Zeiss Announces ZF.2 CPU Lenses For Nikon SLRs

Optics manufacturer Carl Zeiss has announced a new line of manual focus prime lenses for Nikon SLRs. The eight new Carl Zeiss ZF.2 lenses allow full automatic exposure control with compatible Nikon DSLR and 35mm SLR cameras. That means photographers who want to use the excellent Zeiss lenses will no long be restricted to using only manual exposure – aperture priority, shutter priority and program will now also work with the new Zeiss ZF.2 lenses.

Previous Zeiss lenses have not supported any auto functions. The addition of an in-lens CPU and F-mount bayonet allows the new ZF.2 lenses to communicate exposure data with compatible Nikon camera bodies. Previous Zeiss lenses could only be used in manual exposure mode. Being able to use automatic exposure modes allows photographers to concentrate more on composition and timing and less on getting the exposure right. It also means lens settings will be saved in the EXIF data from photos taken with the new Zeiss ZF.2 lenses.

Carl Zeiss ZF.2 Lens Line

Focal lengths offered in the new Carl Zeiss ZF.2 lens series are:

18mm f/3.5
21mm f/2.8
28mm f/2.0
35mm f/2.0
50mm f/1.4
50mm f/2.0
85mm f/1.4
100mm f/2.0

All but the 28mm and 100mm lenses are supposed to be available at the end of this month. The 28mm and 100mm will be available in the spring of 2010. Zeiss is also working on a 25mm f/2.8 but there’s currently no ETA on that lens. U.S. prices for the new Carl ZF.2 lenses range from $725 to $1,843.