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Zeiss Distagon 18 - should I buy

Francis,

The D21 was my first Contax lens, and the reason I started a Contax system. I believe this is the best ultra-wide in the history of the world. Unlike most C/Y lenses, it is a modern design and uses low-dispersion glass. The result is an image with no chromatic aberration, even in the corner. CZ sister lenses with this technology cost $6500 (200/2 Aposonnar) and $13000 (300/2.8 Tele-Apotessar). At $1500, I consider the D21 the best CZ value around town and no-one, except Leica, can touch its performance.

Because it looks like a telephoto, people don't realize I took their picture. Good for street work!

Here is a s&le scan for technical evaluation. Warning! It's a huge 23 MB JPEG, 5800x3900...

http://patternassociates.com/rico/contax/misc/d21s&le.jpg

The image was scanned on a Canon FS4000, with no digital dust removal, sharpening, or smoothing. The scanner delivers single-pixel detail (inspect scratches on the film), while the image detail reaches about 2 pixels. I need another test using fine-grain film and a tripod.
 
Michael,

as I was the original poster of this thread, I would ask you to show some respect! I looked through the archives on C/Y Lenses and did not find any topic that addressed the merit of the 18/4 lense.

So your statement of "must this discussion be repeated every second month" is inappropriate. If you do not want to read about this topic then just delete the message.

Cheers,

Mark -%)
 
Hi Rico, Michael and Wolfgang,

Thanks all your advice. Having read Rico's s&le picture, D21 is unexpected sharp.

I need to think deeply to see If I really need a D18 or D21. I cannot resist the charming of D21 but I need to justify whether I can afford, and whether I will use the ultra wide angle frequently.

Anyway, I have already got clues on those lens.

Francis.
 
I tried them both and the 18mm doesn't even come close to the 21mm. Check out the MTF charts. The 21mm is a marvel, with its only knock being the huge 82mm filter size. Rico is probably correct in saying it's the best ultr-wide lens there is.
 
Do you think that it's better than the G system 21mm which I expect is cheaper if you already have a G body -or even if you have to buy one?! I don't own a 21mm but it is on my wish list for my G2.
John
 
The G system's Biogon 21 is an amazingly good lens--many, myself included, think it's the best of all the G lenses. Note that Hasselblad thinks enough of the Biogon to build a camera around one.

I read a technical article once which explained that the Biogon design is inherently subject to light falloff towards the edges. This may be so, but I've not found it to be a problem with my images. (The 16mm Hologon, by comparison, comes with a graduated ND filter to compensate for its falloff characteristics.) Biogon pluses include no noticeable rectilinear distortion, excellent contrast and sharpness even wide open, very compact design (nearly a third of the Distagon's weight). The auxiliary viewfinder is very bright and generally a pleasure to use.

For me, learning to use a super wide angle lens on a rangefinder was a challenge. I miss an SLR's accurate framing and DOF preview. I certainly don't miss the weight.

--Rick
 
I recently purchased an 18mm Contax lenses on Ebay at a good price but paying for a good quality polarizer will be another big investment. Any recommendations? Since I may eventually get an autofocus camera I am leaning toward a circular polarizer for the 18mm and RTSII so that it is useful for the future or has possibly better re-sale value. I understand that vignetting is a challenge with this lenses. If I do not pay for a slim line polarizer how serious is the vignetting likely to be? Will problem only be at wide open, if I stop down a stop or more is it likely that I can get away with a non-slimline design? Since the most likely photo uses will be when I want alot of depth of field I expect that typically I'd be shooting at F8 or so when the polarizer is in use. Aside from Heliopan that makes a slim line 86mm are there others? I do not have the 18mm in my hands yet but understand that it uses a 70/86 step ring and requires an 86mm filter. The 70/86 seems like a very strange size but that is what the specs says. Are there any other options like stepping up to something smaller? Paying about $200 USA for a filter is a big investment. Thanks for your experience/advice. -- Edward
 
I purchased the 70/86 step ring used, mint $30.00 and a 86mm BH polarizer used, mint $105.00 (BH photo NYC) Work great with the 18mm lens . Tried it out with Agfa's new Ultra 100 film during a late fall photo trip. "What colors"!
 
I would like to protect the frontlens of the distagon 18/4 with an UV filter.

Is it possible to use a screw on heliopan slim UV filter (72mm) without vignetting? Or should I buy the 72-86 ring with 86mm UV filter? (such a big filter is not very handy in the outdoors.<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">•<font color="ff0000">• for your advice,

Melvin
www.planet.nl/~melvinredeker
 
Posted by Melvin on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 9:56 pm:


I would like to protect the frontlens of the distagon 18/4 with an UV
filter.

Is it possible to use a screw on heliopan slim UV filter (72mm)
without vignetting? Or should I buy the 72-86 ring with 86mm UV
filter? (such a big filter is not very handy in the outdoors. for your
advice,

Melvin

Melvin,
you have to use a clip-on filter diameter 70mm or
70-86 ring and 86mm UV Filter.
Eugenio.
 
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