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Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 Distagon T*
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Review Date: Sep 16, 2017
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,090.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Superb rendition. Solid build.
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Cons:
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Nothing.
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Have a ZF2 lens and manual focusing with it is amazingly easy. Got it as a WA for my FX. There is a difference, tried the Nikon 24-120 f/4 when I was in Europe and this lens. There is a definite difference in rendition, much better with the Zeiss. There is some distortion, nothing that is terrifying and Photoshop fixes it very quickly. When shooting buildings all lines were straight to my eye.
Focus is buttery smooth, easy and accurate. Was concerned that I was going to have trouble with it but NO issue whatsoever.
Build is solid. The lens shade is metal also. A big hunk of glass is the way I would describe it.
Got the lens used hence the price. Could not be more pleased.
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Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X 100 AF PRO D
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Review Date: Sep 15, 2017
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $350.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Take great macros and portraits with it. Built solidly, very sharp. Probably best around f/4 to f/11, f/2.8 is also very good. Could not notice any distortion, normal for macros.
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Cons:
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AF speed is average, not as fast as some of the other lenses I own and the manual focus clutch is annoying but not debilitatingly so.
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Actually enjoy using this lens. Works for Macro and Portraits, bokeh is smooth, not harsh. From my perspective IQ is very good. The fact that everything is sharp to f/11 (and f/16) is awesome since you need the DOF with a macro shot. Price is very good compared to others in its space. Nikon 105 f/2.8, Tamron 90. The only fly in the ointment is the MF clutch, if you focus in using a tripod and then use the clutch to get the final bit of focus manually it jerks the lens. Best done with live view to achieve critical focus. It's not a deal breaker at all just something that needs to be improved and LV is a workaround. You will not go wrong with the lens.
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Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 PRO DX SD
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Review Date: Jun 25, 2014
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $495.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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One of the few W/A for DX. Excellent wide open. The f/2.8 is very useful in dim places where a f/4 simply won't cut it.
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Cons:
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Minimal distortion (still there but small). Somewhat weak work against light, not bad but can see it.
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Great for places where you can get a great foreground, middle and background elements or cannot back up enough.
Optics are great as is the build, its a tank.
The short zoom can be an issue but only time its been a concern is when I need to switch lenses to take a portrait.
The lens is sharp at 11mm f/2.8 to 16 f/2.8 but resolution peaks about f/4 to f/5.6. My copy is not soft at f/2.8.
There is barrel distortion at the wide end, but is mostly fixable. However be aware some remains. No issues in places like the Colosseum in Rome, or of a lighthouse. Photograph of a door will leave the picture somewhat distorted, note that you have to look for it.
Its my go to lens in European cities and places where I choose to fill the frame. Have shot everything from Rockefeller center, the Colosseum, Cinderellas castle in Disney, to Trajans column. Detail and rendition are stunning. It is a lens that I am keeping in my DX arsenal.
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