Carl Zeiss Otus 28 mm f/1.4
11. Summary
- solid, huge and stylish barrel,
- brilliant image quality in the frame centre,
- excellent image quality on the edge of the APS-C/DX,
- good image quality on the edge of full frame,
- very good correction of longitudinal chromatic aberration,
- negligible lateral chromatic aberration,
- moderate distortion,
- nice out of focus areas,
- good performance against bright light.
Cons:
- huge vignetting on full frame,
- a bit too high coma in the corners of full frame.
The Zeiss Otus 1.4/28 illustrates two things. First: if the optics specialists have a free rein when it comes to the physical dimensions and the price they can construct amazing things which are able to break records in several categories. Second: it becomes clear that producing lenses as fast as f/1.4 is very difficult indeed. Even if there are no limitations concerning the dimensions and the price the chances are you won’t be able to correct everything anyway. What’s more, even a top-of-the-range lens can have such a spectacular slip-up as the huge vignetting, especially surprising as the Otus is a huge instrument.
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Two previous Otus series devices deserved the ‘Editor’s Choice’ badge. We try not to fling those awards around; one serious slip-up or two smaller ones and the lens loses its chances to be given one. That’s why the Otus 1.4/28 is the first lens from that line-up that won’t be awarded the distinction. Of course it doesn’t mean it is a bad lens, quite the opposite. It is easily the sharpest instrument among the wide angle primes we’ve tested so far.
Finally let me pass over its price with silence – after all in good company you don’t discuss money. However, if you want to discuss that aspect in spite of everything check the price of the Leica Summilux-M Asph 28 mm f/1.4 first.
