Zeiss Distagon T* 2.8/15mm Wide Angle Full Review
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- Опубліковано 6 лип 2024
- Review of the Zeiss Distagon T* 2.8/15mm lens filmed in the Arizona desert. Full text review can be found here: Purchase the lens in a Canon mount here: bhpho.to/1CweLOY or a Nikon mount here: bhpho.to/1CweLOY.
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A very useful, detailed and practical review. Great job, Dustin! 😀
Dustin, thanks for another great review, i found them very useful. I am anxious to know you impressions about the zeiss distagon 21. It's a lens i use a lot for landscape and I lo ve it. I agree with you about the zeiss makro planar 50/2: it's one of the best lenses i ever mount in front of my camera. Best regards!
I saw the photos from this lens on your website Dustin, very impressive quality ! I think I'm sold on it lol
It's a great size and has great image quality. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was how incredibly long the focus throw is.
+ChrisBeBallin™ My bad - I thought you were responding on the Makro-Planar 2/50mm review. This lens has a great focus throw. It was very, very easy to use in the field.
+Dustin Abbott Thanks for informing !
Hey there Dustin, here is a quick question, I have read that with a wide angle lens it is best to use soft grad filters, is this because the horizon is not straight? and the straight hard edge would be visible? and what post production software do you use? have just splashed another huge amount of cash on some great glass NISI filters a new player in the filter world and am trying to avoid wasting money.
+Kidraver I always prefer a soft grad, myself, as horizons in my world almost always have trees on them somewhere.
You've thrown in a ton of information along the way in reviewing this lens Dustin, well done again. I've been looking for a Zeiss lens for the past few years and always end up talked into a cheaper alternative. Namely the Sigma 85Ex and the 35Art lenses. What would you consider the ideal Zeiss lens to start with for a portrait and landscape amateur like me who wants a remarkable prime?
I would take a long look at the 135mm APO Sonnar T* (bhpho.to/1z3aP6N). It is one of the finest lenses I've ever reviewed and is stunningly good!
Hey Dustin, great review, thanks. Don’t know if I’m late to the conversation but a question in case you’re still fresh with your memories about the lens: I’ve seen other pictures and reviews and it seems there is a perceptible amount of barrel distortion, unlike the Voigtlander 15 [which has much less; I own one]. So my question, did you experience said barrel distortion? I’m using an M10R. I really appreciate the speed of 2.8 but I’m not sure whether to “upgrade” from the Voigtlander to the Zeiss to have to deal with the barrel distortion. Any comments are welcome...
Yes, there is some barrel distortion, though its not complex and easy to fix in post.
How’d they (^,& up the focus on the video [ not including the stills]
Hey Dustin,
I’m one of your long time fan and subscriber.
I really love the way you explain, and review lenses .
I just had a question , I’m having hard time to focus to infinity to use this lens with my R5! it seems I need just tiny bit Turn to get there but the lens Focus just stops.
Do you think this is normal?
Because when I’m using the same lens with my other camera Lumix S1R it looks much better.
Any idea why I’m having this issue?
Thank you for your time
Cheers
I would have to guess it had to do with the adapter in some way.
Great review. Do you have any experience adapting this lens with a speedbooster for the GH4?
+ChrisDillon I don't, I'm afraid, although IMO wide angle lenses designed for full frame lose their uniqueness when you add in the crop factor of an APS-C sensor.
Juan, Zeiss is supposed to send me the 2.8/21 sometime over the next couple of weeks.
The 2.8/21mm review is live. Check the playlist!
@Billy- if I purchased every single thing that I reviewed I would be seriously broke! I reviewed about 18 lenses last year. I would love to own the lens...if I had the money.
First off, thank you very much Dustin for the excellent review. My question is this? Will this lens fit my Canon 60 D? my second question, would this older version of Canon create wonderful photographs as you have explained in detail? personally, I doubt I will ever have a need for any more pixels that I already enjoy. as I am a student of photography with no intention of ever going into professional photography. thank you sir.
