Quick answer
The Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4 in Canon EF mount, a manual-focus normal lens with electronic aperture control. It takes 58mm filters and focuses as close as 0.45 m.
Pros
- f/1.4
- Electronic contacts for aperture and exposure control
- Sharp optics
- 58mm filters
Cons
- Manual focus only
- Focus accuracy is critical at f/1.4
Verdict
A classic manual-focus normal for Canon EF bodies, strong in image quality but demanding to focus accurately.
About this lens
Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 ZE: a fast standard prime lens with a 50mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/1.4, made for Canon EF mount cameras. The natural field of view suits street, documentary and everyday photography.
Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 ZE specifications
- Brand
- Zeiss
- Mount
- Canon EF
- Focal length
- 50mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/1.4
- Lens type
- Prime
- Format coverage
- full-frame
- Optical construction
- 7 elements in 6 groups
- Autofocus motor
- none
- Minimum focus distance
- 0.45 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.15x
- Filter thread
- 58 mm
- Weight
- 380 g
- Length
- 48 mm
- Diameter
- 71 mm
Specification source: zeiss.com
What can you shoot with the Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 ZE?
- Portraits
- Low-light work
- Photographers who like manual focus
Its very wide maximum aperture suits low light and shallow depth of field with strong background blur.
Full-frame equivalent and field of view
Calculated from the focal length and crop factor. Not measured.
| Sensor | Crop | Equivalent | Horizontal FOV | Diagonal FOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 1.0x | 50mm | 39.6° | 46.8° |
| APS-C | 1.6x | 80mm | 25.4° | 30.3° |
Frequently asked questions
What does ZE mean in Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4 ZE?
ZE denotes the Canon EF-mount version, which has electronic contacts so the camera can control the aperture and receive lens data.
Is the Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4 ZE autofocus?
No. It is manual focus only, but Canon bodies can give a focus-confirm light in the viewfinder.
What filter size does it use?
It uses a 58mm thread. If your other lenses use a different size, step-up rings let you share filters.
Alternatives for Canon EF from other brands
All Canon EF lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
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