The new ZM superwides

[grantray]

Went to the NY Photo Expo to see the new lenses at the Zeiss booth. The rep said they'll be shipped in April. The 21/4.5 Biogon is downright tiny, the smallest of the entire line, and significantly smaller than the 50/1.5 Sonnar. The 18/4 is smaller than the 15/2.8 Distagon, but it was a prototype shell, (serial 002), so I didn't get a real sense of how it handles.

Oh, and they're both rf coupled. I took a couple of shots with the 21/4.5, and I have a feeling this lens is going to be a knockout for compact travel.

-grant

 

[Chaser]

Any idea of what these will cost?

 

[SDK]

The 18mm/4 Distagon ZM is intriguing. I'd love a lens with a 90˚ horizontal field of view. I hope they also make it in black, because I don't want a big lens like that in silver. Too eye-catching.

 

[x-ray]

In the mid 80's I owned a Rollei 3003 system and had the 18mm distagon. At the time it stomped the 19mm elmarit that I once had. If it's the same formula as the one I had it's great. I also had the 15mm and to this day it was the best 15mm I've ever seen. The downside of this was the Rollei 3003's/ The lenses were great but the bodies were terrible.Atleast one was in the shop all the time.

 

[grantray]

Any idea of what these will cost?

Got a little carried away playing with the 21/4 and forgot to ask. Oops.

-grant