Poll: what is your preference? 24-70 II @28mm or Zeiss 2/28 ZF

Sorry Cale. I was going to respond to your post above but I wanted to use it as a bump too.

cale johnson wrote:

I can't tell if you want us to believe that the Canon is an amazing lens or if you want us (the viewers) to believe that it is capable of identical results.

My objective was to publish a comparison and let others decide for themselves. Perhaps I did potential lookers a disservice by being so flip. Whenever these types of comparisons are posted, you always get someone who will say "I can't tell the difference" so I was offering a bit of logic to attach to the observation i.e. so if the image looks the same to you, which lens gives you the extra value-added?

If the first, I agree the Canon lens is a great lens considering that it is a zoom lens. Albeit an expensive zoom.

But if you are searching for the answer

I am not searching an answer. I've purchased and used enough lenses to know what I am looking for nearly the instant I see it. I posted because others may be searching for an answer.

, is it capable of identical results and you want us to believe it is...I'm sorry to say, it is not as sharp as the Zeiss. That's not conjecture, that's a fact.

Okay. Cool.

What part of the image did you compare to one another? The street in the distance is the center of the lens.

(Of course, this assumes that each lens was used to it's maximum potential in your test, which I am simply incapable of determining.)

Note: I have 30 years of experience in the sale of high-end commercial offset printing. I've looked at enough detail and done enough press checks over the years to know that; a) most people don't really look at images carefully enough, and b) getting the best possible image sometimes isn't worth the bother. YMMV.

You know something? I totally agree with both of these things and I would think this comparison would illustrate what you've said quite brilliantly.

In my first post I offered links to the two pictures, each enlarged to offer detail. Having done that, I now see the obvious difference between the two pictures when I observe them even casually. In printing, the effect of being drawn instantly to a "flaw" or item of "brilliance" could turn the client's mood from one extreme to the other. The more experienced clients being the most resilient.

I was drawn to your thread because I just purchased a zeiss 135 for my D7100. Problem is, it's very expensive and if I open the box, I'll forfeit 15% in restocking fees should I do the smart thing and return it. Your thread has only added confusion to my situation.