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Archive 2018Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
p.16 #1Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Anybody compared the new Loxia to the ZM 25/2.8 with corrective front lens in regards to CA? I’ve got my ZM dialed in, but haven’t put it through it’s paces yet.
Mar 30, 2018 at 11:07 AM
p.16 #2Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
I bailed for now bought a used Batis 25 for now. But I will visit this again once it’s actually on the shelves.
Mar 30, 2018 at 11:11 AM
p.16 #3Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
DrShouter wrote:
How much bigger (72mm filter thread?) and heavier will a 24mm 1.4 GM be?
The Canon 24mm L is around 500g and the Loxia is 400g. Originally i wanted the Milvus, but with adapter the lens is way to heavy for a hiking/mountaineering setup.
I'm expecting it to be ~ 600 to 700 grams.
How much bigger (72mm filter thread?) and heavier will a 24mm 1.4 GM be?
The Canon 24mm L is around 500g and the Loxia is 400g. Originally i wanted the Milvus, but with adapter the lens is way to heavy for a hiking/mountaineering setup.
I'm expecting it to be ~ 600 to 700 grams.
Mar 30, 2018 at 11:20 AM
p.16 #4Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
uscmatt99 wrote:
Anybody compared the new Loxia to the ZM 25/2.8 with corrective front lens in regards to CA? I’ve got my ZM dialed in, but haven’t put it through it’s paces yet.
That should be interesting to see but when considering adding the PCX + adapter, the ZM is actually more expensive new. I'm expecting the native Loxia to perform better in regards to resolution/contrast but I'm not sure which would do better regarding CA.
Anybody compared the new Loxia to the ZM 25/2.8 with corrective front lens in regards to CA? I’ve got my ZM dialed in, but haven’t put it through it’s paces yet.
That should be interesting to see but when considering adding the PCX + adapter, the ZM is actually more expensive new. I'm expecting the native Loxia to perform better in regards to resolution/contrast but I'm not sure which would do better regarding CA.
Mar 30, 2018 at 11:25 AM
p.16 #5Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
GMPhotography wrote:
I bailed for now bought a used Batis 25 for now. But I will visit this again once it’s actually on the shelves.
I bailed too. I really wanted a small portable mf lens that blows me away with IQ. Origionally I was going to get a Loxia 21 but already having the 12-24 f4 I figured 25mm would be a better fit. Now I'm not sure what to do.
Thinking maybe get a 21mm, or perhaps 40mm f1.2??
In any case that B&H delay may have been serendipitous.
I bailed for now bought a used Batis 25 for now. But I will visit this again once it’s actually on the shelves.
I bailed too. I really wanted a small portable mf lens that blows me away with IQ. Origionally I was going to get a Loxia 21 but already having the 12-24 f4 I figured 25mm would be a better fit. Now I'm not sure what to do.
Thinking maybe get a 21mm, or perhaps 40mm f1.2??
In any case that B&H delay may have been serendipitous.
Mar 30, 2018 at 11:41 AM
p.16 #6Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Come to think of it, an acquaintance sent me a few full-res samples from a Milvus 25 that he rented a few months ago. One is a bare tree against bright sky. IIRC he shot that one at f/9, and there was no trace of purple fringing (I just checked).
Mar 30, 2018 at 11:46 AM
p.16 #7Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
I couldn't care less for extreme situation CA visible only close to sun, not visible on rest of the >95% of the image area. Well, each one has their own priorities.
Based on samples this far I like Loxia 25 rendering style on focus plane, and boke seems much better than Loxia 21 boke -> I ordered one even I don't like 25mm and would have preferred much more 28mm. Should be here next week.
Samuli
Based on samples this far I like Loxia 25 rendering style on focus plane, and boke seems much better than Loxia 21 boke -> I ordered one even I don't like 25mm and would have preferred much more 28mm. Should be here next week.
Samuli
Mar 30, 2018 at 11:47 AM
p.16 #8Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Fred Miranda wrote:
It's disappointing to see the level of axial CA on the new Lox 25. It's there even at f/8!
That's one of the reasons I've never warmed up to the Batis 25/2.
The wider Lox 21 should be more challenging to design/correct and from the sample crops posted here, it's actually better color corrected. I wonder if the cheaper price and reduced special glass elements has something to do with this performance.
Is it too early to dismiss the possibility of copy variance?
It's disappointing to see the level of axial CA on the new Lox 25. It's there even at f/8!
That's one of the reasons I've never warmed up to the Batis 25/2.
