A good wide angle for the Zeiss ZF

[David W. Jones]

Here is a shot with the Zeiss 18/4 Contax mount wide open.

 

[Antoine Fabi]

Possible to have a 15mm f2.8 ZF ?

...email sent to Zeiss...

Antoine

 

[Andrew Armstrong]

What about the 17-35mm 2.8 Nikkor zoom?

 

[Nils J. Nesse]

The 17-35 makes nice images, but is crap for focus pulling.
The focus ring does not have hard stops. (Keeps on turning past infinity/near limit.)
The focus throw is very short.
And it has a very rough "feel" to the focusing, especially if you're used to the ZFs or real cine lenses.

I have high hopes for it for when the Birger Nikon mount's released (if ever).

 

[Douglas Underdahl]

I have the 17-55 Nikon and I put hard stops on it, and I swear it seems sharper than my AIS Nikon primes. I suspect this has something to do with the fact that it is a much newer aspherical lens and was designed specifically for a digital sensor almost exactly the size of the one in the RED. I will try to do some tests with it, and also with the 11-16 Tokina.

 

[Antoine Fabi]

Hi Douglas,

How do you put hard stops on the 17-35 ?

It is a SHARP lense indeed !
It IS sharper than most Nikkor primes.
So is the 28-70 f2.8

Can't wait to hear about your Tokina 11-16/Nikkor 17-35

Antoine

 

[Douglas Underdahl]

I don't have the 17-35. I have the 17-55 which only covers the digital sized Nikon sensor, which is just slightly larger than the RED sensor. I made a crude but effective aluminum bracket and tab set up that stops the focus ring at each end of it's range so that you get repeatable focus results. I like it better than the 17-35 because it's smaller, has better focal range, and it's probably been optimized for digital sensors. It's been my work horse lens. Stays on the camera almost all the time.

 

[Rick Darge]

I have been using the 17-35 f/2.8 for quite sometime and although the focus pulling is a little bit of a pain, once you get used to it, you're alright.

I use the 17-35 75% of the time because its so sharp, colors are great and its compact and covers me pretty well. I need to check out that 17-55 however, seems like a great lens for the money. Douglas, have you done any comparisons with the 17-35 VS. the 17-55?

I just picked up that Tokina 11-16 and can already tell that it will become the new workhorse in my kit. Simply amazing clarity and 11mm is so much fun to have.

Best,

 

[Peter Sensor]

Wide Angles

Wide Angles

We've been selling the ZF 18mm F3.5, this is a great lens, don't let the 3.5 scare you, it's only a half stop away from 2.8. We step it up to 95mm OD.
Also, The Nikon 14mm F2.8, we've adapted a Hood/step-up to 95mm OD.
to accommodate matte box step-downs.
- Peter at RPLENS.COM

 

[Antoine Fabi]

Peter,

which of these two lenses is the sharpest ?

thanks

Antoine

 

[Steve Sherrick]

I have been using the 17-35 f/2.8 for quite sometime and although the focus pulling is a little bit of a pain, once you get used to it, you're alright.

I use the 17-35 75% of the time because its so sharp, colors are great and its compact and covers me pretty well. I need to check out that 17-55 however, seems like a great lens for the money. Douglas, have you done any comparisons with the 17-35 VS. the 17-55?

I just picked up that Tokina 11-16 and can already tell that it will become the new workhorse in my kit. Simply amazing clarity and 11mm is so much fun to have.

Best,

We're running similar kits. The Tokina is great. I'll be using it for a lot of stuff. If the 17-55 is sharper than the 17-35, it's not by much but you do gain the extended range which is why Doug loves it and why I contemplated selling the 17-35.

 

[Douglas Underdahl]

I don't have any lens comparisons, just some observations from the last shoot, on my 1440 x 900 monitor (which of course isn't all that HIGH def, really)

I want to load build 17 so I can do the 1:1 pixel zoom thing and see what's what, maybe get a Putora chart and see how many lines, etc. To tell you the truth, I really go by the feel of the lens once I put it on the camera, and the 11-16 just looks like a gas. Great for POV stuff - I can already see shots inspired by RAISING ARIZONA, flying through the supermarket looking for disposable diapers . . .

