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Archive 2016Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
p.25 #1Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
On another note, how do you think the OM 100/2 would stack up to that C/Y 100/3.5? I've never tried the Oly for landscapes and I don't know how well it fares there, but it is a nice lens. The weight is significantly more then the C/Y, but the size at only 11mm longer in length and 9mm bigger in diameter is a small penalty for the added speed.
May 10, 2016 at 10:55 PM
p.25 #2Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
At least for our samples, the OM 2/100 is a bit behind in the corners when I compare it to the S 3.5/100 and the FD 2/100.
Wide open and in the central-midway region, the OM 2/100 is a tad sharper and more contrasty than the FD lens, on par with the MP100. I've tested that on the A7II.
Wide open and in the central-midway region, the OM 2/100 is a tad sharper and more contrasty than the FD lens, on par with the MP100. I've tested that on the A7II.
May 11, 2016 at 04:17 AM
p.25 #3Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
I've done a very quick test of:
FE 28/2.0
Zeiss ZF 25/2.8
Contax 28/2.8
I'll start with 5.6 as at this aperture they should start to look good.
Middle Crops
FE
Contax
Zeiss
FE 28/2.0
Zeiss ZF 25/2.8
Contax 28/2.8
I'll start with 5.6 as at this aperture they should start to look good.
Middle Crops
FE
Contax
Zeiss
May 11, 2016 at 04:52 AM
p.25 #4Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
Left side
FE with correction (LR Profile)
Contax
Zeiss
FE uncorrected
FE with correction (LR Profile)
Contax
Zeiss
FE uncorrected
May 11, 2016 at 04:54 AM
p.25 #5Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
Left corner
FE corrected
Contax
Zeiss
FE uncorrected
FE corrected
Contax
Zeiss
FE uncorrected
May 11, 2016 at 04:57 AM
p.25 #6Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
Note, these were focussed in the center at 2.8 and then stopped down.
Maybe not the most accurate method but should be an indication of performance
The contax on this test at f5.6 looks like it need stopping down more for corners. I may reset the contax at 5.6 by focussing into the corners to allow for field curvature
Maybe not the most accurate method but should be an indication of performance
The contax on this test at f5.6 looks like it need stopping down more for corners. I may reset the contax at 5.6 by focussing into the corners to allow for field curvature
May 11, 2016 at 05:01 AM
p.25 #7Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
johnahill wrote:
Note, these were focussed in the center at 2.8 and then stopped down.
Maybe not the most accurate method but should be an indication of performance
The contax on this test at f5.6 looks like it need stopping down more for corners. I may reset the contax at 5.6 by focussing into the corners to allow for field curvature
I tested 2 copies of each (CY 28/2.8 and FE 28/2).
From my copies, the CY Distagon 28/2.8 needs f/8 for the very corners at infinity. It has a cooler color cast but lots of micro-contrast. The FE never really sharpens up at the very corners but looks comparable to the Contax at center and mid-field. My conclusion is that at f/8 and f/11, the CY 28/2.8 wins in a big way.
Did you test your Contax for decentering? I've seen some decentered copies.
Note, these were focussed in the center at 2.8 and then stopped down.
Maybe not the most accurate method but should be an indication of performance
The contax on this test at f5.6 looks like it need stopping down more for corners. I may reset the contax at 5.6 by focussing into the corners to allow for field curvature
I tested 2 copies of each (CY 28/2.8 and FE 28/2).
From my copies, the CY Distagon 28/2.8 needs f/8 for the very corners at infinity. It has a cooler color cast but lots of micro-contrast. The FE never really sharpens up at the very corners but looks comparable to the Contax at center and mid-field. My conclusion is that at f/8 and f/11, the CY 28/2.8 wins in a big way.
Did you test your Contax for decentering? I've seen some decentered copies.
May 13, 2016 at 10:58 AM
p.25 #8Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
What's your impression of the ZF 25/2.8?
