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Archive 2015Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
p.2 #1Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Lee Saxon wrote:
Looking at the size of this vs the old 21 Distagon, I have some questions for Sony about why the mirrorless has not allowed them to make lenses smaller as promised if it has done so for Zeiss....
The length of the Loxia 21 with caps is the same as the old 21 Distagon without caps. 85 mm is still a quite long lens.
Looking at the size of this vs the old 21 Distagon, I have some questions for Sony about why the mirrorless has not allowed them to make lenses smaller as promised if it has done so for Zeiss....
The length of the Loxia 21 with caps is the same as the old 21 Distagon without caps. 85 mm is still a quite long lens.
Oct 12, 2015 at 05:35 AM
p.2 #2Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Jochenb wrote:
Exactly the lens I've been waiting for!
+1
Exactly the lens I've been waiting for!
+1
Oct 12, 2015 at 05:40 AM
p.2 #3Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Lee Saxon wrote:
This is a pretty exciting announcement. Much more exciting than the rehoused Milvus or the redesigned-to-be-ridiculous-size Milvus, in my opinion.
Absolutely. First real new Zeiss I'm interested in in a very long time.
To be honest, if you look at what they've been releasing over last few years,
it looks like a drunk guy looking for an exit door... Hits his head really hard often.
How many different product lines they launched? And how many true new designs?
Look at the "new" products and the mounts they are available for. Madness.
No Otus for the best FF camera system?
This is a pretty exciting announcement. Much more exciting than the rehoused Milvus or the redesigned-to-be-ridiculous-size Milvus, in my opinion.
Absolutely. First real new Zeiss I'm interested in in a very long time.
To be honest, if you look at what they've been releasing over last few years,
it looks like a drunk guy looking for an exit door... Hits his head really hard often.
How many different product lines they launched? And how many true new designs?
Look at the "new" products and the mounts they are available for. Madness.
No Otus for the best FF camera system?
Oct 12, 2015 at 05:42 AM
p.2 #4Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
alundeb wrote:
The length of the Loxia 21 with caps is the same as the old 21 Distagon without caps. 85 mm is still a quite long lens.
The lens is 72mm without caps. It is neither long nor shot. As a reference it is about the same length as the Sony/Zeiss 55mm f/1.8.
Lee Saxon wrote
Looking at the size of this vs the old 21 Distagon, I have some questions for Sony about why the mirrorless has not allowed them to make lenses smaller as promised if it has done so for Zeiss....The lens is 72mm without caps. It is neither long nor shot. As a reference it is about the same length as the Sony/Zeiss 55mm f/1.8.
Oct 12, 2015 at 05:42 AM
p.2 #5Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
nampramos wrote:
How would this compare to the Zeiss ZM 21/2.8?
The new Loxia 21/2.8 looks better, from the MTF graphs, that you can find at zeiss.com.
How would this compare to the Zeiss ZM 21/2.8?
The new Loxia 21/2.8 looks better, from the MTF graphs, that you can find at zeiss.com.
Oct 12, 2015 at 05:43 AM
p.2 #6Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
snowboarder wrote:
No Otus for the best FF camera system?
But the Otus is available for the best FF camera system. And for Canon, as a bonus.
No Otus for the best FF camera system?
But the Otus is available for the best FF camera system. And for Canon, as a bonus.
Oct 12, 2015 at 05:49 AM
p.2 #7Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Lee Saxon wrote:
But the Otus is available for the best FF camera system. And for Canon, as a bonus.
That's true, but you have to use adapters.....
snowboarder wrote
No Otus for the best FF camera system? That's true, but you have to use adapters.....
Oct 12, 2015 at 05:56 AM
p.2 #8Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
DavidBM wrote:
But the Otus is available for the best FF camera system. And for Canon, as a bonus.
That's true, but you have to use adapters.....
The Otus lenses are still designed with the restriction of the DSLR mirrorbox...
Lee Saxon wrote
snowboarder wrote
No Otus for the best FF camera system? The Otus lenses are still designed with the restriction of the DSLR mirrorbox...
Oct 12, 2015 at 06:03 AM
p.2 #9Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Steve Spencer wrote:
The length of the Loxia 21 with caps is the same as the old 21 Distagon without caps. 85 mm is still a quite long lens.The lens is 72mm without caps. It is neither long nor shot. As a reference it is about the same length as the Sony/Zeiss 55mm f/1.8.
