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Archive 2012Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
p.1 #1Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
My primary interest is in landscape photography and Ive been dying to try out the new ZE 25mm. Being in the enviable position of working in a high end store with all the 'L's' and Zeiss range I can try things out easily before I buy.
The Canon 24mm T/S is easily the sharpest 24mm Ive used after trying all sorts of possibilities. I also have and enjoy the ZE 21mm lens. Getting sick of waiting for our ZE 25's to ship I tried today the ZF 25mm with pro adaptor.
Initial impressions, the 24mm is still the sharper of the 2. Quite noticeable in fact even with the slight advantage of focal length to the Zeiss shooting the same scene. The Zeiss does marginally have the color advantage. Reflected light off leaves look like they are slightly polarized on the Zeiss giving a nicer look. It is marginal though.
As the Zeiss's are renowned for having a different plane of focus I tried the Zeiss at varying focal points to find the sweetest spot for DOF at around f8-f11 (my preferred range). Like the 21mm and most all the Zeiss's Ive tested it is best left on infinity as the depth comes towards you with very shallow depth behind the focused point. Opposite to the Canons and my Contax 35-70.
Ill wait for the ZE before being 100% as I never really like adapters even though its a high end one. Hope the initial thoughts help some with the same lens interest.
The Canon 24mm T/S is easily the sharpest 24mm Ive used after trying all sorts of possibilities. I also have and enjoy the ZE 21mm lens. Getting sick of waiting for our ZE 25's to ship I tried today the ZF 25mm with pro adaptor.
Initial impressions, the 24mm is still the sharper of the 2. Quite noticeable in fact even with the slight advantage of focal length to the Zeiss shooting the same scene. The Zeiss does marginally have the color advantage. Reflected light off leaves look like they are slightly polarized on the Zeiss giving a nicer look. It is marginal though.
As the Zeiss's are renowned for having a different plane of focus I tried the Zeiss at varying focal points to find the sweetest spot for DOF at around f8-f11 (my preferred range). Like the 21mm and most all the Zeiss's Ive tested it is best left on infinity as the depth comes towards you with very shallow depth behind the focused point. Opposite to the Canons and my Contax 35-70.
Ill wait for the ZE before being 100% as I never really like adapters even though its a high end one. Hope the initial thoughts help some with the same lens interest.
Jan 13, 2012 at 09:46 PM
p.1 #2Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
Have any sample comparison shots you can post?
Did you find the 25/2 to have blurry edges or corners while shooting far distance even stopped down? It was the new 25/2 ZF.2 right?
Did you find the 25/2 to have blurry edges or corners while shooting far distance even stopped down? It was the new 25/2 ZF.2 right?
Jan 13, 2012 at 11:55 PM
p.1 #3Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
Excuse the subject! Canon 24 T/S http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31942281/Canon.CR2 Zeiss 25mm http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31942281/Zeiss.CR2 The corners arent too bad actually.
Jan 14, 2012 at 12:19 AM
p.1 #4Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
Looks good. Do you have any samples of objects further away with the lens focused to infinity?
Jan 14, 2012 at 12:39 AM
p.1 #5Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
The Zeiss is at infinity in this test. The Canon is on the close bushes. I found that was the focusing equivalent to get the same depth as I mentioned in original post. Zeiss nearly always have to be on infinity in my experience.
Jan 14, 2012 at 12:43 AM
p.1 #6Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
Thanks PMNZ!!
The Zeiss put in an excellent effort against what is one of the finest landscape lenses. Seeing a more consistent performance across the frame from the Canon. The fact the Zeiss put in a such a strong performance considering it does so strongly at wider apertures is remarkable. The Canon beats it's faster stable mate (24 L II) for landscape applications. Seeing more microcontrast from the Zeiss. The colours are better too as you noted.
Some are concerned about the corner performance at long distances which your test does not show (although the lens is at infinity).
The Zeiss put in an excellent effort against what is one of the finest landscape lenses. Seeing a more consistent performance across the frame from the Canon. The fact the Zeiss put in a such a strong performance considering it does so strongly at wider apertures is remarkable. The Canon beats it's faster stable mate (24 L II) for landscape applications. Seeing more microcontrast from the Zeiss. The colours are better too as you noted.
Some are concerned about the corner performance at long distances which your test does not show (although the lens is at infinity).
Jan 14, 2012 at 02:08 AM
p.1 #7Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
No problem! Not a fan of 100% crops and the like so rather just put up full raws. Ive got tomorrow off so will be putting it through its paces some more so let you know if anything else comes to light. Tested the 35 f2, 35 1.4 and 50 Macro against my wee CZ 35-70 zoom earlier in the week too. Boy was THAT interesting!
SKumar25 wrote:
Thanks PMNZ!!
The Zeiss put in an excellent effort against what is one of the finest landscape lenses. Seeing a more consistent performance across the frame from the Canon. The fact the Zeiss put in a such a strong performance considering it does so strongly at wider apertures is remarkable. The Canon beats it's faster stable mate (24 L II) for landscape applications. Seeing more microcontrast from the Zeiss. The colours are better too as you noted.
