This topic is in the 2018 archive. You can read it and like its posts here. It is read only.
Archive 2018Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
p.19 #1Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
I cannot tell a lie. Based on our helpful FM testers, this L25 is not going to work for me. I already own (and like) the imperfect Yashica 24/2.8 ML. The L25 is priced much closer to an Elmar-M 24/3.8 ASPH which is the best prime ever made at this FL, and justifies the headache of digital M usage. The L21 is wider than I want, but looks like the only native game in town for the foreseeable future. Sigh.
Apr 08, 2018 at 08:04 PM
p.19 #2Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
My Loxia 25/2.4 shipped today from B&H Photo. I should have it Thursday. 
Apr 09, 2018 at 02:32 PM
p.19 #3Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Got my Loxia 25 today from Kenmore Camera - great people at that store, clear across the country from us and arrived safe and perfectly packaged in 2 business days.
Mine is very sharp with beautiful colors and just the right amount of contrast from 2.4. Also happy to find that true infinity is at the hard stop. Might be the best looking lens on the A7RIII - they compliment each other perfectly. Handles as you would expect, like a Loxia. Very pleased!
Mine is very sharp with beautiful colors and just the right amount of contrast from 2.4. Also happy to find that true infinity is at the hard stop. Might be the best looking lens on the A7RIII - they compliment each other perfectly. Handles as you would expect, like a Loxia. Very pleased!
Apr 09, 2018 at 04:18 PM
p.19 #4Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Got mine today from B & H. So, hopefully they will become more available soon.
Apr 11, 2018 at 09:59 PM
p.19 #5Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Got mine last week. No extensive testing yet, but looking through the viewfinder and in casual testing, my infinity focus is just shy of the hard stop at all f/stops and into the corners. No, or very little field curvature or focus shift that I can see.
Apr 12, 2018 at 07:06 AM
p.19 #6Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Anxious to see Fred, Steve, and Bastian's reports.
The lens is looking better than I initially thought, based on more samples shown here.
Still, very hard for me to justify with an excellent copy of L21 on hand. Wishing for a 28mm that would fit better with my L21 and L35.
The lens is looking better than I initially thought, based on more samples shown here.
Still, very hard for me to justify with an excellent copy of L21 on hand. Wishing for a 28mm that would fit better with my L21 and L35.
Apr 12, 2018 at 07:32 AM
p.19 #7Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Trying to order one today. Need to sell my Firin 20 first though
Apr 12, 2018 at 07:38 AM
p.19 #8Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Hey, a bit OT but what's the best way to remove any of the Loxia from a camera body? I had a rough time with an L21 yesterday. The non moving metal part is so thin.
Apr 12, 2018 at 07:42 AM
p.19 #9Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
I will add a few sections to the review Phillip already started but I also decided to perform a slightly bigger comparison to the 21mm 2.8.
pleaseshoot wrote:
Hey, a bit OT but what's the best way to remove any of the Loxia from a camera body? I had a rough time with an L21 yesterday. The non moving metal part is so thin.
Grab it by the small blue dot.
pleaseshoot wrote:
Hey, a bit OT but what's the best way to remove any of the Loxia from a camera body? I had a rough time with an L21 yesterday. The non moving metal part is so thin.
Grab it by the small blue dot.
Apr 12, 2018 at 08:08 AM
p.19 #10Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
BastianK wrote:
I will add a few sections to the review Phillip already started but I also decided to perform a slightly bigger comparison to the 21mm 2.8.
Grab it by the small blue dot.
Thanks, I'll try that!
I will add a few sections to the review Phillip already started but I also decided to perform a slightly bigger comparison to the 21mm 2.8.
pleaseshoot wrote
Hey, a bit OT but what's the best way to remove any of the Loxia from a camera body? I had a rough time with an L21 yesterday. The non moving metal part is so thin.Thanks, I'll try that!
Apr 12, 2018 at 08:12 AM
p.19 #11Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
pleaseshoot wrote:
Hey, a bit OT but what's the best way to remove any of the Loxia from a camera body? I had a rough time with an L21 yesterday. The non moving metal part is so thin.
This is my only gripe about the Loxia line (well, price is a bit high!
). I wish they'd gone with a thin raised (chrome) knurled ring as Nikon did on its AI-AIS series.
Hey, a bit OT but what's the best way to remove any of the Loxia from a camera body? I had a rough time with an L21 yesterday. The non moving metal part is so thin.
