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Archive 2015Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
p.33 #1Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Here's a shot at f/8, taken with an a7R II. Won't win any awards for composition, but I had limited opportunity to shoot this weekend and just wanted to start getting a feel for the lens.
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-Tim
Feb 07, 2016 at 09:45 PM
p.33 #2Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Mine will be here Tuesday and planned a outing Wednesday to shoot some images . Can't wait. I kind of retweeking my setup just for this lens. Given some of the GM lenses coming I think a lot of movement of our systems will happen.
Feb 07, 2016 at 10:07 PM
p.33 #3Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
One question for the experts:
My Nikon FM3 or any digital SLR, lets say, D800, they all meter wide open. Whatever the working aperture may be, you see the scene wide open and for seeing the actual DOF, you press the DOF button. This way the viewfinder stays bright and aids manual focussing because of shallow DOF.
I read that the Loxia lenses have an opposite behaviour on A7 series cameras. If i shoot at F8, the viewfinder will shiw me the F8 scene. How problematic this is for you? Because focussing will be difficult at working aperture , say F8, if the entire scene is in focus.
Is there a way to counter this behaviour while shooting?
My Nikon FM3 or any digital SLR, lets say, D800, they all meter wide open. Whatever the working aperture may be, you see the scene wide open and for seeing the actual DOF, you press the DOF button. This way the viewfinder stays bright and aids manual focussing because of shallow DOF.
I read that the Loxia lenses have an opposite behaviour on A7 series cameras. If i shoot at F8, the viewfinder will shiw me the F8 scene. How problematic this is for you? Because focussing will be difficult at working aperture , say F8, if the entire scene is in focus.
Is there a way to counter this behaviour while shooting?
Feb 08, 2016 at 09:38 AM
p.33 #4Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
There is no comera control of the aperture, it's strictly by the aperture ring on the lens. The lens tells the camera what aperture you've set on the lens. You can always open up on the lens and focus, then stop down for shooting. This would only cause problems if there is focus shift. (Which at this point I'm not aware of focus shift on this lens.) Or you have to just focus at the aperture and use the focus aids on the camera.
Many of my fully manual lenses work this way, and for landscape shooting I don't find it a problem. I wouldn't consider myself an expert though....hopefully others will chime in.
-Tim
nandadevieast wrote:
One question for the experts:
My Nikon FM3 or any digital SLR, lets say, D800, they all meter wide open. Whatever the working aperture may be, you see the scene wide open and for seeing the actual DOF, you press the DOF button. This way the viewfinder stays bright and aids manual focussing because of shallow DOF.
I read that the Loxia lenses have an opposite behaviour on A7 series cameras. If i shoot at F8, the viewfinder will shiw me the F8 scene. How problematic this is for you? Because focussing will be difficult at working aperture , say F8, if...Show more →
Many of my fully manual lenses work this way, and for landscape shooting I don't find it a problem. I wouldn't consider myself an expert though....hopefully others will chime in.
-Tim
nandadevieast wrote:
One question for the experts:
My Nikon FM3 or any digital SLR, lets say, D800, they all meter wide open. Whatever the working aperture may be, you see the scene wide open and for seeing the actual DOF, you press the DOF button. This way the viewfinder stays bright and aids manual focussing because of shallow DOF.
I read that the Loxia lenses have an opposite behaviour on A7 series cameras. If i shoot at F8, the viewfinder will shiw me the F8 scene. How problematic this is for you? Because focussing will be difficult at working aperture , say F8, if...Show more →
Feb 08, 2016 at 09:53 AM
p.33 #5Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Focus wide-open and then set the lens to f8.
Feb 08, 2016 at 09:54 AM
p.33 #6Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
I have yet to detect any focus shift with the 35 and 50 when I had them. Now even though you maybe set at F8 to focus the gain in the camera compensates for it so you can view normally (brightness as long as you have the correct exposure). There is a nice side benefit to this if your in manual mode you can clearly see in EVF or Live view if your under or overexposed.
Feb 08, 2016 at 10:05 AM
p.33 #7Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Fiddling with stting aperture after focussing may throw off the focus...?
nampramos wrote:
Focus wide-open and then set the lens to f8.
nampramos wrote:
Focus wide-open and then set the lens to f8.
Feb 08, 2016 at 10:23 AM
p.33 #8Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
OMG. Tsdevine, that sample you posted is unreal in resolution towards the edges and corners. Totally kicks Zony 16-35/4's ass. Canon 17mm TS-E is nearly as good with no movements and stopped down to f/8.
