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Carl Zeiss ZF.2 15mm f/2.8 Distagon T*

15/2.8 MTF Chart

The 15/2.8 Distagon is an outstanding performer at f/2.8 in the central regions, with exceptionally high contrast for bitingly sharp details. The 70-80% MTF for fine structures (40 lp/mm) is an exceptional value achieved only by the very best lenses. To see it in a 15mm lens is astonishing, and a testament to the advanced design.

As the edges are approached, f/2.8 is a little weak at the edges and corners; stop down to f/8 to even out the sharpness over the frame. Most of this decline is due to field curvature, so the corners can actually be quite sharp even wide open, just not in the same plane as the center.

Note that this very high level of performance is easily thwarted by slight focus errors, or by lens/sensor misalignment (non parallelism). The 36-megapixel Nikon D800/D800E comes to mind because of its very small photosites, which will shown any issues prominently.

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Aperture series 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11 available in full article
ZEISS 15mm f/2.8 Distagon MTF @ f/11 (green light)

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