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.

1. How to Read this Publication
2. Introduction to the Zeiss ZF/ZE Lenses
3. General Discussion of the ZF.2 / ZE Lenses
4. Sensor Size and Optical Performance
5. Packaging and Warranty
6. Notes on CANON EOS (ZE) lenses
7. Notes on NIKON ZF.2 versus ZF
8. Focusing Tips (general)

Optical Performance

Sharpness and rendering.

1. Resolution Charts Overview
2. Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) Discussion
3. Sample Variation
4. Alignment Woes
5. Subtleties of Rendition
6. Bokeh
7. Comparison: 21/2.8 and 25/2.8 Distagon vs Nikon 24/1.4G

15mm f/2.8 Distagon

Ultra high performance in an extreme wild wide angle lens.

1. 15/2.8 Distagon Main Page
2. 15/2.8 Zeiss Press release
3. 15/2.8 MTF Chart
4. 15/2.8 Distortion
5. 15/2.8 Vignetting
6. 15/2.8 Chromatic Correction
7. Depth of Field Table
8. Weather Sealing and Rain
9. Depth of Field with Steep Perspectives
10. Depth of Field Aperture Series (Mossy Log Over Creek)
11. Vignetting/Depth of Field Aperture Series (Church Interior)
12. Examples (Ad-Hoc, Nikon D3x)
13. Examples (Purissima Creek Redwoods, Nikon D3x)
14. Examples (Church Interior, Nikon D3x)

18mm f/3.5 Distagon

A brilliant, but also colorful character.

1. Main Page
2. Examples
3. Examples ZE/Canon Landscape
4. Examples ZE/Canon NYC
5. Examples ZE/Canon Night Shots
6. Examples ZE/Canon Closeups
7. Infinity Focus: where?
8. Comparisons Overview
9. Compared with Nikon 14-24/2.8G - Mosaic
10. Compared with Nikon 14-24/2.8G - Arcades
11. Compared with Nikon 14-24/2.8G - Church Interior
12. Compared with Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II - Mosaic
13. Flare
14. Distortion
15. Field Illumination and Color
16. Color Shading Examples
17. Bokeh
18. Resolution Chart
19. MTF Chart

21mm f/2.8 Distagon

Brilliant imaging, even wide open, but with a few quirks. (Review in progress)

1. 21/2.8 Distagon Main Page
2. Examples
3. Examples 2
4. Examples ZE/Canon Landscape
5. Examples Climbing Mt Dana in Yosemite
6. Examples in Yosemite,and White Mountains, Late Fall
7. Examples ZE/Canon NYC
8. Examples ZE/Canon Low-light
9. Examples (close-up)
10. Distortion
11. Flare
12. Field Illumination and Color
13. vs Nikon 14-24/2.8G, et al
14. vs Canon 16-35/2.8L II
15. vs Nikon 14-24/2.8G
16. vs Nikon 14-24/2.8G
17. vs Canon 20mm f/2.8 and 16-35mm f/2.8L II
18. vs Nikon 14-24/2.8G and Nikon 16-35/4G VR
19. vs Leica 21mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH
20. MTF Chart

25mm f/2 Distagon

Ultra high performance with a fast aperture.

1. 25/2 Distagon Main Page
2. 25/2 Zeiss Press release
3. MTF Chart
4. Distortion
5. Examples (Ad-Hoc)
6. Examples (Yosemite, White Mountains)
7. Examples (White Mountains Snowy Day)
8. Aperture Series: Banana Slug
9. Aperture Series: Leaf on Log
10. Aperture Series: Maple Leaves By Creek
11. Aperture Series: Big Leaf Maple
12. Aperture Series: Silver Canyon Cottonwood
13. Aperture Series: Bristlecone Monolith Snowing
14. Aperture Series: Defunct Mining Cabin
15. Aperture Series: Bristlecone Stump in Snow
16. Aperture Series: Bush in Blowing Snow
17. Comparison: 25/2 Distagon vs Canon 24mm ƒ/1.4L II (Woods)
18. Comparison: 25/2 Distagon vs Canon 24mm ƒ/1.4L II (Tree)
19. Comparison: 25/2 Distagon vs Canon 24mm ƒ/1.4L II (Creek)
20. Comparison: 25/2 Distagon vs Nikon 24/1.4G (Tile Roofs)
21. 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.

1. 25/2.8 Distagon Main Page
2. Examples
3. Examples In California’s White Mountains
4. Examples In Yosemite
5. Examples In Lundy Canyon, Eastern Sierra
6. Aperture Series: Bristlecone Monolith Snowing
7. Infrared Examples 25/2.8 IR-Distagon
8. Comparison
9. Bokeh
10. Resolution Chart
11. Curvature of Field
12. MTF Chart

28mm f/2 Distagon

An artist’s drawing tool.

