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Carl Zeiss Sonnar 150mm f/4 CF
Carl Zeiss · 1982-2013
The Carl Zeiss Sonnar 150mm f/4 CF is widely considered one of the finest portrait lenses ever made. Equivalent to about 85mm on 35mm format, this classic Sonnar design delivers incredible sharpness even wide open with beautiful bokeh and subject separation. The simple 5/4 design minimizes aberrations.
Known for
- Portraits
- Fashion
- Headshots
- Beauty photography
Considerations
- Manual focus only
- Heavy for handheld
Optical Characteristics
Sharpness (wide)5/5
Sharpness (stopped)5/5
Contrast5/5
Flare Resistance5/5
CA Control4/5
Vignetting Control5/5
Distortion Control5/5
Bokeh: Smooth and buttery
Rendering: Classic Sonnar 3D pop
Color: Neutral with beautiful skin tones
Common Issues
- Minimal issues, very reliable
Buying Guide
Test shutter speeds. These are extremely reliable lenses with few problems.
Specifications
MountHasselblad V
Focal Length150mm
Max Aperturef/4
Min Aperturef/32
Aperture Blades5
Min Focus1.4m
Filter Size60mm
Weight640g
Optical Design
FormulaSonnar
Elements5
Groups4
CoatingZeiss T*
Pricing
£400 - £700
Typical used price
Mint: ~£850
Legendary portrait lens, excellent value
Last verified: Jan 2025Report an error