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Archive 2015Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
p.51 #1Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
I think it's very important and not very easy to focus the Loxia 2.8/21 exactly. I have the impression, that I can only squezze the max out of it when I focus wide open and stop down afterwards. Otherwise, the focus can be slightly imperfect which is sometimes not visible in the magnification. When focused correctly once, it's a nice run&gun style of shooting as long as subject distance does not change siginificantly.
Mar 07, 2016 at 01:35 PM
p.51 #2Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Agree you can be off slightly this way as well but for run and gun it works well. If your on a tripod I would lean more towards open than stop down since more time on your hands. A lot depends on your MF experience too the more you get used to working this way you do get better at it. I have a lot of experience at MF so I do want to be careful about this as you can miss. If you really want to be critical about you most likely would be on tripod also so it's easier on tripod. Obviously DOF will play a role as well. Photography like any other craft just takes practice to nail everything down but that's the fun part of photography. I learn stuff all the time and that keeps me going. Even though this is my Profession if it was not fun I would hang it up so keep plugging away folks.
Mar 07, 2016 at 01:50 PM
p.51 #3Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
GMPhotography wrote:
Btw I bought a Tenba Copper 13 Slim bag in NY and this maybe the best shoulder bag I ever owned and I'm a bag whore. You can carry 5 lenses and body plus plus and it hugs your body. I walked miles with it and never ever felt the weight or bulk with it. Love it check it out they have a 8 size too for even smaller size
i took a look at this the last time you mentioned it and was considering the 8, but just placed the order @ bh for the 13-slim - i like that it's only 5" thick (that's more of an issue for me than the other dimensions - it's annoying all these bags get big to make room for crap i'll never walk around with, like a laptop or tablet)
Btw I bought a Tenba Copper 13 Slim bag in NY and this maybe the best shoulder bag I ever owned and I'm a bag whore. You can carry 5 lenses and body plus plus and it hugs your body. I walked miles with it and never ever felt the weight or bulk with it. Love it check it out they have a 8 size too for even smaller size
i took a look at this the last time you mentioned it and was considering the 8, but just placed the order @ bh for the 13-slim - i like that it's only 5" thick (that's more of an issue for me than the other dimensions - it's annoying all these bags get big to make room for crap i'll never walk around with, like a laptop or tablet)
Mar 07, 2016 at 03:38 PM
p.51 #4Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
ecarlino wrote:
i took a look at this the last time you mentioned it and was considering the 8, but just placed the order @ bh for the 13-slim - i like that it's only 5" thick (that's more of an issue for me than the other dimensions - it's annoying all these bags get big to make room for crap i'll never walk around with, like a laptop or tablet)
Exactly why I bought it as well its slim and i do NOT put a laptop in my camera bag, although its there on this bag you don't know it as it only takes a 1/4 inch of space. Cool part when traveling it fits a magazine in it.
Even my wife liked it. Now where talking a serious bag whore here. She does not buy fake unfortunately.
GMPhotography wrote
Btw I bought a Tenba Copper 13 Slim bag in NY and this maybe the best shoulder bag I ever owned and I'm a bag whore. You can carry 5 lenses and body plus plus and it hugs your body. I walked miles with it and never ever felt the weight or bulk with it. Love it check it out they have a 8 size too for even smaller sizeExactly why I bought it as well its slim and i do NOT put a laptop in my camera bag, although its there on this bag you don't know it as it only takes a 1/4 inch of space. Cool part when traveling it fits a magazine in it.
Even my wife liked it. Now where talking a serious bag whore here. She does not buy fake unfortunately.
Mar 07, 2016 at 04:31 PM
p.51 #5Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Hey everybody!
I've also purchased the Loxia 2.8/21mm after reading this thread, as well as the various other Loxia threads.
I specially registered myself to thank you all for creating this amazing thread
, and I would like to contribute with my feedback so far.
First off, I really enjoy this lens for the images it produces so far (21mm focal length mainly) and the joy of using a MF only lens. I was also very much torn between the Batis 25mm or this Loxia 21mm, especially since I've never used a MF only lens in my life before! Nevertheless, in combination with the A7RII's 12.5x focus magnifier I really like using MF, and having the ability to fully control the shot gives me a smile every time I use it. I don't do action photography, so I have the time to compose my shot. Also the size and the all-metal build quality were an advantage point of the Loxia for me. I can understand that some people find the focus/aperture ring placement sub-par, but I had no problem with it
.
