CONCLUSION

Generally speaking I do not consider myself a “wide angle” shooter. When vacationing to scenic locations with broad, sweeping views, then yes, I like a wide angle lens. Unfortunately the other 51 weeks a year are spent in suburbia amongst a sea of roofs, walled-in neighborhoods, shopping centers and the usual things found in a bedroom community. Wide angle lenses captures power lines, sidewalks, streets, signage, highways, passing cars - all the stuff I am trying to avoid. “Testing” a 28mm in the North Dallas suburbs is not nearly exciting as hiking through the Canadian Rockies.

In this report I have tried to include images which show the 28mm ZE’s performance with close-up and mid-distance subjects, along with the lens’ bokeh and wide open performance traits. That is probably not a typical subject matter for most 28mm shooters, but the Zeiss 28mm F2 Distagon really excels in this context. Zeiss new 35mm F1.4 Distagon ZE is said to have excellent bokeh, but the 35mm Distagon weighs a hefty 2 pounds (40% more than the 28mm Distagon) and costs nearly 50% more. The original Contax 35mm F1.4 Distagon is well known for its 3D rendering capabilities, so will people pay the extra $600? Could the 28mm Distagon be bargain choice? Time will tell.

I can say without a doubt, given a choice between the original Contax 28mm F2 Distagon and the new Zeiss 28mm F2 Distagon ZE, I would select the Zeiss 28mm F2 ZE every time. My reasons include:

1. •Close-up performance at wide apertures (such as F2) is very good; better than any of the three Contax 28mm F2’s I owned.
   

2. •The colors are very rich (they remind me of the colors from the Hasselblad H3DII-31 digital back) and the contrast has a nice pop. The contrast is nicely balanced; it does not block-up the shadows.
   

3. •Images are consistently sharp with good resolution and detail. The Zeiss 28mm F2 Distagon ZE has more than enough resolution for the Canon 1Ds Mark III.
   

There are also some more practical reasons why I would choose the 28mm ZE over the Contax 28mm F2 Distagon:

1. •The fully automatic aperture makes the lens more enjoyable and easier to use.
   

2. •Back at home in front of the computer all the EXIF data is there - including the selected aperture value.
   

3. •There is no need for a third party lens adapter, so one variable is removed from the performance equation.
   

4. •Canon 5D and 5D Mark II owners will no longer need to worry about mirror clearance.
   

5. •Purchasing a new 28mm ZE is mostly like cheaper than buying a Contax 28mm F2 Distagon plus a CY/EOS adapter, Contax 55-86 Metal Ring and Contax #2 Metal Hood.
   

6. •Contax AE lenses are no longer serviceable by Zeiss; MM lenses are still serviced. The original Contax AE lenses are getting pretty old (30 years), so servicing is a realistic concern.
   

7. •Should there be anything wrong with a newly purchased 28mm ZE, replacement is simply a matter of returning the lens to the dealer for exchange or refund.
   

Picking the 28mm ZE over the Contax 28mm F2 Distagon is an easy decision. For most people the more difficult decision will be deciding between a Canon 35mm F1.4 L or a Zeiss 28mm F2 Distagon ZE. In favor of the Zeiss is the wider field of view and probably better optical performance (just my opinion based on past experience with the Canon 35L). Or is the Canon 35L a better value given that its auto-focus and one stop aperture advantage? That is not an easy question, and ultimately each person will have to make that decision for themselves.

In the end I sold the Zeiss 28mm F2 Distagon ZE and opted to use the money on the Leica M9 kit. I suspect one day some M gear will be sold and the Zeiss 28mm F2 Distagon ZE or Zeiss 35mm F1.4 Distagon ZE will find its way back in the camera bag. The new Zeiss 35mm F1.4 Distagon ZE is a large lens, so the 28mm still has its appeal. Zeiss has done a very good job with all the ZE lenses, so the choice really comes down to selecting between focal lengths - and slowly, but surely - Zeiss keeps giving us more and more options!