Category: 35mm Lenses

[nextpage title=”Introduction”] Zeiss ZF 85mm f1.4 vs Canon 85mm f1.2 L (Mark 1) [published september 2006] Preliminary to the main 85mm group test, here are some first impressions of the new Zeiss ZF 85mm f1.4. Shortly, we’ll be testing it in a Nikon mount against the mighty Canon 85mm f1.2 L and Nikon’s highly regarded […]

[nextpage title=”Introduction”] Zeiss CF 25mm f2.8 v Nikon 24mm f2 AIS [published from flickr tests, november 2006] Special thanks go to Frank Fremerey who conducted this test on a Nikon D2X using a pre-production test sample number 000009 from Zeiss in Germany. Final production models may of course perform slightly differently. Further images may be […]

[nextpage title=”Introduction”] adapted contax N 17-35mm f2.8 v Nikon AF-S 17-35mm f2.8 [published in two parts, january 2007] For many years Canon users have sought out Zeiss and Leica lenses for optimal full frame performance. They’ve bought, sanded down, measured and modified adaptors; they’ve hacked bits out of their cameras and dremelled bits off their […]

[nextpage title=”Introduction (f2.8)”] Zeiss 25mm f2.8 ZF v Canon 24mm f1.4 L Mark 1 [published january 2007] Arriving a little late for the big 24mm tournament last year, the Zeiss ZF 25mm was nonetheless chosen to participate in a special play off against the winner of that review: the Canon 24mm f1.4 L. The Distagon […]

[nextpage title=”Introduction”] Contax zeiss 21mm f2.8 Distagon v Canon 24mm f1.4 L Mark 1 [published february 2007] Whatever the reason for which Canon’s 24mm L languishes under a cloud of general dissatisfaction, the sole sample we’ve put through its paces has proven to be an outstanding performer, sweeping all before it in the 24mm World […]

[nextpage title=”Introduction”] Canon 17-40mm f4 v Nikon 17-35mm f2.8 v Zeiss 21mm f2.8 Distagon [published march 2007] The first time I tested a lens purposefully was in 2001. I’d bought a Canon 17-40mm f4 L for the 1Ds Mark I and couldn’t believe the results I was getting – in a bad way. The incredulous […]

[nextpage title=”Introduction”] Canon 16-35mm f2.8 II v Leica 19mm f2.8 v Olympus 18mm f3.5 [published may 2007] I had two questions in mind when preparing this test: first, can the new Mark II Canon 16-35mm f2.8 L cut the mustard where no mustard has previously been cut by Canon? And second, what is the best […]

Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 G v Contax Vario Sonnar 17-35mm f2.8 v Contax 21mm f2.8 [published january 2008] Very few zoom lenses behave consistently from end to end. Most are deliberately optimised for wide- or long-biased performance; some vary that way accidentally from sample to sample. It is probably more common for lens to be at […]

Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 G v Canon 16-35mm f2.8 L II v Contax Vario Sonnar 17-35mm f2.8 [published January 2008] Continuing our series of Canon 1Ds Mark III tests of the Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 G, we move up to 17mm where the stiffest competition is offered by the Contax N Vario Sonnar 17-35mm f2.8, adapted by […]

[Published December 2007] At this point, we’re simply presenting the test results without further comment. These are among the first detailed samples presented of Canon’s latest Mark II 14mm used on the 22MP 1Ds III, and the very first pictures ever shot using Nikon’s 14-24mm f2.8 G on the Canon 1Ds III. The pictures speak […]