This is my only gripe about the Loxia line (well, price is a bit high!
). I wish they'd gone with a thin raised (chrome) knurled ring as Nikon did on its AI-AIS series. Apr 12, 2018 at 08:16 AM
p.19 #12Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
I turn both the aperture and the focus ring all the way counter clockwise and very gently use them along with the very narrow fixed rings to turn the lens. It is just enough extra grip and should not pose any undue stress on the mechanisms. I would however be careful not to use the hood, as that could loosen up the optical head from the focus mount. A very common problem with Zeiss ZM lenses and Leica M mount
Apr 12, 2018 at 08:58 AM
p.19 #13Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Yea my biggest pet peeve is the aperture ring on the Loxia I solved that with the TAAB rubber ring but the weather seal I almost want to take off. I wonder if we can safely
Apr 12, 2018 at 09:08 AM
p.19 #14Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
My Loxia 21 is pretty tight, especially on the A7R3.
My trick to mount/unmount is:
Unmount:
Move the aperture ring to f/22, place my index finger on the lens' 'blue dot' and the thumb on the aperture ring on the opposite side. Rotate counter-clockwise.
Mount:
Same finger positions as unmount but instead, set the aperture ring at f/2.8 and rotate clockwise.
This will not put any pressure on the front mount or focusing ring. The aperture ring shouldn't get excessive pressure since the lens' "blue dot" is located in a non-movable section of the barrel.
My trick to mount/unmount is:
Unmount:
Move the aperture ring to f/22, place my index finger on the lens' 'blue dot' and the thumb on the aperture ring on the opposite side. Rotate counter-clockwise.
Mount:
Same finger positions as unmount but instead, set the aperture ring at f/2.8 and rotate clockwise.
This will not put any pressure on the front mount or focusing ring. The aperture ring shouldn't get excessive pressure since the lens' "blue dot" is located in a non-movable section of the barrel.
Apr 12, 2018 at 10:17 AM
p.19 #15Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Got my Loxia 25 and tested for decentering. Used my usual method and this copy was centered even at f/2.4. Got lucky.
Physically, it looks pretty much identical to my Loxia 21, only slightly taller.
Checked Field curvature and it's similar shape to the Loxia 21's where the corners need a full hard stop and the center at tad before it.
I started a new thread here:
"Loxia 25mm f/2.4 vs Loxia 21mm f/2.8"
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1539948
Physically, it looks pretty much identical to my Loxia 21, only slightly taller.
Checked Field curvature and it's similar shape to the Loxia 21's where the corners need a full hard stop and the center at tad before it.
I started a new thread here:
"Loxia 25mm f/2.4 vs Loxia 21mm f/2.8"
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1539948
Apr 12, 2018 at 03:27 PM
p.19 #16Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
Fred Miranda wrote:
My Loxia 21 is pretty tight, especially on the A7R3.
My trick to mount/unmount is:
Unmount:
Move the aperture ring to f/22, place my index finger on the lens' 'blue dot' and the thumb on the aperture ring on the opposite side. Rotate counter-clockwise.
Mount:
Same finger positions as unmount but instead, set the aperture ring at f/2.8 and rotate clockwise.
This will not put any pressure on the front mount or focusing ring. The aperture ring shouldn't get excessive pressure since the lens' "blue dot" is located in a non-movable section of the barrel.
So far I was extending the Loxias to the hard stop prior to mounting/unmounting. This has proven to be the easiest way to remove (or mount) the lens. Would you say that this causes stress on the lens mechanics?
My Loxia 21 is pretty tight, especially on the A7R3.
My trick to mount/unmount is:
Unmount:
Move the aperture ring to f/22, place my index finger on the lens' 'blue dot' and the thumb on the aperture ring on the opposite side. Rotate counter-clockwise.
Mount:
Same finger positions as unmount but instead, set the aperture ring at f/2.8 and rotate clockwise.
This will not put any pressure on the front mount or focusing ring. The aperture ring shouldn't get excessive pressure since the lens' "blue dot" is located in a non-movable section of the barrel.
So far I was extending the Loxias to the hard stop prior to mounting/unmounting. This has proven to be the easiest way to remove (or mount) the lens. Would you say that this causes stress on the lens mechanics?
Apr 13, 2018 at 05:31 AM
p.19 #17Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
stjepan wrote:
My trick to mount/unmount is:
Unmount:
Move the aperture ring to f/22, place my index finger on the lens' 'blue dot' and the thumb on the aperture ring on the opposite side. Rotate counter-clockwise.