I haven't done a proper test yet to determine if my lens suffers from decentering, but I haven't noticed it yet. However I may have prevented it beforehand :P . When I mounted the lens for the first time I was quite shocked about the force it requires to mount it to the body. I quickly realized this was due to the grip of the rubber on the body, and noticed the rubber even twists under its own force! I don't have to take a picture of it as I spotted it a few posts back in the first photo of post "p.49 #20" (Hard-link: p.49 #20).
I really didn't like it and carefully applied a tiny bit of ptfe dry lube on inside of the rubber ring. I can recommend doing this as the force to mount the lens reduces massively. This made me realize that since this lens is so sensitive to decentering this grip and twisting of the rubber may be of influence invoking decentering. So for people having those issues this may be of interest to try out; at your own risk of-course
.
This was my initial response to the lens and I will test this lens more in the upcoming days. Unfortunately the weather has been pretty bad at the moment and indoors is not a good testing environment for this lens. I'm still going to test decentering and sharpness in the upcoming days when the weather clears .
*Note: I'am no professional and still learning
Once again thank you all for making this great thread!
Cheers
*Please ask if you would like to know which ptfe lube I used, I don't know if it's against the forum rules to post a link to a webshop.
Edited on Mar 08, 2016 at 06:26 AM · View previous versions
I've also purchased the Loxia 2.8/21mm after reading this thread, as well as the various other Loxia threads.
I specially registered myself to thank you all for creating this amazing thread
, and I would like to contribute with my feedback so far.First off, I really enjoy this lens for the images it produces so far (21mm focal length mainly) and the joy of using a MF only lens. I was also very much torn between the Batis 25mm or this Loxia 21mm, especially since I've never used a MF only lens in my life before! Nevertheless, in combination with the A7RII's 12.5x focus magnifier I really like using MF, and having the ability to fully control the shot gives me a smile every time I use it. I don't do action photography, so I have the time to compose my shot. Also the size and the all-metal build quality were an advantage point of the Loxia for me. I can understand that some people find the focus/aperture ring placement sub-par, but I had no problem with it
. I haven't done a proper test yet to determine if my lens suffers from decentering, but I haven't noticed it yet. However I may have prevented it beforehand :P . When I mounted the lens for the first time I was quite shocked about the force it requires to mount it to the body. I quickly realized this was due to the grip of the rubber on the body, and noticed the rubber even twists under its own force! I don't have to take a picture of it as I spotted it a few posts back in the first photo of post "p.49 #20" (Hard-link: p.49 #20).
I really didn't like it and carefully applied a tiny bit of ptfe dry lube on inside of the rubber ring. I can recommend doing this as the force to mount the lens reduces massively. This made me realize that since this lens is so sensitive to decentering this grip and twisting of the rubber may be of influence invoking decentering. So for people having those issues this may be of interest to try out; at your own risk of-course
.This was my initial response to the lens and I will test this lens more in the upcoming days. Unfortunately the weather has been pretty bad at the moment and indoors is not a good testing environment for this lens. I'm still going to test decentering and sharpness in the upcoming days when the weather clears
.*Note: I'am no professional and still learning
Once again thank you all for making this great thread!
Cheers
*Please ask if you would like to know which ptfe lube I used, I don't know if it's against the forum rules to post a link to a webshop.
Edited on Mar 08, 2016 at 06:26 AM · View previous versions
Mar 07, 2016 at 04:51 PM
p.51 #6Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Breakthrough Photography ND + Breakthrough Photography CPL @ f/2.8
Breakthrough Photography ND + Breakthrough Photography CPL @ f/11
Breakthrough Photography ND + Cokin Pure Harmonie CPL @ f/2.8
Breakthrough Photography ND + Cokin Pure Harmonie CPL @ f/11
Naked @ f/2.8
Naked @f/11
All filters were the native 52mm.
-Tim
tsdevine wrote:
I believe I saw very slight hard vignetting with a Breakthrough Photography ND and CPL. I have to test further. The Breakthrough ND and Cokin Pure Harmonie CPL seemed okay though. I'll try to test sometime this week to confirm.
-Tim
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| http://www.devine.photography/img/s5/v117/p1865918540-4.jpg | ||
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Breakthrough Photography ND + Breakthrough Photography CPL @ f/11
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| http://www.devine.photography/img/s6/v142/p1725096164-4.jpg | ||
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Breakthrough Photography ND + Cokin Pure Harmonie CPL @ f/2.8
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| http://www.devine.photography/img/s12/v175/p1771119369-4.jpg | ||
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Breakthrough Photography ND + Cokin Pure Harmonie CPL @ f/11
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| http://www.devine.photography/img/s3/v25/p1635429240-4.jpg | ||
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Naked @ f/2.8
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| http://www.devine.photography/img/s6/v142/p1654648836-4.jpg | ||
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Naked @f/11
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| http://www.devine.photography/img/s4/v9/p1851945643-4.jpg | ||
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All filters were the native 52mm.
