Mid week Evil lens test.

[Keith]

One is the cheap and cheerful Nikkor 35mm f2 AF-D plastic wonder.

The other is the Zeiss 35mm f2 ZF Distagon.


Taken with a D700 @ 3200 ISO and both at f2 ... I applied equal amounts of mild sharpening and noise removal and evened up exposure.

 

[Keith]

I don't know how to remove exif data from images ... not that it tells you much here but no peeking just in case huh! 😀

 

[rxmd]

No matter which lens is which, I don't like the colour fringing in the jalousies on the first picture.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Shot B is definitely sharper across the frame right into the corners. I'm liking the more saturated colours in shot B as well, so I'll guess that's the Zeiss.

 

[gavinlg]

I'd say the Zeiss is B, but it's not really a situation where it would show off it's characteristics. Better for that would be a late afternoon subject 1.2-3 meters from the camera at f2 with side lighting and the background in the distance.

I'm a big 35mm distagon fan 🙂

 

[Maiku]

You guys are nuts. I cannot tell the difference. Both look fine to me.

 

[sevo]

The supposed "fringing" seems to be due to a slight difference in camera or blind position - and that may account for the minor contrast difference as well. So no, these images would not convince me to buy the more expensive of the two lenses...

 

[Keith]

Crops of the same images.

 

[Sparrow]

Ah ... that clears it up then

 

[Keith]

The Nikkor is a pretty horrible lens IMO ... the build quality is unbelievably sloppy. Trying to focus the damned thing manually is very tricky ... built to a price I guess! 😀

 

[rxmd]

Nice nerdy pastime.
Blinds position at least seems to be the same.

 

[oftheherd]

I'm going for B as the sharper of the two. But I wonder if that is due to a difference in the plane of focus selected?

Interesting exercise no matter.

 

[Keith]

I'm going for B as the sharper of the two. But I wonder if that is due to a difference in the plane of focus selected?

Interesting exercise no matter.

I was painstaking about trying to get that right ... with live view and the ability to expand the image on the LCD the D700 is pretty useful in this respect. It's amazing to focus on what you think was your chosen point in the viewfinder, then check it with live view and discover you missed it totally! 😀

 

[Nikon Bob]

I agree that B seems slightly sharper across the frame and better in one corner, so I would guess that is the Zeiss. That is following the logic that the more expensive glass has to be better somehow even if you have to take awhile to discern a slight difference. If B is the Zeiss and I only had this comparison to go be I would save my money and keep my crappy Nikon 35/2 AFD. OTH I would die laughing if B was the Nikon, again going by this sole comparison.

Bob

 

[dave lackey]

Well, the differences between the two are so minor to my eyes that either my monitor is crappy or everyone else is imagining things.😛 Or maybe it's my own eyes that are crappy, it certainly isn't either lens quality... build quality aside.:angel:

 

[hipsterdufus]

Well, the differences between the two are so minor to my eyes that either my monitor is crappy or everyone else is imagining things.😛 Or maybe it's my own eyes that are crappy, it certainly isn't either lens quality... build quality aside.:angel:

This.

(10 chars.)

 

[rxmd]

It would be quite funny if B was the Nikon.

 

[redisburning]

why do they have to be so small?

I don't think you're going to hurt anyone's feelings if you make the 1024 or 1280 on the longer side =/

B looks a lot better. Don't know if it's the Zeiss but I would suspect as much.

 

[shadowfox]

Where is the bokeh?

 

[sevo]

Nice nerdy pastime.
Blinds position at least seems to be the same.

I don't know. The flare at the string holes in the upper image might be due to slightly more light falling through as a consequence of minimal shift in either the blinds or the sun's position. If it is not, B might be the Nikon 😱 - as its lack of flare is about the only positive thing every tester seems to agree on...