+Gary Bowen This is a bit tough. First of all, yes, it will fit your 60D no problem. It will still be an excellent lens there, but it won't be dramatically wide. The focal length will be a 24mm equivalent (FF) due to the crop of your camera (multiply every focal length by 1.6 to get the full frame equivalent focal length). 24mm is a great focal length, but it won't be quite as dramatic as some of the images I've shared here. You will have less vignette, however. If you really want a wide focal length you need to look at something designed for a crop camera (10-12mm)
Great review :)
Thank you, Jess
Hai Dustin how does the 15mm zeiss compare to the tamron 15-30mm in terms of contrast and sharpnes i have the Tamron but are curious how it compares to the Zeiss 15mm
+ted tedsen While I have extensively used both lenses, I've never directly compared them. I'd give the contrast edge to the Zeiss as well as the wide open sharpness at 15mm (the Tamron is sharpest in the middle of its focal range). The Tamron vignettes and flares less.
Great lens... Have you ever use the Zeiss 16-35 f/.2.8 II, For Sony A-Mount? It' a huge different about the picture quality???
I haven't used it. I've not yet used any Sony bodies so I'm not familiar with the glass.
Great review Dustin, I'm really considering this lens for my 5DS R, I already own their Otus 55mm and am extremely pleased with it, I admire the look of this 15mm Distagon and respect its wide FOV, only thing is its pretty pricey lol.
+ChrisBeBallin™ It is expensive, but Zeiss glass can be pretty addictive! How is the 5DSr for manual focus? Any MF aids?
+Dustin Abbott Thats true about Zeiss glass ! I'm pretty used to the manual focusing on my 5DS R (it also helps out with the 16x magnification focus assist), haven't had any issues yet, but for most applications I keep it on my tripod because any slight movement of the camera can cause a blurred image because of the mass resolution lol. Keep up these good reviews BTW !
What a great lens for a 5DS R. It makes me want to go out and buy the camera.
First: Thank you for your prompt reply concerning the coma of the 15mm 2.8. I am using a SIGMA 14mm 1.8, for milkyway. I have to stop it down to 2.8 to knock out coma, but I don't think that the stars are as sharp as they should be. In fact I have gotten a contract with the State of Texas to photograph the milkyway and the Gulf of Mexico (in the same photo), and I am wondering if I should try another lens. Have you ever compared the Zeiss 15mm to the Sigma 14mm 1.8?
I have not done a direct comparison.
Hi Dustin! I know this video is a few years old, but I was just wondering what your thoughts are about this lens today when compared with other options such as the Laowa 12mm or 15mm lenses. I primarily use a Nikon F4 film camera, so G lenses aren't a very good option for me. Does this lens still hold up today when compared with the other options available such that it would be worth trying to find used (they seem to run about $1000 these days)? I primarily am interested in using this for landscape and astrophotography. Thanks for your help!
It's been a few years since I've tested once of these lenses, but I would still say it is stronger than either of the Laowa lenses in absolute performance. Color rendition in particular is much more special than any Laowa glass
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thanks for your quick reply! I'll definitely be on the lookout for a good used version of this lens, as the images I've seen elsewhere and in your review look fantastic. The newer ultrawide lens offerings from Laowa, etc. created some doubt in my mind, because the price point is still very high for me at $1000, but your comment about color rendition is very helpful. Thanks again!
The Zeiss lenses also have electronics, which makes them more user friendly in a lot of ways.
Hey there Dustin, great review, took me a couple of weeks to save but after seeing your review I have now gotten my own, I have a question regarding filters, I have just bought a 150x150mm filter holder and a 4stop grad for starters, the holder has a connector that slides over the petals and covers the gap, what I am thinking is if it is ok to use a 95mm nd filter that is attached to the lens as well and then attach the holder with the larger grads that need to be able to move up or down, am sure it is ok mechanically and optically but would like to hear from an expert as I have not found any info anywhere, thanks.
I've done something similar with a different lens before and had no issue
+Dustin Abbott Thanks for that Dustin saved me cubic light years of research, just one more question which is more perplexing and is about the Nikon manual focusing tech, the bullet symbol, there is a long way from when the bullet sign appears and when it disapears, I think you touch on this in your review, well I have experimented with moving the focus ring clockwise and stopping when the bullet appears and doing the same counter clockwise and I think that when the right arrow just disappears is the best for subject focus, of couse this is only a problem when hand holding and I shoot on a tripod mostly, can use the rear screen for pinpoint focusing, thanks.
robmar555
That is the basic problem with a confirmation chip - there is too wide a plane of focus where the chip signals "correct" focus. I try to use that in conjunction with visual confirmation where possible. I changed out the focus screen in one of my bodies and use all my manual focus lenses on it.
If you need your system to be smaller, find this adapter compatible with 100mm filter's holder : www.ebay.com/itm/ADR95-95mm-Adapter-ring-of-Laser100SE-holder-for-Zeiss-Milvus-15mm-f-2-8-/272507404653?
