06-26-2010, 06:00 PM
Hi people, thanks so much for the response! I've read your comments carefully and they did in fact provide me with new information that I am sure will help me arrive at a decision.
Brightcolors said:
I was actually thinking very seriously about this lens. To tell you the truth, the thing that kind of put me off the idea was the Photozone review of it - [url="http://www.opticallimits.com/canon_eos_ff/505-zeiss25f28eosff"]see it here[/url].
Is this the lens you were referring to? It seems the Photozone reviewers were far from impressed. That being said, I DID read other reviews at other places which did speak highly of the lens... I don't know what to think of it.
I think my dilemma has been narrowed down to these alternatives:
Since I'll have plenty to learn about and get used to for a while once I get my new Canon 5d mII (my first ever dSLR) - maybe its a good idea to stick with what I am most familiar with. This being a good prime wide (24,25 or 28mm) lens. Three ways to go with this in mind, as I see it:
(a) go all out, maybe even surpass my budget by a couple hundred bucks and get the best prime glass I can currently afford. This would probably be the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM AF. $1700 at B&H.
(<img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' /> being a bit more tight on my wallet and going for the Zeiss 28mm f/2.0 Distagon T* Lens - which seems to score higher on reviews (also here at Photozone). I'm not discouraged by manual focusing at all, being very accustomed to it. $1283 at B&H.
© if I can confidently disregard the not-so-hot review of the Zeiss 25mm f/2.8 Distagon T* ZF and count on it providing excellent crisp images, this would probably be the wisest choice for me. Being about half the price of the Canon 24mm/1.4L II, it will leave me with the option of getting a 2nd lens in the near future - $826 at B&H. This Option is kind of what Scott - California suggested:
... but I'd rather get a better wide lens and give up the 85mm lens for now.
If anyone has any further insight regarding what I've managed to figure out, I'd be happy to hear it.
Thanks!!
p.s.
I'm currently not in North America, though I might be moving to New York in a couple of years (...not quite West Coast). I don't doubt the quality of Chromira printers, but the inkjet printer I'm talking about is no ordinary inkjet printer. It is a specialty printer for photography, the staff is photography dedicated and they sit with you patiently going over each and every color-correction and test print-out. They use specialty fine-art paper imported from Germany (don't remember the paper company name... I'll find out and post back on it). It's a different beast when compared to other techniques of printing, but the outcomes are really unique and amazing. This guy opened up his shop about a year ago and photographers are swarming.
Peace!
Brightcolors said:
Quote:Inbetween in price, the manual focus Zeiss 25mm f2.8 ZE. not widely available yet.
I was actually thinking very seriously about this lens. To tell you the truth, the thing that kind of put me off the idea was the Photozone review of it - [url="http://www.opticallimits.com/canon_eos_ff/505-zeiss25f28eosff"]see it here[/url].
Is this the lens you were referring to? It seems the Photozone reviewers were far from impressed. That being said, I DID read other reviews at other places which did speak highly of the lens... I don't know what to think of it.
I think my dilemma has been narrowed down to these alternatives:
Since I'll have plenty to learn about and get used to for a while once I get my new Canon 5d mII (my first ever dSLR) - maybe its a good idea to stick with what I am most familiar with. This being a good prime wide (24,25 or 28mm) lens. Three ways to go with this in mind, as I see it:
(a) go all out, maybe even surpass my budget by a couple hundred bucks and get the best prime glass I can currently afford. This would probably be the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM AF. $1700 at B&H.
(<img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' /> being a bit more tight on my wallet and going for the Zeiss 28mm f/2.0 Distagon T* Lens - which seems to score higher on reviews (also here at Photozone). I'm not discouraged by manual focusing at all, being very accustomed to it. $1283 at B&H.© if I can confidently disregard the not-so-hot review of the Zeiss 25mm f/2.8 Distagon T* ZF and count on it providing excellent crisp images, this would probably be the wisest choice for me. Being about half the price of the Canon 24mm/1.4L II, it will leave me with the option of getting a 2nd lens in the near future - $826 at B&H. This Option is kind of what Scott - California suggested:
Quote:My opinionated take: at least consider buying a 24mm f/2.8 and an 85mm f/1.8 (an excellent portrait lens) for $690 at B&H, pocket the rest of the dough and work on that for a year or three.
... but I'd rather get a better wide lens and give up the 85mm lens for now.
If anyone has any further insight regarding what I've managed to figure out, I'd be happy to hear it.
Thanks!!
p.s.
Quote:Oh, and if you're in North America consider putting some of that extra $$ into experimenting with an order of Chromira prints at West Coast Imaging. Once you see the difference the Chromira printer and professionally superior staff make, you'll throw your old inkjet prints in the trash.
I'm currently not in North America, though I might be moving to New York in a couple of years (...not quite West Coast). I don't doubt the quality of Chromira printers, but the inkjet printer I'm talking about is no ordinary inkjet printer. It is a specialty printer for photography, the staff is photography dedicated and they sit with you patiently going over each and every color-correction and test print-out. They use specialty fine-art paper imported from Germany (don't remember the paper company name... I'll find out and post back on it). It's a different beast when compared to other techniques of printing, but the outcomes are really unique and amazing. This guy opened up his shop about a year ago and photographers are swarming.
Peace!