May 13, 2016 at 02:36 PM
p.25 #9Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
You aren't parallel to that wall; the left side will closer to the camera from the focus plane than the right...
johnahill wrote:
Left corner
johnahill wrote:
Left corner
May 13, 2016 at 03:17 PM
p.25 #10Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
Greggf wrote:
What's your impression of the ZF 25/2.8?
My view it that it is stellar, fantastic at infinity and sharp corner to corner from 5.6, sharp to the edges from f4.0.
Great micro-contrast and colour, and has a very quirky close focus of 0.17m
For a wide street shooter it's a tad dense/hefty and long on adapter but i may put up with that just for the optical goodness.
What's your impression of the ZF 25/2.8?
My view it that it is stellar, fantastic at infinity and sharp corner to corner from 5.6, sharp to the edges from f4.0.
Great micro-contrast and colour, and has a very quirky close focus of 0.17m
For a wide street shooter it's a tad dense/hefty and long on adapter but i may put up with that just for the optical goodness.
May 13, 2016 at 05:29 PM
p.25 #11Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
DavidBM wrote:
You aren't parallel to that wall; the left side will closer to the camera from the focus plane than the right...
I hope to re-test at longer distance this weekend, but won't be including the FE28 as it's been returned.
OK maybe it can perform better than I have demonstrated but to getting accurate focus at longer distances the focus by wire is a royal pain in the rear.
You aren't parallel to that wall; the left side will closer to the camera from the focus plane than the right...
johnahill wrote
Left cornerI hope to re-test at longer distance this weekend, but won't be including the FE28 as it's been returned.
OK maybe it can perform better than I have demonstrated but to getting accurate focus at longer distances the focus by wire is a royal pain in the rear.
May 13, 2016 at 05:31 PM
p.25 #13Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
More zf 25/2.8 samples :-D
May 13, 2016 at 05:42 PM
p.25 #14Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
Alt 28ish Lenses lenses that I have owned: (In Order)
Contax 28mm f2.8
Oly 28mm f2.8
Oly 28mm f3.5
Oly 28mm f2.0
Nikon 28mm f2.8 AIs
Leica 28mm f2.8 Elmarit-R V2 (Thick rear shroud)
Zeiss ZF 25mm f2.8
Leica 28mm f2.8 Elmarit-R V2 (Thin rear shroud)
Sony FE 28mm f2.0
The one I still have after all of these is the ZF 25/2.8, for wide angle distance/infinity it's that good. In fact I had the ZE21 first and hardly used it after getting the ZF25/2.8
I've now added a Contax 28/2.8 again as a lighter city carry-round
Contax 28mm f2.8
Oly 28mm f2.8
Oly 28mm f3.5
Oly 28mm f2.0
Nikon 28mm f2.8 AIs
Leica 28mm f2.8 Elmarit-R V2 (Thick rear shroud)
Zeiss ZF 25mm f2.8
Leica 28mm f2.8 Elmarit-R V2 (Thin rear shroud)
Sony FE 28mm f2.0
The one I still have after all of these is the ZF 25/2.8, for wide angle distance/infinity it's that good. In fact I had the ZE21 first and hardly used it after getting the ZF25/2.8
I've now added a Contax 28/2.8 again as a lighter city carry-round
May 13, 2016 at 05:56 PM
p.25 #15Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
One last batch of ZF25/2.8 shots
May 13, 2016 at 06:00 PM
p.25 #16Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
^^^^ Hey John...thanks for all the samples! I have one coming on Monday and can't wait to shoot it! I've seen some pretty stellar images with it, including your samples. I wasn't too impressed with the Contax 25, and ended up finding this in evilbay for a "can't resist price!!"...
Thanks again!
G
Thanks again!
G
May 13, 2016 at 07:27 PM
p.25 #17Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
My memory is a bit fuzzy, but aren't there two versions of CZ 25mm in Z* mount? The first was an underperformer IIRC.
