New Zeiss 21mm F2.8 Loxia lens for nightscapes

[gregbradley]

Zeiss has just announced this lens.

I am excited by this puppy. I want one of these soonest for my Sony A7R or perhaps a future A7rii camera for nightscapes.

It should be amazing. Time to retire the Nikon 14-24mm maybe.

And its tiny and lightweight - mirrorless strikes again!

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/856...r-sony-e-mount

Greg.

[RickS (Rick)]

Get one and let us know how well it works, please Greg!

[N1 (Mirko)]

Bit slow maybe at f/2.8?
IQ should be top notch though.

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by RickS

Get one and let us know how well it works, please Greg!

I am preordering one as soon as I get prices. Its probably going to be around $2,000 or more. The Loxia 35 F2 is $1999 for example.

Originally Posted by N1

Bit slow maybe at f/2.8?
IQ should be top notch though.

I haven't found a fast lens that does not need to be stopped down to at best F2 and really F2.8 anyway. Most fast lenses suffer from bad chromatic aberration which is not an issue when used with terrestrial images as you usually want to blur the background with the fast lens so the aberration is not a liability.

F2.8 is perfect from my use. F2.8, 21mm and ISO 3200 or 6400 should get a nicely exposed shot.

Greg.

[N1 (Mirko)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

I haven't found a fast lens that does not need to be stopped down to at best F2 and really F2.8 anyway. Most fast lenses suffer from bad chromatic aberration which is not an issue when used with terrestrial images as you usually want to blur the background with the fast lens so the aberration is not a liability.

Not sure which one is better - a fast lens stopped down to f/2.8 or an f/2.8 being used wide open. Looking forward to your observations.

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by N1

Not sure which one is better - a fast lens stopped down to f/2.8 or an f/2.8 being used wide open. Looking forward to your observations.

I think it depends on the lenses performance. The Nikon 14-24 is perfect wide open. So is the Fuji XF 14mm F2.8. Most lenses aren't though and usually peak around F5.6.

This lens is $2099 from Leederville in Perth and available mid December.

I think I'll preorder it as samples on the net are fabulous. Zeiss Otus 28mm F1.4 just released as well and one is a nightscape and it looks stunning also but apart from the cost (its out of my league) 28mm is a bit long focal length for nightscapes. Its being touted as the best wide angle lens in the world and it probably is for 28mm.

Greg.