Zeiss Lenses for Nikon Cameras

January 19, 2006: Carl Zeiss AG of Oberkochen, Germany is about tointroduce a new range of interchangeable lenses that can be used withboth analog and digital Nikon SLR cameras.
The new ZF lensescome with the Nikon F mount and can also be used on the Sinar mprofessional digital camera, which has a 35 mm SLR module with Nikon Fmount, along with many industrial video cameras. The first ZF lens willbe the Planar T* 1,4/50 ZF (50mm f1.4), which, in its Contax RTSversion, was rated the world’s best fast standard lens by “PopularPhotography” in 1999. It will be followed by the Planar T* 1,4/85 ZF(85mm f1.4), which in its Contax RTS version became known as a greatportrait lens and story-teller. Both lenses will become availablearound the middle of 2006 and pricing is expected to be competitivewith similar items in the Nikon F-system.
Several more ZFlenses will be introduced during 2006, along with a new range of “ZS”lenses with the same optics as the ZF line but a “universal” M-42 screwmount that allows them to be fitted (via adapters) to cameras fromother manufacturers. The new lenses will be targeted at photographerswho use the latest in top-performing SLRs and place very high demandson image quality. Their focusing rings will have greater rotationangles to allow more precise focusing plus a new circular iris designto provide attractive out-of-focus highlights.
The company plansto set up a new international distribution network and will announceinformation on availability of the ZF lenses at www.zeiss.com/photo.