Zeiss Distagon 18 3.5 ZE

Looks like the Zeiss 18mm hasn't been released yet. Snowboarder mentioned the 10th/11th of this month. Oh well. I guess I'll wait some more.

wimg wrote in post #9037822
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

I apologize for my late reply. I wasn't following the thread, obviously.

I think I'll save up a few months and snag one of these 17 TSE bodies. It is advantagous that it is wide enough to be a wide-angle TSE on the 7D (certainly worth a try) as well as an ultrawide TSE on the 5D2. Excellence in a wide angle is a loft goal that, it seems, few lenses can meet.

Tom W wrote in post #9198884
I apologize for my late reply. I wasn't following the thread, obviously.

I think I'll save up a few months and snag one of these 17 TSE bodies. It is advantagous that it is wide enough to be a wide-angle TSE on the 7D (certainly worth a try) as well as an ultrawide TSE on the 5D2. Excellence in a wide angle is a loft goal that, it seems, few lenses can meet.

I agree with you 100% on the 5d2. It's plenty wide. I would love to get this lens but, you can't use filters. I still want this lens!

Here are a few comparisons of the Zeiss 18 f2.8 Distagon to the Nikon 14-24 and compared to several other Zeiss lenses.
Mike K

http://www.luminous-landscape.com …enses/distagon-18mm.shtml

http://www.welsh4.com …tion=com_conten​t&Itemid=2

And if you are not convinced of the IQ and capability of a Canon 17 TSE, look at this
http://forums.dpreview​.com …rum=1029&messag​e=33961286

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.

Most reviews dont have a clue then, apart from the more pronounced vignette performance is on par. As for opinons, most people having one never used either.

Mike K wrote in post #9199894
Here are a few comparisons of the Zeiss 18 f2.8 Distagon to the Nikon 14-24 and compared to several other Zeiss lenses.
Mike K

http://www.luminous-landscape.com …enses/distagon-18mm.shtml

http://www.welsh4.com …tion=com_conten​t&Itemid=2

And if you are not convinced of the IQ and capability of a Canon 17 TSE, look at this
http://forums.dpreview​.com …rum=1029&messag​e=33961286

Saw those reviews already. I don't mind forking out for the 17 ts-e but, you can't use filters. I wanna try the Zeiss 18 first. If I don't like, I'll sell it and get the 17 ts-e. I'm more than convinced on the 17 Ts-E but, it's not what I need atm.

MR do little wrote in post #9199961
Most reviews dont have a clue then, apart from the more pronounced vignette performance is on par. As for opinons, most people having one never used either.

Can we see some samples with your 18mm and D3? Pleeeaaaase?!

Ken Rockwell has posted a review of the lens. He seems to like it. He also throws in a comparison between the Zeiss 18 mm, Canon 16-35 mm L II and Nikon 14-24 mm for good measure.

jdizzle wrote in post #9198761
Looks like the Zeiss 18mm hasn't been released yet. Snowboarder mentioned the 10th/11th of this month. Oh well. I guess I'll wait some more.

Not sure what's going on. It's being delayed again, asked both B&H and the Zeiss US
and nobody knows anything...
As I'm leaving for my trip, I had to cancel, will take my 16-35L II instead
for any moments my Zeiss 21 would not be wide enough.

scepticswe wrote in post #9200481
Ken Rockwell has posted a review of the lens. He seems to like it. He also throws in a comparison between the Zeiss 18 mm, Canon 16-35 mm L II and Nikon 14-24 mm for good measure.

He must have used one of the press copies they have available.
But it's still hasn't been shipped from Germany.

snowboarder wrote in post #9202088
Not sure what's going on. It's being delayed again, asked both B&H and the Zeiss US
and nobody knows anything...
As I'm leaving for my trip, I had to cancel, will take my 16-35L II instead
for any moments my Zeiss 21 would not be wide enough.

No worries. Maybe Zeiss is correcting the vignetting problem with lens.

jdizzle wrote in post #9202670
No worries. Maybe Zeiss is correcting the vignetting problem with lens.

Nope. One of the reasons the Nikkor 14-24 and TS-E 17 vignette comparatively little compared to ZE 21 and ZE 18 is the use of the enormous bulbous front element(s). The ZE 18 shows more vignetting than the ZE 21.

I don't think there is anything UWA at ~17 or ~18 mm currently, that can beat the TS-E 17. The Nikkor 14-24 actually has soft corners in comparison, at any FL. And the Nikkor is an extremely sharp lens already.

Kind regards, Wim

wimg wrote in post #9203111
Nope. One of the reasons the Nikkor 14-24 and TS-E 17 vignette comparatively little compared to ZE 21 and ZE 18 is the use of the enormous bulbous front element(s). The ZE 18 shows more vignetting than the ZE 21.

I don't think there is anything UWA at ~17 or ~18 mm currently, that can beat the TS-E 17. The Nikkor 14-24 actually has soft corners in comparison, at any FL. And the Nikkor is an extremely sharp lens already.

Kind regards, Wim

I was kidding of course. The 17 ts-e is a stellar lens but, I don't need it atm. The downside to this lens is that I can't use filters on it(17 ts-e).

jdizzle wrote in post #9204095
I was kidding of course. The 17 ts-e is a stellar lens but, I don't need it atm. The downside to this lens is that I can't use filters on it(17 ts-e).

What filters would you need? This lens is too wide to make much use of a polarizer, and any other filtration effects can be applied in post-processing.

Rick "who wishes Wim would STOP talking about that 17 TS-E already!" Denney

rdenney wrote in post #9204177
What filters would you need? This lens is too wide to make much use of a polarizer, and any other filtration effects can be applied in post-processing.

Rick "who wishes Wim would STOP talking about that 17 TS-E already!" Denney

Well, knowing Julian, he has all those cool little toys from Singh-Ray that he'd like to keep using on occasion.