As for Contax, the CZ D25 C/Y was a carryover from the Zeiss Ikon Contarex, a 1960s design. I never understood the appeal to Contax shooters (although there were fans). It did have a much heftier build than the D28/2.8, but that's not necessarily good.
As for Contax, the CZ D25 C/Y was a carryover from the Zeiss Ikon Contarex, a 1960s design. I never understood the appeal to Contax shooters (although there were fans). It did have a much heftier build than the D28/2.8, but that's not necessarily good.
May 13, 2016 at 08:02 PM
p.25 #18Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
rico wrote:
My memory is a bit fuzzy, but aren't there two versions of CZ 25mm in Z* mount? The first was an underperformer IIRC.
As for Contax, the CZ D25 C/Y was a carryover from the Zeiss Ikon Contarex, a 1960s design. I never understood the appeal to Contax shooters (although there were fans). It did have a much heftier build than the D28/2.8, but that's not necessarily good.
Yes: there's a recent, and wonderful 25 f2 (which is at its best at shorter distances but still great at infinity) and an older 25 2.8 which doesn't get much love from reviewers.
But as these samples show, it can still put in an amazing performance!
My memory is a bit fuzzy, but aren't there two versions of CZ 25mm in Z* mount? The first was an underperformer IIRC.
As for Contax, the CZ D25 C/Y was a carryover from the Zeiss Ikon Contarex, a 1960s design. I never understood the appeal to Contax shooters (although there were fans). It did have a much heftier build than the D28/2.8, but that's not necessarily good.
Yes: there's a recent, and wonderful 25 f2 (which is at its best at shorter distances but still great at infinity) and an older 25 2.8 which doesn't get much love from reviewers.
But as these samples show, it can still put in an amazing performance!
May 13, 2016 at 10:28 PM
p.25 #19Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
johnahill wrote:
One last batch of ZF25/2.8 shots
The ZF 25/2.8 was my favorite 25-28 on my A7R. I had an excellent copy of the Contax 28/2.8 and Sony 28/2 (sold them), but the ZF 25/2.8 was the winner for me. Better sharpness, microcontrast, and color across the frame. Mine will be going up on the B&S board soon though to help pay for the Loxia 21!
One last batch of ZF25/2.8 shots
The ZF 25/2.8 was my favorite 25-28 on my A7R. I had an excellent copy of the Contax 28/2.8 and Sony 28/2 (sold them), but the ZF 25/2.8 was the winner for me. Better sharpness, microcontrast, and color across the frame. Mine will be going up on the B&S board soon though to help pay for the Loxia 21!
May 13, 2016 at 10:41 PM
p.25 #20Contax 35-70 vs 24-70 GM? Ultimate landscape lens?
Very nice photos, JH. The 25/2.8 was overlooked at the time - not fast enough - so the 25/2 and 28/2 were preferred by many. But this one has 'better' landscape MTF leading to the obviously excellent depth. Slow lenses, you can't beat 'em.
Zeiss was chuffed to make the 25/2, which has a stronger center, but it was roundly canned for corners that were not much better at f5.6 than wide open. The 25/2.8 is more old school, and all line pairs join up in the corners, where the lens is decidedly better than the faster one. Less vignette too, and almost light enough, at 460g - the ZEFs were heavy units, then Milvus upped the ante in that respect. Zeiss clearly have an obesity problem, even for weight tolerant DSLR users. 25mm is a great FL.
Zeiss was chuffed to make the 25/2, which has a stronger center, but it was roundly canned for corners that were not much better at f5.6 than wide open. The 25/2.8 is more old school, and all line pairs join up in the corners, where the lens is decidedly better than the faster one. Less vignette too, and almost light enough, at 460g - the ZEFs were heavy units, then Milvus upped the ante in that respect. Zeiss clearly have an obesity problem, even for weight tolerant DSLR users. 25mm is a great FL.
May 14, 2016 at 01:39 AM