A good, solid review. I bought a 14-24 Nikon holy trinity lens a few months backand I did not consider the problem of filter use with the Nikon. Some pros like Joe Cornishlike to use square filters like the Lee but it looks time consuming to me. Thanks.
I have that kind of system for one of my wide angle lenses, and, yes, it is cumbersome, though graduated ND filters give you great results.
How do you think this lens would do on the modern high resolution mirrorless cameras like the Sony R cameras? I really like the rendering and build quality of this lens, but I heard that the softness in the corners will be very visible on higher resolution bodies. It isn’t as modern as say the Zeiss Batis 18mm, Sigma 14-24mm, Sony 16-35mm GM and so on. I know that you haven’t really tested it on such cameras, but how do you theoretically think it would handle the high resolution of, say, the Sony a7R IV that I use? Do you think it would be worse than the Zeiss Batis 18mm that is designed to handle high resolution mirrorless camera bodies? I got the Batis myself, but I would like something wider. Of course there are a lot of zooms that can do the job, but I just prefer primes. But I might just go for one of the zooms for once
I have a very hard time imagining that this lens would be softer than the Batis 18, but no, I haven't tested it in that kind of environment.
Great lens too, for anyone looking for a cheaper/smaller alternative the 18mm is almost as nice. I have both and I honestly use the 18mm way more frequently just because of the size so it actually fits in my bag haha, extra bonus for filter holders too.
TJ, I think everyone has a WA focal length that they are most comfortable composing with. I also have the Rokinon 12mm for mirrorless, and it is about a 19mm equivalent, and I find that very easy to compose with. Zeiss is sending me the 21mm in a few weeks, and and I am very interested in using it and that focal length for a bit.
What about the coma at wide open??? I like to do Milkway photography with a Nikon D850 with a Sigma 14mm F/1.8. But the coma is terrible I bump it up to F/2.2 to 2.8 to reduce the coma, but what about coma with the 15mm @2.8?
Coma performance of the Zeiss is very good. It's one of the better astro lenses I've used apart from the heavy vignette.
Great lens for cinematic shot
Agreed
Thank you I'm will get on eused or a new Milvus 15mm. I need to test my 18mm F3.5 first. I could not stand to use nikons 14-24mm so I sold it. I need to use ND grad filter on the lens
Fair enough.
did you really go 15 minutes without talking about aperture at all? I've been trying to figure out the aperture ring for ZE vs ZF. Been hearing canon mount ZE does NOT have manual iris control. Iris must be controlled inside the camera.
+Jake Southard That is true of all Zeiss ZE mount lenses. No manual aperture ring; full electronic control.
Greatday Dustin, how about Zeiss Distagon T* 2.8/15mm compare to the Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD lens at 15mm, which one sharpest & high detail? TQ so much
At 15mm the Zeiss has sharper wide open performance. More micro contrast, too, though the Tamron is very good!
Hi Dustin. The text review link is missing. Did you take it down? I got this lens in ZF.2 and I saw moire on the image side through the optical viewfinder when I sharply focused on a bed sheet with a detailed pattern-never seen that before. It renders very brilliant, very sharp images. I was looking for a mint w/box and papers NIkon 15mm F5.6 QDC or same condition 15mm F3.5 AIS (but really wanted the QDC) when a sample of this lens, a USA warrantied, like new in box item showed up on ebay for $1350, the same price or less than such a Nikkor may cost! I'm glad I got this Zeiss.
+Mark David Strode that's an amazing price for the lens. I'm out of town and can't check the link situation
Thanks for looking into the link thing Dustin. Your reviews are very pleasant to watch. Very thorough. Because of the Milvus BH Photo in NY has this now "Classic" Distagon for $1999 (July 2017) - just a bit more than a 14-24 Nikkor. While a Canon man may be accustomed to having no aperture ring I categorically refuse to buy Nikon G lenses or their third party equivalent. The still-made Nikon AIS and Zeiss lenses suit me perfectly.
Can you review zeiss distagon 35mm f2..?
+vamsi nallapeddi At some point, perhaps, but I'm mostly focused on the new lenses coming to market...and there are a lot of them!
+Dustin Abbott okay..but I just want to know if it is better than milvus 35mm..thank you..:)
+vamsi nallapeddi Its the same optical design with newer coatings-- less ghosting and flare resistance. You'll rarely see the difference. Had them both, sold them both immediately. I have many Zeiss lenses, but the 35mm Zeiss's are not in my bag, not even the 1.4.
