Zeiss Distagon 18 3.5 ZE

Just wondering when this lens is going to be released. Is there an actual delay on production of this lens? My birthday is coming up in Janurary and I'd like to have it before my trip. Thanks in advance.

I sent an email to Zeiss about the delay and got the answer: beginning of December.
I hope that means - in my hands by the Dec 10th

How does this lens compare to the 21?

iqbal624 wrote in post #9028808
How does this lens compare to the 21?

It's 3mm wider

Jesse Webb wrote in post #9031632
It's 3mm wider

Other than that it's the same?

Most all reviews say the 18 is no where near the quality of the 21. In fact most say the 18 is the "worst of the Zeiss line. Hmm...worst of the best.

snowboarder wrote in post #9028801
I sent an email to Zeiss about the delay and got the answer: beginning of December.
I hope that means - in my hands by the Dec 10th

Cool! I'll probably order when it first comes out!

gasrocks wrote in post #9031788
Most all reviews say the 18 is no where near the quality of the 21. In fact most say the 18 is the "worst of the Zeiss line. Hmm...worst of the best.

I've read a few that isn't all that great too but, I'd like to see it for myself.

I believe Diglloyd posted on his blog an example that shows the 18mm doesn't have that "Pop" from wide open. But as stated, "bad" is relative. It may be bad but that is amongst other Zeiss lenses.

BlueTsunami wrote in post #9032839
I believe Diglloyd posted on his blog an example that shows the 18mm doesn't have that "Pop" from wide open. But as stated, "bad" is relative. It may be bad but that is amongst other Zeiss lenses.

Even if "bad" is relative, I wouldn't use this lens wide open anyway.

The big question to me would be how it compares to the Canon 17-TSE, which by all accounts, is a stellar (and expensive) lens.

Tom W wrote in post #9032992
The big question to me would be how it compares to the Canon 17-TSE, which by all accounts, is a stellar (and expensive) lens.

I'd like to see the comparison too. I bet the 17 TS-E will be muh better imho.

Do not forget to compare prices.

gasrocks wrote in post #9036448
Do not forget to compare prices.

Absolutely - there's going to be about a $1000 premium for the 17 TSE over the Zeiss 18 (give or take a few). For that $1000, you're gaining tilt/shift, absolute great corners (still need to compare to the Zeiss), and the ability to use with Canon's 1.4X teleconverter (an unadvertized advantage - see the results in this thread on FM: http://www.fredmiranda​.com/forum/topic/83645​5 ).

It's still a lot of money, and if the tilt/shift isn't a feature that you want, there's probably no use paying for it. Both lenses are manual-focus so there's no advantage there for the Canon.

I've been contemplating the 17 TSE myself because of it's flexibility. That's the only reason I mentioned it here.

Tom W wrote in post #9037722
Absolutely - there's going to be about a $1000 premium for the 17 TSE over the Zeiss 18 (give or take a few). For that $1000, you're gaining tilt/shift, absolute great corners (still need to compare to the Zeiss), and the ability to use with Canon's 1.4X teleconverter (an unadvertized advantage - see the results in this thread on FM: http://www.fredmiranda​.com/forum/topic/83645​5 ).

It's still a lot of money, and if the tilt/shift isn't a feature that you want, there's probably no use paying for it. Both lenses are manual-focus so there's no advantage there for the Canon.

I've been contemplating the 17 TSE myself because of it's flexibility. That's the only reason I mentioned it here.

Personally, I think you need to choose the Zeiss for other features, mainly the different rendering, the lack of a bulbous front element, and size, provided again you think you don't need tilt-shift (once used and realized th epossibilities, there is no way back). One does need to take into account that the TS-E is a 14 mm lens when stitching vertically, and 10 m mwhen stitching horizontally. And all of this at unbelievable IQ.

Other than that, I reckon, based on my own comparison of reviews on the net, and having used the TS-E 17 for a few weeks now, that there is no comparison. The TS-E 17 is in the same league as the ZE 21, if not better, while the ZE 18 clearly is in a class (just) below that.

Kind regards, Wim