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 Zeiss 18mm and 21mm ZF review and comparison Page 1 of 1 Sort by Oldest First | 
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Date Posted: 2011-11-05
Posted By:  torralba
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Views: 12236
Zeiss 18mm 3.5 ZF compared to Zeiss 21mm 2.8 ZF. Rulers of the Wide Angle World.
I would like to mention that although these reviews are intended to be from a users point of view and not include any test shots, I had to perform test shots for this article. It is the only way I could satisfy my curiosity regarding the myths about the 18mm being inferior to the 21.
First impressions:
Like all other Zeiss SLR lenses, the 18mm and 21mm are simply a joy to hold, look at and use. They are both very similar in appearance with the 21mm being a tad bit longer than the 18. My first mental thoughts as they come out of the box was simply Wow! Both these lenses look sexy and sleek. I sat there thinking how the autofocus world has made photography so much easier for the consumers and pros but at the expense of cutting as much cost as possible and producing the vast majority of new lenses in cheap feeling plastic shell with plastic filter threads. In some cases Nikon and Canon even use plastic elements in their lens groups. That is simply not the case with the ZF/ZE line up of lenses. These two wide angle legends are a pair of flirtatious goddesses tempting the photographer just eager to fondle them. They simply exude an aura which invites you to hold them.
Ease of use:
Focusing is a breeze. The feel of that barrel turning as you focus is something you need to try for yourself. It is smooth beyonds words. Although my description of this may sound a bit exaggerated, I assure you it isn't. Zeiss must be threatening their engineers and manufacturing facility employees with severe harsh or corporal punishment. How else could they be producing lenses with such high quality and insane engineering tolerance levels? There is absolutely no loose feeling or play whatsovever. Someone needs to investigate this.
Both these lenses are relatively easy to use and focus. Their close range focusing capabilities gives you the ability to be a little creative with your framing and perspective. For landscape or architecture, just set it at infinity and you are good to go.
The front of these two lenses are pretty much the same. very wide and both require an 82mm filter. The solid metal lens hood is very nice and easy to mount with it's bayonet style mount. Simply align the dots and give it a twist. Unlike the lens, the hood does have a bit of play in it. I can only assume that this is by design or else the person who put the les together would have been severely punished. One last thing, be careful if you have the camera slung over your shoulder and you are going through doors. Chances are you will bang it against a door jam.
Image Quality
As I expected, the image quality is everything I hoped for from these two lenses. Sharp across the entire frame from wide open to stopped down. distortion is really well controlled and CA is minimal.
I have read on some sites that the 18mm is inferior to the 21mm. Well, in regards to the speed of the lens, that is correct. One is a 2.8 while the other is a 3.5 However, Let me state here that I cannot see any differences in image quality between the two. In fact, with the side by side tests that I did today, In some cases I think the 18 edges out the 21 corner detail. This is contrary to what I have seen but this is what I saw with my own eye. Look further down for the comparisons between the two.
Contrast and color Strong contrast yields vivid colors of a psychedelic nature. There is good clear definition between tight parallel lines without signs of bleeding over. What does this mean? Sharper pictures. Really sharp pictures.
Vignetting The lenses do exhibit a bit of vignetting shot wide open which pretty much disapperas by f5.6. This of course can be corrected in your processing.
Sharpness The only thing I can say is ouch! The images are just wicked sharp. I use to think my Leica 21mm Asph Elmarit-M was the bomb back in the days when I shot with rangefinder cameras. But, that is no longer the case. These Distagons rule and are a force in photography to be reckoned with. From corner to corner it retains detail at incredible levels with minimal loss of contrast. I only hope the new 25mm f2 just announced will do as well. In the test shots I did below, the bottom right corner of the images is a chain link fence I purposely framed in the picture to show how the lens handled the fine detail at the corners.
Bokeh It is what it is for a super wide. When shooting wide open and up close. It yields a very smooth eye pleasing bokeh which transitions niclely. I don't know how they do it but even the wide angles rock in bokeh. Just look below at the sample images.
Price
You get what you pay for and then some!
21mm Samples from the ZeissImages Gallery - Comparison and Test shots after these samples
To See more samples taken with the 21mm follow these links:
http://www.zeissimages.com/standardgallery.php?lenstype=449&showall
http://www.zeissimages.com/standardgallery.php?lenstype=357&showall
18mm Samples from the ZeissImages Gallery - Comparison and Test shots after these samples
To See more samples taken with the 18mm follow these links:
http://www.zeissimages.com/standardgallery.php?lenstype=450&showall
http://www.zeissimages.com/standardgallery.php?lenstype=356&showall
http://www.zeissimages.com/standardgallery.php?lenstype=343&showall
Comparison test shots between the Zeiss 21mm 2.8 ZF.2 and the Zeiss 18mm 3.5 Zf.2
The following images where taken with a Nikon D3S shooting in RAW. Tripod mounted from the same position. The day was a typical Oregon day with mist in the air and overcast. I had an umbrella just in case. Images from both lenses were taken within a few minutes. I chose the Blue heron Paper mill in Oregon City because of it's high concentartion of industrial buildings and equipment which tend to have all sorts of details. I framed the shot so the chain link fence would flow into the bottom right corner of the image. This way we could see how the image holds up in the corners with fine detail. All images were processed in the default LR settings. I did apply some exposure correction in order to adjust for the vignetting and darker corners. The first image is a full frame shot to show you the subject area. The others are crops from the center, extreme left, extreme right and extreme bottom right at various apertures. Although I shot the entire range of f stops, I will only display sample of wide open , mid range and totally stopped down. These are shot in really bad condition and were meant for testing and comparing how the two lenses stack up against each other. For more real life real color images, see the samples and links above.