-Tim
tsdevine wrote:
I believe I saw very slight hard vignetting with a Breakthrough Photography ND and CPL. I have to test further. The Breakthrough ND and Cokin Pure Harmonie CPL seemed okay though. I'll try to test sometime this week to confirm.
-Tim
Mar 07, 2016 at 10:06 PM
p.51 #7Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Thank you Tim! This indicates that filing off few millimeters from a filter stack will work with two 52mm sized slim filters.
Mar 08, 2016 at 05:07 AM
p.51 #8Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
The Breakthrough Photography ND is fairly thin, and the Cokin CPL is extremely thin, although there is an inner ring that holds the glass. So it's a little hard to judge if that has any impact. Suffice it to say you'll need some pretty thin filters to stack 2.
I think I'm okay with the Breakthrough/Cokin combo. Most likely I'd be shooting between f/8 and f/11, and the vignetting isn't to bad at f/11. I guess I should test at f/8 to see if it is much worse.
I wish Breathrough Photography would start producing ND/CPL combo filters...and sell a 52mm version.
-Tim
MJKoski wrote:
Thank you Tim! This indicates that filing off few millimeters from a filter stack will work with two 52mm sized slim filters.
Mar 08, 2016 at 07:10 AM
p.51 #9Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
I think your far safer at stacking 67mm that way you will not run into it at all. As I shown previous to this post. You could try 58mm stacked. The real question is what's your biggest filter thread lens you will use like this and at the costs of these filters you should buy the biggest and use step up rings. Your not using your hoods anyway. Myself I rarely stack 2 filters as your risking degrading your image. I find a 6 stop ND is my normal but they do make 10 and I just read a 15 stop is coming out. 15 stops I would fall asleep at the wheel. Lol
I do see using a CPL sometimes doing this with NDs but again I buy for the largest filter thread I have or will use like this. Mostly my extreme wide angles like my 15 or 21
I do see using a CPL sometimes doing this with NDs but again I buy for the largest filter thread I have or will use like this. Mostly my extreme wide angles like my 15 or 21
Mar 08, 2016 at 07:18 AM
p.51 #10Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
I personally would rather have native sized filters if I can, as I can still use the hood. When I'm out hiking and shooting streams and waterfalls, it's often cloudy or sometimes drizzly. Add the spray from the waterfall, and the hood provides at least some modest protection from water droplets landing on the filter.
I realize this may be an edge case for most, but it's the reason I work pretty hard to find a workable ND/CPL combo that doesn't vignette. I like the polarization effec,t but it doesn't usually knock the exposure down low enough unless it's really dim, hence the need for an additional ND filter.
-Tim
GMPhotography wrote:
I think your far safer at stacking 67mm that way you will not run into it at all. As I shown previous to this post. You could try 58mm stacked. The real question is what's your biggest filter thread lens you will use like this and at the costs of these filters you should buy the biggest and use step up rings. Your not using your hoods anyway. Myself I rarely stack 2 filters as your risking degrading your image. I find a 6 stop ND is my normal but they do make 10 and I just read a 15...Show more →
Mar 08, 2016 at 07:25 AM
p.51 #11Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
tsdevine wrote:
The Breakthrough Photography ND is fairly thin, and the Cokin CPL is extremely thin, although there is an inner ring that holds the glass. So it's a little hard to judge if that has any impact. Suffice it to say you'll need some pretty thin filters to stack 2.
I think I'm okay with the Breakthrough/Cokin combo. Most likely I'd be shooting between f/8 and f/11, and the vignetting isn't to bad at f/11. I guess I should test at f/8 to see if it is much worse.
I wish Breathrough Photography would start producing ND/CPL combo filters...and sell a 52mm...Show more →
I have asked them (Breakthrough) about combo-filter and they replied that there might be something like that coming up. (Dark CPL).
The Breakthrough Photography ND is fairly thin, and the Cokin CPL is extremely thin, although there is an inner ring that holds the glass. So it's a little hard to judge if that has any impact. Suffice it to say you'll need some pretty thin filters to stack 2.
I think I'm okay with the Breakthrough/Cokin combo. Most likely I'd be shooting between f/8 and f/11, and the vignetting isn't to bad at f/11. I guess I should test at f/8 to see if it is much worse.
