No single lens is right for every photographer, or every situation. This is a corollary of the truism that the craft of photography is a craft of trade-offs. The impeccably made and optically superb Zeiss Otus 1.4/55 is a manual focus prime lens.

Designed with the highest performance in mind, the Otus range is expensive, bulky and heavy. But, billed as “The best standard lens in the world” on the Zeiss website, let's see how this 55mm f/1.4 stands up to this brave and unequivocal claim, and especially if the price tag can be justified for a...

The Zeiss Otus APO Distagon T* 55mm f/1.4 ZF (Nikon) and ZE (Canon) large-aperture, full-frame normal lenses are the largest and among the most expensive lenses in its class. While the $3,999 street price induces sticker shock, it calmed us to recall that it still costs several hundred dollars less...

Before we get started a bit of background. I purchased the Otus 55mm because I was looking for 50mm focal length that would give me results similar to my Zeiss Macro Planar 100mm (I LOVE the Zeiss 100mm Macro Planar - it truly can not be beat). I also own the Nikon 50mm f1.4, and the Sigma Art 50mm.

Just bought this lens. It's large for a 50mm, but it's lighter and smaller than a 85mm f1.2. Every time I use this lens I expect f1.2 bokeh and DOF but I only have f1.4. In that sense it's nothing special, it comes no where near the mystical quality of f0.95. And it does suffer from vignetting.

Most common complaints: 1. Manual focus is a deal breaker and makes this lens unpractical. Answer: a typical AF lens with MF option has a quarter turn focus rotation while this Otus has somewhere close to 320 degree focus rotation.

Just got the Otus 55.Optical quality is excellent.Sharpness is so much better than my L glass.Contrast and color is superb.A little expensive though but mates very well with my Canon 5DsR.Took a few shots of a group of 6 at f3.2 and all are exceptionally sharp -even a little off the plane of...

This is an opinion and not a review. I would never spend over $3000 on a lens that is so large and heavy for one focal length, regardless of performance. The lack of autofocus also kills it for me.

I can't reproduce the early release sample quality in the corners. Perhaps I got a poor lens, but there is no way this is the same lens in the early public tests.

phenomenal lens but only for CANON users - for nikon cameras unusable because of failing focus system

The best lens available. The photos are crisp and extremely clear. AF is absent but absolutely not a problem. Definite one to have in your bag.

Bought this lens off of eBay and owned it for last two months. As you can see everyone who used this is best in its class, sharpness, contrast, micro contrast, wide open sharpness is great and exceeds any other expensive Nikon lens.

I have the otus 85 and now the otus 55. I agree with the other reviews. It is not a lens for tourists. This is a serious lens that requires thinking and preparing for the shot. If you invest the effort to get a great photo, this lens will not disappoint you.