Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2/25

By Jim Fisher

The Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 2/25 ($1,699 list) ?is a fast lens with a wide 25mm field of view when used on a full-frame camera. It's a bit wider than Distagon T* 2/28, but manages to better it in sharpness, although it can't focus on objects quite as closely as the 28mm can. It is available for Nikon and Canon D-SLR cameras. It measures 3.9 by 2.9 inches (HD), but is heavy at 1.3 pounds due to its all-metal build. The manual focus ring is large and operates with a precise, smooth action. A metal hood is included, and standard 67mm filters are supported.

I used Imatest to see just how sharp the lens is when paired with the Nikon D600, and was impressed with the results. At f/2 it scores 2,638 lines per picture height, far beyond the 1,800 lines required for a sharp image. The socre increases as you stop down?it tops 3,000 lines by f/5.6. There is a small amount of barrel distortion, one percent, but no evidence of the rectilinear distortion that can cause the edges of wide-angle scenes to be stretched.

Because it is a manual focus lens, the overall sharpness of a photo will depend on your ability to nail focus. Nikon, Canon, and third-party manufacturers sell focusing screens for D-SLRs that are better suited for manual focus than the screens that are installed by default. If you find yourself reaching for manual focus glass on a regular basis, a screen with a split-image rangefinder and microprism collar, like the ones found on classic manual focus 35mm SLRs, would be a worthwhile investment.?

Shooting with the Distagon T* 2/25 is a dream. It's very smooth to focus, the images are incredibly sharp, and the wide aperture allows you to shoot in low light and to create a shallow depth of field when desired. If you're not opposed to focusing manually, and if you can afford the asking price, it's a solid wide-angle option. If manual focus isn't your thing, check out our Editors' Choice Nikon Nikkor AF-S 28mm f/1.8G?it's not quite as wide or sharp, but it does support autofocus.

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