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Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Carl Zeiss Introduces Two Super-Fast ZEISS ZF Macro Lenses for Nikon F Mount Cameras

At f/2, the new ZEISS Makro-Planar T* 2/50 ZF and Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF are the fastest macro lenses for 35mm full-frame photography today - whether for film or digital capture. The two new lenses focus manually from infinity to 1/2-life size, capturing an object field of approximately 50x70mm at the close-focus limit. All of the ZEISS ZF lenses feature precision metal mechanics, providing the photographer with a durable, reliable tool of lasting value.

A ‘floating element’ optical system enables the Makro-Planar T* 2/50 ZF to deliver very high image quality over the entire focusing range. The Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF goes several steps further by employing an optical design originally developed for the ARRI/ZEISS Master Prime T* 1.2/100 - an ultra-high performance lens for big budget feature films. Thus, the Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF lens offers an optical performance never before available for still photography, especially at wide-open apertures and in macro applications. This lens allows photographers to use selective focus on important details with unprecedented clarity, effectively isolating the subject from distracting surroundings. This is a common technique used by Directors of Photography in the Cine industry to direct the viewer’s attention and create what admirers call the ‘film look’.

In addition to professional and general-purpose photography, the two new Makro-Planar ZF lenses were also designed for use in a broad variety of industrial, scientific, space applications, machine vision, robotics, instrumentation, documentation and surveillance applications.

The new Makro-Planar lenses are scheduled for shipment during Q1 2007 and join the ZEISS ZF family of manual focus, precision lenses for the Nikon F-mount and featuring full Nikon AI-S compatibility. The ZEISS ZF range now includes 6 different lens types with focal lengths ranging from 25mm to 100mm.

The suggested list price will be:

• Makro-Planar T* 2/50 ZF: $1,124 USD
• Makro-Planar T* 2/100 ZF: $1,749 USD