Some are concerned about the corner performance at long distances which your test does not show (although the lens is at infinity).
SKumar25 wrote:
Thanks PMNZ!!
The Zeiss put in an excellent effort against what is one of the finest landscape lenses. Seeing a more consistent performance across the frame from the Canon. The fact the Zeiss put in a such a strong performance considering it does so strongly at wider apertures is remarkable. The Canon beats it's faster stable mate (24 L II) for landscape applications. Seeing more microcontrast from the Zeiss. The colours are better too as you noted.
Some are concerned about the corner performance at long distances which your test does not show (although the lens is at infinity).
Jan 14, 2012 at 02:27 AM
p.1 #8Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
Full raws are great, only thing is the Nikon guys can't review them... too bad... 
If you get an opportunity please can you point a corner at a distant scene and share it with us.
Thanks again for sharing this.
If you get an opportunity please can you point a corner at a distant scene and share it with us.
Thanks again for sharing this.
Jan 14, 2012 at 04:54 AM
p.1 #9Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
Anemoi, the greek wind god, is tougher with Zeiss up in that corner.
Jan 14, 2012 at 11:28 AM
p.1 #10Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
SKumar25 wrote:
Full raws are great, only thing is the Nikon guys can't review them... too bad...
Huh? How do you review raws, by putting them on a CF card and putting the card in your camera?
You can also just import them into Aperture etc. 
Full raws are great, only thing is the Nikon guys can't review them... too bad...
Huh? How do you review raws, by putting them on a CF card and putting the card in your camera?
You can also just import them into Aperture etc. Jan 14, 2012 at 11:43 AM
p.1 #11Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
RustyBug, no offense, but that raw conversion quality is very low.
CaptureOne 6:
Canon:
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn242/Overflate/FM/Canon24TSE.jpg
Zeiss:
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn242/Overflate/FM/Zeiss25.jpg
CaptureOne 6:
Canon:
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn242/Overflate/FM/Canon24TSE.jpg
Zeiss:
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn242/Overflate/FM/Zeiss25.jpg
Jan 14, 2012 at 12:44 PM
p.1 #12Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
alundeb wrote:
Anemoi, the greek wind god, is tougher with Zeiss up in that corner.
+1
Love lens sharpness tests on windy trees. :P
How far away is this roof in the scene? Is at a far distance?
Anemoi, the greek wind god, is tougher with Zeiss up in that corner.
+1
Love lens sharpness tests on windy trees. :P
How far away is this roof in the scene? Is at a far distance?
Jan 14, 2012 at 12:45 PM
p.1 #13Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
alundeb wrote:
RustyBug, no offense, but that raw conversion quality is very low.
Agreed. Canon DPP shows significantly better results even with all sharpening turned off.
I find the difference in color saturation quite striking. It indeed looks as if the Zeiss had a polarizer attached. The Zeiss can't match the sharpness of the Canon though, except in the center (where the Zeiss has more 3D pop).
Btw, is that lawn covered in turds?
RustyBug, no offense, but that raw conversion quality is very low.
Agreed. Canon DPP shows significantly better results even with all sharpening turned off.
I find the difference in color saturation quite striking. It indeed looks as if the Zeiss had a polarizer attached. The Zeiss can't match the sharpness of the Canon though, except in the center (where the Zeiss has more 3D pop).
Btw, is that lawn covered in turds?
Jan 14, 2012 at 01:14 PM
p.1 #14Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
AhamB can you post your conversions so we can see that?
When I shot the new 35/1.4 in bright light it seemed to tame the highlights and render less washed out color like a polarizer compared to shots I took with my 35/2 and old C/Y 35/1.4.
Just wondering if this extra saturated color rendering in the 25 and 35/1.4 is more noticeable in bright light conditions than in low or flat light conditions? I just remember some of Lloyd Chamber's forest comparison shots between the 35/1.4 and 35/2 where there wasn't as much a difference in the color rendering between the two in those darker, flat light shots. Just wondering if the extra color saturation is more noticeable in harsh bright light conditions vs. less harsh golden hour type light and low-light?
When I shot the new 35/1.4 in bright light it seemed to tame the highlights and render less washed out color like a polarizer compared to shots I took with my 35/2 and old C/Y 35/1.4.
Just wondering if this extra saturated color rendering in the 25 and 35/1.4 is more noticeable in bright light conditions than in low or flat light conditions? I just remember some of Lloyd Chamber's forest comparison shots between the 35/1.4 and 35/2 where there wasn't as much a difference in the color rendering between the two in those darker, flat light shots. Just wondering if the extra color saturation is more noticeable in harsh bright light conditions vs. less harsh golden hour type light and low-light?
Jan 14, 2012 at 01:40 PM
p.1 #15Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
Wayne, I was already working on the conversion of the whole image without knowing you asked AhamB to do it.
The Zeiss image appears to be about 0.12 Ev darker and have about 0.3 Ev more vignetting. This was measured in the central sky and the bright wall to the right.I corrected for that in my conversion, otherwise the settings are identical.
