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ADAM HIRSCH
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p.1 #1 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

FOCAL LENGTH ASIDE, is the IQ of the Zuiko 18 3.5 or the Zuiko 21 2 comparable to the Distgon 21 2.8? Thanks.

Adam

Jan 27, 2008 at 10:11 PM

cogitech
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p.1 #2 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

No.

They are excellent lenses, but the CZ21 is in a class of its own. Recent results over at 16-9.net have shown this to be true, once again.

If you want "L" quality at the wide end, the Zuikos can get you there. If you want to see for yourself that "L" does not mean "uLtimate", then a CZ21 will show you. Hell, most 50mm lenses have trouble keeping up with it.

Edited on Jan 27, 2008 at 10:22 PM

Jan 27, 2008 at 10:19 PM

pascal03
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p.1 #3 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

The Olympus OM 21mm f2.0 may be closer to the Distagon 21mm f2.8 than most other lenses. If you are looking for a 21mm lens, the Olympus 21mm f2 is definitely worth a shot.

The OM lenses are significantly under appreciated when big names like Zeiss or Leica are thrown in the mix. No doubt, Zeiss can be hard to beat, but the OM's are not that far behind.... unlike the Canon/Nikon/Pentax/Other OEM's which really struggle to keep up.

Jan 27, 2008 at 10:35 PM

Steve Carlton
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p.1 #4 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

Wouldn't the Nikkor 14-24mm do the job, or at $1,700 is that a different price category?

Jan 27, 2008 at 11:23 PM

cogitech
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p.1 #5 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

We've already seen that the Nikkor 14-24 is a notch below the CZ21.

Jan 27, 2008 at 11:46 PM

StevenPA
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p.1 #6 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

Not that the CZ21 is small, but the Nikon is really big and can't take filters, which makes it a non-starter for me. One of the best things about the OM lenses is their size. You can put a killer 21mm lens in your camera bag and not even know it's there.

The OM lenses have a less steep contrast curve than Zeiss lenses and therefore retain shadow detail (or highlight detail depending on how you expose) more effectively in contrast rich scenes. The Zeiss lenses beat the OM lenses in terms of micro-contrast, but that's not to say the OM lenses are slouches in this regard either. I find that they both resolve a similar amount of detail, the Zeiss winning in the corners of course.

Jan 28, 2008 at 03:15 AM

ISO1600
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p.1 #7 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

i agree with Steven on this one.

I've owned the 21/2 Zuiko, and i've used Steven's 21 Distagon (and his 21/3.5 Zuiko). They're all great lenses, but they all serve different purposes.

I think the Zuikos can make incredible photos, but to be competitive in the resolution department, you'd have to stop the Zuikos way down to 11 or so to get what the Distagon will do at 4 or 5.6...
BUT- the Zuikos have a very even pallette, so they retain details very well...

PLUS- the Zuikos are absolutely TINY compared to the Zeiss or esp the new Nikkor.

Jan 28, 2008 at 06:06 AM

ADAM HIRSCH
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p.1 #8 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

I have a Canon 17-40, now, and I am just not satisfied with its performance on my 5D-especially at the corners. Will I see a marked difference with the Zuikos 21/2, 21 3.5, 18 3.5, or do I need to move up to the Distagon 21 2.8?

Thanks,

Adam

Jan 28, 2008 at 06:48 AM

cogitech
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p.1 #9 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

You should see a marked improvement, but sample variation on both sides could make a liar out of me.

I certainly love my Zuiko 21/3.5, for the reasons mentioned by the others. but if you want to have no doubt whatsoever, CZ21 will do it.

Edited on Jan 28, 2008 at 07:54 AM

Jan 28, 2008 at 07:54 AM

httivals
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p.1 #10 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

Cogitech's point is a good one -- my 17-40mm beats the version of the Oly 21mm f3.5 I tried, which was a good one too. The Oly 21mm f3.5 has a lot of CA. The 17-40mm has less so, and it is almost perfectly corrected for by DXO Optics Pro (or possibly the latest version of DPP). The Oly 18mm f3.5 I had, had CA in the extreme corners too -- again almost perfectly corrected for by DXO Optics Pro with the 17-40mm. I agree that the Olys are very nice lenses, and tiny, but in the digital age when dust is a big issue if you want to change lenses on site, I find a good (or perhaps mine is a great) copy of the 17-40mm is much more valuable in the field than good copies of the Olys. . . . It's the same reason why I'd prefer the Nikon 14-24mm to having The Canon 14mm L II and the Distagon 21mm -- in the field I'd like to be able to switch focal lengths without changing lenses. . . The Olys were nice for having lower contrast, and thus holding better highlight and shadow detail.

Jan 28, 2008 at 11:44 AM

Andi Dietrich
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p.1 #11 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

Sometimes I wonder about this also. old.photodo.com rates the 21mm zuiko quite low, though lots of user are happy with the lens. I stick with zeiss, not only for performance reason, I also love the mechanical quality.

There are also some great Canon lens designs, however I am reluctant to buy more of them because many Canon lenses suffer from production problems.

