jcolwell
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 p.1 #2 · Carl Zeiss Distagon 35mm | |
I've been using one for a few years with a 5D. It's very nice, and better than most other 35mm lenses that I've compared it with. Here's a few sample test shots I took last week. The first photo is the full image. The second photo is a 100% crop of the top left corner for the Distagon at f/8. The last photo is the same crop for the Canon EF 24-70/2.8L, at 35mm and f/8. The Distagon is the second best of the seven lenses I compared on this day.
Based on these and other comparisons I've done, it's easy for me to say that my 24-70L is a lot better than my Distagon 35/2.8. OTOH, the 24-70L is a lot bigger, heavier and much more expensive. The Distagon is about equal to the Contax Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 35-70/3.4 zoom for centre performance, but the vSonnar is better in the corners (go figure, eh?). I sold my vSonnar in preference of the brighter Distagon f/2.8, but I regret it as I really only use the Distagon at f/8 or so, where the vSonnar is actually a bit better.
Here's my order of preference for the 35mm lenses and zooms at 35mm that I've actually owned and used, based primarily on IQ at f/8, for subject distances greater than three or four metres. Note that not all of them were tested and/or evaluated at the same time. The 24-70L and Distagon 35/2.8 have been there for the whole time.
Canon EF 24-70/2.8 L USM
Vario-Sonnar T* 35-70/3.4
Contax Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 35/2.8 AE
Mamiya M645 C 35/3.5 N
SMC Pentax-M 35/2
Canon EF 24-105/4L IS
Canon EF 17-40/4L
Canon EF 35/2
SMC Pentax 35/3.5
Rollei Distagon 35/2.8 HFT QBM
Voigtlander Color Skoparex 35/2.8 AR QBM
Schneider-K C-Curtagon 35/2.8
Tokina AT-X 24-200/3.5-5.6
In summary, the Zeiss Distagon 35/2.8 is an excellent lens, and it's available for a relatively excellent price. Depending on what you shoot, and what other lenses you already own, you might also want to consider the Vario-Sonnar 35-70/3.4 - it's a peach.
Edit: to add EF 35/2 (I missed it in the original list)
Edited on Nov 11, 2009 at 12:16 PM · View previous versions
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