From the posted NEF files and my conversion, here are some 100% crops of the 5.6 image. Hard to imagine much better corner sharpness than this from a 21mm lens at 24MP.
Initial comments from Lloyd of Diglloyd are what we thought that the ZF21 is much better than Canon 16-35mk2 and has more punch than 14-24G but has more distortion. Curious to see the full report to see how much better it is than the 14-24G and how much distortion it has.
I know we're all excited, and there is no bigger fan of the CZ21 than me, but we know what we're going to get, right?
The C/Y Distagon is a slightly higher resolving lens across a 20+MP frame than the 14-24mm G, which is the next best thing at 21mm (although David Clapp's test disagrees). All the new versions are at least as good (but not radically better) than the old, so it will still be sharpest thing out there – but not a revelation.
We see from the data that the distortion is the same as before. So if the subject matter calls for correction, the resolution advantage is minimised.
It remains unclear whether new coatings have ameliorated the flare and ghosting weaknesses of the original design – but very likely they have.
So this is hardly a journey of discovery: without laying hands on it, we can be pretty sure that the CZ21 is the sharpest lens of its kind until you apply PP correction, at which point, it will still be as good as the next-best 14-24.
It's a no-brainer: if you want the best, get it and be grateful. If you want something very nearly as good all the way down to 14mm, get the Nikon. If budget permits, get both!
What's really interesting to me is how the new, slightly better CZ21 compares with the new, much improved Canon 24L II, which is just close enough in FL to be considered an alternative, and which, even in Mark I guise, was very close in many ways to the original Distagon.
Talking about the 16-35II in the same breath as either of these three lenses is a waste of air - unless you only shoot at diffraction-hostile f16.
For the record, 16:9 won't be testing the CZ21 until it's available in ZE mount and we can finally guarantee adaptor issues are not a factor. Then, we'll be comparing it to the 24L II, 14-24G and maybe – just to embarrass it – the 16-35II.
Here are some samples I took yesterday. No 100% crops, but I can post some if anyone wants. Crazy sharp on a D700. Focuses quite close as well, very nice.
hubsand wrote:
For the record, 16:9 won't be testing the CZ21 until it's available in ZE mount and we can finally guarantee adaptor issues are not a factor. Then, we'll be comparing it to the 24L II, 14-24G and maybe – just to embarrass it – the 16-35II.
Throw the Oly 21/2 in that mix too, please (if you can. )
Ed Sawyer wrote:
Throw the Oly 21/2 in that mix too, please (if you can. )
That would be interesting . . . but I'd need to find one. Anyone fancy meeting up, or lending one to the cause in exchange for some juicy inbound links to their web site?
