Anybody else with Zeiss 15 mm ZE?

[tropterrarium]

It arrived! Wow! It is stunning! Beats the pants off the fabled Zeiss 21 mm. 110 degrees rectilinear, you can straighten a ruler on that lens.

The only thing that is disappointing is the lens cap, which fits too loosely. Is that just my lens, or is this a design flaw?

Close-up capability should offer some interesting opportunities. Goes to 1:9 magnification. Have a Rodriguezia venusta in full bloom, so may try it on that. Will post some shots later.

[WhiteRabbit]

Nice!

[tropterrarium]

Here a couple of quick and dirty shots, showcasing the lens. They are no great images, I know that, but can show what it looks like. All just hand-held. It is a specialty lens, so rather a once in a while application, than daily work horse.

1) Dendrochilum glumaceum all open at f2.8, the end of the greenhut is about 4 feet away. Notice the lack of curvature of the beams to the edge of the image. They are not all straight, because i did not hold the camera all vertical (see above).

2) Rodriguezia venusta on porch. f9
3) Octomeria rodriguezii pretty much at close focus f5.6

Also solved the cap problem. The lens has a filter thread, so can get a snap-on cap 95 mm.

[silken]

Nice perspective. Is this a tilt/shift lens or something else as I am not familiar with it.

[tropterrarium]

Hi Silken,

not a TS lens, but a rectilinear 110 degree WA, with only 2% distortion at that angle! Like the Zeiss 21 mm but with sharper corners. It has the same angle of view like a 72 mm on 4x5" [I have a Schneider 72XL for my Arca]. I also have the Zeiss 16 mm F-Distagon, but that is a rectangular Fisheye with all its distortion. I have not tried the Zeiss 18 mm.

The lens is suitable for interior/architecture shots. Did a few at work, and all lines are straight, if held perfectly horizontal. It is a stunning piece of engineering. Contrary to the Nikon 14-xx zoom, the Zeiss 15 mm accepts filters (95 mm thread), and, of course, as a prime is much better corrected. Have to get the slim UV and CPols, not cheap, but neither is this lens.

Not an everyday lens, but very nice to work with.

[silken]

Sounds like a nice lens.