The wider Lox 21 should be more challenging to design/correct and from the sample crops posted here, it's actually better color corrected. I wonder if the cheaper price and reduced special glass elements has something to do with this performance.
Is it too early to dismiss the possibility of copy variance?
Mar 30, 2018 at 01:09 PM
p.16 #9Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Parariss wrote:
That's one of the reasons I've never warmed up to the Batis 25/2.
The wider Lox 21 should be more challenging to design/correct and from the sample crops posted here, it's actually better color corrected. I wonder if the cheaper price and reduced special glass elements has something to do with this performance.Is it too early to dismiss the possibility of copy variance?
I don't think what we are seeing is caused by copy variation. It's more like a design compromise and it's noticeable in the two copies tested so far: @rvh23's and @Phillip Reeve's.
Fred Miranda wrote
It's disappointing to see the level of axial CA on the new Lox 25. It's there even at f/8!That's one of the reasons I've never warmed up to the Batis 25/2.
The wider Lox 21 should be more challenging to design/correct and from the sample crops posted here, it's actually better color corrected. I wonder if the cheaper price and reduced special glass elements has something to do with this performance.
I don't think what we are seeing is caused by copy variation. It's more like a design compromise and it's noticeable in the two copies tested so far: @rvh23's and @Phillip Reeve's.
Mar 30, 2018 at 01:39 PM
p.16 #10Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
CA is certainly a downside compared to the L21 but as Samuli the better bokeh probably outweighs the CA for me. I also really like the possibility to isolate trees at longer distances to some degree in images like these:
On the other hand I would probably have more use for a 21mm lens for my landscapes while 25mm works better in the forest. Hard choices.
On the other hand I would probably have more use for a 21mm lens for my landscapes while 25mm works better in the forest. Hard choices.
Mar 30, 2018 at 02:28 PM
p.16 #11Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
DannyBurkPhoto wrote:
Come to think of it, an acquaintance sent me a few full-res samples from a Milvus 25 that he rented a few months ago. One is a bare tree against bright sky. IIRC he shot that one at f/9, and there was no trace of purple fringing (I just checked).
The Lox is completely clean of PF but F5.6
It’s be interesting to see how the Milvus is around 2.8 ...
Come to think of it, an acquaintance sent me a few full-res samples from a Milvus 25 that he rented a few months ago. One is a bare tree against bright sky. IIRC he shot that one at f/9, and there was no trace of purple fringing (I just checked).
The Lox is completely clean of PF but F5.6
It’s be interesting to see how the Milvus is around 2.8 ...
Mar 30, 2018 at 03:58 PM
p.16 #12Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
GMPhotography wrote:
I bailed for now bought a used Batis 25 for now. But I will visit this again once it’s actually on the shelves.
I have and like B25; but the LoCA is if anything a bit worse than the new Loxia as far as I can tell without testing them both together. And the published MTF tells be the Loxia should resolve even better than my Batis.
I bailed for now bought a used Batis 25 for now. But I will visit this again once it’s actually on the shelves.
I have and like B25; but the LoCA is if anything a bit worse than the new Loxia as far as I can tell without testing them both together. And the published MTF tells be the Loxia should resolve even better than my Batis.
Mar 30, 2018 at 04:00 PM
p.16 #13Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
I don't really need this lens but I own the other Loxias and so will probably end up with it sooner or later. :/
And I can tell myself I'm buying it for the "better bokeh" even though my wide angle landscapes almost never have any bokeh. :P
The lies we tell ourselves in the thrall of GAS...
And I can tell myself I'm buying it for the "better bokeh" even though my wide angle landscapes almost never have any bokeh. :P
The lies we tell ourselves in the thrall of GAS...
Mar 30, 2018 at 04:05 PM
p.16 #14Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
DavidBM wrote:
The Lox is completely clean of PF but F5.6
Showing traces at f/8 as well:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1529721/14#14418360
GMPhotography wrote
I bailed for now bought a used Batis 25 for now. But I will visit this again once it’s actually on the shelves.Showing traces at f/8 as well:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1529721/14#14418360
Mar 30, 2018 at 04:05 PM
p.16 #15Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
DavidBM wrote:
I have and like B25; but the LoCA is if anything a bit worse than the new Loxia as far as I can tell without testing them both together. And the published MTF tells be the Loxia should resolve even better than my Batis.
I won’t be using it for landscape stuff . I need another AF lens for PR stuff . I have for landscape 15,20,40,85 so I’m okay with that for landscape.
