This topic is in the 2018 archive. You can read it and like its posts here. It is read only.
Archive 2018Loxia 25/2.4 Rolling Review at phillipreeve.net
p.1 #1Loxia 25/2.4 Rolling Review at phillipreeve.net
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Here is an excerpt from Phillip's first impressions:
“I didn’t expect any surprises in this review. We all agree that the Loxia 2.8/21 is the finest wide angle lens for E-mount at the moment and according to Zeiss’ MTF curves the Loxia 2.4/25 should be even slightly sharper.
So far there were no surprises. The Loxia 2.4/25 showed excellent results. I guess the more relevant question is not if this is optically good enough but how well a 2.4/25 would fit into your kit.”
Read the entire review at phillipreeve.net.
Flickr Album with full size samples
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The new ZEISS Loxia 25mm f/2.4 Lens for Sony E Mount is now Available for Pre-order:
B&H Photo | Adorama ($1,299)
Expected availability: Mar 28, 2018
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Sample 1
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Sample 2
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Sample 3
Mar 26, 2018 at 03:45 PM
p.1 #2Loxia 25/2.4 Rolling Review at phillipreeve.net
Nice! I've been thinking of switching the Batis for the Loxia, just because I want a smaller lens and I really don't like AF. 
But, is it just me, or is the DOF unusually large at medium distances?
There is only half a stop of difference from the Batis, but I think it looks very different when it comes to the amount of background blur.
But, is it just me, or is the DOF unusually large at medium distances?
There is only half a stop of difference from the Batis, but I think it looks very different when it comes to the amount of background blur. Mar 26, 2018 at 04:48 PM
p.1 #3Loxia 25/2.4 Rolling Review at phillipreeve.net
Looks like we have another lovely lens. Thanks for the initial review.
On that high contrast scene, CA seems particularly noticeable because the sun was right was behind the dark tree branches and that's really a torture test for any lens. I believe this is not lateral CA though. It looks like purple fringing to me which is axial. Having said that, it's a bit disappointing to see this as it's not something I encountered when shooting with the Lox 21.
Philip, did you notice if FC is more pronounced at f/5.6 compared to f/2.4? Another FM member posted some crops showing this behavior from his copy.
On that high contrast scene, CA seems particularly noticeable because the sun was right was behind the dark tree branches and that's really a torture test for any lens. I believe this is not lateral CA though. It looks like purple fringing to me which is axial. Having said that, it's a bit disappointing to see this as it's not something I encountered when shooting with the Lox 21.
Philip, did you notice if FC is more pronounced at f/5.6 compared to f/2.4? Another FM member posted some crops showing this behavior from his copy.
Mar 26, 2018 at 06:16 PM
p.1 #4Loxia 25/2.4 Rolling Review at phillipreeve.net
Looks great just trying to calm my patience since I pre-ordered a little late in the game.
Mar 26, 2018 at 06:45 PM
p.1 #5Loxia 25/2.4 Rolling Review at phillipreeve.net
GMPhotography wrote:
Looks great just trying to calm my patience since I pre-ordered a little late in the game.
I pre-ordered it a few minutes after it became available and my order still shows 'backordered' as of right now...
Looks great just trying to calm my patience since I pre-ordered a little late in the game.
I pre-ordered it a few minutes after it became available and my order still shows 'backordered' as of right now...
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Mar 26, 2018 at 09:19 PM
p.1 #6Loxia 25/2.4 Rolling Review at phillipreeve.net
Thanks for sharing, Fred.
With my flat infinity test I see no obvious FC at f/5.6 but I will have a closer look asap.I will also look at "laCA" closer, it is quite likely that it is actually LoCA.
Edited on Mar 26, 2018 at 11:03 PM · View previous versions
With my flat infinity test I see no obvious FC at f/5.6 but I will have a closer look asap.I will also look at "laCA" closer, it is quite likely that it is actually LoCA.
