Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2/28 ZF

[koji]

This lens is a fast wide angle from Carl Zeiss, though made by Cosina.
The size is slightly larger than its brother Distagon 2.8/25 ZF, see the photo.





This lens can focus to 24cm, which is quite good. See examples near object shots
in "A fish restaurant in Tokyo" in photo gallery. Here is some more shots showing
its barrel distortion and capability against flare.

Night in Kyoto


Only lanterns in small eatery area in Kyoto


In the same place, big lantern dominates a scene


Tunnel and light


Hotel Okura in Kyoto (we just checked rooms) barrel distortion is apparent


Near focus shot


Near focus shot in a shrine


Ceiling of Kyoto station


Inside of Kyoto station front entrance


New subway path (no apparent barrel distortion, far object I guess)


Umbrellas in rainy Shibuya scramble cross load (colour wont faze)


Mural by Taro Okamoto, slight barrel distortion is visible


Subway entrance (barrel distortion in near ceiling)


I have not used this lens in Toronto yet, so my test will continue with
RAW mode, all those shots were in Camera's Jpeg output.
This lens is hard to describe whether it is a great new hollywood or not,
but so far it perfoms well. My inability to use 28mm lens well showed
in these examples, I have to get used to "28mm" lens. Well....

Some more shots are in here > http://www.pbase.com/kkawakami/carlzeiss_distagon_28mmf2_zf

[Orio]

THANK YOU very much for this report!

This lens is in my secret wish list. Yes I have the original "hollywood", but I would like to have the new one also in case one day my 5D breaks and I have to switch to a newer model, the new hollywood would not require the mirror shaving.

The lens look much different from the original Hollywood... much shorter. I guess the reason for the new glass element in the optical scheme is to shorten the lenght of the lens. Unfortunately this choice seems to have generated some barrel distortion that seems worse than in my Contax copies. I also have to say that I don't see much the "3D" effect in the pictures and that worries me more also. In other words the character of the lens seems a bit different from the original. I look forward to your Toronto shots very much. I hope that they will make me change my sensations regarding this lens.

[lahnet]

The street shot from above....WOW

[koji]

Thanks Orio, Henrik.

Using 28mm is difficult for me, you have to step closer to the subject
to see in many cases in order to make shot attractive.

@Orio
The most of street shots were at F5.6 or F8, and no near object to show
3D-ness. However there is definitely 3D-ness obtained by this lens. See

@f4

@f5.6

@f5.6


That hairstylist is our friend so I can shoot in his shop and no other customer was there!
I did shoot at F2 and F2.8 occasionally, the bokeh this lens produced is quite good.

[Orio]

These look much more appealing to me!

[LucisPictor]

Definitely a fabolous lens!
Even with the visible barrel distorsion it is a dream.

[cilinderman]

Wow great samples! I really love your country Koji!

In the last photo we can se at the left of the hair styilist, "two mysterious masked women"! Are they ninjas?

[koji]

Hi there,

In japan when people get a cold they usually wear mask in order to
avoid transmitting "cold" and protecting themselves by warming
respiratory tract by wearing the mask, it sort of works a little.

Here is male ninja in front of world famous YODOBASHI camera shop
at Shinjyuku tokyo with strange ads men carrying computers on their
head.


When we had SARS in Toronto, many people worn the mask.
So Ninja is not only in Japan, in Canada too.