Zeiss ZE 21mm f/2.8 Distagon example image

Shown below is an example image taken with the Canon 5D Mark II and the new Zeiss ZE 21/2.8 Distagon. It was shot wide-open at f/2.8 handheld at 1/125 second.

The example is grainy (high ISO), yet demonstrates the corner to corner image integrity, contrast and beautiful rendition made possible by the ZE 21/2.8. And it’s a real-world image made in dull tungsten lighting, just like you can have fun making in walk-around shooting. Sometime in November or so, Canon EOS users will have this best-in-class lens at their disposal (it’s already available for Nikon).

The image below can be made to look much better (contrast, brightness and more), but as shown it is presented in a minimally-processed state: converted in DPP, then converted trivially to black and white in Photoshop, downsized, sharpened very lightly, and that's it. Many larger and less compressed examples are found in Guide to Zeiss ZF/ZE Lenses.

Click to see a larger view along with actual pixels crops. Observe the image as a whole; the clarity and integrity are impressive wide open at f/2.8; the ZE 21/2.8 makes a strong case of an “anywhere, anytime, any light” lens. Whether it’s macro work to 1:5 or outdoors or indoors, this is one lens that anyone who delights in ultra wides must own.

The 21/2.8 Distagon is not perfect at f/2.8: improvements occur at f/4, a bit more at f/5.6 where it peaks, then f/8 holds that quality, but results begin to be softened just a smidgen by diffraction. A graceful decline to f/11/16/22 follows from diffraction. That’s exactly the behavior a top-flight lens should exhibit.

When you do buy the 21/2.8 Distagon or other stuff, thank you for using my B&H ad at left/near top.