1. 28/2 Distagon Main Page
2. Examples
3. Examples—Close-up
4. Examples—White Mountains
5. Examples Climbing Mt Dana in Yosemite
6. Dusk and Night Shots in Mountains
7. Examples—Miscellaneous
8. Comparison—Nikon D3
9. Comparison—Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III
10. vs Nikon 24-70/2.8G, Nikon 16-35/4G VR, Nikon 28/2
11. Bokeh
12. Resolution Chart
13. Curvature of Field
14. MTF Chart

35mm f/1.4 Distagon

Strokes of a master.

1. 35/1.4 Distagon Main Page
2. 35/1.4 Ergonomics
3. Bokeh at f/1.4
4. Discussion of 35/1.4 vs Alternatives
5. MTF For 35/1.4 Distagon
6. Lateral Chromatic Aberration (Color Fringing) 35/1.4 vs 35/2
7. Examples Near Alpine Creek
8. Examples In The Forest
9. Examples, Nikon D3x in Yosemite
10. Examples, Nikon D3x in Sierra and White Mountains
11. Portrait Examples
12. Aperture Series: White Mountains Cabin
13. Aperture Series: Patriarch Grove Overlook
14. Bokeh Examples on Nikon D3x (Backyard)
15. Sharpening for f/1.4 and f/2
16. 35/1.4 Distagon Spherical Aberration Assessment
17. 35/1.4 Distagon Critical Focus Example at ƒ/1.4
18. 35/1.4 Distagon Differential Color Focus
19. Comparison — Zeiss ZE 35 f/2 (Mosaic)
20. Comparison — Forest Redwood
21. Comparison — Storm-Swollen Creek
22. Comparison — Mossy Tree By Creek
23. Validating Optical Performance of the ZF.2 35/1.4

35mm f/2 Distagon

Balance and poise.

1. 35/2 Distagon Main Page
2. Examples
3. Examples: Mountains
4. Examples in White Mountains and Yosemite / D3x
5. Comparison 1
6. Comparison 2
7. vs Nikon 24-70/2.8G, Nikon 16-35/4G VR, Nikon 35/1.4
8. The Criticality of Infinity Focus
9. Bokeh
10. Resolution Chart
11. MTF Charts

50mm f/1.4 Planar

Brilliant imaging in a compact package.

1. 50/1.4 Planar Main Page
2. 50/1.4 Examples
3. 50/1.4 Examples in White Mountains, Death Valley
4. Comparison
5. Aperture Series
6. Bokeh
7. Outdoor Bokeh
8. Resolution Chart
9. MTF Chart

50/1.4 Planar vs 50/2 Makro-Planar

Comparing the two 50mm options near and far, more comparisons coming.

1. Notes on the 50mm Comparisons
2. 50/1.4 vs 50/2 at Medium Range — Mine Engine
3. 50/1.4 vs 50/2 Take 2 — Mine Engine
4. 50/1.4 vs 50/2 At ~4 foot range
5. 50/1.4 vs 50/2 vs Nikon 50/1.4G — Gears

50mm f/2 Makro-Planar

Versatility in a “normal” lens and macro too!

1. 50/2 Makro-Planar Main Page
2. 50/2 Examples
3. 50/2 Examples in White Mountains, Death Valley, Yosemite
4. 50/2 Examples, ZE for Canon EOS
5. Comparison with Canon 50mm f/2.5
6. Bokeh
7. Resolution Chart
8. MTF Chart

85mm f/1.4 Planar

True-to-life imagery.

1. 85/1.4 Planar Main Page
2. Examples
3. Examples — Yosemite
4. Comparison
5. Bokeh
6. Resolution Chart
7. Focus Shift
8. MTF Chart

100mm f/2 Makro-Planar

King of bokeh! Corner-to-corner sharpness, world class.

1. 100/2 Makro-Planar Main Page
2. Examples
3. Examples, ZE for Canon EOS
4. Examples in Yosemite with Nikon D3x
5. Examples in White Mountains and Death Valley / D3x
6. Comparison to Canon EF 100/2.8 Macro
7. ZE 100/2 Makro-Planar aperture series
8. Comparison to Nikon 105mm f/2.8G VR
9. In-depth Comparison to Nikon AF-S 105mm f/2.8 VR ED-IF
10. Close-up Considerations at 1:1
11. Comparison to Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS macro
12. Comparison to Leica 100/2.8 APO-Macro-Elmarit-R
13. Comparison to Leica 100/2.8 APO, Nikon 105/2.8G (Mining Mill)
14. Bokeh
15. Resolution Chart
16. MTF Chart

Conclusions

Summary and wrap-up.

1. Overall Conclusions
2. Future Lenses (speculation/wish)
3. Where to Buy
4. Glossary

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