Mount:
Same finger positions as unmount but instead, set the aperture ring at f/2.8 and rotate clockwise.
This will not put any pressure on the front mount or focusing ring. The aperture ring shouldn't get excessive pressure since the lens' "blue dot" is located in a non-movable section of the barrel.So far I was extending the Loxias to the hard stop prior to mounting/unmounting. This has proven to be the easiest way to remove (or mount) the lens. Would you say that this causes stress on the lens mechanics?
I've seen a comment from Zeiss that doing that is no problem, so that's also the method that I've been using.
Fred Miranda wrote
My Loxia 21 is pretty tight, especially on the A7R3.My trick to mount/unmount is:
Unmount:
Move the aperture ring to f/22, place my index finger on the lens' 'blue dot' and the thumb on the aperture ring on the opposite side. Rotate counter-clockwise.
Mount:
Same finger positions as unmount but instead, set the aperture ring at f/2.8 and rotate clockwise.
This will not put any pressure on the front mount or focusing ring. The aperture ring shouldn't get excessive pressure since the lens' "blue dot" is located in a non-movable section of the barrel.
I've seen a comment from Zeiss that doing that is no problem, so that's also the method that I've been using.
Apr 13, 2018 at 06:51 AM
p.19 #18Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
stjepan wrote:
My trick to mount/unmount is:
Unmount:
Move the aperture ring to f/22, place my index finger on the lens' 'blue dot' and the thumb on the aperture ring on the opposite side. Rotate counter-clockwise.
Mount:
Same finger positions as unmount but instead, set the aperture ring at f/2.8 and rotate clockwise.
This will not put any pressure on the front mount or focusing ring. The aperture ring shouldn't get excessive pressure since the lens' "blue dot" is located in a non-movable section of the barrel.So far I was extending the Loxias to the hard stop prior to mounting/unmounting. This has proven to be the easiest way to remove (or mount) the lens. Would you say that this causes stress on the lens mechanics?
In my opinion putting too much pressure on the focusing helicoid may cause issues overtime.
Fred Miranda wrote
My Loxia 21 is pretty tight, especially on the A7R3.My trick to mount/unmount is:
Unmount:
Move the aperture ring to f/22, place my index finger on the lens' 'blue dot' and the thumb on the aperture ring on the opposite side. Rotate counter-clockwise.
Mount:
Same finger positions as unmount but instead, set the aperture ring at f/2.8 and rotate clockwise.
This will not put any pressure on the front mount or focusing ring. The aperture ring shouldn't get excessive pressure since the lens' "blue dot" is located in a non-movable section of the barrel.
In my opinion putting too much pressure on the focusing helicoid may cause issues overtime.
Apr 13, 2018 at 08:04 AM
p.19 #19Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
I grab or put pressure on the whole lens to remove. I use my left thumb for the release and right hand grab the whole lens
Apr 13, 2018 at 08:48 AM
p.19 #20Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is a distagon
I checked this today and the Loxia 25 has extremely low distortion. I would say 1-1.5% max.
Focal lens does not change much if at all after correction.
DavidBM wrote:
http://forum.xitek.com/pics/201804/4739/473947/473947_1522741021.jpgDid you shoot these on a tripod? The Batis is noticeably wider than the Loxia and the Sony FE 28 should've been called a 25mm!
Uncorrected and at infinity, the FL for these lenses seems to be close to this:
Batis 23-24mm
Loxia 25-26mm
Sony 26mmThis is making me more tempted by the L25; it seems to be close to the FL of the Sony 28 which has always served me well as a hiking landscape lens in terms of AOV. Seems just right for so much stuff. But the lens itself while fine and great value has not thrilled me (hard to avoid a little skew, and one without has more corner astigmatism that I'd like, and low contrast at widest apertures)
Corrected the L25 is likely getting close to 27mm equivalent. Lovely!
Focal lens does not change much if at all after correction.
DavidBM wrote:
Fred Miranda wrote
Richardliang81 wrote
angle of viewhttp://forum.xitek.com/pics/201804/4739/473947/473947_1522741021.jpgUncorrected and at infinity, the FL for these lenses seems to be close to this:
Batis 23-24mm
Loxia 25-26mm
Sony 26mm
Corrected the L25 is likely getting close to 27mm equivalent. Lovely!
Apr 16, 2018 at 09:54 PM