zeiss 20/2.8 vs zeiss 20/4.0 vs yashica ml 21/2.8--opinions!

[rbelyell]

hi all

i have narrowed my search for ultra w/a to the above, all about the same price, for use on my 5d. it would be great to get members opinions on which has best iq--for me that means sharpness/contrast/color in that order.

i dont have any of these, but i do have a yashica ml 24/2.8 and really like the iq, so comparisons to that lens would be particularly meaningful to me.

thanks so much!
tony

[rbelyell]

really? our members have NO opinion on this at all? i cant believe that, we have opinions on everything!

[ManualFocus-G]

I picked up a Nikon 20/4 Ai for about £120.00 last year and it was sharper across the board than my Flek 20/2.8. But then Fleks seem to have some issues with de-centering Anyway, I sold the Flek and kept the Nikon which is a nice little lens

[Attila]

Andy F16Sunshine have Yashica ML 21mm f2.8 + a selected excellent Flektogon 20mm f2.8 MC from me. He able to answer to you. I never had Yashica ML 21mm. I agree ML 24mm is a very good lens.

Flektogon 20mm f4 is a perfect very sharp lens around F8-F11 and not bad wide open too.

20mm f2.8 either can be stunning and good one.

[rbelyell]

i knew there were some opinions to be had! thanis guys!

graham do yu use the nikon in the 5d? any issues with that arrangement?

i am also wondering if i really gain anything over the ml 24mm--maybe i shuld just be happy with that and forget the 21???

[jjphoto]

Is there such a thing as an ML 21/2.8?

[Attila]

I never heard ML21mm f2.8 .

If need fast wide and you have enough money Olympus OM 21mm f2 is way to go. That is an awesome lens , small fast , sharp etc, etc.


I prefer Nikon 20mm f2.8 AIS over Jena lenses and Olympus OM 21mm f3.5 too.

[hexi]

Hi here

I lately had a 20mm Flektogon, i planned a 35mm, but this wasn't wide enough : ) i also have a 5D.

So far ia haven't done serious tests with this lens, but i can say that the color rendition is pretty accurate, and there's no distorsion. I paid for it about 300€, it's in perfect shape and had been CLA before sell. I am pretty happy !

one thing is very funny, the lens seems huuuge on pix, due to it's large front lens of 70mm wide, but in fact it's normal

and the bonus is min focusing @ 19cm ! perfect for portraits

[ManualFocus-G]

Tony, it works great on the 5D ( edit: just remembered I had to remove a small part of the mount, but it was easy with a small screwdriver and totally reversible) and I'm looking forward to taking it to the States this year for shots in New York, SF, Monterey and Yosemite

I haven't properly organised all my shots yet, but here's a snap wide open in horrible midday light:



100% crop:



No pp, sharpening or otherwise. I think the Flek was a little bit better in the centre but horrible in the corners.

[rbelyell]

attila: i dont think i can fit om lenses to my 5d, though i could be wrong...

it seems most seem to think the nikon outperforms any of my choices! perhaps i should reevaluate....
thanks!

[ManualFocus-G]

OM lenses work fine on a 5D I had the 28/2 and 85/2 previously, both were brilliant! I also had a 300/4.5 and still have the 50/1.8

The Nikon is staying though! There were faster versions made after my one e.g. 20/3.5 and 20/2.8. I was a bit concerned about taking part of the rear off, in case of exposure to dust, but all seems well

[BenediktW]

I can support the Nikkor 20mm F4. It is amazingly sharp and has very good colours. My copy seems to be a bit sharper than the sample we saw.

[ManualFocus-G]

Wow if yours is sharper than that at f4, you must have a great copy! It's a tiny lens too

[aoleg]

I used Nikkor 20/3.5 AI and 20/2.8 AIS on 5D2. The f/3.5 version has smaller front element and handles flare better, but has heavy vignetting that doesn't really go away on full-frame digital no matter how many steps it's stopped down. Corner performance also leaves to be desired. The f/2.8 version has visibly sharper corners at all apertures, but flares more easily and takes 62mm filters. In the end, I sold the f/3.5 version and kept the newer 20/2.8. It's a nice all around performer often available for $320-340.

On a budget, there's always Arsat-H 20/2.8: http://www.prime35.com/arsat-h-20mm-f-2-8/

[eggboy]

[F16SUNSHINE]

I did purchase yours Eugene and like you sold it before the boom

I did a big test with 21's a while back.
The winner in my opinion was the Zuiko f2/21 for overall performnce and usability.
The Zeiss Distagon f2.8/21 had more depth and 3D open but the zuiko caught up at f4.
The Zuiko is 1/3 the size of the Zeiss (contax) lens and has 1 extra usable stop (although it flares a bit if you are not careful).

So the lenses you asked about. The ML f3.5 and Flek f2.8 .
Both in the middle of the pack. The flek had warmer colors/contrast the ML sharper rendering/details.

The best value in a 21mm has still got to be the super tiny zuiko f3.5/21mm (usually under $400).
At f5.6 and mid to infinity distances it is as good as the Zuiko f2/21 and Distagon.

If you want to focus close the Zuiko f2/21 and Contax Distagon f2.8 have a floating element design that make them clear winners on paper as well as in shoots.
Non Floating element wides will (and did) show un-even character outside of center at near distances as well as emphasized distortion.

[hexi]

First tests with the Flektogon gave this pic. I am pretty happy about color rendition, pic has only some blacks added in Lightroom. This is @ f11.