Ah, thank you. It just looks long with the hood.
alundeb wrote
Lee Saxon wrote
Looking at the size of this vs the old 21 Distagon, I have some questions for Sony about why the mirrorless has not allowed them to make lenses smaller as promised if it has done so for Zeiss....Ah, thank you. It just looks long with the hood.
Oct 12, 2015 at 06:19 AM
p.2 #11Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
edwardkaraa wrote:
It actually makes the other two loxia look bad. Maybe it's time to update them with better design.
Agree, but what are the chances that will happen anytime soon?
It actually makes the other two loxia look bad. Maybe it's time to update them with better design.
Agree, but what are the chances that will happen anytime soon?
Oct 12, 2015 at 06:30 AM
p.2 #12Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
BJNY wrote:
Agree, but what are the chances that will happen anytime soon?
Zero to nil?
edwardkaraa wrote
It actually makes the other two loxia look bad. Maybe it's time to update them with better design.Zero to nil?
Oct 12, 2015 at 06:33 AM
p.2 #13Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
twoeye wrote:
Loxia 2,8/21 announced at Zeiss
Flickr samples
Glad Zeiss did not just re-use / tweak their ZM-rangefinder optical formula.
Hope they take this path for next Loxias (I'd be happy if they were 85mm, 28mm, & 40mm)
Loxia 2,8/21 announced at Zeiss
Flickr samples
Glad Zeiss did not just re-use / tweak their ZM-rangefinder optical formula.
Hope they take this path for next Loxias (I'd be happy if they were 85mm, 28mm, & 40mm)
Oct 12, 2015 at 06:36 AM
p.2 #14Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
suteetat wrote:
Wonder if it is better than CV 21/1.8 or not. 21/2.8 distagon is supposed to be really good but wonder if Loxia is basically 21/2.8 with E mount or if there is any other difference?
Just comparing the specs, the Loxia seems to be quite a different design from the ZE/ZF Distagon.
9/11 vs 13/16 design
Filter size: 52mm vs 82mm
MFD: 0.25m vs 0.22m
Weight: 394g vs 600g
I haven't used that one, but if the reviews are to be believed, the Canikon mount Distagon 21 is one of the best ZE/ZF lenses Zeiss has produced that does not carry the Otus or APO Sonnar label. If the Loxia matches that performance, it would make for an excellent addition to the growing list of UWA's available for the a7 series. Together with 16-35, the Batis and the Voigtlander primes there are/will be quite a few choices available.
Now, Sony and Zeiss only need to release a few longer (135mm+) primes and may be 1-2 faster zooms, and the most important FL's would be covered quite well.
Wonder if it is better than CV 21/1.8 or not. 21/2.8 distagon is supposed to be really good but wonder if Loxia is basically 21/2.8 with E mount or if there is any other difference?
Just comparing the specs, the Loxia seems to be quite a different design from the ZE/ZF Distagon.
9/11 vs 13/16 design
Filter size: 52mm vs 82mm
MFD: 0.25m vs 0.22m
Weight: 394g vs 600g
I haven't used that one, but if the reviews are to be believed, the Canikon mount Distagon 21 is one of the best ZE/ZF lenses Zeiss has produced that does not carry the Otus or APO Sonnar label. If the Loxia matches that performance, it would make for an excellent addition to the growing list of UWA's available for the a7 series. Together with 16-35, the Batis and the Voigtlander primes there are/will be quite a few choices available.
Now, Sony and Zeiss only need to release a few longer (135mm+) primes and may be 1-2 faster zooms, and the most important FL's would be covered quite well.
Oct 12, 2015 at 07:14 AM
p.2 #15Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
I've found the CV 21/1.8 to be average at best with my A7 II. My WATE was considerably sharper, and I'd assume the Loxia would perform even better.
Oct 12, 2015 at 07:15 AM
p.2 #16Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
The differences in design to the ZE/ZF make me think that it is going to be weaker in the corners. The Distagon design comes from a reversed tele with a corrective glass, and the corners tend to suffer. The ZE/ZF is awfully special in terms of corner sharpness for a Distagon. The reduction of elements/groups makes me wonder if they had to correct the corners less to get a smaller package.