This Loxia 21mm seems to be the first native WA which actually delivers on the 42MP Sony sensor.
This Loxia 21mm seems to be the first native WA which actually delivers on the 42MP Sony sensor.
Feb 08, 2016 at 10:27 AM
p.33 #9Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Yes, I won't lie, I'm pretty jazzed about this lens. My ZE 21 was my all time favorite landscape lens when I was shooting Canon. The lure of a small version of that lens (that still had comparable performance) seemed almost too good to even hope for. (I've never shot rangefinder glass...so my reactions originate from more of a DSLR expectation of size and performance.) I had been shooting the ZE 21 adapted, but it sort of breaks the small prime direction I'm trying to go.
I have to say I was pretty blown away by that shot as well. The lens also oozes quality from a feel perspective.
The Batis 25 is nice, and it has AF, but I have to say I believe I've fallen in love with the Loxia.
-Tim
MJKoski wrote:
OMG. Tsdevine, that sample you posted is unreal in resolution towards the edges and corners. Totally kicks Zony 16-35/4's ass. Canon 17mm TS-E is nearly as good with no movements and stopped down to f/8.
This Loxia 21mm seems to be the first native WA which actually delivers on the 42MP Sony sensor.
Feb 08, 2016 at 01:22 PM
p.33 #10Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Zeiss 21mm .ZF has been the choice of mine since 2009 and having used it with Nikon/Canon and now Sony A7, A7r and A7r2 it is finally time to upgrade it seems.
Feb 08, 2016 at 01:29 PM
p.33 #11Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
nandadevieast wrote:
Fiddling with stting aperture after focussing may throw off the focus...?
nampramos wrote
Focus wide-open and then set the lens to f8.Normal technique with such as adapted Leica lenses and I haven't had any problems. The lack of auto aperture really puts me off the Loxias, I might as well use adapted lenses
Gerry
Feb 08, 2016 at 01:30 PM
p.33 #12Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
tsdevine wrote:
Yes, I won't lie, I'm pretty jazzed about this lens. My ZE 21 was my all time favorite landscape lens when I was shooting Canon. The lure of a small version of that lens (that still had comparable performance) seemed almost too good to even hope for. (I've never shot rangefinder glass...so my reactions originate from more of a DSLR expectation of size and performance.) I had been shooting the ZE 21 adapted, but it sort of breaks the small prime direction I'm trying to go.
I have to say I was pretty blown away by that shot as well. The...Show more →
This Loxia 21mm seems to be the first native WA which actually delivers on the 42MP Sony sensor.
I'm hoping to get the same feeling as I had to sell my Batis 25 and I really did not want to but this focal length switches things around so I'm tweaking the system again. Does this ever end.
Seriously I'm okay with it as long as they keep bringing better lenses to the party.
Yes, I won't lie, I'm pretty jazzed about this lens. My ZE 21 was my all time favorite landscape lens when I was shooting Canon. The lure of a small version of that lens (that still had comparable performance) seemed almost too good to even hope for. (I've never shot rangefinder glass...so my reactions originate from more of a DSLR expectation of size and performance.) I had been shooting the ZE 21 adapted, but it sort of breaks the small prime direction I'm trying to go.
I have to say I was pretty blown away by that shot as well. The...Show more →
MJKoski wrote
OMG. Tsdevine, that sample you posted is unreal in resolution towards the edges and corners. Totally kicks Zony 16-35/4's ass. Canon 17mm TS-E is nearly as good with no movements and stopped down to f/8.This Loxia 21mm seems to be the first native WA which actually delivers on the 42MP Sony sensor.
I'm hoping to get the same feeling as I had to sell my Batis 25 and I really did not want to but this focal length switches things around so I'm tweaking the system again. Does this ever end.
Seriously I'm okay with it as long as they keep bringing better lenses to the party.
Feb 08, 2016 at 01:46 PM
p.33 #13Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
gyoung143 wrote:
Normal technique with such as adapted Leica lenses and I haven't had any problems. The lack of auto aperture really puts me off the Loxias, I might as well use adapted lenses
Gerry
Gerry you may want to try renting one as it sounds funky it's really actually quite good . I really have no trouble focusing these Loxia glass stopped down. I'm always deadly with regards to focus with them too. Now I wish for a Loxia 28
nandadevieast wrote
Fiddling with stting aperture after focussing may throw off the focus...?nampramos wrote
Focus wide-open and then set the lens to f8.Gerry
Gerry you may want to try renting one as it sounds funky it's really actually quite good . I really have no trouble focusing these Loxia glass stopped down. I'm always deadly with regards to focus with them too. Now I wish for a Loxia 28
Feb 08, 2016 at 01:49 PM
p.33 #14Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Me too, I'd really like to see a Loxia 28.