 

[Vance Colvig]

For what it is worth, before I decided on either the 17-35mm or the 17-55mm Nikons, I had the opportunity to talk face to face to a Nikon USA lens technician at the Torrence facility, and I asked him which lens he thought was sharper and had better contrast. Without a pause, he said it was the 17-35mm. I am sure it varies some from lens to lens though. I chose the 17-35mm, but do miss the extra push the 17-55 affords.

 

[Sanjin Jukic]

"AF-S Zoom-NIKKOR 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED FF35 lens

High-performance, ultra wide-angle zoom lens, perfect for candid photography
and news photojournalism in challenging lighting conditions."


LINK>>

"AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 17-55mm (25.5-82.5mm FF35) f/2.8G IF-ED (APS-C 1.5x-crop from FF35)

This high-performance, wide-angle zoom is designed exclusively for use with Nikon’s DX-format,
is fast and versatile for travel and portrait work."

LINK>>

"Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 PRO DX (APS-C Nikon 1.5x & Canon 1.6x crop from FF35).

The new Tokina 11-16mm (16.5-24mm FF35) f/2.8 AT-X 116 PRO DX is an ultra-wide angle lens with a fast f/2.8 aperture for better
photography in low-light situations. Many photojournalists consider having an f/2.8 aperture a must
for any lens in their camera bag."

LINK>>

So AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 17-55mm (25.5-82.5mm FF35) f/2.8G IF-ED is out.

And the winner is AF-S Zoom-NIKKOR 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED FF35 auto and manual focus/iris lens.

 

[Douglas Underdahl]

From your link, Sanjin:
17-55

DX design enables a combination of wider angle-of-view with optical characteristics that are optimized for Nikon digital SLR camera sensors.
#
Nikon DX design produces a smaller image circle (the size of the image that is projected by the lens on to the sensor) enabling smaller lens diameter, lighter weight and optimal image quality from center-to edge-to-corner on the image.

Well someone should shoot some charts to see which one is the winner, I think.

 

[Rick Darge]

If someone wants to loan me their 17-55, I will gladly do a test at my home. I have a little chart I can throw up, and I can do some quick real world dirty tests. I'll compare the 17-55's 50mm focal length up against the Zeiss 50 and I'll throw on the Tokina too.

Just need a 17-55 for the night.

 

[Roberto Lequeux]

Keep in mind the 17-35mm isn't as wide and costs about twice as much as the Tokina... I agree that it might be a better investment for a current ZF set but they are different beasts. Both would be perfect with a 28mm 35mm 50mm 85mm ZF set. And while neither are so long that you would freak over the focus ring they still can't compare to the ZF rings... ugh...

Less money less headaches. :blush:

 

[Sanjin Jukic]

Ultimate 15mm FF35 still lens is

Leica Super-Elmarit 15mm f/2.8 ASPH

"Distortion is in general very well corrected and even per-
sons at the edges of the image retain their normal body
contours. (Ever looked at the elongated faces and bodies of
persons when using a 12 mm or some other 15mm len-
ses?). Architectural straight lines are straight lines with a
just visible distortion in the outer zones of the image."

but costs you "only" US $ 8,995.00 (B&HFVNYC) .

 

[Steve Sanacore]

Ultimate 15mm FF35 still lens is

Leica Super-Elmarit 15mm f/2.8 ASPH

"Distortion is in general very well corrected and even per-
sons at the edges of the image retain their normal body
contours. (Ever looked at the elongated faces and bodies of
persons when using a 12 mm or some other 15mm len-
ses?). Architectural straight lines are straight lines with a
just visible distortion in the outer zones of the image."

but costs you "only" US $ 8,995.00 (B&HFVNYC) .

I've been on waiting lists for a used version for over a year now ... very hard to find used lens.. but the best 15mm ever, as most Leica lenses are.

 

[Andrew Armstrong]

How bad is the distortion on the Tokina 11-16mm?