Jan 28, 2008 at 11:07 PM

cogitech
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p.1 #12 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

It seems to be some sort of error in the testing, because I have seen other tests that contradict this data. For instance:

http://members.aol.com/olympusom/lenstests/default.htm

Jan 29, 2008 at 03:14 PM

brainiac
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p.1 #13 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

Previous tests show the Oly 21's to be very nearly as good as the Zeiss, especially the f2. However, that was on 5D or 1Ds2. Now the 1Ds3 is here, the Zeiss may go further.

A good 17-40 is a very very good lens, especially if you don't obsess about the corners, and especially considering the price. I was quite whelmed by the results I got from one. I sold it as I also have a 16-35 mk2 which is slightly better.

Jan 29, 2008 at 09:34 PM

theophilus
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p.1 #14 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

Also keep in mind that the Oly 21/3.5's CA is not uniform across the frame, it is more pronounced in the corners and therefore a pain in the butt to get rid of. At least my copy is like this.

Jan 29, 2008 at 09:56 PM

cogitech
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p.1 #15 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

theophilus wrote:
Also keep in mind that the Oly 21/3.5's CA is not uniform across the frame, it is more pronounced in the corners and therefore a pain in the butt to get rid of. At least my copy is like this.

Mine too. Sometimes it is a non-issue, but I have had images that are next to impossible to correct.

Jan 29, 2008 at 10:07 PM

jaetie
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p.1 #16 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

sorry for digging this up.

but from what i've read, it seems that the main advantage that the zuikos give over Ls are their size. i mean afterall, none of the wide angle zuikos are faster than f/2.8, require to be stopped down to f/8-f/11 for optimal performance. but say if i have an excellent copy of the 16-35L II, i get all that the zuikos can offer and AF to boot.

someone correct me if i am wrong.

Oct 15, 2008 at 02:17 PM

ovredal73
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p.1 #17 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

none of the wide angle zuikos are faster than f/2.8,

The 21 is f2 as is the 24. And the 28.

Oct 15, 2008 at 02:39 PM

Tariq Gibran
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p.1 #18 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

jaetie wrote:
sorry for digging this up.

but from what i've read, it seems that the main advantage that the zuikos give over Ls are their size. i mean afterall, none of the wide angle zuikos are faster than f/2.8, require to be stopped down to f/8-f/11 for optimal performance. but say if i have an excellent copy of the 16-35L II, i get all that the zuikos can offer and AF to boot.

someone correct me if i am wrong.

You are wrong on a number of accounts. The wide angle Zuikos are available in F2 versions, even the 21mm, and a few of them get sharper into the corners than the Canons. The other advantage is size and mechanical build quality.

Oct 15, 2008 at 02:39 PM

StevenPA
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p.1 #19 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

Every dug-up thread deserves a pic.

Here's one from last weekend. 5D and OM 21/3.5 stopped down to probably f/11. Notice the corner sharpness, and what's more, overall beautiful evenness of sharpness across the frame. While I find the OM 21/3.5 to suffer in the corners on absolute infinity shots, there's no question in my mind that it beats the 17-40 at 21mm in situations when you want the lens just back from infinity because of an important, detailed foreground object. I believe this shot had me focusing the lens at around the 3m mark on the barrel. Further, compositionally, there aren't too many situations (i.e. keepers) when I want the lens racked right to infinity anyway.

Edited on Oct 15, 2008 at 04:31 PM · View previous versions

Oct 15, 2008 at 02:52 PM

bobbytan
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p.1 #20 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

I just can't wait to see how the new ZE 21 Distagon compares against the Contax-mount 21 Distagon. As long as it's better than the Nikon 14-24 I will be a very happy camper!

Oct 15, 2008 at 03:53 PM

Brambling
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p.1 #21 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

The OM zuikos handle sun induced flare much better than all the Canon L zooms I owned, fewer lens elements help considerably to reduce the flare tracks when shooting close too/across a setting sun

Oct 15, 2008 at 04:08 PM

bobbytan
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p.1 #22 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

This is a great photo for HDR.

StevenPA wrote:
Every dug-up thread deserves a pic.

Oct 15, 2008 at 05:23 PM

montespluga
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p.1 #23 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

I second httivals; the 14 - 24 beats on my 1 Ds-2 the 17-40 as well as the zuiko 21/3.5, hands down.

For interiors, it's just great, as that zoom has the big advantage of chosing the focal lenghts after the needs; jumping from 14 to 21mm, that would be a to BIG difference.

Here's one for the pixelpeepers, at 14 mm, screenshots only:

extreme lower left corner /extreme upper right corner, at 100%.

Oct 15, 2008 at 10:05 PM

ulrikft
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p.1 #24 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

Stupid question, but is this far below par for 21mm on a lens on fullframe (not a canon or nikon lens, so it is alternative, juhu)

Both crops are extreme edges (extreme corner, extreme edge mid-corner)

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Oct 15, 2008 at 10:34 PM

Tariq Gibran
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p.1 #25 · Zuiko vs Zeiss

ulrikft wrote:
Stupid question, but is this far below par for 21mm on a lens on fullframe (not a canon or nikon lens, so it is alternative, juhu)

Both crops are extreme edges (extreme corner, extreme edge mid-corner)

This image is copyrighted by the owner

That looks very good to me if its a 100% crop. What is it?

Oct 16, 2008 at 12:41 AM


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