Edited on Mar 26, 2018 at 11:03 PM · View previous versions
Mar 26, 2018 at 10:15 PM
p.1 #7Loxia 25/2.4 Rolling Review at phillipreeve.net
Definitely looks like a winner so far. I'm re-organizing my wides and slowly realizing that I might never actually buy a digital rangefinder. I still have 4 Leica M lenses all 50mm and up, and I'm wonder if I should fall to the M mount siren song or take a chance with the Loxia's.
The 25mm Batis was definitely too big for my liking, and I wonder if this lens is the one I should buy instead of paying double the amount for a 28mm cron.
The 25mm Batis was definitely too big for my liking, and I wonder if this lens is the one I should buy instead of paying double the amount for a 28mm cron.
Mar 26, 2018 at 10:49 PM
p.1 #8Loxia 25/2.4 Rolling Review at phillipreeve.net
Phillip Reeve wrote:
Thanks for sharing, Fred.
With my flat infinity test I see no obvious FC at f/5.6 but I will have a closer look asap.I will also look at "laCA" closer, it is quite likely that it is actually LoCA.
Thanks for checking and good luck with game against Brazil tomorrow. I know we are gonna need it!
Thanks for sharing, Fred.
With my flat infinity test I see no obvious FC at f/5.6 but I will have a closer look asap.I will also look at "laCA" closer, it is quite likely that it is actually LoCA.
Thanks for checking and good luck with game against Brazil tomorrow. I know we are gonna need it!
Mar 26, 2018 at 11:40 PM
p.1 #9Loxia 25/2.4 Rolling Review at phillipreeve.net
Fred Miranda wrote:
With my flat infinity test I see no obvious FC at f/5.6 but I will have a closer look asap.I will also look at "laCA" closer, it is quite likely that it is actually LoCA.Thanks for checking and good luck with game against Brazil tomorrow. I know we are gonna need it!
I don't find the time to analyze my images right know but here is a large dump of full resolution images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/96189377@N08/albums/72157694179618594
Phillip Reeve wrote
Thanks for sharing, Fred.With my flat infinity test I see no obvious FC at f/5.6 but I will have a closer look asap.I will also look at "laCA" closer, it is quite likely that it is actually LoCA.
I don't find the time to analyze my images right know but here is a large dump of full resolution images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/96189377@N08/albums/72157694179618594
Mar 27, 2018 at 04:24 AM
p.1 #10Loxia 25/2.4 Rolling Review at phillipreeve.net
Phillip Reeve wrote:
I don't find the time to analyze my images right know but here is a large dump of full resolution images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/96189377@N08/albums/72157694179618594
Phillip, thanks for the dump of images. I "kind of decided" to not get this one as this is 25mm, and I wanted 28mm
but I'm slightly interested thanks to your middle distance samples, and I may reconsider my "decision" of not buying this lens.
Typically reviews have only two kind of images: landscape distance & minimum focus distance, which both are not at all useful for me. I consider middle distance samples only meaningful samples for rendering style evaluation, close-up/makro boke is all just too blurry to evaluate the quality of boke. I guess someone needs those landscape pixel peeping images, but for me they are just not giving any useful info (usuful only for validating decentering issues). So thanks for including also the most useful middle distance shots to your review/dump
Based on the few middle distance shots, it seems that boke is little rough @ f/2.4, but already @ f/2.8 lens appears to be usable (from boke point of view). The sample images of middle distance tree was most useful: 00339/f/2.4, 00340/f2.8 and 00341/f/4.0.
Backlit tree samples (from 00350-00358 and 00362) seem to indicate possible boke problem; either thicker DOF on corners or outward field curvature. All these samples either f/2.4 or f/2.8 have too much stuff in focus/apparent focus/contrast on corners. Or then it's just optical/mechanical vignetting, which makes branches to appear more contrasty than they are in middle of images. In any case I did find the apparent larger DOF in corners distraction.
Loved the rendering style (and lack of color boke errors) on 00054.