So, here you go.
Full Frame 21mm
Full Frame 18mm
100% Center Crops
21mm at f2.8
18mm at f3.5
21mm at f5.6
18mm at f5.6
21mm at f11
18mm at f11
21mm at f22
18mm at 22
100% Extreme Right
21mm at f2.8
18mm at f3.5
21mm at f5.6
18mm at f5.6
21mm at f11
18mm at f11
21mm at f22
18mm at 22
100% Extreme Left
21mm at f2.8
18mm at f3.5
21mm at f5.6
18mm at f5.6
21mm at f11
18mm at f11
21mm at f22
18mm at 22
100% Extreme Bottom Right
21mm at f2.8
18mm at f3.5
21mm at f5.6
18mm at f5.6
21mm at f11
18mm at f11
21mm at f22
18mm at 22
Conclusion
Both these lenses are pretty much on par with each other. If you want to save a little cash then go with the 18mm. Otherwise, go with your preferred focallength. You will not be disappointed. The crops from the bottom right of the frames is where the proof is. These lenses simply are superb.
Update
I was told the 21 is is massively better than the 18. Here is the same comparison but with a little adjustment in LR to the 18. Only contrast exposure and black levels. I guess that's what happens when you get older like me. Start losing the eye site. None the less, the 18 is definitely no slouch.
I have outlined in yellow what I am looking at for detail. Especially the fine power lines, ladders, railing around walk areas and other small clearly defined detail. On my monitor it looks incredibly clear and loses none of the detail. I still believe It would be a hard choice deciding which lens to go with. But maybe the price difference would make that decision easier.
21mm at 5.6
18mm at 5.6 with adjusted levels in LR
ZI recommends www.popflash.com as a great reseller of Zeiss lenses
Mention ZeissImages.com when placing your order for special offers
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http://torralba.zeissimages.com |
| Reply Nr. 8 - Posted: 01-27-12 5:33 PM | 
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Page 1 - Post 8
Reply By:  filmaren
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Hmm. If you really would like to get the best wideangle performance you should use a 35mm or 50mm at 5.6 or so in vertical position on a "nodal point rotator" manfrotto or RRS. For landscape that would give you a much smoother image. In comparison the singel shot 18 look harsch.
Personally I'm very happy with my 18mm f8 workhorse I use it for interiors 5 days a week on a tripod.
I choose the 18mm because it is wider than 21, less weight and good enough to get paid for what I do.
You can see what I do in this blurb-book:
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2925734
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http://filmaren.zeissimages.com |
| Reply Nr. 7 - Posted: 11-28-11 7:42 AM - petergruener rated it 4 of 5. | 
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Reply By:  petergruener
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Hi,
Thanks for this in depth review. From what I am seeing is that the "view" with 18mm compared to 21mm is not that much different. As I recently sold my very good 16-35mm Canon 2.8 L II lens my shortest lens is now the Canon 24-70mm 2.8 L lens with my Zeiss 35mm 1.4 and Zeiss 50mm 2.0 fitting in my zoom range. I am now thinking of getting either the 18mm or the 21mm in my wide angle range for concerts and landscape photography. I would really appreciate some more samples of landscape or architecture of the same subject with both Zeiss lenses. If anyone could share them - great ;-)
Peter
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http://petergruener.zeissimages.com |
| Reply Nr. 6 - Posted: 11-19-11 11:49 PM | 
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Page 1 - Post 6
Reply By: z-enthusiast
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Since the camera gear is just heavy enough, I prefer the compact 18mm Distagon lens.
Autofocus is on these WA glasses absolutely not required.
But, I am looking forward to an new superb 2.8/15mm Distagon lens, Made in Germany, as ZF/ZE version.
It will be for sure very costly, more than the 15mm ZM version, but worth any penny!
But until that, I love my C/Y 3,5/15mm Distagon very much, adapted on my Canon 5DII !
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http://z-enthusiast.zeissimages.com |
| Reply Nr. 4 - Posted: 11-7-11 11:03 AM | 
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Page 1 - Post 4
Reply By:  bajanexile
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At the risk of repeating what has been said, the 21mm is an awesome lens. I have no experience of the 18mm lens so I am unable to comment on one VS the other. Best regards Steve
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http://bajanexile.zeissimages.com |
| Reply Nr. 3 - Posted: 11-6-11 8:53 AM |
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Page 1 - Post 3
Reply By: philbishop
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Thanks for the comparison, it has probably solved a dilemma. I had planned on getting the 21, but the new 25 f2 is too tempting to ignore, however I do need to go a bit wider at times, and the 18 looks like it is worth getting.
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http://philbishop.zeissimages.com |
| Reply Nr. 2 - Posted: 11-6-11 7:44 AM | 
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Reply By:  joecan
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Hi JT,
wonderful work, I do appreciate it.
For now I have the 21, and very happy with it - no plans for 18 mm.
Hope I can share more shots with the community.
Joe
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http://joecan.zeissimages.com |
| Reply Nr. 1 - Posted: 11-6-11 4:26 AM | 
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Reply By: rickperry
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JT,
Outstanding work. Pixel peepers have long maligned the 18mm - you have proven it is a great lens. Donus had already shown us how good it could be - you have convinced me!
Rick
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http://rickperry.zeissimages.com |
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