p.2 #3 · ultra wide [20-21mm] for 5D? still looking
pdmphoto wrote:
I've never seen any obvious distortion issue, and if it is there it is the easily corrected type. I noticed more distortion in the Zuiko 21/3.5. I've been around the FF alt lens forum well over five years. I know an excellent alt lens when I get one. Sure, the Nikon 14-24 might be technically better, but it can lack character, is huge/heavy - and forget about a filter. I was afraid to get it dirty or wet. The Nikon 20/4 has much better build for harsh environemnts than the Zuiko.
Paul, no one doubts your experience with the OM 21/3.5. We've talked about it before, and there are definitely things to not like about the lens. The vignetting (even at f/11 or 16) is something I think we agree is a short-coming, as is the "blue CA" (don't really know what to call it) up in the extreme corners, when there's high contrast, like back-lit branches. But for better or worse, it's my 21mm now and has been for the past couple of years. Maybe the new D21 will change that. Time will tell.
p.2 #8 · ultra wide [20-21mm] for 5D? still looking
And of course, no one doubts your experience with the Zuiko
You state exactly the issues I had with my various copies (which included MC versions, tested with a Kindai adapter). The poor extreme corner performance; flare issues, and just the overall look wasn't for me. Sharpness aside, I found the Nikon to have a more even and relaxed look about it. It is just more pleasing for me to look at across across the frame.
StevenPA wrote:
Paul, no one doubts your experience with the OM 21/3.5. We've talked about it before, and there are definitely things to not like about the lens. The vignetting (even at f/11 or 16) is something I think we agree is a short-coming, as is the "blue CA" (don't really know what to call it) up in the extreme corners, when there's high contrast, like back-lit branches. But for better or worse, it's my 21mm now and has been for the past couple of years. Maybe the new D21 will change that. Time will tell.
p.2 #9 · ultra wide [20-21mm] for 5D? still looking
I've decided to keep my Voigtlander Color-Skopar 20/3.5 SL II, at least until I can afford a Zeiss 21/2.8 ZE. Both of these lenses have moustche distortion (see examples in the first link below: ZE by SKumar25 near the bottom of page 1, and C-S by me at end of page 2). This would have to be corrected for architecture shooting, but it looks relatively easy to do using PTlens, as illustrated by Andrew Gough, at the bottom of the first page of the first link.
The Color-Skopar 20/3.5 is very small, extremely well made, and sharp as a tack on a 5D in the centre and edges. In the corners, it's acceptable but not as sharp as my 17-40L and Tokina 17/3.5 AT-X Pro. OTOH, the Color-Skopar produces beautiful colour and contrast, it's relatively immune to flare, and it consistently provides great exposure in Av mode on my 5D (and 1DII), for all apertures to f/8 or /11, which is not true for many other Alt wide and ultra-wide lenses. (The Ultron 40/2 is similar for colour, contrast and exposure, plus it's sharp all-over.) Don't get me wrong, it's not too difficult to get great exposure with all of the Alts, but many of them behave differently with respect to camera metering, as you stop down the aperture.
I have decided to go for the Zuiko 3.5.
It seems to be the most talked about 20-21 BUDGET [word used lightly]
lens and I am getting a good offering on one.
