Review: Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 Distagon compared to Canon 20mm f/2.8 and 16-35/2.8L II

Just added to my Guide to Zeiss ZF.2 / ZE Lenses is a new comparison between the 21mm f/2.8 Distagon and the Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 and 16-35mm f/2.8L II.

The results show just how exceptional the Zeiss 21/2.8 Distagon really is, and why you might want to mothball the Canon zoom (and the 20/2.8). At about $1732, the 21/2.8 Distagon is dear, but it’s so far ahead of the Canon alternatives that it’s a no-brainer.

What I’ve really noticed about the Zeiss 21/2.8 Distagon over time is just how consistent it is; any distance, any lighting, it just delivers, all the time, every time.

The test scene below isn’t terribly exciting, but I needed consistent lighting and the right “layout” to test the 21mm and many other focal lengths, all of which will show up over the next week or so (Canon 24/2.8, 28/1.8, 28/2.8, 35/2, and Nikon also).