Excellent review Dustin ... I personally own this one 15mm and the 18mm ... both just as you explain , excellent resolution and dynamic range in terms of colours and sharp . Yes expensive but the rewards far exceed the cost and a life time of use if well cared for . I used to use the canon 16-35mm f/2.8 Mkii and always disappointed with the soft focus in the edges and corners . I use the canon 5DSr and with the big 50MP sensor this Zeiss does the camera justice compared to any of the canon wide angles .
+ross sayers It's a lovely lens, and definitely has that special "edge" to it.
I think the reason why the lens underexposes is because although this lens is rated at 2.8, it's actual light transmission is closer to 3.3. so the camera meters for 2.8 but is not transmitting light as such. therefore images will appear slightly dark.
Ve g Very few lenses have a light transmission equal to their stated f-stop, so technically that should not cause a metering issue. The camera measures the light entering the sensor, not what the lens is reporting as the f-stop. I suspect the issue was magnified by the conditions here - very snowy. I didn't notice the issue as much when traveling in the American southwest.
Dustin Abbott Yes, it's called a T-Stop. That was my point. Lets say you have a Canon 35 1.4L and a Sigma 35 1.4, the Sigma's actual transmission is 1.4 while the Canon is closer to 1.6 even though the body is set to and displays f/1.4 as the aperture. In my experience, given identical conditions (all other things being equal such as shutter speed, iso), the lens that lets in more light (in this case the Sigma) should make for a brighter picture assuming the shutter speed and iso is the same.
Ve g
Except for the fact that a camera's metering is actually done according to the light entering the sensor (t-stop) and the camera adjusts accordingly. The only way that you should see the difference between the Sigma and the Canon is if you were manually metering and left the same settings in place for both lenses without adjusting for the metering. BTW, in the field the difference would be very difficult to perceive. Very few lenses have a t-stop equal to their stated f-stop, so this issue would not only affect the Zeiss.
If I may throw in a slight comment... However much I enjoy your videos and the lenses you review are really unique (wish I could afford them), this video has so much of focus hunting that combined with heavy focus breathig, it's really distracting. With static takes like that manual focus would work better I presume.
You are absolutely right. I didn't have my normal setup with my in Arizona for shooting video, so I had to use the EOS M I had along. I didn't realize that it was periodically adjusting focus until post. The challenges of being a one man team in the field!
Dustin, since I watched the Tamron 15-30 lens review it looked like you were in a church. Ever do any preaching? You have that certain speaking voice often associated with preachers. LOL ( Not a bad thing ) LOL No doubt about it, Zeiss makes very high quality glass and if you want the best your going to have to pay for it ;-) I would pick the Tamron over the Zeiss only because I could use it when shooting video easier. Great review.
You nailed it - I am a pastor.
Dustin Abbott Well God Bless You & your family. My Wife & I live in Dothan, Al. and we go to a Non-Denom church called Wiregrass Church. It is one of Andy Stanley's Sister churches. My Wife & I went up to Atlanta to see his Daddy Charles Stanley. Great preacher and photographer.
hawg427
I just heard this past week that Andy Stanley was a photographer. That's very interesting!
It's your fault. I bought the lens from B&H. It was a lot of money. I decided to send it back. I couldn't get it to FedEx. I couldn't let go of it. It's your fault. The sharpest lens I've used. Nothing else comes close in my experience. Night photography, especially the Milky Way in season. The stars are pinpoints.
LOL. It is a lot of money, and it is a beautiful, beautiful lens.
B&H has it for around $1700
Yes, Zeiss has really cut the price on this one since the Milvus version came out.
WOW! Never knew that. Like Father like Son. LOL Andy came to our church a few Month's ago and gave us a church PEP talk :-) I found out that he is actually a very shy person. I don't know how somebody can be called to preach and by shy. LOL Sorta polar opposites.
I may have gotten them confused, so don't quote me on that!
heard allot of adjectives.
Didn’t hear much about the camera
That may be because I wasn't reviewing a camera.
What is wrong with this picture? Could it be the dress slacks, blue dress shirt, dress shoes, but in the deserts of AZ to do a review. Bad composition
Overloading microphone. Just lower input levels.
LOL - I've released probably 500 videos since this one. I think I got it figured out ;)
@@DustinAbbottTWI clearly. Sorry for commenting.
very bad sound :S