Carl Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 Lens

Good Lens, But Too Expensive

Pros: Good image quality, fast and quiet autofocus, good for video recording

Cons: Too expensive, Better image quality using off-brand lenses and Manual Focus

I received a NEX-7 for Christmas in 2011, and use three lenses with it: This lens, a Canon FD 50mm f1.2, and a Canon FD 85mm f1.2. After shooting thousands of pictures with all three, I can definitively say that the Canon lenses (which I bought in perfect condition on eBay at a fraction of the cost of the Zeiss lens) produce significantly prettier pictures. Unfortunately, being so old, they have no manual focus (which, even if they did, the NEX-7 would be unable to utilize because they are Canon lenses and require an adaptor--rendering autofocus unusable). This is the best of the E-mount lenses thus far; I had a 16mm and an 18-55mm E-mount to compare it to. It's great for shooting video, and is useful for capturing stills when I don't have the time to manually focus with the Canons. HOWEVER, it definitely isn't worth $1000. If you just need a video lens, I recommend a cheaper one (unless money is no object/you film enough to justify it). If you collect E-Mounts and want a good all around lens, also go for a cheaper one. If you want a lens for shooting video AND for taking stills (giving up some quality for autofocus speed)--in addition to non-Sony manual focus lenses that you're using--you might want to consider this one. Even if you're in that last group, make sure you take into account that this is a fixed lens. I usually don't like zooming in and out during video, but the versatility of a variable focal length lens could be handy at times (even if you would be sacrificing some quality with a non-Zeiss E-mount). Still Image Quality on a Scale of 1 (worst) to 10 (best): Canon 85mm and 50mm f1.2 = 10 Sony Zeiss 24mm F1.8 = 8-8.5 Most Sony E-Mounts = 6 Convenience for Video Capture (Same Scale): Canon 85mm and 50mm f1.2 = 3-4 Sony Zeiss 24mm F1.8 = 9-10 Most Sony E-Mounts = 7-8-ish Ratings are relative. A Leica lens would be above a 10.

An AMAZING Lens, worth every penny...

Cons: None

If you're like me, you'd tend to look around for images and video reviews on something before buying it, so... here is my Flickr link: http://flic.kr/ps/29QrRq *EVERYTHING in the Photostream was taken with the SONY NEX-5N and Carl Zeiss, 24mm f/1.8 Wide-Angle Prime Lens. :) Hope this helps!

My favorite lens

Pros: Sharp, fast, color, bokeh

Cons: Expensive (but worth the money)

What can I say, this is my favorite lens. I am a semi-serious amateur photographer with a fairly extensive kit built around an A77. My A mount lenses cover about 99% of anything I would ever want to photograph, including specialized lenses for portraits (Minolta 85mm 1.4) and Macro (Minolta 100mm F2.8 Macro). What my A77 kit does not do well is travel light. I bought a NEX5n for casual use, but was dissappointed in the speed and characteristics of the kit lens, so the Zeiss 24mm was my first E mount lens purchase. What can I say, this is, quite possibly, the best lens I own. For general snap shots, street scenes, travel and group portraits it is the best lens of its type I've ever used, better even than the outstanding Sony 16-50mm F2.8 SSM I use on my A77. Colors somehow pop more, sharpness is perfect across the entire frame from F4, but even wide open 16X20 prints (I've made two) are gorgeous from corner to corner. This is an outstanding landscape lens but for its fairly narrow (full frame equivalent to 36mm) angle of view. I leave this on my NEX5n almost all of the time, and while I own and often will bring the 50mm 1.8 OSS on more casual expeditions, the Zeiss 24 is so good that I even use the NEX5n/Zeiss pair when I'm carrying my A77.

zoom

Can i zoom in this lens?

