Keith Anderson , Mar 15, 2008; 11:12 p.m.
I know this has been asked in a few different flavors before but I'm not totally
clear from the previous posts about these two types of lenses. I'm asking
because I'm considering purchasing a 50mm CF FLE lens. I have looked up the
differences between the CFi FLE and CF FLE lenses and can't tell for sure if
there is a performance difference between them (in terms of optics and/or image
quality) or if it's merely a difference in how they're constructed. For sure I
can tell by looking at them they're different in barrel design and I can read
other posts saying the CFi series introduces plastic components in the lens.
Can anyone confirm this? Thanks in advance!
Remi Lemarchand , Mar 15, 2008; 11:28 p.m.
It's exactly the same formula, so the differences are purely CF vs CFi. The older 50 CF (not FLE) is the same as the 50 C T* and that is a different formula all together.
You can check on Zeiss's website for more info.
Ronald Moravec , Mar 15, 2008; 11:58 p.m.
CFI and CB lenses have the more durable shutter spring.
Edward Ingold 
, Mar 16, 2008; 12:20 a.m.
I understand that the new shutter spring can be installed in a CF lens. Hasselblad replaces the main spring as part of a factory-authorized CLA.
Keith Anderson , Mar 16, 2008; 12:25 a.m.
Edward/Ronald,
Does that mean I'm correct that optically they're essentially the same? While I appreciate Remi's reply that the CF/CFi are the "same equation" It's hard to know what he means specifically. The info on the spring and the authorized CLA and spring replacement is quite helpful.
Thanks!
Erick Boileau 
, Mar 16, 2008; 02:12 a.m.
I am interrested too ?
and also if they work fine on H system with CF adapter ?
kerkko kehravuo , Mar 16, 2008; 04:08 a.m.
CFi is much more comfortable to focus, it can affect also to the amount of sharp shots. Lock of synch cable is pretty convinient too. There are other changes also, like 60 vs. 70 filter size of 50 mm CF vs. CFi lens that gives more shift when used with Flexbody. And CFi's are younger too. They both are good, but buying CFi instead of CF could make sense.
Kerkko K.
Q.G. de Bakker 
, Mar 16, 2008; 05:16 a.m.
Keith,
Yes, the CF FLE and CFi FLE indeed are optically the same. The improvements that put the "i" in CFi are in the ergonomics and the materials used.
That last bit should make them last longer, but do not let that scare you away from CF lenses: they too keep going for ages and ages.
Yet, as Kerkko said, the easier focussing, larger filter mount (the CF lens cannot be used with stacked filters without a real danger of the stack causing vignetting) and better flash cable terminal do make the CFi a preferred choice, if funds permit.
Dave Wilson 
, Mar 16, 2008; 01:34 p.m.
I have all CF and they are superb. The Cfi 50 is wickedly good. However there is some improvement in the light damping in the newer ones. There was a display of this on the Zeiss website when the Cfi first came out, but I don't know if it applied to the wide as much as the 150 and 180?
Desmond Kidman 
, Mar 17, 2008; 07:10 a.m.
Under some conditions you can see the slightly better light control of the CFi. It's nothing I'd worry much about, but it is a difference.
When you look into the same lenses, one CF and one CFi right next to each other, at an angle it is clear to see that the CFi has less reflection from the inner barrel.
For me, much more important would be the difference between the best lenses and the "not so best". The difference between the 100 and 80 is far bigger than the difference between CF and CFi of the same model lens. Same for the 250 SA vs. standard 250, and the floating element 50 vs. earlier non-floating design.
