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$599 SAVE $50 = 7.0% Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton Classic II MC BACK IN STOCK in Lenses: Rangefinder
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Zeiss ZM 85mm f/4 Tele-Tessar T*
Related: distortion, Leica, Leica M, optics, Zeiss Lenses, Zeiss Tessar, Zeiss ZM, Zeiss ZM 85mm f/4 Tele-Tessar
The Zeiss ZM 85mm f/4 Tele-Tessar (about $940, black or silver finish) is a compact and low-cost high performance 85mm lens.
Since any lens of 75/85/90mm focal length is difficult to focus accurately and consistently on a rangefinder like the Leica M9, the f/4 maximum aperture is less of a real-world limitation that it might seem, at least for many types of photography.
Taking the relatively low price into account, the 85/4 might be a great choice for a compact kit where telephoto capability is needed.
The near-zero distortion and very high imaging quality make it eminently suitable for true-to-life imagery.
Focusing
Like all lenses over 50mm, the key challenge on a rangefinder like the Leica M9 will be accurate focus and framing, just as with the Leica 75mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M. In essence, perfect 20/20 vision is needed, along with perfect rangefinder focus adjustment. Leica M9/M7/M8 users should consider the Viewfinder Magnifier 1.4X for use with 75/85/90mm lenses.
But with magnified Live View on the Leica M Typ 240 or on a mirrorless camera system, focusing can be guaranteed accurate.
Image quality
Very high sharpness right at f/4. See review coverage in Guide to Leica.
Specifications
Per Zeiss. See the datasheet.
| Focal length: | 85mm |
| Aperture scale: | f/4 - f/22 in 1/3 steps 10 aperture blades |
| Focusing range: | 0.9m - infinity |
| Angular field, diag./horiz./vert | 29/25/17 ° |
| Coverage at close range: | 32 cm x 21 cm |
| Image ratio at close range: | 1:9 |
| Number of elements/groups: | 5 elements in 3 groups |
| Filter thread: | M 43 x 0.75 |
| Weight: | 310g |
| Dimensions (with caps): | ø 54 mm, length 95 mm |
Distortion
A faint trace of pincushion distortion is all there is, and it’s all but identical to the ZM 85mm f/2 Sonnar.
This is effectively zero distortion for any practical purpose, and much less distortion than the Leica offerings in the 75mm - 90mm range.
