I read this thread (and the original that preceded it) with great interest, mostly because I am a macro shooter ... though I dabble in other elements.
The reader should be aware
there are two “Classic Zeiss Distagon T* 25mm lenses”: the f/2.
8 and the f/2.
0.
Almost every “lens rating site” will discredit the f/2.8 version (the subject lens here) and laud the f/2.0 (a landscape lens, with no macro potential) … for the simple reason the f/2 has better “corner sharpness.”
What the review sites
don’t tell you (because they’re run by nerds, not nature photographers) is, while the f/2.8 version may be weaker in the corners, it is just as good in the center. Stopped down to f/8, it is also a pretty nice landscape lens, though it never achieves the level of the f/2 version.
But don't run away yet
If a prospective owner would take the time to
read actual user reviews, those who have tried both invariably return the f/2 version, and keep the 2.8 version, because of the limited usefulness of former, compared to the extreme versatility of the latter
When a user actually gets up from a lab bench, and goes out to use these lenses in nature, he quickly begins to enjoy the fact the subject 2.8 version has a
1:2 reproduction ratio (compared to a 1:6 reproduction ratio in the f/2), as well as a 2.36″ (6 cm) minimum working distance ... compared to a 5.2″ (13 cm) working distance in the f/2
Further, and just as important to nail super-detailed shots of flowers, etc., the 2.8 version has
330° of focus throw, for precision-focus, compared to 120° of focus throw in the f/2.
So, when trying to decide between the two Zeiss 28 Distagons, if you’re a pure landscape shooter, then the f/2 version is probably the superior choice. However, if you’re a multi-dimensional wildlife shooter, particularly if you’re into macro (flowers/insects), then you don’t care about ‘corner sharpness,’ as much as intimate proximity, working distance, as well as maximum reproduction ratio ... so the f/2.8 version will be the clear choice.
The combination of features, involving good reproduction ratio married to small working distance, is what prompted the
NIKKOR - The Thousand and One Nights No.57 article, by Kouichi Ohshita, celebrating the Nikkor 28mm AI-S. In the article, Oshita says,
- While many users tend to focus on aspects and specifications (sic), I think that more importance should be placed on minimum focus distance and maximum reproduction ratio. These aspects are directly related to the degree of flexibility a lens offers. For example, have you ever photographed flowers with a normal zoom lens, and then switched to a telephoto lens to make the flowers appear larger or closer, only to find that you couldn't make the flowers appear any larger or closer because the minimum focus distance for the telephoto lens was quite long? Micro lenses are the best lenses for situations like this. Therefore, with actual shooting, the minimum focus distance is every bit as important as focal length. If we look at brochures in this way, the unique characteristics of the AI Nikkor 28mm f/2.8S covered in this tale become clear. It has a minimum focus distance of just 20 cm, one of the shortest among wide-angle lenses, and a high maximum reproduction ratio of 1/3.9x. This is one of the reasons this "approachability" is still included in our manual focus lens lineup.
This features are what endeared me to the little 28mm AI-S
However, with the truth of the above passage in mind, the 28mm AI-S can't hold a candle to this Zeiss.
This Zeiss has a 3x closer working distance, twice the reproduction ratio, as well as twice the focus throw.
It is with great excitement and anticipation that I just took delivery of my own mint copy today
Perfect timing ... as all the rains will make for a beautiful spring ... so I hope to share some nice flower images soon.
