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Archive 2018Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
p.13 #1Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
I will post an update on my replacement lens as soon as I have it, which should be fairly soon. I would fully expect most trusted sellers, including B&H, to exchange a decentered lens free of charge even for international orders, and am expecting my replacement to be just fine as all my other Zeiss lenses have been. Having to get Zeiss repair a new lens should be a last option imo.
Mar 23, 2018 at 08:09 AM
p.13 #2Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Received my Loxia 25 replacement today, and the corners look much more even on this one. Chromatic aberration that was obvious through the viewfinder with the decentered copy, is much better in this one too.
Here is a quick test at F5.6 as a preliminary assessment of infinity sharpness and field curvature. All images are 100% crops from A7RII, and minimally sharpened (just the camera raw default) so that it's easier to perform the comparisons. Unfortunately there is no way to switch off the lens profile supplied chromatic aberration correction in Camera Raw.
The first image shows a comparison of center (left) and top right corner (right) sharpness near infinity, with focus set for best result at the center of the image. Second image is the same again but focus adjusted for corner sharpness, which was at the lens hard stop.
My impression at this early stage is that this lens will behave much like my Loxia 21, with best corner sharpness at the lens hard stop, and best center performance with slightly closer focus.
Here is a quick test at F5.6 as a preliminary assessment of infinity sharpness and field curvature. All images are 100% crops from A7RII, and minimally sharpened (just the camera raw default) so that it's easier to perform the comparisons. Unfortunately there is no way to switch off the lens profile supplied chromatic aberration correction in Camera Raw.
The first image shows a comparison of center (left) and top right corner (right) sharpness near infinity, with focus set for best result at the center of the image. Second image is the same again but focus adjusted for corner sharpness, which was at the lens hard stop.
My impression at this early stage is that this lens will behave much like my Loxia 21, with best corner sharpness at the lens hard stop, and best center performance with slightly closer focus.
Mar 25, 2018 at 09:05 PM
p.13 #3Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Here is the same test again wide open at F2.4, focused for center sharpness. Interestingly, I couldn't get the corner any sharper at this aperture by refocusing, suggesting possibly a flatter field than at 5.6. CA obvious at 100% despite the lens profile, but not bad.
Edited on Mar 25, 2018 at 10:22 PM · View previous versions
Edited on Mar 25, 2018 at 10:22 PM · View previous versions
Mar 25, 2018 at 10:12 PM
p.13 #4Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
By the time I stopped down to F8 (which is where I more typically shoot), setting the focus just minimally back from the infinity hard stop gave me what I think are good results at both center and corner. With more typical sharpening this should be plenty sharp for most applications.
Edited on Mar 26, 2018 at 01:33 AM · View previous versions
Edited on Mar 26, 2018 at 01:33 AM · View previous versions
Mar 25, 2018 at 10:21 PM
p.13 #5Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
rvh23 wrote:
Here is the same test again wide open at F2.4, focused for center sharpness. Interestingly, I couldn't get the corner any sharper at this aperture by refocusing, suggesting possibly a flatter field than at 5.6. CA obvious at 100% despite the lens profile, but not bad.
That's interesting and thanks for posting. From your test, the Lox 25/2.4 is more flat field wide open compared to f/5.6...
I will definitely test this out when I get mine...possibly next week.
Here is the same test again wide open at F2.4, focused for center sharpness. Interestingly, I couldn't get the corner any sharper at this aperture by refocusing, suggesting possibly a flatter field than at 5.6. CA obvious at 100% despite the lens profile, but not bad.
That's interesting and thanks for posting. From your test, the Lox 25/2.4 is more flat field wide open compared to f/5.6...
I will definitely test this out when I get mine...possibly next week.
Mar 25, 2018 at 10:39 PM
p.13 #6Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Color looks consistent with other recent Zeiss lenses I have tried. Here is a comparison of the Loxia 25 (top) with Milvus 25(bottom). Both are pretty much straight out of camera, except for a slight shadow push (~50% on the Loxia and 30% on the Milvus seemed to compensate for quickly changing light differences between the two).
Mar 26, 2018 at 12:01 AM
p.13 #7Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
There was some clear sky tonight so I thought I'd look at Loxia 25's worst case coma by placing the brightest star I could find in the top left corner of the frame. Here is a comparison of that star at 100% on A7RII, at F2.4, 2.8 and 3.2. All taken at ISO 640, 5sec, EXP+1.5 stops in post (minimal default sharpening). The well defined "sun-star" this lens creates is evident already at 2.8 and 3.2 where it does a nice job masking the modest residual coma.
Mar 26, 2018 at 05:30 AM
p.13 #8Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Coma is acceptable starting at f/2.8 which it looks similar to the Lox 21. Did you compare both?
Mar 26, 2018 at 08:37 AM
p.13 #9Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
My Loxia 2.4/25 Rolling Review is online. No real surprises so far but a bit more CA than I would have expected.
