ZM 25 soft copy?

[taffy]

Have you guys seen soft copies of the ZM 25? I'm worried I got a bad copy. I've been shooting an comparing it to the sharpness of my 35 summarit and it's just not holding up well. Of course the focal lengths are different but from what I see the performance of the summarit is much muh sharper.

I know it's possible that it can happen but what i want to ask is if this is a normal occurrence.

 

[Turtle]

One does not hear about soft ZMs often (in fact very rarely) but it is very possible that you have one.

I have ZM wides and a summarit and the ZM should not look softer.

 

[taffy]

One does not hear about soft ZMs often (in fact very rarely) but it is very possible that you have one.

I have ZM wides and a summarit and the ZM should not look softer.

Would you be willing to take a look at some shots I took to help confirm of it is indeed soft? If you're ok PM me your email address and I'll share a folder with you on Dropbox.

Thanks!

 

[redisburning]

nothing is much sharper than the ZM25.

more info would be good. knowing what camera you're using and if you've done any focus bracketing tests would be a good start.

if your whole image appears to be not very sharp I suspect your focus is off.

 

[Mackinaw]

It's not normal, but it can happen. Every manufacturer makes the occasional dog lens. Modern production techniques are amazingly good, but not perfect.

Jim B.

 

[taffy]

I did a lot of testing on it and with the help of Turtle's advice I zeroed in on the problem: it suffers from front focus. When in focus it is very sharp.

 

[redisburning]

well, unfortunately with RF cams you can't have perfect focus at every point but you might want to send your lens and your camera into Zeiss to have them set it right for where you use it most.

otherwise you might swap it out and hope you get a lens that agrees more favorably with your camera.

 

[benji77]

I have the ZM25, if you'd like you can send me (email) pictures as a comparison.

 

[taffy]

well, unfortunately with RF cams you can't have perfect focus at every point but you might want to send your lens and your camera into Zeiss to have them set it right for where you use it most.

otherwise you might swap it out and hope you get a lens that agrees more favorably with your camera.

I'm likely going with your second point. I'd rather wait for a perfectly working system and wait longer compared to adjusting my shooting to a new lens.

 

[viboons]

I bought 25mm ZM today and tried it on M9 at the shop Leica's logo. It seem soft also but the sale person told me it already very sharp. When I was back home I compare it ,shot Macbook logo, with my latest pre asph 28mm elmarit. At f2.8 it obviously softer with blue fringe, but at f4.0 there was no different, both very sharp. Is this normal and all can I expect from 25mm ZM or I got a front/back focus one again? (My 35mm FLE is in Solm now calibrate to fix front focus, and not back yet.)

 

[icebear]

If ... the rangefinder of the camera is not misaligned and the person has no eye sight issues, then the 2.8/25 Biogon should produce tack sharp images no matter what aperture or distance.
My version equals my 2/35 asph. in IQ (practical photography, handheld street shooting, no brick walls).

 

[viboons]

I went to the Zeiss dealer last Saturday again and they let me try other 25mm ZM brand new in box. They also tried the lens with their well calibrated M9 and came up as the result that at 2.8 25mm ZM was not as sharp as Leica lens. Any one get other result?

 

[taffy]

If ... the rangefinder of the camera is not misaligned and the person has no eye sight issues, then the 2.8/25 Biogon should produce tack sharp images no matter what aperture or distance.
My version equals my 2/35 asph. in IQ (practical photography, handheld street shooting, no brick walls).

Unless it front or back focuses and is in need of alignment, right?

 

[taffy]

I was able to meet with the seller and did some test with him on the spot and kudos to him, he took the lens back and refunded the money - much respect to the man. I also can't say that I don't feel bad because I'm missing the chance to use that wonderful Zeiss 25 that has numerous great reviews from actual users. Maybe one day I'll find and on-spec copy. For the meantime, I'll use my CV 25/4 which is turning out to be a really good performer on my M8

 

[santela]

Hmm... I used to have that lens, and you simply don't put it in the same sentence with "soft".

 

[brbo]

Hmm... I used to have that lens, and you simply don't put it in the same sentence with "soft".

It may not be soft, but direct comparison to Leica 28/2.8 asph (that many describe it as brutally sharp (whatever that means; can a lens be sharper than reality?!) to the point that they don't like it for that reason) might show that it is in fact not as sharp.

But a soft ZM 28?! You don't hear that often.