I wish Breathrough Photography would start producing ND/CPL combo filters...and sell a 52mm...Show more →
MJKoski wrote
Thank you Tim! This indicates that filing off few millimeters from a filter stack will work with two 52mm sized slim filters.I have asked them (Breakthrough) about combo-filter and they replied that there might be something like that coming up. (Dark CPL).
Mar 08, 2016 at 07:54 AM
p.51 #12Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
tsdevine wrote:
I personally would rather have native sized filters if I can, as I can still use the hood. When I'm out hiking and shooting streams and waterfalls, it's often cloudy or sometimes drizzly. Add the spray from the waterfall, and the hood provides at least some modest protection from water droplets landing on the filter.
I realize this may be an edge case for most, but it's the reason I work pretty hard to find a workable ND/CPL combo that doesn't vignette. I like the polarization effec,t but it doesn't usually knock the exposure down low enough unless it's really dim,...Show more →
I do see using a CPL sometimes doing this with NDs but again I buy for the largest filter thread I have or will use like this. Mostly my extreme wide angles like my 15 or 21
Totally understand that need as well. I just hate carrying too much stuff doing landscape and I hate spending 600 bucks on damn filters. I did buy the 52 though for the Loxia. I'm still not settled in on everything is part of my issue. 15,21 are staying but who knows what I'll do next.
Crap I had a idea this morning since I'm getting the Sigma adapter for the 35 Art, for Par event crap I never need more than 18mpx so I could dump my Sigma 24-70 which is most likely not supported anyway get a Sigma 18-35 1.8 which I had before and was very nice shoot it in crop mode with Eye AF. It will automatically kick in crop mode for a 28-56 equivalent than I have the 85. Won and done. I can adjust down the MPX in C1 to whatever I want so when I process out does not matter if I shot 42 or 18 they would all be let's say 12 inches in either length at 300 Dpi. Now name any zoom lens that will give me Eye AF . 24-70 F4 which I hate that lens or the GM 24-70 which cost a fortune and I really don't need 42mpx anyway with doing this crap. This way I keep my full set of full frame primes. 15,21,28,35,50 and 85.
Now that just maybe genius thinking. The 18-35 is a kick ass lens too and really the weight and bulk is essentially the same as FF mid zooms that are 2.8. I'll wait till I get the adopter and just might do this. It completely solves that zoom lens I have to have. 18mpx is more than enough for events, heck I could even process it out at 24mpx with no quality loss
I personally would rather have native sized filters if I can, as I can still use the hood. When I'm out hiking and shooting streams and waterfalls, it's often cloudy or sometimes drizzly. Add the spray from the waterfall, and the hood provides at least some modest protection from water droplets landing on the filter.
I realize this may be an edge case for most, but it's the reason I work pretty hard to find a workable ND/CPL combo that doesn't vignette. I like the polarization effec,t but it doesn't usually knock the exposure down low enough unless it's really dim,...Show more →
GMPhotography wrote
I think your far safer at stacking 67mm that way you will not run into it at all. As I shown previous to this post. You could try 58mm stacked. The real question is what's your biggest filter thread lens you will use like this and at the costs of these filters you should buy the biggest and use step up rings. Your not using your hoods anyway. Myself I rarely stack 2 filters as your risking degrading your image. I find a 6 stop ND is my normal but they do make 10 and I just read a 15 stop is coming out. 15 stops I would fall asleep at the wheel. LolI do see using a CPL sometimes doing this with NDs but again I buy for the largest filter thread I have or will use like this. Mostly my extreme wide angles like my 15 or 21
Totally understand that need as well. I just hate carrying too much stuff doing landscape and I hate spending 600 bucks on damn filters. I did buy the 52 though for the Loxia. I'm still not settled in on everything is part of my issue. 15,21 are staying but who knows what I'll do next.
Crap I had a idea this morning since I'm getting the Sigma adapter for the 35 Art, for Par event crap I never need more than 18mpx so I could dump my Sigma 24-70 which is most likely not supported anyway get a Sigma 18-35 1.8 which I had before and was very nice shoot it in crop mode with Eye AF. It will automatically kick in crop mode for a 28-56 equivalent than I have the 85. Won and done. I can adjust down the MPX in C1 to whatever I want so when I process out does not matter if I shot 42 or 18 they would all be let's say 12 inches in either length at 300 Dpi. Now name any zoom lens that will give me Eye AF . 24-70 F4 which I hate that lens or the GM 24-70 which cost a fortune and I really don't need 42mpx anyway with doing this crap. This way I keep my full set of full frame primes. 15,21,28,35,50 and 85.
