Looking forward to seeing your pic's and results.

Initial impressions of the 28mm f/2.0 Zeiss..... sharp at f/2, BUT, a lot of curvature of field. Initially I thought the edges were a total loss, but after a careful set of shots using f/2.0 and focus on the corners... seems sharp in the corners. A fair amount of chromatic aberration is present near the edges wide open. But, we will do the test against the others and drop all the results into a new thread.

@ Rx4Photo +1.....I really do not know why there is such a mystique about the glass... but your description is sort of what I am anticipating. And, the Zeiss 100mm Makro-Planar *T ZF.2 is the other lens I am considering for a macro.

It will be interesting to see the actual results at f/2, 4, 8 with the comparison I described above of the three lenses at 28mm. I plan on a landscape for this, but might do some portrait stuff as well so as to look at closer focusing distances. Some folks are looking forward to that 15mm, but that is a "post lottery win" item.

msmoto said:
As we are chatting about other Zeiss glass here, I decided on the 28mm f/2 as a trial of my first Zeiss lens. My 16-35mm f/4 VR Nikkor is so sharp I have no desire, at this moment at least, for the 15mm Zeiss just for one f/stop......well, maybe it is the $3,000...

But, I think the 28,f/2 should be a nice fast, wide lens and will drop some comparison shots on one of the threads so folks can see the "in the field" results of this vs. the 16-35mm at 28mm and an old 28-85mm at 28mm as well.

I am excited about the reported "look" of the Zeiss glass....

OK, Full Disclosure ;~) I haven't talked it up much because I'm truly kinda modest that way but I've recently settled on the Zeiss 100mm Makro-Planar *T ZF.2. I've only put 1 or 2 shots on the PAD since they were of portraits of "clients." I will say that when I first picked the lens out of the box I almost got weak in my knees and I think my heart skipped a beat as well. Let's just say that if I'd had a cigarette nearby I would've smoked it.

Msmoto, I think you'll see it as a jewel of a lens. Enjoy it. I cannot see getting any more Zeiss glass but I always wanted just one.

As we are chatting about other Zeiss glass here, I decided on the 28mm f/2 as a trial of my first Zeiss lens. My 16-35mm f/4 VR Nikkor is so sharp I have no desire, at this moment at least, for the 15mm Zeiss just for one f/stop......well, maybe it is the $3,000...

But, I think the 28,f/2 should be a nice fast, wide lens and will drop some comparison shots on one of the threads so folks can see the "in the field" results of this vs. the 16-35mm at 28mm and an old 28-85mm at 28mm as well.

I am excited about the reported "look" of the Zeiss glass....

Rx4Photo said:
I had the Samyang 14mm with the Nikon chip for a few months and discovered that I would come home with out-of-focus pics sometimes because when the green focus indicators in the lower left viewfinder switched from > to < and finally land on "o" to indicate focus, the resulting picture would not always be truly focused. It would land on "o" and I could still turn the lens a bit in both directions with it still on "o" which resulted in me not really knowing when I was truly going to get a sharp picture. That's the main reason I sold it.

It was the same for me, but it's easy to set the range correctly without the focus dot. (unless you are focusing really close at 2.8)

Golf: I think he was just trying to be careful and not overpromise on somebody else's product.

Anybody seen a Zeiss 15mm yet? I'm climbing walls.

msmoto said:
Re: Weather sealing of Zeiss lenses, I quote from their email to me:

"Our SLR lenses have no special weather sealing. So an almoust dry and dust-free enviroment is recommended. The Nikon D 4 has some sealing. But in my opinion the electronic is more critical than the optics. So some precautions like rain protection bags or something like that would help to keep your equipment in good working conditions in case of critical applications conditions."

Thank you for getting us this info. I find it very unprofessional on how this representative tried to but a "spin" on the D4 as having "some sealing." I would enjoy meeting such an individual and call him on his BS by demonstrating the D4's weather sealing. Such as having 4 gallons of water next to my D4, attached to it a Nikon weather sealed lens, and giving them both a bath, just to seeing his the look on his face as he tries to save face. The answer was in the first two sentences.

Re: Weather sealing of Zeiss lenses, I quote from their email to me:

"Our SLR lenses have no special weather sealing. So an almoust dry and dust-free enviroment is recommended. The Nikon D 4 has some sealing. But in my opinion the electronic is more critical than the optics. So some precautions like rain protection bags or something like that would help to keep your equipment in good working conditions in case of critical applications conditions."

One can interpret this as you desire. I think I would purchase the Zeiss glass solely on the optical performance and if used in harsh conditions, protect it with a front filter, gaffer's tape or other, and enjoy.

Rx4Photo said:
I had the Samyang 14mm with the Nikon chip for a few months and discovered that I would come home with out-of-focus pics sometimes because when the green focus indicators in the lower left viewfinder switched from > to < and finally land on "o" to indicate focus, the resulting picture would not always be truly focused. It would land on "o" and I could still turn the lens a bit in both directions with it still on "o" which resulted in me not really knowing when I was truly going to get a sharp picture. That's the main reason I sold it.

I have been thinking about that lens for some time as it can be had for around $300 and seems fine optically. Thanks for your valuable info though as its forced me to have another think about it. I can only buy that lens via online shopping from OS from where I live and so returns are a PITA.

Regarding the weather sealing issue, I did a little web searching yesterday to find a few thoughts out there in addition to going to the Zeiss web site. I think the general answer out there is NO, not weather sealed but I found a couple of boards out there where people have mentioned that they've used Zeiss lenses in rain, snow, sleet, fog, etc. with no adverse effects to the lens afterwards. One guy stated that the rubber gasketing in the Zeiss lenses is "special" and prevents climate intrusion. Don't know how true that is.

