Canon Full Frame Test: Zeiss ZF 25mm Distagon

Zeiss ZF 25mm f2.8 v Canon 24mm f1.4 L

Performance at f8 (Zone A: centre frame)

Canon 24mm L / f8 centre frame	Zeiss ZF 25mm / f8 centre frame
0 points	1 point

These are now very, very close. For me, the Zeiss still presents the scene with greater elan. Both lenses are now slightly past their peak in terms of centre frame resolution, but I'm not sure the sensor can tell the difference. The challenge from hereon in is to resists the more conspicuous, but inevitable, effects of diffraction.

Performance at f8 (Zone B: upper right)

Canon 24mm L / f8 mid frame	Zeiss ZF 25mm / f8 mid frame
0 points	1 point

It's a shame to have to dock a point from either of these, because across the frame performance is exceptionally fine. However, the Zeiss is clearly again just that bit more special: note the fine detail in the creeper on the brickwork . . . .

Performance at 24mm: f8 (Zone C: upper left corner)

Canon 24mm L / f8 corner	Zeiss ZF 25mm / f8 corner
1 point	0 points

But still the Canon owns the corners, even at f8. You may have already noticed that both lenses are extremely well corrected for distortion and display similar subtle barrel distortions sweeping outwards at the corner. Coming inboard from the extreme corner, but remaining in Zone C, we see that the Canon's superiority lies only in the extreme corners: across the rest of the frame, the Zeiss has caught up big style.

Canon 24mm L / f8 corner	Zeiss ZF 25mm / f8 corner