If you prefer to view in separate tabs:
Canon
Zeiss
Canon:
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn242/Overflate/FM/Canon_all.jpg
Zeiss:
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn242/Overflate/FM/Zeiss_all.jpg
The Zeiss image appears to be about 0.12 Ev darker and have about 0.3 Ev more vignetting. This was measured in the central sky and the bright wall to the right.I corrected for that in my conversion, otherwise the settings are identical.
If you prefer to view in separate tabs:
Canon
Zeiss
Canon:
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn242/Overflate/FM/Canon_all.jpg
Zeiss:
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn242/Overflate/FM/Zeiss_all.jpg
Jan 14, 2012 at 01:59 PM
p.1 #16Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
wayne seltzer wrote:
+1
Love lens sharpness tests on windy trees. :P
It was mostly the tonal values that the vignetting was blocking up that caught my attention. Branches that are readily apparent in one vs. almost indistinguishable in the other.
No offense taken at conversion, PSP with all settings zero'd. CS3 doesn't support 5D2.
alundeb wrote
Anemoi, the greek wind god, is tougher with Zeiss up in that corner.Love lens sharpness tests on windy trees. :P
It was mostly the tonal values that the vignetting was blocking up that caught my attention. Branches that are readily apparent in one vs. almost indistinguishable in the other.
No offense taken at conversion, PSP with all settings zero'd. CS3 doesn't support 5D2.
Jan 14, 2012 at 02:16 PM
p.1 #17Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
At 100% you can see that the Zeiss is focused slightly more to the front than the Canon (best seen with all sharpening turned off). I'm kind of bit perplexed by the performance of the Zeiss -- it almost seems like everything but the clothes dryer is out of focus because of field curvature towards the camera. Or the lens just isn't sharp when pixel peeped. I wish there was focus bracketing series for the Zeiss.
The Canon is pretty much impeccable (though a bit clinical perhaps). It's almost as if the Zeiss has a kind of shallow DOF Planar look, but maybe I'm drawing too much conclusions from this one sample.
Alundeb, you're welcome to post some crops if you like. I'm going to import the files into Lightroom and see what it looks like with the better sharpening that it provides.
@Rusty: You don't have Canon DPP?
Edited on Jan 14, 2012 at 03:04 PM · View previous versions
The Canon is pretty much impeccable (though a bit clinical perhaps). It's almost as if the Zeiss has a kind of shallow DOF Planar look, but maybe I'm drawing too much conclusions from this one sample.
Alundeb, you're welcome to post some crops if you like. I'm going to import the files into Lightroom and see what it looks like with the better sharpening that it provides.
@Rusty: You don't have Canon DPP?
Edited on Jan 14, 2012 at 03:04 PM · View previous versions
Jan 14, 2012 at 02:20 PM
p.1 #18Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
Im going to take them both out today and do some near/far shots and a few more samples. Ill then print some 30 inch prints on our Chromira at work. One things pixel peeping but its nice to see a hard copy. Thats when any 3d (ish) qualities show up properly. Judging by what Ive seen from this and other shots Ive done though I think the Canon is still the king at this approximate focal range.
Jan 14, 2012 at 02:43 PM
p.1 #19Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
AhamB wrote:
At 100% you can see that the Zeiss is focused slightly more to the front than the Canon. I'm kind of bit perplexed by the performance of the Zeiss -- it almost seems like everything but the clothes dryer is out of focus because of field curvature towards the camera. Or the lens just isn't sharp when pixel peeped. I wish there was focus bracketing series for the Zeiss.
The Canon is pretty much impeccable (though a bit clinical perhaps).
Agree. Focus is a bit different. The details seen in the crops are behind the focus plane and should also in theory be less sharp for the Zeiss.
Even after correction, Zeiss has a tad more contrast and saturation. It also has more distortion.
At 100% you can see that the Zeiss is focused slightly more to the front than the Canon. I'm kind of bit perplexed by the performance of the Zeiss -- it almost seems like everything but the clothes dryer is out of focus because of field curvature towards the camera. Or the lens just isn't sharp when pixel peeped. I wish there was focus bracketing series for the Zeiss.
The Canon is pretty much impeccable (though a bit clinical perhaps).
Agree. Focus is a bit different. The details seen in the crops are behind the focus plane and should also in theory be less sharp for the Zeiss.
Even after correction, Zeiss has a tad more contrast and saturation. It also has more distortion.
Jan 14, 2012 at 02:48 PM
p.1 #20Canon 24mm T/SII vs ZE/ZF 25mm f2.0
photomadnz wrote:
One things pixel peeping but its nice to see a hard copy. Thats when any 3d (ish) qualities show up properly. Judging by what Ive seen from this and other shots Ive done though I think the Canon is still the king at this approximate focal range.
Agreed, although the pixel peeping sure revealed to me that the 24L TS-E II could hardly be better technically. Lens character is another story.
One things pixel peeping but its nice to see a hard copy. Thats when any 3d (ish) qualities show up properly. Judging by what Ive seen from this and other shots Ive done though I think the Canon is still the king at this approximate focal range.
Agreed, although the pixel peeping sure revealed to me that the 24L TS-E II could hardly be better technically. Lens character is another story.
Jan 14, 2012 at 03:03 PM