Table of Contents
Below is the full Table of Contents for Guide to Zeiss ZF/ZE Lenses.
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Introduction
Start here to best utilize this guide.
Optical Performance
Sharpness and rendering.
15mm f/2.8 Distagon
Ultra high performance in an extreme wild wide angle lens.
- 15/2.8 Distagon Main Page
- 15/2.8 Zeiss Press release
- 15/2.8 MTF Chart
- 15/2.8 Distortion
- 15/2.8 Vignetting
- 15/2.8 Chromatic Correction
- Depth of Field Table
- Weather Sealing and Rain
- Depth of Field with Steep Perspectives
- Depth of Field Aperture Series (Mossy Log Over Creek)
- Vignetting/Depth of Field Aperture Series (Church Interior)
- Examples (Ad-Hoc, Nikon D3x)
- Examples (Purissima Creek Redwoods, Nikon D3x)
- Examples (Church Interior, Nikon D3x)
18mm f/3.5 Distagon
A brilliant, but also colorful character.
- Main Page
- Examples
- Examples ZE/Canon Landscape
- Examples ZE/Canon NYC
- Examples ZE/Canon Night Shots
- Examples ZE/Canon Closeups
- Infinity Focus: where?
- Comparisons Overview
- Compared with Nikon 14-24/2.8G - Mosaic
- Compared with Nikon 14-24/2.8G - Arcades
- Compared with Nikon 14-24/2.8G - Church Interior
- Compared with Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II - Mosaic
- Flare
- Distortion
- Field Illumination and Color
- Color Shading Examples
- Bokeh
- Resolution Chart
- MTF Chart
21mm f/2.8 Distagon
Brilliant imaging, even wide open, but with a few quirks. (Review in progress)
- 21/2.8 Distagon Main Page
- Examples
- Examples 2
- Examples ZE/Canon Landscape
- Examples Climbing Mt Dana in Yosemite
- Examples in Yosemite,and White Mountains, Late Fall
- Examples ZE/Canon NYC
- Examples ZE/Canon Low-light
- Examples (close-up)
- Distortion
- Flare
- Field Illumination and Color
- vs Nikon 14-24/2.8G, et al
- vs Canon 16-35/2.8L II
- vs Nikon 14-24/2.8G
- vs Nikon 14-24/2.8G
- vs Canon 20mm f/2.8 and 16-35mm f/2.8L II
- vs Nikon 14-24/2.8G and Nikon 16-35/4G VR
- vs Leica 21mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH
- MTF Chart
25mm f/2 Distagon
Ultra high performance with a fast aperture.
- 25/2 Distagon Main Page
- 25/2 Zeiss Press release
- MTF Chart
- Distortion
- Examples (Ad-Hoc)
- Examples (Yosemite, White Mountains)
- Examples (White Mountains Snowy Day)
- Aperture Series: Banana Slug
- Aperture Series: Leaf on Log
- Aperture Series: Maple Leaves By Creek
- Aperture Series: Big Leaf Maple
- Aperture Series: Silver Canyon Cottonwood
- Aperture Series: Bristlecone Monolith Snowing
- Aperture Series: Defunct Mining Cabin
- Aperture Series: Bristlecone Stump in Snow
- Aperture Series: Bush in Blowing Snow
- Comparison: 25/2 Distagon vs Canon 24mm ƒ/1.4L II (Woods)
- Comparison: 25/2 Distagon vs Canon 24mm ƒ/1.4L II (Tree)
- Comparison: 25/2 Distagon vs Canon 24mm ƒ/1.4L II (Creek)
- Comparison: 25/2 Distagon vs Nikon 24/1.4G (Tile Roofs)
- Comparison: 25/2 Distagon vs 25/2.8 Distagon, Nikon 24/1.4G (Water Tanks)
25mm f/2.8 Distagon
A gem with unusual close-focus.
28mm f/2 Distagon
An artist’s drawing tool.
- 28/2 Distagon Main Page
- Examples
- Examples—Close-up
- Examples—White Mountains
- Examples Climbing Mt Dana in Yosemite
- Dusk and Night Shots in Mountains
- Examples—Miscellaneous
- Comparison—Nikon D3
- Comparison—Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III
- vs Nikon 24-70/2.8G, Nikon 16-35/4G VR, Nikon 28/2
- Bokeh
- Resolution Chart
- Curvature of Field
- MTF Chart
35mm f/1.4 Distagon
Strokes of a master.
- 35/1.4 Distagon Main Page
- 35/1.4 Ergonomics
- Bokeh at f/1.4
- Discussion of 35/1.4 vs Alternatives
- MTF For 35/1.4 Distagon
- Lateral Chromatic Aberration (Color Fringing) 35/1.4 vs 35/2
- Examples Near Alpine Creek
- Examples In The Forest
- Examples, Nikon D3x in Yosemite
- Examples, Nikon D3x in Sierra and White Mountains
- Portrait Examples
- Aperture Series: White Mountains Cabin
- Aperture Series: Patriarch Grove Overlook
- Bokeh Examples on Nikon D3x (Backyard)
- Sharpening for f/1.4 and f/2
- 35/1.4 Distagon Spherical Aberration Assessment
- 35/1.4 Distagon Critical Focus Example at ƒ/1.4
- 35/1.4 Distagon Differential Color Focus
- Comparison — Zeiss ZE 35 f/2 (Mosaic)
- Comparison — Forest Redwood
- Comparison — Storm-Swollen Creek
- Comparison — Mossy Tree By Creek
- Validating Optical Performance of the ZF.2 35/1.4
35mm f/2 Distagon
Balance and poise.
50mm f/1.4 Planar
Brilliant imaging in a compact package.
50/1.4 Planar vs 50/2 Makro-Planar
Comparing the two 50mm options near and far, more comparisons coming.
50mm f/2 Makro-Planar
Versatility in a “normal” lens and macro too!
85mm f/1.4 Planar
True-to-life imagery.
100mm f/2 Makro-Planar
King of bokeh! Corner-to-corner sharpness, world class.
- 100/2 Makro-Planar Main Page
- Examples
- Examples, ZE for Canon EOS
- Examples in Yosemite with Nikon D3x
- Examples in White Mountains and Death Valley / D3x
- Comparison to Canon EF 100/2.8 Macro
- ZE 100/2 Makro-Planar aperture series
- Comparison to Nikon 105mm f/2.8G VR
- In-depth Comparison to Nikon AF-S 105mm f/2.8 VR ED-IF
- Close-up Considerations at 1:1
- Comparison to Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS macro
- Comparison to Leica 100/2.8 APO-Macro-Elmarit-R
- Comparison to Leica 100/2.8 APO, Nikon 105/2.8G (Mining Mill)
- Bokeh
- Resolution Chart
- MTF Chart
Conclusions
Summary and wrap-up.
