Zeiss Milvus Distagon T* 1.4/50mm Review + Image Quality Breakdown

Want to support this channel? Use these affiliate links to shop at:

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[DustinAbbottTWI]

Sorry to everyone about my "stuffed up sick voice" in this one. I've got to keep up with my schedule...even with a cold!

[alivenesscyclingroadcyclin]

Thanks to your excellent reviews such as this one, I have fine-tuned my appreciation for lenses as a tool for producing art. And this in turn has improved my photography. Fantastic - this is how gear review should be! Wishing you a speedy recovery and sending many regards from Spain.

[walidhoyek]

i have been waiting for this video, i bought this lens like two month ago and frankly i love it, i always used canon lenses but this baby is something on another level, it feels made from heaven, it has it's own special look as if the lens had a tear drop hanging all around, i am learning a lot from this lens as how to look at people in a different way, it almost tells a story by it's texture, i have this duality loving it or fearing it, will it re-direct my own vision or add to it... this i don't know. this is the main reason for me to wait more before i buy the rest of the family, never went through this dilemma before until now !

[neilford]

Great channel Dustin, best reviews on youtube.

[SonLe-hzrh]

Hi Dustin, even though this is a 4 years old review I am still going to sent my comment here because your review goes much deeper to the characteristic, soul, rendering than just plain lab sharpness result.
I have been contemplating to pick either this guy or the MP50 f/2, but in the end with your review I picked this up. My all time favorite is the 85 1.2 L, not that the lens is perfect, but its has a very special rendering that gives it a soul, and I have a same feeling about this Milvus too. Thanks for the outstanding review, and please keep it up!

[Clint_the_Audio-Photo_Guy]

I just got my second one. I thought back and remembered that this lens was the best lens I've ever used for any length of time and wondered why I didn't have it anymore. The Black Friday promo sold me again. Can't beat that. The images this lens is capable of are just amazing. A lot of people think 50mm perspectives are boring, but when I look at my work, it turns out that most of my best shots were taken with a 50mm or a 35mm. If I could only have one lens, it would probably be this Milvus. My one wish, is for Zeiss to make a low element count 35mm f/2 lens with near APO performance, basically just update the current one with some fancy glass. I know it's a lot to ask, but I don't need all that weight in a 35mm. All these primes are getting heavy and faster than we need.

[rhodesia]

As always Justin you are a champion at reviewing any camera or lens .. you focus on the important information that is meaningful . You are correct no lens is perfect in any sense.. but these Zeiss lenses are close to perfection to what I am looking for . I have a couple and they are beautiful pieces of art in themselves on how they look and feel when you hold them . Then there is the gorgeous colour renditions especially in the mid tones and contrast . Makes post editing a breeze . Thanks again for a brilliant and honest review .

[JasonCohenphoto]

Curious about your feelings on the lens(es) now 6 years later! Thanks for the detailed review

[jamesr]

I had been slightly indecisive about which high end 50mm to get for my recent purchase of my Nikon D810. Like you, I am more about the artful rendering, than the full on resolution. I still love my older Nikon D700 because of that despite the 12mpx limit. After watching your review I am of the mind to go with Zeiss Milvus T* 1.4/50mm over the Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art. It will take some saving, but in the meantime I have my Tamron 45mm 1.8 VC. Since the last time I commented, I gave it some thought and watched again; Its a expensive lens after all. After this 2nd veiwing I noticed your shirt is same color as Zeiss logo; wonder how many caught that... he he. Great review!

[sgpork]

very high quality review as always n really nice lens!! hope you get to do sony e mount lens reviews too. in the future at least. thanks!

[vinceb.g]

I just order it today, will pray that the lens arrive safely :)

[Neopulse]

I am currently torn between owning this lens or the Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f/1.4 SL II S. This review is helping.

[EchelonDelta]

Love your in depth analysis Dustin, keep up the excellent work!

Any plans to review the Milvus 21mm?

[tomhughes]

iv had the good fortune to use zeiss lenses on my d850s and .. im blown away ..iv used zeiss binos sights etc .. these camera lenses are awesomely awesome

[Nat.ImagesLarge.F.Photographer]

Best lens, awesome in all senses, high

[williampichardo]

The Distagon name makes me think it might be built on a retrofocus wideangle formula, which implies both aa proneness to distortion AND a potentially brutal frame coverage, if it is a wide angle with 50mm it might even be able to cover 6x6

Very interesting. I have been investigating all available 50mm lenses recently and went with the Sigma Art 50mm, as well as keeping my EF 50mm F1.8, and they are both great, in different ways, but what I would really want is for Canon to update their 50mm F1.4, so that would be decently sharp wide open, modern coatings etc, but still maintain a reasonably small size and weight. That would be a lens I would by in a heartbeat, even if image quality could not reach the Sigma and this Zeiss. Still, I must admit that it seems to produce very nice pictures. As always, Dustin's reviews are top class.

[rrrrrrtt]

I enjoyed this review very much. Thanks, Dustin.

[twistedjiji]

Hey Dustin. Great video as always!

How much difference do you see between the Milvus 50mm 1.4 compared to the Otus 55mm 1.4? Is the Otus giving you 'far more' noticeable image quality over the Milvus, or are they barely or somewhat noticeable? If money was somewhat of an issue (Meaning, you have $4k, but not certain if you want to spend it all on a lens that gives you a slight edge in the Otus), which would you go for?

Thanks for any input!

[thomaseriksson]

I got the Milvus 50mmF2 Macro but I have the old Zeiss 50mmF1.4 for my secial art projects