p.14 #2 · Zeiss Distagon 2.8/15 ZE official, release in May 2012
bluetsunami wrote:
Vincent Laforet posting about the Z 25 and 15. He also posts up a very interesting comparison between the Canon 14II and the Z 15...
p.14 #8 · Zeiss Distagon 2.8/15 ZE official, release in May 2012
That's great that this is showing up now! Looking forward to see more pictures and read about impressions. I had preordered this lens, but later cancelled it since I wasn't sure and this is really expensive of course. I'll wait for some more samples and reviews first.
p.14 #9 · Zeiss Distagon 2.8/15 ZE official, release in May 2012
A few 15mm images (among Z others) and a short interview with the user here, who apparently uses Nikon's D800 series - small images so don't expect good tonal gradation:
At first I felt this one is a wider 21mm in rendering, but it sure seems to open up another dimension of creativity - for landscape use as seen here - due to the sheer quality, great small aperture performance and low distortion. The 21mm delivers great relationships between composition elements but this 15mm gives you several images in one, almost.
The guy makes sense on the whole, once you shave off the celebrity pap from the interview:
'Sometimes I think there is too much emphasis on drama and sensation in photography. My intimate landscapes are about the opposite of that.'
The soft touch, quite the antithesis of so much overdone dross we see today. Nice. Oh, and a fine shot, photoe, thank you.
p.14 #11 · Zeiss Distagon 2.8/15 ZE official, release in May 2012
Thorsten wrote:
That's great that this is showing up now! Looking forward to see more pictures and read about impressions. I had preordered this lens, but later cancelled it since I wasn't sure and this is really expensive of course. I'll wait for some more samples and reviews first.
Lloyd Chambers has already extensively reviewed it.
nixland wrote:
Waiting for the comparison with the Samyang 14mm
Cause based on this comparison, the Samyang beats the Canon 14mm II.
p.14 #12 · Zeiss Distagon 2.8/15 ZE official, release in May 2012
philip,
Thanks for the link - very nice images. I usually don't like the trees-pointing-to-the-sky images - that one is off the charts, very nicely composed and dramatic - could only be that way via 15mm or possibly 21 + pano. Wonderful lens with a new learning curve. Am I just imagining or does that look on par with the IQ of the 21?
B&H now has that lens available for pre-order - I'll need to sell something to bring one of those in & will be machining the front shade off for easier use with GND's and other 4x4-ish filters - (the filters may need to be wider than the standard 4" (100mm)) Scares the hell out of me just thinking about it. I would fabricate or have someone professionally fabricate another slip-on tulip shade to use with it.
With the 95mm ring you can hand hold a 4x6 (100x150) GND without vignette - IF - the shade is removed. The Lee Foundation holders do not have a 95mm wide angle adapter ring - would need to go to a custom holder to not vignette on 15mm with a 95 ring.
p.14 #13 · Zeiss Distagon 2.8/15 ZE official, release in May 2012
mMontag wrote:
B&H now has that lens available for pre-order - I'll need to sell something to bring one of those in & will be machining the front shade off for easier use with GND's and other 4x4-ish filters - (the filters may need to be wider than the standard 4" (100mm)) Scares the hell out of me just thinking about it. I would fabricate or have someone professionally fabricate another slip-on tulip shade to use with it.
I think there will come good solutions available on the market for GND's with this lens (at least I hope so).
p.14 #14 · Zeiss Distagon 2.8/15 ZE official, release in May 2012
mM, I have done a fair bit of looking around and I think it will be very like a wide 21mm, but with something of a dual role. To explain, a lot of Canon users really like the 17mm TS lens, something which would not be lost on CZ in the design stage of this one, given Canon's market share .
They got the 15mm to deliver great MTF at f11 - really good in fact, pretty much straight lines into the very corners. Apart from tech-heads, amny experienced shooters are like this guy I linked to, and do not worry unduly about f11 diffraction. At 15mm it's almost endless DOF. Also, they are actually revising CoC data to better reflect higher res DSLRs' capabilities.
The other role is of course the f2.8-f4 performance, featuring great centre imaging. I am selling some stuff too...I am not sure I can pass it up, I have yet to see a poor image out of it, even cliche radial tree shots.
They clearly intended for screw in filters only, but like the wise mr guy I am sure market demand will look after you in a short period of time for the external filter kits.
p.14 #15 · Zeiss Distagon 2.8/15 ZE official, release in May 2012
I really wish someone will test it against the 17/4 TS. Wider, faster, can take filters but can't move. All this for double the price. That should be interesting.
p.14 #16 · Zeiss Distagon 2.8/15 ZE official, release in May 2012
BH has the CZ 15mm at $2950 for pre-order, and the Canon at $2500 less some 'instant discount' of $150.
You can add: heavier, more complex, knobs on most sides, hinging body, front element looking for damage/rain/dust to happen, it looks to be about an inch in the breeze...and not a Zeiss, so Canon rendering - a quite different look. I also doubt Canon will be checking every single lens for MTF, which CZ are doing for the first batch. $450-$600 won't sway many buyers, I feel, unless they are dedicated TS users.
They are quite different lenses, the TSE lenses really are tripod landscape/ architecture lenses, just like 4x5, but needing LV and/or focus zoom. TS lenses bring issues of metering also, and require quite some time to get used to. I agree with Lloyd Chambers who feels that while the Canon TS lenses are terrific, for high impact general photography, he much prefers the 21mm.
This one will be similar in comparison to the wider TSE, much more versatile and quicker in usage. 95mm UV filters are fairly reasonable in price also, and it comes with a solid and very protective metal lens cap in addition to the hood - great for travel.
p.14 #17 · Zeiss Distagon 2.8/15 ZE official, release in May 2012
I am on the fence about this lens, having both the 17mm TSE and 21mm Distagon. I use both lens equally. I have been debating about picking up the Zeiss 15mm since it was announced. I really want to compare the 17tse and the zeiss 15. Not sure if that will happen or not, I would also really like to see the two compared.
p.14 #19 · Zeiss Distagon 2.8/15 ZE official, release in May 2012
Ouch, end of August? I pre-ordered a ZE near the end of March, already bummed about the delay to the end of the month/early next. But August....wow. I hope the Canon shooters eyeing the D800 keep demand for the ZE lower. :-)
p.14 #20 · Zeiss Distagon 2.8/15 ZE official, release in May 2012
They probably figured on a small uptake, very few even know of its existence. I'm happy they are taking their time, it is an important lens for them.
Lost in Japan, this site will include the 15mm when they get to it, but here is a interesting comparo (usual caveats apply) between the 17mm TS and 21mm Zeiss, the 15mm will be similar, going on its MTF:
