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Zeiss Distagon T* 2.8/25 ZF - some shots
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:44 pm    Post subject: Zeiss Distagon T* 2.8/25 ZF - some shots Reply with quote

Mounted to a Nikon D100...


...to a Canon EOS 40D...


...to a Nikon EM...


...and to a Canon EOS 50e.

When you buy a lens today, you often get decent glas in a plastic body which is durable but not very "elegant".
Zeiss has gone another way: they put new lenses on the market without AF but with a great built and gorgeous looks.


One of these lenses is the Distagon T* 2.8/25 ZF .

The amazing first impression is confirmed by a fantastic handling, a velvety focus ring and a precise internal mechanism. Using this lens is a pleasure. I sometimes was just playing around with it without even having it on a cam!
It might be that some pros miss the waterproofing of some Canon L lenses, but that's not what you buy a Zeiss for. It's not a "Jeep", it's a de-luxe sedan.

Performance:
A lens would be a bad one if was only beautiful. A lens also needs to perform well, esp. when this lens bears the name "Zeiss".
The traditionally warm setup of Zeiss lenses can be found in this Distagon as well, but not to an unpleasant extent. The colours which are produced are almost neutral with a slight warm touch - very nice and subjectively enrichening colour density.
The coating seems to be excellent. The lens needs to be needled to show lens flares at all. The exactly fitting hood also helps.
Bokeh is very nice, too, esp. if we consider that we are talking about a superwide lens.

This Distagon 2.8/25 offers a fantastic performance and can be used wide open without any restrictions. There are some CAs visible in the corners at 100% but these can be removed pretty easily with the right software.
Other aberrations are simply not visible outside the lab.

Sharpness lives up to its legend. I constantly had the impression that the lens resolves higher than any film or sensor I used it with. Distorsion control is also amazing - remember we are talking wide here!

On a fullframe digital or a 35mm film cam this lens is overwhelming, on a crop sensor it might generate a "problem": with an equivalent of 38 to 40mm it is neither fish nor fowl. But then, exactly this uncommon angle can create new challenges for the photographer. And if you can accept this dare with such a high-level lens in your hands, it pehaps makes you experiece the genuine photographic excitement again!

A definite recommendation!



From left: Tamron 2.5/24 BBAR MC 01B - Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2.8/25 ZF - Nikkor-N.C Auto 2.8/24

Pics hosted @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucispictor-photo/sets/72157604356346927/

Last edited by LucisPictor on Tue Feb 10, 2009 6:06 pm; edited 5 times in total


PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
It looks new. Its also a nice looking lense. I like lenses with some heft to them, this looks like it does. If it works as good as it looks you have a winner. Did the hood come with it?


PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 2:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Schnauzer wrote:
It looks new. Its also a nice looking lense. I like lenses with some heft to them, this looks like it does. If it works as good as it looks you have a winner. Did the hood come with it?


Yes.


PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 2:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I guess I wasn't thinking. You bought a new Zeiss. Wow!!!!


PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Schnauzer wrote:
I guess I wasn't thinking. You bought a new Zeiss. Wow!!!!

It's another test lens from Zeiss, unfortunately not mine. Sad

Keith G wrote:
How would you sum it up - OK at least, I would presume??

Report added. Wink


PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Carsten, you are very lucky to have the chance to test all these lenses! I am really curious about the performance because I read that Zeiss has furtherly improved over the already excellent Contax incarnation of this lens.

I seem to remember you were going to review the Distagon 18 also??


PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Any image samples?


PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Orio wrote:
Any image samples?


Of course. But I need some more time and I need to have the film processed. Wink

Orio wrote:
I seem to remember you were going to review the Distagon 18 also??


http://forum.mflenses.com/zeiss-distagon-t-3-5-18-zf-a-short-report-t14511.html


PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Before you can see his samples, endure these not so good samples for a while. Very Happy
Some samples shots by Distagon 2.8/25 ZF mostly chosen fresh, ie. not from my HP page.

with FM2n + Fuji Reala in Japan
Battle ship Yamato's anchor (I think it was a spare.)

at frea market


with F6 + Fuji RDPIII




with 5D
Zeiss colour!


bottom part trimmed, very sharp

less ghost resistance than Distagon 2/35ZF


Corner looks soft due to field curvature, this is @f11


with D700
very close object less than 20cm

distortion is hardly noticeable


Last edited by koji on Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:25 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Shocked Pretty amazing!!


PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
A few more.

Horse-chestnut tree flower

? (it is not a purple sand cherry tree)

Petals from crab-apple tree

home made mango pudding (I like food shot!)

Apple tree flower (nice colour)

without our family dog, test wont finish Very Happy


All were shot with 5D.


PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Truely amazing shots using an amazing lens! Some Zeiss guy told me that the 25mm is the best of the series...


PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi Klaus,

Are you saying this Distagon 2.8/25mm ZF or Biogon 2.8/25mm ZM?

The later one is indeed a super lens IMHO, though my opinion does not count much. Very Happy
But pictures tell me.


PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
kds315* wrote:
Truely amazing shots using an amazing lens! Some Zeiss guy told me that the 25mm is the best of the series...

Thats interesting. Because I have this lens and I was told by some people, that 28/2.8 is better and the best one of this serie is 35/2... I'd like to believe to everybody, but these statemens are contradictory Confused


PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks very much, koji, for these great shots!
The church is truely amazing!

The 25 the best of the bunch?
So far I think the Planar 1.4/85 is better. Well... I have to see some more shots with the Distagon.


PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
No, Carsten I meant that Biogon 2.8/25mm ZM lens is a superb lens.

Of course Distagon 2.8/25 ZF is a nice lens too, among ZF's
Makro-Planars are so far the best bunch I think. But I like
Distagon 2/35ZF very much, though I have not used 18 and 28mm ZFs.

If lucky I can get a Distagon 2.8/21 ZF next month in Tokyo,
if not I will get Distagon 2/28 ZF instead. But my personal pick
will be Distagon 4/18 ZM lens for my rangefinder cameras.
However I am more and more using normal range lenses these days,
so I am content with not so wide lens.

And a few more...all shot by D700

Vertical shot Smile

Close range ability is its strength

Many chiefs & few indians Very Happy

Fire engine (I did not know "fire" is a mirror image until I shot this, your car's back-mirror can read right!)


PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Koji, your lens collection is simply overwhelming!!


PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Carsten, my photo skill is still underwhelming thou. Confused Very Happy


PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
If I could change anything on Distagon T* 25/2.8, it would be:

1. lower CA (at the expense of central resolution if necessary)
2. better accessible aperture ring
3. A/M switch which would doesn't go so easy (you can switch it accidentally)


PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Some shots from today. Finally, after some weeks of bad weather, there was sun!


Very nice for landscapes!


Not bad for cloes-ups either. Wink


Distorsion control is pretty good for a 25mm lens.

And then I tried to provoke some flares. That was not easy!

No!


Ah, yes! There is one. Wink


PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Very nice both Carsten and Koji.
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