Nikon Z5 and Zeiss ZM Biogon 35/2. An Empirical Field Test
This is an empirical field test of the Zeiss ZM T* 35/2 Biogon lens mounted on a Nikon Z5. As with all my technical tests, this one doesn’t deal with MTF, coma, fall-offs, etc., as I’d rather focus — pun intended — on the results.
Despite all the photos in this post being taken through a glass display, they still exhibit the typical ‘Zeiss look’, with its distinctive colour rendition and surgical microcontrast: the image’s ‘3D pop’ is impressive, even in demanding conditions.
This is particularly evident in this photo because it was taken and handled at a shutter speed of 1/2 second. Despite this very long exposure time, the photo was not affected by motion blur, demonstrating the effectiveness of the Z5’s IBIS. I took the same photo, under similar conditions, with a Minolta MC Rokkor-HC 35/2.8, so it is possible to compare the outcomes.
I also re-shot this photo, previously mis-taken with a Nikkor 35 AF-D F2. This time, I managed to focus exactly where I wanted to, and the result was extremely convincing.
Even though you can’t actually take a photo through a glass display, the colours are still really clear. They’re bright but well-controlled, and the details are sharp but not over-the-top. It’s like a 3D pop, not just a sharp image. This small field sample is more than enough for what it’s meant for: it’s not a set of charts, but a reality check under conditions that normally flatten a scene.
The Nikon Z5 is pretty useful too. The 1/2-second frame doesn’t have any visible motion blur, which makes IBIS pretty useful when the subject is static and the photographer’s hand is the weakest link.
As usual, this is not an argument that one lens “wins” in the abstract. It’s fair to say that the Zeiss ZM T* 35/2 Biogon on the Z5 lives up to its reputation. It’s got a great colour and microcontrast, and it can handle all the usual compromises you have to make in real-world photography.
