.TheZeissMilvus50mmf/1.4isareallysharplens,andthecheapestofalltheMilvuslenses,soit'sgoodifyouwantreallysharpphotography.CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissMilvus50mmf/1.4ZELensMaxAperture: f/1.4Stabilization:NoAutofocus: NoFocalLength:50mmLensMount:CanonEFFormatSize:Full-FrameMSRPPrice: $1,079.00 ZeissMilvus50mm|ExploringFilmmakerRelatedPostsBest4KVideoCamerasforFilmmakers→BestLEDVideoLightsforVideoProduction→RogerDeakinsCinematographyTips&Techniques→CarlZeissLensesForFujifilmBestZeissLensesforFujifilmXMountCarlZeisslensesforFujifilmhaveonlyoneX-MountseriesknownastheZeissTouitseries,whichhaveautofocuscapabilities.Theselensesusea focus-by-wiresystemratherthanincorporatingamechanicalfocus.Whatdoesfocus-by-wiremean?Focus-by-wirelensessendelectronicmessagestothefocusring,whereasmechanicallenseshavetheirfocusdirectlycontrolledviathefocusring.Therearealotofprofessionalfilmmakerswhofrownonthefocus-by-wiresetup,butdon’tcounttheTouitsout.TheZeissTouitseriesiscompletelymadeupofAPS-Cformatlenses,soconsiderhowthiswillworkwithyoursetup,whichisprobablyFujifilm.CARLZEISSTOUITZeissTouit50mmf/2.8Macrolens ThisishandsdownoneofthebestZeisslensesforFujifilmshooters,andthat’sbecauseitisbothversatile,unique,andpricedreallywell.DespitethisbeinganAPS-Cformatlens,thisistheonlymacrooptionfromZeissforFujifilmcameras,andthequalityisreallyamazing. CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissTouit50mmf/2.8MacroLensMaxAperture: f/2.8Stabilization:NoAutofocus: YesFocalLength:50mmLensMount:FujifilmXFormatSize:APS-CMSRPPrice: $899.00 ZeissTouit50mmMacroLens|TobyHornTheAPS-Cmakesthisa75mm-equivalentprime,andyoucanuseitforportraits,orforclose-upmacrophotography.Ithasalife-size1:1maximummagnificationratioandaminimumfocusingdistanceof5.9". ThisZeisslenshastheT*anti-reflectivecoating,afloatingelementssystemtokeepconsistentimagequalitythroughoutthefocusrange,andaDCautofocusmotorthatgivesyounicefocusingperformance.RelatedPostsTheBestNikonCameraLenses→TheBestSigmaCameraLenses→TheBestCanonCameraLenses→ZeissTouitForFujifilmZEISSTouit32mmf/1.8lensTheZeissTouit32mmisa48mm-equivalentprime.Ithasagreatf/1.8maxaperturewhichallowsyoutoshootinlow-lightsituations.CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissTouit32mmf/1.8LensMaxAperture: f/1.8Stabilization:NoAutofocus: YesFocalLength:32mmLensMount:FujifilmXFormatSize:APS-CMSRPPrice: $648.00 ZEISSTouit32mmf/1.8Lens|TheCameraStoreTVTheTouitserieshavetheT*anti-reflectivecoating,alongwiththeDCautofocusmotorsoyouhaveoptionstoswitchbackandforthfromautofocusandmanualfocus.Thepriceandf/1.8makethisanicelens.ZEISSLENSESTOUITSERIESZEISSTouit12mmf/2.8lensTheZeissTouit12mmhasan18mm-equivalentfieldofview.Thef/2.8maxapertureisnice,butatinybitunderwhelming,andthatalongwiththepriceiswhythisisthebottomZeisslensontheFujifilmlist.CARLZEISSLENSSPECSZeissTouit12mmf/2.8LensMaxAperture: f/2.8Stabilization:NoAutofocus: YesFocalLength:12mmLensMount:FujifilmXFormatSize:APS-CMSRPPrice: $899.00 ZEISSTouit12mmf/2.8Lens|PixelcatcherThis12mmhastheDCautofocusmotorsoyouhaveoptionstoswitchfromautofocusandmanual,aswellasT*anti-reflectivecoating. UPNEXTCinematographytipsandtechniquesSo,nowyouhaveabetterideaofCarlZeisslensesforSony,Canon,Nikon,andFujifilm.Whynotcheckoutourpostoncinematographytechniques.Thisguidewillshowyouabunchoflightingsetupsandhelpfultipsfortakingyourfootagetothenextlevel.UpNext:CinematographyTipsandTechniques→ Showcaseyourvisionwithelegantshotlistsandstoryboards.Createrobustandcustomizableshotlists.Uploadimagestomakestoryboardsandslideshows.LearnMore➜GETSTARTEDFORFREE Postnavigation PreviousPostWhatisaScriptDoctor?HowtoBecomeaScriptConsultantin2021NextPostBestBradPittMoviesList—TopFilmsRanked(2021) About LearnMore FeaturedBlogPosts Compare FREEMasterClasses Latest BestTrainingMontage—15ScenesBeyondRocky&Creed RogerDeakinsMovies—His16BestRankedforFilmmakers AcademyAwardforBestInternationalFeatureFilm—FullList DramedyExplained—AStudyoftheComedyDramaGenre WhatisDirectCharacterization—CharacterBuildingTips Design+CodebyLeanometryInc©2022STUDIOBINDERINC. 27 Shares 21 Facebook 0 Pinterest 0 Reddit 6 LinkedIn 0 Twitter 27 Shares 21 0 0 6 0 Copylink CopyCopied DirectingOpenmenu AuteurDirectors Cinematography FilmTheory Movies VideoGear ProducingOpenmenu Breakdowns Budgeting Development Distribution Marketing ProductionHacks Scheduling ScriptwritingOpenmenu Brainstorming Writing Post-ProductionOpenmenu MotionGraphics Music&SoundEffects EditingTechniques VideoEffects ResourcesOpenmenu BooksandGuides VideoCourses FIlmmakingTemplates ProductVideoTutorials CareersatStudioBinder SupportDesk MenuItem