28mm(ish) Lens Comparison (CV/Sigma/Zeiss)
p.1 #128mm(ish) Lens Comparison (CV/Sigma/Zeiss)
Here are some test shots between the Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 28mm f/2, Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 DG DN, and Zeiss Loxia 25mm f/2.4. I realize the Loxia is wider than 28, but someone was interested in a comparison in the CV 28 APO thread.
It was breezy, so branches were moving. Nothing extremely scientific as a result. All taken with my a7R V and processed in Lightroom. I tried to balance color temps and exposure. Took default sharpening. I left distortion correction on for the Sigma and Zeiss, but turned off vignetting correction. (There is no profile for the CV yet.)
Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 28mm f/2 @ f/2
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Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 @ 28mm & f/2
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Dec 21, 2025 at 03:07 PM
p.1 #328mm(ish) Lens Comparison (CV/Sigma/Zeiss)
Great test Tim! Wow. All three look really good (as they should!). I see that the zoom has slightly more blur than the APO. It would be hard for me to choose a favorite, but if pressed, I like the APO slightly more.
Dec 21, 2025 at 03:17 PM
p.1 #428mm(ish) Lens Comparison (CV/Sigma/Zeiss)
mudlake wrote:
Great test Tim! Wow. All three look really good (as they should!). I see that the zoom has slightly more blur than the APO. It would be hard for me to choose a favorite, but if pressed, I like the APO slightly more.
Thanks, I also shot the Simera, but at wide apertures it seems much much softer. Even focusing it was tough, couldn't get much peaking to show. Makes me think I have a duff copy, so I left it out of the posts.
Great test Tim! Wow. All three look really good (as they should!). I see that the zoom has slightly more blur than the APO. It would be hard for me to choose a favorite, but if pressed, I like the APO slightly more.
Thanks, I also shot the Simera, but at wide apertures it seems much much softer. Even focusing it was tough, couldn't get much peaking to show. Makes me think I have a duff copy, so I left it out of the posts.
Dec 21, 2025 at 03:28 PM
p.1 #728mm(ish) Lens Comparison (CV/Sigma/Zeiss)
Thanks, this is an interesting comparison.
Is the difference in distortion visible with profiles turned off between the lenses?
Is the difference in distortion visible with profiles turned off between the lenses?
Dec 21, 2025 at 05:08 PM
p.1 #828mm(ish) Lens Comparison (CV/Sigma/Zeiss)
j4nu wrote:
Thanks, this is an interesting comparison.
Is the difference in distortion visible with profiles turned off between the lenses?
So you mean if I were to turn off distortion correction on the Sigma and Zeiss, how different would they be from each other (including the CV which I don't have a profile for)?
I can process a version with distortion off for the Sigma and Zeiss...and post those. Any particular shot? I assume if I do the f/2.4 and f/2.5 aperture so I can include the Zeiss, that would be okay?
Let me know. I mean visually I think the Zeiss has a bit less distortion than the Sigma, but the Sigma isn't crazy in terms of needing correction.
Thanks, this is an interesting comparison.
Is the difference in distortion visible with profiles turned off between the lenses?
So you mean if I were to turn off distortion correction on the Sigma and Zeiss, how different would they be from each other (including the CV which I don't have a profile for)?
I can process a version with distortion off for the Sigma and Zeiss...and post those. Any particular shot? I assume if I do the f/2.4 and f/2.5 aperture so I can include the Zeiss, that would be okay?
Let me know. I mean visually I think the Zeiss has a bit less distortion than the Sigma, but the Sigma isn't crazy in terms of needing correction.
Dec 21, 2025 at 05:13 PM
p.1 #928mm(ish) Lens Comparison (CV/Sigma/Zeiss)
Yeah, not sure if these shots would show noticeable distortion, but it would be nice to see all the lenses on a level playground 
.
.Dec 21, 2025 at 05:28 PM
p.1 #1028mm(ish) Lens Comparison (CV/Sigma/Zeiss)
j4nu wrote:
Yeah, not sure if these shots would show noticeable distortion, but it would be nice to see all the lenses on a level playground .
Sure, just give me a few minutes. Out of curiosity, which lens(es) do you think are at a disadvantage by correcting the distortion?
Yeah, not sure if these shots would show noticeable distortion, but it would be nice to see all the lenses on a level playground
.Sure, just give me a few minutes. Out of curiosity, which lens(es) do you think are at a disadvantage by correcting the distortion?
Dec 21, 2025 at 05:33 PM
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p.1 #1128mm(ish) Lens Comparison (CV/Sigma/Zeiss)
I don't remember, to be honest, how much distortion affect these particular lenses...