I had the Samyang 14mm with the Nikon chip for a few months and discovered that I would come home with out-of-focus pics sometimes because when the green focus indicators in the lower left viewfinder switched from > to < and finally land on "o" to indicate focus, the resulting picture would not always be truly focused. It would land on "o" and I could still turn the lens a bit in both directions with it still on "o" which resulted in me not really knowing when I was truly going to get a sharp picture. That's the main reason I sold it.

The tolerences on the Zeiss Makro-Planar T 2/100mm on the other hand are practically razor thin. It's either telling you to turn >, or turn <, or you're spot on focus "o".

msmoto writes in part: "I got the impression the Canon guys think Nikon is too expensive and so they have Canon. "

Maybe it's my local market but I don't see much difference in price. Much more like Coke vs. Pepsi instead of PC vs. Mac.

As to the Zeiss-15, anybody seen one with their own eyes yet? I'm frothing at the mouth so much my wife is taking me in for vaccines this afternoon.

I never even worry about the front element getting in the way of the shot, ie the water on the front glass. The DOF is so shallow that it will never show up on the shot....if you get my meaning. Much like when you shoot through the fence with a lens with a large focal length (i.e. 200, 300, 400, 600mm). :P

As for the Zeiss, I really would like to take one for a test drive and see what it is like to operate with such a fully manual lens. You, my dear msmoto, have worked with manual focus lens far more than I, given your long history with photography gear.

Yup, D4, 70-200mm f/2.8 in the rain tonight at the racetrack... I only worry about the front element getting wet...otherwise, one of the other gals handed me a towel to wipe it off in the pits and I handed the towel back and told her I usually just let it dry. Which it does. Spoke with another photog at the track and we were comparing notes... his Canon and my Nikon. I got the impression the Canon guys think Nikon is too expensive and so they have Canon. They also think our lenses are sharper. Or so he said.

But, the Zeiss short glass is sooo..... tempting.

msmoto said:
....Nikon stuff seems to be able to withstand a brief shower.

All my pro-class, more over all those that have weather sealing...can withstand far more than just a brief shower. I have shot with my 24-70 2.8 in very hard rain with my D7000 and they both performed without any issue during and afterwards. TTJ had a video (his shot on PAD with the double rainbow if I recall) up a week or two ago with some crazy rain coming down and I believe he too can confirm my position.

Never the less, thanks for asking them....looking forward in hearing what they have to say.

Just a note regarding the weather sealing of Zeiss lenses... I have asked them on their website, the question directly, and will report back when they respond. I think their response may determine if I get some of their glass or not. The 100mm macro is what I have an interest in and I was last out shooting macro shots in the rain.... and the Nikon stuff seems to be able to withstand a brief shower.

By the way, I'd just like to add the 24mm prime 2.8D is a fine addition to any collection as well. One of the best Nikkor lenses of all time for star bursts with its classic straight aperature bladed design and very sharp. Under $300 to boot can't go wrong :)

Eric said:
The thing that the 14-24 has going for it is that in order to match the range of the 14-24 with Zeiss glass you need both the Zeiss 15 and the Zeiss 21. From that standpoint the 14-24 is a comparative bargain. The 14-24 is my favorite lens, but I'd love to have Zeiss glass. I think my first Zeiss lens will be the 100 f/2 though....

+1

Question: Correct me if I'm wrong but I do not believe that Zeiss lenses are weather sealed...yes? If that is the case it sure limits one use of them...no?

The thing that the 14-24 has going for it is that in order to match the range of the 14-24 with Zeiss glass you need both the Zeiss 15 and the Zeiss 21. From that standpoint the 14-24 is a comparative bargain. The 14-24 is my favorite lens, but I'd love to have Zeiss glass. I think my first Zeiss lens will be the 100 f/2 though....

I am selling a nikon 14-24mm 2.8 with the fotodiox filter adapter +UV filter. email me at peter@skibovision.com if you are interested

There's no need for AF on Super Wide Angle lenses IMO, unless you have poor eyesight. I have just as much success with MF using my D800E and the Zeiss 21 as I do with a number of AF lenses. If you stop down to F9 (practically the entire universe comes into focus) and you hardly have to touch the focus ring. At F/2.8 it's still sharp and easy to focus manually in the VF visually or the rangefinder LEDs.

Like many of you, i totally agree that Zeiss produces Outstanding glass...no questions about it. Will I ever get one...who knows maybe I will be lucky enough and run into a fellow photo enthusiast and he/she will let me play with one for a bit. The one thing that does hold me back on their line of lenses is: the entire manual focus business. Nikon AF system on their lenses perform so amazingly on all their bodies that I'm not sure how I would do with a lens that I have to constantly focus myself. I would be very disappointed to miss a shot or even get that shot only to go home and realize that many where out-of-focus. With that said, I'm sure with the right technique one will be proficient at it...much like the many that own Zeiss lenses. I just feel that for my level of photography, the results I'm getting from the 14-24, as well as, all my other Nikon lenses, I'm completely satisfied.

The review posted above does show the Zeiss is by far the best wide open. The Nikon edge quality is better when stopped down some. I think the conclusions were if you are a wide open shooter the Zeiss is it! 15mm at $200 per mm....makes me want to say mmmm...

And I tend to be a wide open shooter, Rats!

You just can't go wrong with Zeiss on any camera body. I have never heard or seen anything bad about Zeiss Ikon products. The new advertisement shots from the 15mm ZF .2 look truely outer-worldly! You need to be careful though because the 14-24 is certainly no slouch either and the best wide zoom on the market except for the filter problem obviously. You would get more bang for your buck with the 14-24, but which end of the wide spectrum would you be happy with 14-15 are or 21-24?

D800E & Zeiss 21/2.8
The following shot is at f/2.8.

The following shot is at F/3.5