-Tim
GMPhotography wrote:
Normal technique with such as adapted Leica lenses and I haven't had any problems. The lack of auto aperture really puts me off the Loxias, I might as well use adapted lenses
GerryGerry you may want to try renting one as it sounds funky it's really actually quite good . I really have no trouble focusing these Loxia glass stopped down. I'm always deadly with regards to focus with them too. Now I wish for a Loxia 28
-Tim
GMPhotography wrote:
gyoung143 wrote
nandadevieast wrote
Fiddling with stting aperture after focussing may throw off the focus...?nampramos wrote
Focus wide-open and then set the lens to f8.Gerry
Feb 08, 2016 at 02:37 PM
p.33 #15Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Yeah, I still have the Batis...but I have some overlap that I'm not sure makes sense. (I have the FE 16-35 as well.)
-Tim
GMPhotography wrote:
tsdevine wrote
Yes, I won't lie, I'm pretty jazzed about this lens. My ZE 21 was my all time favorite landscape lens when I was shooting Canon. The lure of a small version of that lens (that still had comparable performance) seemed almost too good to even hope for. (I've never shot rangefinder glass...so my reactions originate from more of a DSLR expectation of size and performance.) I had been shooting the ZE 21 adapted, but it sort of breaks the small prime direction I'm trying to go.I have to say I was pretty blown away by that shot as well. The lens also oozes quality from a feel perspective.
The Batis 25 is nice, and it has AF, but I have to say I believe I've fallen in love with the Loxia.
-Tim
MJKoski wrote
OMG. Tsdevine, that sample you posted is unreal in resolution towards the edges and corners. Totally kicks Zony 16-35/4's ass. Canon 17mm TS-E is nearly as good with no movements and stopped down to f/8.This Loxia 21mm seems to be the first native WA which actually delivers on the 42MP Sony sensor.
Seriously I'm okay with it as long as they keep bringing better lenses to the party.
Feb 08, 2016 at 02:57 PM
p.33 #16Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Right now currently I have the Vc15, Loxia 21, Sony 28, Sony 35 1.4 and Batis 85. Oh 24-70 f4 but I expect to change to 85 1.4 and the 24-70 2.8 depending on IQ.
Feb 08, 2016 at 03:07 PM
p.33 #18Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Mine is the ZE 15, Loxia 21, Batis 25, SMC Pentax 28 f/3.5 K, FE 35 2.8, FE 55, G90, and CV125
The zooms I occasionally use are the FE 16-35 and EF 70-200 f/4L IS. I could substitute the FE 16-35 for the Batis 25 when I need AF...as long as I don't need speed. I could substitute the FE 16-35 for the ZE 15 as well, when I don't want to lug it around.
So the Batis starts looking like the odd man out. Or I could pickup the CV15 for when I don't want to lug the ZE, and then use the Batis for when I want AF. Then the FE 16-35 starts being the odd man out. But the 16-35 is so versatile it doesn't seem to make as much sense.
Anyway..I guess this is starting to veer off topic.
-Tim
GMPhotography wrote:
Right now currently I have the Vc15, Loxia 21, Sony 28, Sony 35 1.4 and Batis 85. Oh 24-70 f4 but I expect to change to 85 1.4 and the 24-70 2.8 depending on IQ.
Feb 08, 2016 at 03:25 PM
p.33 #19Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
tsdevine wrote:
Me too, I'd really like to see a Loxia 28.
I'd prefer a Loxia 100/f2 Apo Makro-Planar.
Or even better a Loxia 135/f2 Apo-Sonnar.
Me too, I'd really like to see a Loxia 28.
I'd prefer a Loxia 100/f2 Apo Makro-Planar.
Or even better a Loxia 135/f2 Apo-Sonnar.
Feb 08, 2016 at 03:56 PM
p.33 #20Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
GMPhotography wrote:
gyoung143 wrote
nandadevieast wrote
Fiddling with stting aperture after focussing may throw off the focus...?nampramos wrote
Focus wide-open and then set the lens to f8.Gerry
I have tried it, but always come back to focussing at full aperture, it gives me greater confidence that I have 'nailed it'!
Gerry
Feb 08, 2016 at 04:05 PM