No hurry though .
No hurry though
.Dec 21, 2025 at 05:40 PM
p.1 #1228mm(ish) Lens Comparison (CV/Sigma/Zeiss)
This set is similar to the above, but I also did not correct for distortion (vignetting was already off) for the Sigma and Zeiss. You'll notice the Sigma has more distortion than the Zeiss.
Zeiss Loxia 25mm f/2.4 @ f/2.4
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Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 28mm f/2 @ f/2.5
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Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 @ 28mm & f/2.5
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Zeiss Loxia 25mm f/2.4 @ f/2.4
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Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 28mm f/2 @ f/2.5
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Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 @ 28mm & f/2.5
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Dec 21, 2025 at 05:47 PM
p.1 #1328mm(ish) Lens Comparison (CV/Sigma/Zeiss)
Same for this set, not only is vignetting correction off, but so is distortion. All of the CV shots I've posted aren't corrected for vignetting and distortion, since there is no Lightroom profile yet.
Zeiss Loxia 25mm f/2.4 @ f/2.4
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Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 28mm f/2 @ f/2.5
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Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 @ 28mm & f/2.5
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Dec 21, 2025 at 05:51 PM
p.1 #1428mm(ish) Lens Comparison (CV/Sigma/Zeiss)
Comparing a few areas of the green dress at 100%, it looks to me like the Voigtlander shows more detail and contrast than the others.
Dec 21, 2025 at 06:09 PM
p.1 #1528mm(ish) Lens Comparison (CV/Sigma/Zeiss)
tsdevine wrote:
Thanks, I also shot the Simera, but at wide apertures it seems much much softer. Even focusing it was tough, couldn't get much peaking to show. Makes me think I have a duff copy, so I left it out of the posts.
That 28mm Simera should be very sharp at f2 at that distance (looks like about 2 meters). At two meters mine is pretty sharp at f1.4. I hope you don’t have a bad copy!
mudlake wrote
Great test Tim! Wow. All three look really good (as they should!). I see that the zoom has slightly more blur than the APO. It would be hard for me to choose a favorite, but if pressed, I like the APO slightly more.That 28mm Simera should be very sharp at f2 at that distance (looks like about 2 meters). At two meters mine is pretty sharp at f1.4. I hope you don’t have a bad copy!
Dec 21, 2025 at 06:10 PM
p.1 #1628mm(ish) Lens Comparison (CV/Sigma/Zeiss)
mudlake wrote:
Thanks, I also shot the Simera, but at wide apertures it seems much much softer. Even focusing it was tough, couldn't get much peaking to show. Makes me think I have a duff copy, so I left it out of the posts.That 28mm Simera should be very sharp at f2 at that distance (looks like about 2 meters). At two meters mine is pretty sharp at f1.4. I hope you don’t have a bad copy!
Well, I must have a bad copy....there is a huge difference between it and the other lenses. Shame on me for not testing it at wider apertures when I got it. Stopped down it seemed "reasonable" based on what I had seen from other posts. C'est la vie, it happens.
tsdevine wrote
mudlake wrote
Great test Tim! Wow. All three look really good (as they should!). I see that the zoom has slightly more blur than the APO. It would be hard for me to choose a favorite, but if pressed, I like the APO slightly more.Well, I must have a bad copy....there is a huge difference between it and the other lenses. Shame on me for not testing it at wider apertures when I got it. Stopped down it seemed "reasonable" based on what I had seen from other posts. C'est la vie, it happens.
Dec 21, 2025 at 06:17 PM
p.1 #1728mm(ish) Lens Comparison (CV/Sigma/Zeiss)
tsdevine wrote:
Thanks, I also shot the Simera, but at wide apertures it seems much much softer. Even focusing it was tough, couldn't get much peaking to show. Makes me think I have a duff copy, so I left it out of the posts.That 28mm Simera should be very sharp at f2 at that distance (looks like about 2 meters). At two meters mine is pretty sharp at f1.4. I hope you don’t have a bad copy!Well, I must have a bad copy....there is a huge difference between it and the other lenses. Shame on me for not testing it at wider apertures when I got it. Stopped down it seemed "reasonable" based on what I had seen from other posts. C'est la vie, it happens.
With my simera 28 wide-open, I'm looking through the viewfinder and I'm like, this is tough to focus. I put on my nokton for a comparison test and bam "this is SO much easier to focus" but then I look at the results and it's not a huge difference, not sure what's goin on. Maybe the contrast when you're that zoomed in makes the difference with focussing. Not sure. Zooming in on the images centrally on mine, there's a decent jump between 1.4 and 2. I don't know if it's visible in the viewfinder.