Loxia_25mmf2p8-00199 by Phillip Reeve Data, on Flickr
Loxia_25mmf2p8-00128 by Phillip Reeve Data, on Flickr
Loxia_25mmf2p8-00085 by Phillip Reeve Data, on Flickr
Loxia_25mmf2p8-00022 by Phillip Reeve Data, on FlickrMar 26, 2018 at 01:52 PM
p.13 #10Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Thanks for posting.
Quite a bit of CA here. Looking forward to the 21mm comparisons.
https://flic.kr/p/25w5H6V
Quite a bit of CA here. Looking forward to the 21mm comparisons.
https://flic.kr/p/25w5H6V
Mar 26, 2018 at 03:24 PM
p.13 #11Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
pleaseshoot wrote:
Thanks for posting.
Quite a bit of CA here. Looking forward to the 21mm comparisons.
https://flic.kr/p/25w5H6V
That is not too surprising at f/2.4 with tree brach shot into bright light, but the windows in the church above still show quite a bit of CA at f/4. I looks like it might differ more than I thought from the Loxia 21. It will have a bit more CA, but perhaps less field curvature and Phillip I love those flower closeups. Those are done quite well and I think the lens seems to handle those very well. Of course it helps that Phillip is so talented.
Thanks for posting.
Quite a bit of CA here. Looking forward to the 21mm comparisons.
https://flic.kr/p/25w5H6V
That is not too surprising at f/2.4 with tree brach shot into bright light, but the windows in the church above still show quite a bit of CA at f/4. I looks like it might differ more than I thought from the Loxia 21. It will have a bit more CA, but perhaps less field curvature and Phillip I love those flower closeups. Those are done quite well and I think the lens seems to handle those very well. Of course it helps that Phillip is so talented.
Mar 26, 2018 at 03:43 PM
p.13 #12Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Looks great @Phillip Reeve! 
Post it here: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1537205
Post it here: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1537205
Mar 26, 2018 at 03:46 PM
p.13 #13Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Very nice indeed, and I'm particularly glad to see flower closeup samples. @Phillip Reeve - Are those at or near MFD?
Mar 26, 2018 at 05:21 PM
p.13 #14Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
DannyBurkPhoto wrote:
Very nice indeed, and I'm particularly glad to see flower closeup samples. @Phillip Reeve@ - Are those at or near MFD?
Mostly at MFD.
Very nice indeed, and I'm particularly glad to see flower closeup samples. @Phillip Reeve@ - Are those at or near MFD?
Mostly at MFD.
Mar 26, 2018 at 10:15 PM
p.13 #15Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Crap they took the date off at B&H . They had March 28
Looks like it’s delayed or something
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1389169-REG/zeiss_000000_2218_783_loxia_25mm_f_2_4_lens.html
Looks like it’s delayed or something
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1389169-REG/zeiss_000000_2218_783_loxia_25mm_f_2_4_lens.html
Mar 27, 2018 at 03:07 PM
p.13 #16Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
I’m going into depression state now.
Mar 27, 2018 at 03:09 PM
p.13 #17Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
The LoCA ( or whatever) in the tree branches and the church windows looks terrible. I'm not seeing much Zeiss wow on top of that.
Mar 27, 2018 at 03:24 PM
p.13 #18Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
From casual landscape style shooting for just a day or two, I'm very much seeing all the usual Zeiss 'wow' that I was hoping for. It feels just like shooting a slightly less wide version of the 21. Nailing focus is easy, with no unexpected surprises, which was not the case with the classic Zeiss lenses on Sony. Stacking two or three F8 images for large DOF gives fabulously sharp images that are reminiscent in detail of my old 4x5 large format work. I have not seen any disturbing CA apart from when the lens is pretty much wide open (where I never shoot). Color is there, sharpness is great all the way to the far corners, sun-stars are lovely, and all in a tiny package. What's not to like?
Edited on Mar 27, 2018 at 05:07 PM · View previous versions
Edited on Mar 27, 2018 at 05:07 PM · View previous versions
Mar 27, 2018 at 03:46 PM
p.13 #19Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Here is a comparison of CA on Loxia 25 and 21, both at F4 on A7RII, facing the sun. No adjustments (camera raw defaults) for both. The small flowers on the bush that conceals the sun really were purple BTW 
Loxia 25 F4, A7RII
Loxia 21 F4, A7RII
Edited on Mar 27, 2018 at 04:10 PM · View previous versions
Loxia 25 F4, A7RII
Loxia 21 F4, A7RII
Edited on Mar 27, 2018 at 04:10 PM · View previous versions
Mar 27, 2018 at 04:06 PM
p.13 #20Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
100 % crops
Loxia 25 F4 (A7RII)
Loxia 21 F4 (A7RII)
Loxia 25 F4 (A7RII)
Loxia 21 F4 (A7RII)
Mar 27, 2018 at 04:08 PM