Now that just maybe genius thinking. The 18-35 is a kick ass lens too and really the weight and bulk is essentially the same as FF mid zooms that are 2.8. I'll wait till I get the adopter and just might do this. It completely solves that zoom lens I have to have. 18mpx is more than enough for events, heck I could even process it out at 24mpx with no quality loss
Mar 08, 2016 at 08:00 AM
p.51 #13Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
MJKoski wrote:
I think I'm okay with the Breakthrough/Cokin combo. Most likely I'd be shooting between f/8 and f/11, and the vignetting isn't to bad at f/11. I guess I should test at f/8 to see if it is much worse.
I wish Breathrough Photography would start producing ND/CPL combo filters...and sell a 52mm version.
-Tim
I have asked them (Breakthrough) about combo-filter and they replied that there might be something like that coming up. (Dark CPL).
That would be a great solution stacking can degrade because of the air space between the glass . At least in theory this is what we learned along the way.
tsdevine wrote
The Breakthrough Photography ND is fairly thin, and the Cokin CPL is extremely thin, although there is an inner ring that holds the glass. So it's a little hard to judge if that has any impact. Suffice it to say you'll need some pretty thin filters to stack 2.I think I'm okay with the Breakthrough/Cokin combo. Most likely I'd be shooting between f/8 and f/11, and the vignetting isn't to bad at f/11. I guess I should test at f/8 to see if it is much worse.
I wish Breathrough Photography would start producing ND/CPL combo filters...and sell a 52mm version.
-Tim
MJKoski wrote
Thank you Tim! This indicates that filing off few millimeters from a filter stack will work with two 52mm sized slim filters.That would be a great solution stacking can degrade because of the air space between the glass . At least in theory this is what we learned along the way.
Mar 08, 2016 at 08:03 AM
p.51 #14Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Indeed. And it would allow reasonable and "cheaper" solutions for many sensitive lenses, like Zony 16-35, Nikkor 16-35...
Mar 08, 2016 at 08:07 AM
p.51 #15Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
I've talked to Breakthrough as well, but my understanding is that the widest they are planning at the moment would be 72mm. I'm sort of trying to coax them into a full range. (Like 58mm for the CV 15, 52mm for the Loxia 21, etc.)
So any help giving them an idea that there's a market for it, all the better.
-Tim
MJKoski wrote:
tsdevine wrote
The Breakthrough Photography ND is fairly thin, and the Cokin CPL is extremely thin, although there is an inner ring that holds the glass. So it's a little hard to judge if that has any impact. Suffice it to say you'll need some pretty thin filters to stack 2.I think I'm okay with the Breakthrough/Cokin combo. Most likely I'd be shooting between f/8 and f/11, and the vignetting isn't to bad at f/11. I guess I should test at f/8 to see if it is much worse.
I wish Breathrough Photography would start producing ND/CPL combo filters...and sell a 52mm version.
-Tim
MJKoski wrote
Thank you Tim! This indicates that filing off few millimeters from a filter stack will work with two 52mm sized slim filters.Mar 08, 2016 at 08:12 AM
p.51 #16Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Okay perhaps it is coming then. 72mm limitation is somewhat a good sign as they have really thought about it.
Mar 08, 2016 at 08:35 AM
p.51 #17Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
I avoid all this hassle by using a Lee type system... No vignetting with any lenses I use. Stacking multiple filters is also a non-issue.
Mar 08, 2016 at 09:16 AM
p.51 #18Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Ha...and I find that more of a hassle for my type of shooting. But I wouldn't argue that more people would find that being less of a headache.
-Tim
Gary Clennan wrote:
I avoid all this hassle by using a Lee type system... No vignetting with any lenses I use. Stacking multiple filters is also a non-issue.
Mar 08, 2016 at 09:39 AM
p.51 #19Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
Yeah - I'm talking more tripod based landscape shooting. The Lee system could be a pain for other (quicker) styles of shooting...
Mar 08, 2016 at 09:50 AM
p.51 #20Zeiss Unveils the Loxia 21mm f/2.8
One of the reasons I went with the Loxia Trilogy is to keep the filter size consistent. However, I have square/rectangular filters from Hitech and others and therefore use a 52-77mm step down ring and the filter holder for the squares. If necessary, I can fit a 77CPL (from my Canon days) in between the holder and lens if I choose to stack. I still have too many lenses (that I really like, FE16-35, Batis 25/85, Sony 70-400GII, and more) and yet don't want to invest in filters for all. So far, this works for me. YMMV
Mar 08, 2016 at 09:54 AM