Actually someone mentioned this with the viewfinder when adapted to fuji apsc and I found it similar. End results looked decent though.
mudlake wrote
tsdevine wrote
mudlake wrote
Great test Tim! Wow. All three look really good (as they should!). I see that the zoom has slightly more blur than the APO. It would be hard for me to choose a favorite, but if pressed, I like the APO slightly more.With my simera 28 wide-open, I'm looking through the viewfinder and I'm like, this is tough to focus. I put on my nokton for a comparison test and bam "this is SO much easier to focus" but then I look at the results and it's not a huge difference, not sure what's goin on. Maybe the contrast when you're that zoomed in makes the difference with focussing. Not sure. Zooming in on the images centrally on mine, there's a decent jump between 1.4 and 2. I don't know if it's visible in the viewfinder.
Actually someone mentioned this with the viewfinder when adapted to fuji apsc and I found it similar. End results looked decent though.
Dec 21, 2025 at 06:21 PM
p.1 #1828mm(ish) Lens Comparison (CV/Sigma/Zeiss)
Yogifi wrote:
Thanks, I also shot the Simera, but at wide apertures it seems much much softer. Even focusing it was tough, couldn't get much peaking to show. Makes me think I have a duff copy, so I left it out of the posts.That 28mm Simera should be very sharp at f2 at that distance (looks like about 2 meters). At two meters mine is pretty sharp at f1.4. I hope you don’t have a bad copy!Well, I must have a bad copy....there is a huge difference between it and the other lenses. Shame on me for not testing it at wider apertures when I got it. Stopped down it seemed "reasonable" based on what I had seen from other posts. C'est la vie, it happens.With my simera 28 wide-open, I'm looking through the viewfinder and I'm like, this is tough to focus. I put on my nokton for a comparison test and bam "this is SO much easier to focus" but then I look at the results and it's not a huge difference, not sure what's goin on. Maybe the contrast when you're that zoomed in makes the difference with focussing. Not sure. Zooming in on the images centrally on mine, there's a decent jump between 1.4 and 2. I don't know if it's visible in the viewfinder.
Actually someone mentioned this with the viewfinder...Show more →
Here is the second scene, shot with the Simera at f/2 and f/2.5. Focus was on the right most statue's right eye for all of the shots in this scene.
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I would have to believe the above is not representative of a normal copy of the Simera based on what you guys say your experience is.
tsdevine wrote
mudlake wrote
tsdevine wrote
mudlake wrote
Great test Tim! Wow. All three look really good (as they should!). I see that the zoom has slightly more blur than the APO. It would be hard for me to choose a favorite, but if pressed, I like the APO slightly more.Actually someone mentioned this with the viewfinder...Show more →
Here is the second scene, shot with the Simera at f/2 and f/2.5. Focus was on the right most statue's right eye for all of the shots in this scene.
Full Size
Full Size
I would have to believe the above is not representative of a normal copy of the Simera based on what you guys say your experience is.
Dec 21, 2025 at 06:36 PM
p.1 #1928mm(ish) Lens Comparison (CV/Sigma/Zeiss)
I'm not sure tbh, most of mine at f1.4-f2 were central.
... I wouldn't rule it out.
I can try a similar shot at f2 focussed there at that midzone, at roughly that distance and get back to you.
Edited on Dec 21, 2025 at 07:51 PM · View previous versions
... I wouldn't rule it out.
I can try a similar shot at f2 focussed there at that midzone, at roughly that distance and get back to you.
Edited on Dec 21, 2025 at 07:51 PM · View previous versions
Dec 21, 2025 at 06:45 PM
p.1 #2028mm(ish) Lens Comparison (CV/Sigma/Zeiss)
Yogifi wrote:
I'm not sure tbh, most of mine at f1.4-f2 were central.
... I wouldn't rule it out.
I can try a similar shot at f2 focussed there at that midzone, at roughly that distance and get back to you.
Both my shots were focused on a subject way off center, the little girl's eye in the first set and then the statue on the right. And I focused as framed, not a center focus and recompose. (Since I wanted to maintain the composition across all the lenses.)
I'm not sure tbh, most of mine at f1.4-f2 were central.
... I wouldn't rule it out.
I can try a similar shot at f2 focussed there at that midzone, at roughly that distance and get back to you.
Both my shots were focused on a subject way off center, the little girl's eye in the first set and then the statue on the right. And I focused as framed, not a center focus and recompose. (Since I wanted to maintain the composition across all the lenses.)
Dec 21, 2025 at 06:52 PM