Canon Full Frame Test: Zeiss ZF 25mm Distagon

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

Performance at f11 (Zone A: centre frame)

Canon 24mm L / f11 centre frame	Zeiss ZF 25mm / f11 centre frame
0 points	1 point

Again almost too close to call. The Zeiss has a slightly more pleasing quality about its low end tones here, which are more solidly drawn, so we'll let it sneak an extra point rather than call it a draw.

Performance at f11 (Zone B: upper right)

Canon 24mm L / f11 mid frame	Zeiss ZF 25mm / f11 mid frame
1 point	1 point

Perhaps the ZF 25mm has a little more 'bite' in these Zone B crops, but we gave the Zeiss the benefit of the doubt in Zone A, so I think we have to call this one a draw: both are superb.

Performance at 24mm: f11 (Zone C: upper left corner)

Canon 24mm L / f11 corner	Zeiss ZF 25mm / f11 corner

Canon 24mm L / f11 corner	Zeiss ZF 25mm / f11 corner
1 point	0 points

 

The Canon just holds on to its extreme corner superiority, but even there this pair are now very close at f11. In the 17-19mm section of Zone C, the Zeiss is perhaps a fraction sharper, but bear in mind that its longer focal length is giving it a few more sensor pixels to render the meshwork on this netting. The Zone C point just about goes to the Canon, but it's very close.