Contax Distagon T 18mm f 4 Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by:

klong
( Intermediate)

Review Date
August 16, 2007

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 1 of 3

Price Paid: $650.00 from keh

Summary:

Sharp in the center, and softer around borders until stopped down to f/8 or f/11. Very low barrel distortion, which is a major plus for this ultra wide lens. Excellent contrast and accurate colors. Compact and relatively light. Produces some vignetting around corners, but this is typical of wide angle primes. Great build quality. Don't forget to buy a step up ring, which you will need if you plan to attach filters to the lens.

I would recommend to try the lens before you buy it - not everyone will be happy with softer then usual corners. If not for that, the lens would be my favorite outdoor lens. A good review of Distagon 18mm f/4 can be found here: http://slrlensreview.com/content/view/385/93/

Strengths:

Build quality
Center sharpness
Low distortion
Great colors

Weaknesses:

Soft corners
Some vignetting
Needs a step-up ring for filters

Similar Products Used:

Carl Zeiss Distagon 2.8/25mm
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4

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Rating
Reviewed by:
(Expert)

Review Date
December 20, 2003

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Review 2 of 3

Price Paid: $1000.00 from amsterdam

Summary:

This is a very fine lens. Very brilliant and sharp. It's small size and low weight makes it very easy to handle. Vignetting and distortion are very low. In case of shooting with a bright sun in front of the lens, some aperture spots appear on the photo. But this is a serious problem with all ultra wide lenses. This is really a very nice lens. see examples at: www.melvinredeker.com

Strengths:

very sharp very brilliant nice color low weight low distortion and low vignetting close focussing range is good. Much closer than most zooms.

Weaknesses:

usage of filters difficult because of extreme wide angle (a weakness of all ultra wides and NOT specially for this one) maybe 1000 USD is a little expensive for a used one. But you get what you pay for.

Similar Products Used:

24 mm nikon

Customer Service:

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Rating
Reviewed by: Sing Lo
(Intermediate)

Review Date
May 31, 2003

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 3 of 3

Price Paid: $700.00 from Ffordes

Summary:

The Distagon 18mm is an old design derived from the Contarex 18mm. However its performance is outstanding with excellent contrast and resolution right to the edges. Distortion is very small. Vignetting is minor at the corners at small apertures. It requires a 70-86mm step-up ring for 86mm filters. The step-up ring itself can be used as a hood without filter attached. Slim version of 86mm filters are recommended to prevent mechanical vignetting.

Strengths:

Light weight Small size Excellent performance

Weaknesses:

86mm filter is too expensive.

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