Sharp, fast, expensive,

Pros: Sharp, silky smooth bokeh

Cons: expensive, larger, bit wide

If you have never used a prime lens before (meaning, a "fixed" lens that doesn't zoom) then you are in for a pleasant surprise. Be forewarned about the sharpness . . . If you are taking pictures of people, this lens is unyielding in its sharpness and may well surprise you and your subjects whose every blemish is captured. The lens has a fabulously shallow depth of field if you want to use the 1.8 aperture to blow out a background. Really. Search the web for some images made with this lens in those ranges and you will buy it. Resistance is futile. Carl Zeiss may be a bit more expensive but they didn't cut corners on the glass or build quality. It is excellent. Optically, you can't really do that much better than the f/1.8 - strong contrast, good color rendition, and very sharp even when shooting wide open but like others have mentioned in the reviews here it has some chromatic aberration/ purple fringing under harsh light transitions.. still within normal limits. I bought this lens and is the default piece of glass that I reached for when the quality of the shot "really matters." While I still think its a bit expensive and a larger than I would like. It has a quick, quiet & fluid auto-focus for video and large smooth focus ring with no markings. I would have preferred a "normal" 35mm focal length instead but the 24mm still suits me as an appropriate first "walking around lens" with Auto-Focus (to give to the girlfriend/family to take pictures etc). As to the build quality - it's built like the Rock of Gibraltar very sturdy. Comparable in size and quality as your standard zoom kit lens but just looks much better and is flat jet black. If you could only afford one lens, this should be the first one to buy even if you have to get the cheapest body. Very hard to find any wide angle decently fast glass even 3rd party legacy glass, so start with this and then maybe Minolta MD 50mm f/1.7 ($50) for more tele, then go Voigtlander Nokton 35mm F/1.4 ($650) if you want to go all out and half the size of the CZ. But definitely I would skip for now the E-Mount 50mm ($300) as it can make framing shots a bit difficult and more a secondary lens. Just my suggestion! While I still have the 16mm I cant justify taking it out unless I'm trying to sneak in my camera somewhere Im not suppose to. Thats like leaving my Ferrari in the parking garage to save gas!

A Dream Lens

Pros: Build , Capability , and Images Results !

Cons: None , in My Opinion !

Just a Wonderfrul Lens to Use , with Striking Images , and Matches the NEX Series Perfectly ! Great " Walk Around Lens " , and Low Light Images are Just Very Good ! Simple to Use , and Worth The Cost , in Just Plain Enjoyment to My Style of Photography ! R E Keay !

Excellent lens, perfect on NEX 7

Pros: Fast, Sharp, Smooth

Cons: I haven't found one yet

This is a wonderful lens, perfectly sized for Sony NEX 7. It lives up to it's Zeiss heritage showing great color, sharpness, bokeh and great handling. I know some complain of the size or cost, but show me another high speed 24 mm lens for APS cameras that is smaller or considerably cheaper. I think the lens cost is competitive with the competition, though camera prices in general have gotten quite high these past few years. Using proper technique and a good editing program like lightroom 3 or 4, this lens delivers outstanding results, probably best in class (yes, except for the $6,000 german lens). If you have high standards you won't be disappointed.

Reviewer Images: (click to see full-size image)

A beautiful and well-made all-around lens

Pros: Rich images, detailed and with character

Cons: None

This lens is exactly what I've wanted. It's a 36mm equivalent, opens at 1.8. It's the perfect walk-around lens. Sharpness? Beautiful center at f1.8, beautiful everywhere at f2.8, perfect at f4. To get the same performance with Nikon, I,d have to pay twice the price to get the 35mm f/1.4 or 24 mm f/1.4. Both vein also A LOT heavier and bigger. The Zeiss has a lot of personality. Images are very deep, with beautiful separation between front and back focus. I really love the character of this lens. Colors are also vey nice, especially the reds. Is it pricey? Yes, compared to Sony other lens with are very affordable... In itself, it's a bargain!

Excellent lens especially for low light conditions

Pros: Very fast lens, sharp!

Cons: could be faster (f=1.4 or better!)

Great lens, makes low light pics possible w/o flash which would spoil the whole atmosphere. Fits in underwater housings designed for the more familiar 18-55mm zoom.

Reviewer Images: (click to see full-size image)