Wide Wednesday Lens Poll

[MCTuomey]

Momentum is everything, so here's a mid-week lens poll.

Let's go wider this time: Zeiss Biogon 25/2.8 and Leica Elmar-M 24/3.8, two well-regarded lenses.

Two crops of a boring brick wall with a touch of autumnal foliage. Why crops only? If I posted the full size pics, the slight focal length difference might give away the game. Shots were taken at ISO 160 on my digi M with tripod, focus bracketed, exported from LR with nothing more than a bit of exposure adjustment to equalize the histogram (light was changing) and a white balance tweak, then a center crop.

Answers within 24 hours, maybe less if needed.

Poll lens A:


Poll Photo A - crop - web by Mike Tuomey, on Flickr

Poll lens B:


Poll Photo B - crop - web by Mike Tuomey, on Flickr

 

[Drago]

A - zeiss
B - leica

 

[Matus]

Why can't we access the flickr images? Would that reveal the identity of the lenses or is that just a mistake?

 

[MCTuomey]

I uploaded the images to a private set I use for this kind of purpose, pics of gear, other limited interest uploads - that's all. Sorry, I wasn't thinking anyone would want the files.

 

[DNG]

A is more contrast but a tad less sharp (looked at numerous brick corners and chipped edges)

B is less contrast, (not much), a has a tad more sharpness.....

Ummmmm NO Idea, But I like B

 

[Doug]

B is a bit green in color balance... easily seen in the mortar between the bricks.

 

[MCTuomey]

Color temp b/w the two pics varies by ~100. Good eye Doug, tint is about +2 to green on B - my tweaks since the overcast sky was shifting a bit. Unprocessed, to my eye and monitor there was enough variation in WB b/w the two files to need it.

The observed difference in contrast - slight as it seems to be - is probably due to the changing light. Pic A seems to have just a bit less exposure that's most noticeable in the leaves, as a result a little tad more contrast and saturation. Despite the overcast sky, the light was varying nearly a stop at times. Which is why it's probably not a good idea to do this kind of comparison using natural light, doh.

Not a whole lot there to differentiate ...

 

[barnwulf]

I think A is the Zeiss lens. It has less contrast. Jim

 

[Nomad Z]

A - Leica
B - Zeiss

If there has been no resizing, then B looks to be the slightly longer lens - cropping matches at the top and right-hand edges, but bottom and left-hand edges are cropped a little tighter in B.

I have no idea about the characteristics of either lens, so that's all I have to go on. Visually, I prefer A.

 

[MCTuomey]

Thanks to all who voted so far - the tally at this point:

42% say Pic A is Zeiss
31% say Pic B is Zeiss
19% don't know but prefer A
8% don't know but prefer B

Mid-day tomorrow I'll divulge which is which.

 

[f16sunshine]

Looks like A is the Zeiss lens although, was wrong on the last Zeiss vs. Leica lens sampler. Do you have both of these Mike? That's quite an arsenal at 24/25mm.

 

[MCTuomey]

Andy, I'm lucky to have both for the time being, yes. One will eventually go, which one will depend on $ needed for other things. Performance-wise, either is more than adequate for me.

 

[redisburning]

I voted A by accident.

but I think, looking again, that I will accidentally be correct.

 

[kzphoto]

Really hoping I'm right with this one. I spent a year exploring the 24 FoV and I have come to adore it. The Elmarit in particular has a fond place in my heart for vivid colors and dramatic falloff.

Lens A is the ZM - warmer pallette and slightly softer contrast
Lena B is the Leica - sharper overall, familiar colors.

 

[Brian Legge]

At this resolution I really don't see enough difference to have a preference. Color is malleable and difficult to assess.

 

[Krosya]

At this resolution I really don't see enough difference to have a preference. Color is malleable and difficult to assess.

True - but it's still fun to play 😉

 

[jonmanjiro]

Momentum is everything, so here's a mid-week lens poll.

🙂

(ten characters)

 

[MCTuomey]

It looks like I'll be away all day, so here are the results earlier than the full 24 hours:

Of those who chose to vote their preference rather than make a guess, roughly 80% selected Pic A over B.

Of those who chose to make a guess rather than state a preference, roughly 65% guessed that Pic A was taken with the Biogon.

Pic A was taken with the Elmar-M 24, Pic B with the Biogon.

Cheers all and thanks for taking the time to participate!

 

[rxmd]

45% people wrong, 27% right.

 

[jonmanjiro]

45% people wrong, 27% right.

And three votes after the answer was revealed 🙄

BTW, Mike did you crop the shot taken with the ZM 25/2.8 much? Also, can you post the uncropped shot so we can see the actual FOV difference between the lenses. Thanks 🙂