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Zeiss ZF.2 21mm f/2.8 Distagon T*

4G VR

All examples shot on the 24 megapixel Nikon D3x using 14-bit NEF converted to 16-bit TIF converted to sRGB JPEG for display.

Click on each image below to see detailed crops from the comparison.

Field illumination (vignetting) series

Field illumination of the 21/2.8 Distagon shows fairly dark corners, which improve substantially at f/4. At f/5.6 the illumination is fairly even, though not totally uniform as with the Nikon 14-24. Corners continue to lighten until f/11.

Modern strongly retrofocus lens designs as with the two Nikon zooms achieve lower vignetting in good measure to rays from the exit pupil striking the sensor at less acute angles, which reduces light falloff and also help reduce color shift.

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