Oct 12, 2015 at 07:58 AM
p.2 #17Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
snowboarder wrote:
Absolutely. First real new Zeiss I'm interested in in a very long time.
To be honest, if you look at what they've been releasing over last few years,
it looks like a drunk guy looking for an exit door... Hits his head really hard often.
How many different product lines they launched? And how many true new designs?
Look at the "new" products and the mounts they are available for. Madness.
No Otus for the best FF camera system?
Very tight group really: just Canikon and Sony. Zeiss has done a lot more right than Leica so they can afford to release a whole bunch of lens lines. For primes, in the past couple of years, I think they have more new designs than Canikon and Leica: Otus 55 & 85, Milvus 50 & 85, Batis 25 and 85, Loxia 21. They understand from the Loxia 35 that simply tweaking the ZM is not enough for the shooter, so it's good they have this 21. I bet the Batis sale is much higher though.
If they release a 15/2.8 next, I'll sell my M-mount set to fully switch over to E-mount. A nice Sonnar 85/2 without the PF problem would be great as well.
By the way, that landscape shot at f/2.8 gives a strong case for this Loxia, especially for those adapting the SEM 21 on a modded Sony.
Lee Saxon wrote
This is a pretty exciting announcement. Much more exciting than the rehoused Milvus or the redesigned-to-be-ridiculous-size Milvus, in my opinion.To be honest, if you look at what they've been releasing over last few years,
it looks like a drunk guy looking for an exit door... Hits his head really hard often.
How many different product lines they launched? And how many true new designs?
Look at the "new" products and the mounts they are available for. Madness.
No Otus for the best FF camera system?
Very tight group really: just Canikon and Sony. Zeiss has done a lot more right than Leica so they can afford to release a whole bunch of lens lines. For primes, in the past couple of years, I think they have more new designs than Canikon and Leica: Otus 55 & 85, Milvus 50 & 85, Batis 25 and 85, Loxia 21. They understand from the Loxia 35 that simply tweaking the ZM is not enough for the shooter, so it's good they have this 21. I bet the Batis sale is much higher though.
If they release a 15/2.8 next, I'll sell my M-mount set to fully switch over to E-mount. A nice Sonnar 85/2 without the PF problem would be great as well.
By the way, that landscape shot at f/2.8 gives a strong case for this Loxia, especially for those adapting the SEM 21 on a modded Sony.
Oct 12, 2015 at 08:12 AM
p.2 #18Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
TheEmrys wrote:
The differences in design to the ZE/ZF make me think that it is going to be weaker in the corners. The Distagon design comes from a reversed tele with a corrective glass, and the corners tend to suffer. The ZE/ZF is awfully special in terms of corner sharpness for a Distagon. The reduction of elements/groups makes me wonder if they had to correct the corners less to get a smaller package.
The MTF chart is pretty impressive IMO.
Check this full size image out: https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/607/21865255659_c8e48c9487_o.jpg
I think the corners look good. And that was @f/2.8.
The differences in design to the ZE/ZF make me think that it is going to be weaker in the corners. The Distagon design comes from a reversed tele with a corrective glass, and the corners tend to suffer. The ZE/ZF is awfully special in terms of corner sharpness for a Distagon. The reduction of elements/groups makes me wonder if they had to correct the corners less to get a smaller package.
The MTF chart is pretty impressive IMO.
Check this full size image out: https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/607/21865255659_c8e48c9487_o.jpg
I think the corners look good. And that was @f/2.8.
Oct 12, 2015 at 08:15 AM
p.2 #19Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Impressed they kept the same 52mm filter thread size on this 21 / 2.8
Any pricing yet?
Any pricing yet?
Oct 12, 2015 at 08:51 AM
p.2 #20Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
mreynolds767 wrote:
Impressed they kept the same 52mm filter thread size on this 21 / 2.8
Any pricing yet?
MSRP $1499 (excluding tax) according to Zeiss blog.
Impressed they kept the same 52mm filter thread size on this 21 / 2.8
Any pricing yet?
MSRP $1499 (excluding tax) according to Zeiss blog.
Oct 12, 2015 at 09:04 AM