Close-ups/semi-makro shots were not so useful for lens rendering style evaluation, but liked 00022/butterfly f/2.8 and based on blue flowers/00015 this lens seems to focus quite close (those flowers are really small) and focus plane image quality seems still pretty crisp.
Samuli
I don't find the time to analyze my images right know but here is a large dump of full resolution images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/96189377@N08/albums/72157694179618594
Phillip, thanks for the dump of images. I "kind of decided" to not get this one as this is 25mm, and I wanted 28mm
but I'm slightly interested thanks to your middle distance samples, and I may reconsider my "decision" of not buying this lens. Typically reviews have only two kind of images: landscape distance & minimum focus distance, which both are not at all useful for me. I consider middle distance samples only meaningful samples for rendering style evaluation, close-up/makro boke is all just too blurry to evaluate the quality of boke. I guess someone needs those landscape pixel peeping images, but for me they are just not giving any useful info (usuful only for validating decentering issues). So thanks for including also the most useful middle distance shots to your review/dump
Based on the few middle distance shots, it seems that boke is little rough @ f/2.4, but already @ f/2.8 lens appears to be usable (from boke point of view). The sample images of middle distance tree was most useful: 00339/f/2.4, 00340/f2.8 and 00341/f/4.0.
Backlit tree samples (from 00350-00358 and 00362) seem to indicate possible boke problem; either thicker DOF on corners or outward field curvature. All these samples either f/2.4 or f/2.8 have too much stuff in focus/apparent focus/contrast on corners. Or then it's just optical/mechanical vignetting, which makes branches to appear more contrasty than they are in middle of images. In any case I did find the apparent larger DOF in corners distraction.
Loved the rendering style (and lack of color boke errors) on 00054.
Close-ups/semi-makro shots were not so useful for lens rendering style evaluation, but liked 00022/butterfly f/2.8 and based on blue flowers/00015 this lens seems to focus quite close (those flowers are really small) and focus plane image quality seems still pretty crisp.
Samuli
Mar 27, 2018 at 08:44 AM
p.1 #11Loxia 25/2.4 Rolling Review at phillipreeve.net
Data dump is great but the biggest issue I see is not the lens but your just in such flat lighting that color, contrast and even micro detail are hard to telll. Not your fault at all. I just think you need to send it to a dear friend in the desert that’s sitting under a blazing sun. I wonder who that is. 😂
Seriously looks great but we need to send you some sunshine bud.
A rare moment for me I want B&H to actually take my money. Maybe today. It’s saying the 28th release which sometimes means at least from B&H they actually ship today the 27th.
Seriously looks great but we need to send you some sunshine bud.
A rare moment for me I want B&H to actually take my money. Maybe today. It’s saying the 28th release which sometimes means at least from B&H they actually ship today the 27th.
Mar 27, 2018 at 08:58 AM
p.1 #12Loxia 25/2.4 Rolling Review at phillipreeve.net
Phillip Reeve wrote:
With my flat infinity test I see no obvious FC at f/5.6 but I will have a closer look asap.I will also look at "laCA" closer, it is quite likely that it is actually LoCA.Thanks for checking and good luck with game against Brazil tomorrow. I know we are gonna need it! I don't find the time to analyze my images right know but here is a large dump of full resolution images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/96189377@N08/albums/72157694179618594
Thanks for sharing these Phillip. Love the light in the forest shots (around #290). Lens clearly makes lovely sun stars with excellent contrast.
Fred Miranda wrote
Phillip Reeve wrote
Thanks for sharing, Fred.With my flat infinity test I see no obvious FC at f/5.6 but I will have a closer look asap.I will also look at "laCA" closer, it is quite likely that it is actually LoCA.
Thanks for sharing these Phillip. Love the light in the forest shots (around #290). Lens clearly makes lovely sun stars with excellent contrast.
Mar 27, 2018 at 10:10 AM
p.1 #13Loxia 25/2.4 Rolling Review at phillipreeve.net
Thank you, Phillip and team, for the diligent work here.
Mar 27, 2018 at 10:20 AM