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Bokeh
Assessing bokeh in an 18mm f/3.5 lens is a little “interesting” in that background blur is already minimized as compared to an f/2 or f/2.8 lens. Focusing more closely increases the amount of blur and in this way bokeh can be evaluated more easily. Field shots (see examples) with the ZF 18/3.5 Distagon show very pleasing results at all apertures.
Examples
Background blur is pleasingly smooth, with the usual Zeiss “edginess” caused by drawing more precisely in out of focus areas, rather than smoothing things excessively as with certain specialty lenses like the NOCT-Nikkor. Edges and corners tend to be a bit more edgy than central areas when shooting at f/3.5 and f/4, probably due to a less than circular aperture (as seen by the sensor).
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Diglloyd Guide to Zeiss offers comprehensive integrated coverage of Zeiss DSLR lenses for Canon and Nikon. Nearly a decade in the making, it covers everything you need to know for every lens in the ZF.2, ZE, Milvus and Otus lines. Guide to Mirrorless and Zeiss ZM rangefinder lenses in Guide to Leica.
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- Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
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