Today Zeiss have announced their new Distagon T* 2/25 in Canon ZE and Nikon ZF.2 mounts. They’ve thrown in another stop of light for those seeking to use this in low light or for creative applications where the f/2 aperture will allow shallower depth of field. The 25mm focal length has always had an incredible reputation amongst Zeiss users so I suspect many will be very excited to see if it still retains all the qualities of the previous f/2.8 version, with an extra stop of light.
Usually when lenses receive an extra stop of light certain compromises need to be made, and sometimes image quality can suffer. It’s taken Zeiss many years to upgrade the 25mm lens so I’m betting they’ll blow us away. In terms of competition, they’re still a stop behind their faster competitors in the Nikon AF-S 24mm f/1.4G and Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L lenses, but I’m confident the performance wide open will be incredible.
As soon as we can get our hands on a test sample, we’ll be sure to post our findings….
PRESS RELEASE
Thornwood, New York – October 27, 2011
Carl Zeiss presents the Distagon T* 2/25 ZE and ZF.2 moderate wide- angle lenses. The large image angle allows photographers to capture exciting perspectives. With its excellent imaging quality at all aperture settings, the lens flexes its muscles particularly for photo documentaries in interior rooms where space is at a premium, as well as for pictures of objects, architecture and landscapes. In many situations, a flash is an unwelcome feature – at family gatherings, in a museum or in a church for example. To capture the mood in such places, photographers gladly do without aggressive lighting and instead work with particularly high-speed lenses that enable short exposure times even under difficult lighting conditions.
The optical experts have now virtually eliminated the chromatic aberrations on these lenses through a special design and selection of materials. Selected types of glass and two aspheric surfaces prevent color fringes from appearing on high-contrast edges. “The Distagon T* 2/25 elegantly combines a compact design with a large initial aperture,” explains Christian Bannert, Senior Director of Product Development in the Camera Lens Division at Carl Zeiss AG.
Lens elements meticulously crafted to minimize stray light and reflections in the lens, and the Carl Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating to increase light transmission enable high- contrast image rendition and color saturation.
The previously available Distagon T* 2,8/25 ZF.2 will continue to be on stock and supplements the new Distagon T* 2/25. Therefore, this new lens is also the first 25-mm lens of Carl Zeiss for the EF-bayonet.
The Distagon T* 2/25 will be available by the end of 2011 at a recommended retail price of $1,699.
Technical data
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About Carl Zeiss
The Carl Zeiss Group is a leading group of companies operating worldwide in the optical and opto-electronic industries. Carl Zeiss offers innovative solutions for the future-oriented markets of Medical and Research Solutions, Industrial Solutions, Eye Care and Lifestyle Products. The company develops and distributes surgical microscopes, diagnostic systems for ophthalmology, microscopes, lithography optics, industrial measuring technology, eyeglass lenses, planetarium technology, optronic products, camera and cine lenses, as well as binoculars and spotting scopes.
During fiscal year 2009/10 the group of companies generated revenues of around EUR 2.98 billion. From fiscal year 2010/11 onward, eyeglass lens manufacturer Carl Zeiss Vision will be integrated as an autonomous business group (revenues of EUR 880 million in fiscal year 2009/10). The Carl Zeiss Group now has approximately 24,000 employees, including more than 10,000 in Germany. The Carl Zeiss business groups hold leading positions in their markets.
Carl Zeiss AG is fully owned by the Carl Zeiss Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation). Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany.
