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on Sept 28, 2015 20:22:21 GMT
Last Edit: Sept 29, 2015 0:44:24 GMT by biggles3
Hi everyone,
It's been a while since I owned the standard 35mm f2.8 Distagon, having settled for some of its more exotic cousins. Fortunately, a great opportunity arose to grab one so I did.
We all know that the ML 35mm f2.8 is an absolute pearl but I've not found a head-to-head with its Zeiss equivalent. So, I plan to carry out a comparative test between the two classic 35mm lenses and will throw in the Zeiss 35 PC-Shift and 35 1.4 lenses too.
Here's a little group piccie:
I will try to conduct the tests this week. |
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on Sept 28, 2015 22:14:32 GMT
Posted: Sept 28, 2015 22:14:32 GMT
I bet a coffee on ML over the CZ!
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on Sept 28, 2015 22:29:07 GMT
Posted: Sept 28, 2015 22:29:07 GMT
I would be very surprised if the PC Distagon doesn't have the best edge sharpness.
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on Sept 29, 2015 0:43:33 GMT
Posted: Sept 29, 2015 0:43:33 GMT
Hi dragos and barryreid, I fully expect the PC-Shift Distagon to come 1st, the ML 2nd, the 35 1.4 3rd (at f2.8) and the 35 2.8 Distagon a very close 4th. But as always, I'm ready for surprises.
Although I have a couple of the ML, PC-shift and 35 1.4s, I only have the one 2.8 Distagon so I can't eliminate performance that applies only to that specific example of the lens. However, previously, I found most Zeiss 35 2.8s were very similar in the images they produced - it was the 25mm f2.8 that suffered from variable quality.
More anon.
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on Sept 29, 2015 18:52:34 GMT
Posted: Sept 29, 2015 18:52:34 GMT
I still keep my bet on ML, but starting with 2.8.
At f4 is clear superior.
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on Oct 18, 2015 10:41:33 GMT
Posted: Oct 18, 2015 10:41:33 GMT
My apologies for the delay in testing and contrasting the lenses...
Well, it proved an interesting exercise and the images I will present are those shot at f5.6 which is reckoned to be right in the middle of the best optical performance for each of the lenses. At f2.8, the order of merit was 1. Zeiss PC-Distagon, 2. Zeiss 35 Distagon f1.4, 3. Zeiss Distagon 35 f2.8 and only a tiny bit behind, the ML 35 f2.8. The sunshine was a bit variable but I shot using aperture priority and placed the camera on a tripod.
At f5.6, the order changed and looking at the RAW images, the order of excellence is: 1. Zeiss 35 f1.4, 2= Zeiss PC-Distagon 35mm f2.8 & Yashica ML f2.8, 3. Zeiss 35 f2.8. Reduced JPEG images follow:
Zeiss 35mm f1.4 
Zeiss 35mm PC-Distagon f2.8 
Yashica ML 35mm f2.8
I will have to add the remaining image from the Zeiss 35mm f2.8 Distagon in a further post as these images have reached the limit for a single post... |
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on Oct 18, 2015 10:43:17 GMT
Last Edit: Oct 18, 2015 10:44:02 GMT by biggles3
The remaining image shot at f5.6:
This was the Zeiss 35mm f2.8 MM Distagon.
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on Oct 20, 2015 20:17:41 GMT
Posted: Oct 20, 2015 20:17:41 GMT
Well, they all look great to me, though the PC-Distagon seems better in the corner.
PF
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on Oct 20, 2015 23:13:26 GMT
Posted: Oct 20, 2015 23:13:26 GMT
Well, they all look great to me, though the PC-Distagon seems better in the corner. PF Thanks for the comment; when you consider the difference in the cost of lenses like the Zeiss PC-Distagon or 35 1.4, it shows just what a superb lens the ML 35 2.8 truly is - and what a bargain even though prices are starting to move upwards as the word gets out. However, nothing matches the versatility of the PC-Distagon, a lens that I had not used for a while; just playing with the shift mechanism and watching the huge variation in perspective was a joy. Other than that, it makes it difficult to justify the expense of the Zeiss glass when compared to Yashica's lovely little ML. Is a 2 stop advantage worth 8 times the cost of the ML.....?
I may repeat the exercise with the ML 28, Zeiss 'Hollywood' 28 f2 and 28 f2.8...
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on Oct 21, 2015 12:16:22 GMT
Posted: Oct 21, 2015 12:16:22 GMT
Something very curious, ML’s are superior to Zeiss after f4, at 5,6 and 8 are clearly better. I will try to do a compilation test. From what is seen, CZ are the best at wide open, but after f4, ML are superior. Just test carefully the corners and sides of a Zeiss and of any ML. Is bizarre but to my eyes is like this.
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on Oct 21, 2015 19:52:00 GMT
Posted: Oct 21, 2015 19:52:00 GMT
Whatever the final verdict on our test candidates may be - thank you very much, Graham, for your untiring efforts!
(And, yes, I would greatly appreciate such a review on the 28mm lenses!)
Cheers
Michael
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on Oct 23, 2015 3:26:23 GMT
Posted: Oct 23, 2015 3:26:23 GMT
Thank you Michael - it is helpful to know that this work is valued as it motivates one to continue. My hope is that these usage tests, rather than simple MTF data, will eventually give us the ability to do something we discussed a long time ago - providing an evaluation of the Yashica lenses which will help make this Forum the 'go-to' place for information and advice on our favourite glass.
A further possibility that might follow this work would be to extend the assessment to any lens that was produced with a C/Y mount or C/Y adapter mount: Carl Zeiss of Oberkochen, Carl Zeiss Jena, Sigma, Soligor, Tamron, Tokina, Voigtlander, etc., etc.
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on Oct 15, 2016 19:33:06 GMT
Last Edit: Oct 15, 2016 19:35:30 GMT by tts
Nice.. I just bought one.. ML 35 I mean... Thanks for pointing this out.... I start to really like Yashica haha :-) Wish I found a complete system this easy 20 years ago, when I was buying Nikons....and Nikkors... :-(  img hosting img hosting |
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