Af glass
Batis 25
Batis 135
Sony 24-105
I’m a 2 kit shooter
GMPhotography wrote
I bailed for now bought a used Batis 25 for now. But I will visit this again once it’s actually on the shelves.I won’t be using it for landscape stuff . I need another AF lens for PR stuff . I have for landscape 15,20,40,85 so I’m okay with that for landscape.
Af glass
Batis 25
Batis 135
Sony 24-105
I’m a 2 kit shooter
Mar 30, 2018 at 04:23 PM
p.16 #16Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
It seems the Loxia 25mm f2.4 is less well corrected than the classic 25mm f2 that I sold already. But I agree with the weighing of benefits against shortcomings coming out favorably with the Loxia for my intended use: a light travel package for the A7RII(III) with superb IQ in 90% of the shots and now and then some annoying purple fringing and LoCa. I would not take back the heavy and large 25mm f2 for extreme situation purple fringing being a bit less and having less LoCa at large apertures.
Mar 30, 2018 at 04:38 PM
p.16 #17Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
I sold my classic 2/25 zf recently in favor of the Loxia 25 and have no regrets. For my shooting style I want high microcontrast, corner to corner sharpness, and large DOF through stacking. That seems more consistently achievable with the Loxia presumably due to both better corner sharpness and less field curvature.
My guess is the CA issue is unlikely to be a concern in the vast majority of my real world shooting, but I will need to shoot it for a while to know for sure. Other than that I like this lens a lot. The images it produces fit in really well with the 21. Here's an unadjusted shot from yesterday, where I was looking a bit more at rendering and flare resistance. The 25 is on the left, and the 21 on the right.
My guess is the CA issue is unlikely to be a concern in the vast majority of my real world shooting, but I will need to shoot it for a while to know for sure. Other than that I like this lens a lot. The images it produces fit in really well with the 21. Here's an unadjusted shot from yesterday, where I was looking a bit more at rendering and flare resistance. The 25 is on the left, and the 21 on the right.
Mar 30, 2018 at 06:00 PM
p.16 #18Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Fred Miranda wrote:
I have and like B25; but the LoCA is if anything a bit worse than the new Loxia as far as I can tell without testing them both together. And the published MTF tells be the Loxia should resolve even better than my Batis.Showing traces at f/8 as well:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1529721/14#14418360
Yes, but in this test the lens was deliberately misfocused behind the subject. I am not sure how often the problems seen here would show up in real world shooting. I agree that the CA is less than ideal and a potential problem. It probably is the result of using less special glass in this lens. I also agree with Samuli and Phillip that I probably prefer having this CA problem and the nice bokeh and good sharpness than a lens with less CA and not as nice of bokeh.
DavidBM wrote
GMPhotography wrote
I bailed for now bought a used Batis 25 for now. But I will visit this again once it’s actually on the shelves.https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1529721/14#14418360
Yes, but in this test the lens was deliberately misfocused behind the subject. I am not sure how often the problems seen here would show up in real world shooting. I agree that the CA is less than ideal and a potential problem. It probably is the result of using less special glass in this lens. I also agree with Samuli and Phillip that I probably prefer having this CA problem and the nice bokeh and good sharpness than a lens with less CA and not as nice of bokeh.
Mar 30, 2018 at 06:07 PM
p.16 #19Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
If it were a 28mm f2.0 I would thoroughly forgive this very minor inferiority to the 21 Loxia since the appropriate spacing would mean I could keep both. Even more so if it were a 35mm f2.0.
Mar 30, 2018 at 06:21 PM
p.16 #20Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
With the sun near the middle of the frame, here is the worst ghosting I could induce with both the 25 and 21 Loxias. Generally speaking I think I do see a little more ghosting (and more sharply defined) in the 25, but at the same time it has less radial flaring that can be clearly seen in 21 shot.
As with most Zeiss glass, flare resistance is a strong point of these lenses. Although with the sun just outside the frame, and careful adjustment of the lens angle, you can get very strong flare in both lenses, a minimal change in the angle is usually all that's needed to largely if not completely eliminate it.
Loxia 25 F8 A7Rii
Loxia 21 F8 A7Rii
As with most Zeiss glass, flare resistance is a strong point of these lenses. Although with the sun just outside the frame, and careful adjustment of the lens angle, you can get very strong flare in both lenses, a minimal change in the angle is usually all that's needed to largely if not completely eliminate it.
Loxia 25 F8 A7Rii
Loxia 21 F8 A7Rii
Mar 30, 2018 at 06:38 PM