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Zeiss 85mmf1.4 Comparison of three variations

Not being familiar with the Minolta Maxxum/Dynax system, what is the best full-frame camera for the Zeiss (for Sony) ZA 85 and 135mm lenses? I think I will want to try this. Does anyone have experience with the Maxxum/Dynax 9? It appears rarely at the auction site and is no longer stocked by dealers.
The ZF Planar is coming with me on a trip to the old continent with my F6. I may change the screen on it to the microprism split type since I'd like to use more manual focus lenses. Is that worthwhile or is the focus indicator light sufficient? I can hardly wait to see what other ZF lenses will appear this fall!
Thanks for the comments above.
 
Chi,

Concerning bokeh quality you have desribed the optical background very well. What about the mechanics, like position of the aperture inside the lens and the number of aperture blades. As far as I know both facts have a major influence on the quality of the lens bokeh.

For ex&le Zeiss (and some others) are advertising it's new aperture design with 7 or even 9 aperture blades for beautiful bokeh instead of only having 5 or 6 in the "old" C/Y lenses.

Which fact has the major influence? In which way both facts are related?
 
Number of aperture blades affects the shape of bokeh when aperture is closed but not wide open.

Bad bokeh is bad bokeh no matter how many aperture blades there are.

Beware of Zeiss commercial gimmicks.

Although C-Y 85 1.2 and ZA 85 1.4 have the same numder of elements, they have different filter rings, different f nos, different minimal focal distance, different weight and different prices. These two are very different. Sony has published lots of commercial advert. on this lens but Zeiss has not published its MTF graph.

I am quite pleased that ZA 85 1.4 has a different minimal focal distance from ZF 85 1.4, it implies that they are different as well. Zeiss really work hard to make their lenses as diverse as possible. Zeiss likes to keep every system unique.
 
@ CHRISTOPHER

The most modern Minolta camera would be the pro model Dynax/Maxxum 9. But it is big and bulky on photos I have seen. I have never used it though, so I can not comment on AF speed etc.

The former pro model was the Dynax/Maxxum 9xi. Small, light, AF good for that time (but not as fast as nowadays the standard).

It depends on what you want to do withit. The cheapest aleternative would be a used 9xi or 800si. The 800si has a very powerful flash integrated. AF speed slightly faster tehn the 9xi, but not "pro" model.

Both cost on ebay Germany around 200 Euro. Maxxum 9 I do not know.

But be aware, that the pro models do not feel like Contax bodies
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They are not bad, but with a Contax benchmark, you have to make some compromise there
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