D3S with ZEISS MAKRO PLANAR F2.0 100MM Sample Photo 509147 By reds

Two thumbs up.

Interesting that it scores so highly - I didn't read the dxo reviews, but in my experience with it, - it's much more versatile than just a makro lens.

I don't buy this 'a lens can be too sharp for portraits' thing often quoted. (Although I do use softer lenses too).

You can't beat this lens for getting up close - love it :)

Great image with wonderful colour rendition and skin tones. It is interesting that this lens has one of the highest DxO Mark's of all the Zeiss ZF offerings tested to date. The Zeiss Distagon T 21mm f/2.8 ZE/Canon EOS 5D Mk.II combination that I use only has an average DxO Mark, which surprises me, but then again, the figures quoted are for an Aperture of f/2.8. The DxO Mark scoring system for one or two of the Canon EF lenses that I already own E.G. the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM, are very high and fit the IQ that I know I can expect to get when in combination with the 5D Mk.II. See: (you will have to Copy and Paste the link for it to work)

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Lens-with-Camera/All-tested-lenses/Carl-Zeiss/Carl-Zeiss-Macro-Planar-2-100mm-ZF2-Nikon

DxO Mark is one of the few sites that I know of that offer a quantitative assessment of lenses and camera body combinations. As such, it is an important source of information VS purely subjective assessments that are on offer from other sources, many of which may be biased in favour of one Manufacteur or other.

Steve